Regular School Board Meeting 10/1/2025

001The primary users for that would be our school level teams to make decisions around that user principles, coaches, instructors. Again, as I just mentioned, that's a 24hour lab time before updates. And then again, that's directly from P school and it's live and in use right now. The second system we're also in the process of developing is through Tableau where that be used by the districtwide for reporting central office team and the leadership team that will again provide real live real time access and it's multiple systems that will be integrated into that not just one and again that's in progress just want to reiterate that so today we'll be looking at our power school analytics and insight next slide Please. So we've already begun training for the system. So we already had powers school. That's nothing

002new, right? We've heard of powers school for quite some time. What is new is this new application which is analytics and insight. So a lot of times we have one or two people on the team doing a lot of things manually. So no more. Now everyone have access to the same data at the same time. We don't have to rely on someone kind of waiting to provide us with the data. It'll be right at their fingertips. So we're not spending time actually putting the data together but more time actually analyzing the data. So so far we had two trainings on the 18th. All assistant principles were provided an overview on September the 19th. Instructional coaches had a deep dive overview. Coming up as um Mr. Brown just mentioned we have our professional development on October

003the 7th. We have two different sessions. one that specializes counselors and behavior specialists and then two additional sessions for teachers. On October the 9th, our school leaders will be um providing an overview and then again on October the 17th more in depth with our instructional um team including including our coaches and um instructional specialists. So those are the trainers we have also um coming down the pipe using this system. Next slide please. So now It's time for the demonstration. So by 10 to make sure we come by and make sure everyone's supported. Again, I just want to mention you only have d access to high level data. Of course, for um reasons, we won't be able to drill down to actual students names, but again, as a whole, you will be able to see that

004data on our side. Depending on what your um roles are, you will have deeper level access to data. So our schools will see this data and drill all the way down. However, our board members you will be able to see the data at a higher level. So at this time I have our tech team making sure everyone can log in. >> Everyone's there. >> So you should see you just walk us through what you see is the that's what we should see on the screen is the um opening page and so power school of course is our student information system that we've had in Petersburg. So we just added to it. Is that correct? Yes. our student information system that parents log into um and we keep all of our student um data in in

005P school. So we just added the analytics portion so we could be more um efficient and just add to what the tool we already had. So I believe all schoolboard members are on the homepage when you see the same demographic page. So the very first page we call that our landing page. On this page, it'll show you the total number of students enrolled, male, female, as well as races, how many students we have identified as L students and SWD, students with disabilities. As you scroll down just a little, you see how many students were absent on yesterday in that first white box. Again, this was as of yesterday because it is lagging data. The next one says, how many students were absent within the last 30 days? I'm concerned attendance within the last 30 days.

006So, over the last 30 days, you see the attendance trend. In that little white box, that's comparing year to date. So, in that same first box, you see a number. And then right next to that, shows you year to date. Over the last 30 days, what's the number, Dr. Johnson? So, you should see 92.38 over the last 30 days. In that small little box in that same section, you'll see a downward arrow and the number is 92.68, which shows that it's slightly down by 31%. We don't have to rely on anyone here to provide this data. It's right here at our fingertips. And I know you can't tell from your end, but here's a little line underneath 92.38. At the school level, they're able to click on that and drill down all the way to

007the student to see which students were there, which students were absent. It drills all the way down at the click of a button. Right next to that, you'll see the yearto-day attendance. And then that last box that's red, that's highlighting the chronic absenteeism. So right now in that box, you see 29.81%. In that little white box, it shows which shows there's an increase yet today of.135 one sorry 155. I do want to you know, when I first saw the data, but hold on. I'm looking at this and it doesn't add up. What I notic is this is showing students that are active in the school now compared to where they are um last year. So, if a student's no longer here, their data has been extracted. So, we're able to track our students are here

008right now. Then I said, well, how about if I want to see a student their work here last year compared to where we are this year? That feature is also available. So again, just so we keep in mind, these boxes right here are tracking active students who are currently here right now compared to those students who were also here last year. Again, what's really critical about this, if we're at the school level where they have that 29.81 underline, they were able to click on that box and it can tell them every single student that was absent under the chronically absent, how many days they missed, how close they are to being absent. So it doesn't just show a number. It shows close to being part of the asset. So we can closely monitor these students

009with a click of a button at every single school and be able to have real live discussions. >> Just also wanted to share to how um this um data is disagregating. So what schools will be able to do is not just drill down to the student but let's say we wanted to know what schools right at what percentage you're able to compare against schools. You're also able to compare against demographic like racial demographic um to compare um achievement level at that level too. It depends on what it is that you want to see um to be informed and it gives you an understanding of where we need to make the improvement. Um I also wanted to mention too why this is so beneficial is because this dashboard is helping us with our reliability and validity

010of our data. And I say that because previously as Dr. Jackson mentioned we had one person calculating all of our data which sometimes led to human error not sometimes a lot of times. So in data and analytics, you want to make sure you eliminate as much human error as possible. So as schools are entering in their attendance on a daily basis and uh Dr. Manson, Mr. Brown, how they're going in and supporting uh school leaders and teachers and attendance teams, how we're strengthening that reporting and monitoring. It automatically shows up in the dashboard. We can also see who has not entered information in the dashboard. So that alerts us at the district level to make sure that we're having conversations with schools uh to make sure that they are entering their data on a timely

011basis. So wanted to share that you Dr. Gay and also want to say that if you look at the dashboard members you can see the total number of kids that were absent in Petersburg for the entire yesterday. And so I see here it's a 416. >> Correct. So we have how many students and 416 kids were absent yesterday and so yesterday was Tuesday. Did anything happen? It allows us to be able to understand the trends of what days are our kids absent. Are they the same students? And I just I know that you all will call your attendant. I don't want to get ahead of you um um team, but I just want to make sure that we call our attention to the red box because attendance and chronic absenteeism are two different things. And

012so in our goal, the goal that the board laid out has to do with chronic absenteeism. And so this red box is what I'll be looking at as superintendent having conversations with the team and schools around because the goal is to reduce this number by 3% based on what it was. And so we get to monitor to see are we still high with chronic absenteeism and what are we doing? So, I know you'll talk about that, but I just wanted to call the attention to the chronic absenteeism box because that'll tell us as it fluctuates um each day. Thank you, Superintendent Brown. There are a lot of additional features on um the same landing page. If you scroll down just a little, it's going to look like a lot of peaks and valleys with a

013bunch of different colors. And that um section is called our um offenses decreasing week over week. The weekly trend of offenses occurring over the last um three years. You can see how many occurring um um during each week each year. You can kind of take some of those years out so it won't be as much. So, for example, if everyone could take and hover over at the bottom that blue dot that says 2023 2024 and press that and it should eliminate all of those blue boxes that was in the background. So, right now you should only be viewing orange and green peaks and valleys. That way, you're only comparing this year to last year. You'll notice if you hover over one particular point, let's take the 79, it will show you five at five weeks.

014In 2024, 2025, there were 95 offenses. Now, 2025, 2026, 79. So, you can clearly see the number of offenses for that week has actually gone down. So this will allow us to track over time during the same period of time last year or even the year prior the offenses on my level on our end you can actually drill down a little bit more but again you all able to see summary data but the school level they can actually drill down by their schools at a group level to see what time of year what's taking place during this time was occurring even to where the where the location of these offenses are taking place. So, it's very very detailed. It's very very helpful for the team as they make decisions around how we can support schools

015and make sure we um address these. If we scroll down just a little bit more, for whatever reason, it's just showing um the growth data, but um I think this is one we still need to update a little bit. is showing 2024 and 2025, I'm sorry, 2024 because we actually use now the math assessment. So, we'll update this to also include our MAP data. If you scroll down all the way a little lower, you'll see the how students are performing on the ELA state assessment and how they perform on the math state assessment. There are various bars with numbers inside of the bar. That number represents the percentage. So for 2022 2023 if you look at the ELA box you'll see 14 that represents 14% of the students who actually in in that case with

016the light blue actually score below fail below basic. Then the gray area with this 30 um 36 shows how many students fail basic. Red indicates 14% of the students who failed. As you increase up, you'll see where the 32% of the students were proficient. If you were to click on that, what does 32% equate to? What does that number mean? That means that was 854 students. So, not only does it provide you with this um percentage, it also provides us with the actual number. >> Excuse me a second. >> Yes. because I know the public kind of having a hard time seeing the screen. Can someone go from screen to screen on here so everyone else that don't have the system can see it? Can one of them do that to show the screen that

017you're talking about on >> Okay. So, can we >> Yeah. Can Can someone do that? >> Thank you. And I will ask whoever does log in, if you're um Petersburg city employee, please don't drill down. I will emphasize that because we don't want to drill down to see student level data. So you have higher like different rights. So I don't want them to mistake when you click down because it'll show it'll show student sensitive table. >> Well, that that was the reason why we wanted to keep it at the landing page. >> Yeah. But she's the only one that going to do it though. Right. >> Right. But her credential is going to make sure she does it. I just want to emphasize to her not to not to drill down. >> Yeah. Not to

018drill down. >> Yeah. >> Just ensure that um >> she keeps that lady page. >> While she's logging on, are there any questions so far from schoolboard members that's referenced to some of these numbers I've already shared or what some of the things are showing and things of that nature while we're waiting to log on? Well, but I do have a question since you I look for when you finish, but but you said you had um instructional coaches going to be trained. How many instrual coaches will we have working with people? >> Do you know? >> Yeah. >> What's the at least one or two at school? >> One or two at a school. That's very good. >> And I want to say the last training we had um out there with at least I

019would say 30 folks there because it wasn't just instructional coaches. It was also instructional specialists. So anyone who oversees math, science, history, the all the specialists were there as well as the coaches. >> One to two per school. It's two per school. One to two per school. >> One to two per school. Okay. >> So someone all the time >> and they're still working to more members. is just to give you all just a taste of the dashboards that we're trying to build so that we can use data and we can do comparative kind of conversations. We can look at how we're growing, how we're getting better, if we're progressing, all of those things and we're able to address it. So, it's just to give the board a snapshot at this moment so that you

020can see the new dashboards that the team have been working on and the tool that we're trying to roll out for for um our school division. Thank you. We appreciate it. >> Okay. Next, we're moving to C, which also ties into that as well. >> Thank you so much. >> All right. Thank you so much. >> Mr. Tucker coming. >> So, I don't really have a question. I just have a comment and I, you know, I can't just sit here and not say it. This um dashboard is amazing. I remember sitting at my desk working these numbers by hand um just so we can make sure that we make the attendance for the day. So um just looking at this um this is going to work wonders for the division. So good job. Great job.

021>> Let me ask you another question. When um because I know you helped me over over the week with a parent and when they a lot of parents believe it or not don't log into school and they're not following it. We Do we do we have something to increase that number because they need to be able to follow that, you know, follow PA school also because um the one that that we talked that I talked to didn't even know we had school and they had kids in the school system. So, you helped me out a great deal by giving him that information. And um so we need to I guess at the school when they come in and they don't know what to do, somebody can show them. Um, thank you. Um, uh, board member

022Tucker. We appreciate that. I know you've been very influential in supporting us with with ideas. And, uh, board member uh, Miles, one of the ways to increase awareness is um, making sure that our parent liaison engagement specialists um, that are assigned to our schools are equipped to train our parents. So, it'll be more of an increased like individualized attention for parents. Before Dr. Dr. Leaf did a great is doing a great job with parent university um was providing training at the district level but we're going to make sure that at the school level uh more of our parents will be trained. >> Thank that make a big difference. >> Thank you so much. So we'll move on. So since we had an opportunity to u take a look at the dashboard what we'll do now

023is we will give you some chronic absenteeism and some attendance data um for the month of September. we will um and at the end we'll talk about the fact that we will be awarding a school in October because September is at the beginning of the school year. So what we'll do is I'll turn it over to our next presentation is we'll continue this conversation with a brief presentation on our actual absenteeism and attendance data from the start of the school year. >> Yes. Um I have I have I have a question. my mic off. >> I have a question and I don't know if anybody else have have a concern but um the number for chronic affism, what is that actually showing? Is that showing us the number of kids that fall in that category?

024>> Yes, great question. I have a whole presentation I'm going to do for you in just a few moments and tell you about as a teaser what those numbers mean and what category they fall in everyone else in the room. No problem, Mr. M. Thank you all again. So, I'm I'm here and as superintendent mentioned, this presentation kind of lays the first one laid the foundation, but this one really want to talk about chronic absenteeism, what those numbers mean in our average daily attendance because they are two separate things and and what does that number mean? How do we get to that number? All right, next slide, please. So, the agenda for today, the first thing we're going to talk about is the key definition, the difference between the two. We're going to discuss the

025schoolboard goals, the school level data, school level data snapshot. We're going to talk about the schoolbased teams and supports, our next steps and supports, and then we'll wait and have the superintendent um presentation next month. I think Dr. Gay said in October so that the data is stable since the beginning of the year starts in the middle of August until September. So yes, we'll do we will announce that in October, but they'll be able to see some data on where we are today. >> Great. Thank you. >> Right. Next slide. November. We will award it for October. >> Gotcha. >> So chronic absenteeism. What does that mean? So it says missing 10% or more of the school date for any reason, excused or unexcused. So right now it's we've been in school for six weeks.

026Six weeks. So um so six weeks of missing 10% of that is if you miss a day that's over 10%. So right now if you have two absences is going to plague you as chronically absent and as superintendent just mentioned when you at the beginning of the school year like August was dealing with some students um who were not here transferred in transferred out. So when she say making sure the data is stabilized that's why we're waiting till next month but the definition won't change. So, I know we really want to make sure our parents understand this because a lot of times they'll write a note and say, "Johnny had a doctor's appointment, so he he didn't come to school today." That still counts as an absence. Maybe Johnny broke his leg and he can't

027come to school today. That still counts as an absence. Whether it's excused or unexcused, an absence counts as an absence towards chronic absenteeism. And there are really some valid reasons. So we'll talk about what we're doing around that but just want to make sure we clearly understand because we have parent say why I wrote a note we thank you for the note but it's still as far as our calculations that would calculate into whose fun absenteeism rate. Now average daily attendance that's the number of students present across the division each day. So for example, we have a thousand students at um PHS. 900 students come to school that day. Their average daily attendance for that day would be 90%. On you if I just gave a rough number. So that's your average daily attendance. So

028chronic absent students is a little different from a um average daily attendance, but they still play a role and play a part within two segments, but still are interrelated. is still mesh together. All right, next slide, please. So, schoolboard goal, like not as quick as Mr. Brown to spit them out, so I definitely have to fear, but the schoolboard goal is around chronic absenteeism. Our rate last year was 37.8%. And his city were chronically absent. The goal is to decrease this amount by 3%. There was no goal around the daily attendance but internally we have set a goal that 95% of the students will come to school on an average daily and those are parameters we set internally next slide please pause here for a moment so you can take a moment to look at

029this data I want to note at the bottom it says Power School and Analytics report as of September 24th. So this was as of September 24th a snapshot. Chronic absenteeism, not the average daily attendance, the chronic absenteeism rate that you saw. That's 10% aboard the days. And so you're comparing last year to this year for each school. >> Yes. >> And just so I can reiterate, we want chronic acetism to be low. So most of the times we want the bar to be high. In this case the lower the better. Okay. So when I talk between graphs I want to make sure I reiterate that because the next one you know your eyes are going a different direction. But for this you can clearly see at cool springs the average I mean sorry the product

030rate year to date is lower. Walnut hill is lower. Lakemont, Pleasant Lane, Blandford Middle, Parstyle is also Lower as well as Vernon Johns, Petersburg, West View, Pitman Academy, and the division. Now, we do recognize that Pitman, which was pointed out, the number of students also change. So, that's sometimes a little hard to measure because one at one moment last year at this point, they even had more students versus this point. So, it's a little hard to to kind of pick that one out because the numbers are smaller, but the other students have um the other schools have about the exact same number of students or around the same number. So, it's a little easier to compare. >> This is the same time last year. >> At the same point last year, >> same point last

031year is what we're looking at the same point this year in comparison. >> And I do have a question. Is West Is State code are they part of that or they're not because they're prek? They're not included, right? >> They're not, but we still like to But they are not. That is correct. >> All right. There was a request for Andre. It was a request of the board. >> Okay. >> But you're correct. It's not part of it. >> And if this looks a little different when you looked at that first dashboard earlier, again, remember I said those students that you saw the ones that were active. If we're comparing it to last year, some of those students may not be here. So that's when I said we have to make sure we're looking at

032the same thing and we're comparing it. So the one where you initially saw that first box were the students who were actively enrolled last year and this year and these ones are comparing students who may not be here from last year but still that point in time to this year. Now your next graph next slide please is the average daily I'm sorry this the monitor's out that's all >> keep going. Okay. So, next slide is our average daily attendance and some of the schools is almost um you can take other took a moment to digest it. We say it's a little flat where some schools is shown a little lower. For example, Pleasant Lane is lower than it was for average daily attendance at this point last year as of September 24th as well as

033Bford Frank John's slightly lower. PHS is slightly lower as well as uh Westview and overall is the division was slightly lower in this point last year for average daily attendance than we were the year prior. I have another question. Yeah. Can you explain to us? So when we look at the crime absenteeism and we look at the daily attendance average or average daily attendance family engagement truency, when do they come in and play a part? Do they pay a part on both on chronic absenteeism and the average daily attendance? >> Absolutely. And um next slide I'm going to tell you how we support each one. >> Um and I can have >> Dr. Mason you can also come up as I go through this. So we're going to have one where we talk about the

034schoolbased team and how they support and the next one we talk about how we support chronic acetism. So one's talking about attendance and the second slide will address chronic acetism. Good evening, Chairman Pritchard, Vice Chairman Pierce, fellow members of the board, Madam Superintendent, and all that's uh on this evening. One of the things that we're doing to address the chronic uh to address attendance on a daily basis. We're doing a weekly attendance meetings that began earlier this school year. Prior, we were waiting until basically like October. We start the second week of school doing these weekly attendance meetings. I have been attending those meetings. The director of special education been attending those attendance meetings. And we've also added this year mental health um because mental health can play a role in in a child's attendance.

035We've also added to make sure that the school councils are on those meetings along with other uh CSI members and family engagement to ensure that we have the support. So the other things we've done, we've um as I just went through that with the council, we identified students displaying attendance issues. So we looked at the previous years attendance issues. That's one of the reasons why we're getting the power school training and all because now we can track. We're requiring that they put this information in. So if you are in fourth grade, previously we're using Google spreadsheets to they were using Google spreadsheets at each school that when a child is being some tennis issues, you're calling the parents. You're looking at it. You're just using a Google spreadsheet. That spreadsheet would be for, for example,

036Cool Springs. But if that child go to Vernon when they go to Bford, we're not tracking them because Pleasant Lane or Cool Springs have that spreadsheet. Now it's being tracked in power school. So now we have these conversations and to be honest with you, we have to have true honest conversations with parents and some of those conversations have to be your child yearly have attendance issues. They're yearly chronically absent. And if you can go back to now, we'll be able to do it from West View all the way through and we'll be able to track these students so we can provide early intervening services to these students in regards to their attendance in regards to their chronic absenteeism. Some of the other things that we're doing, we've adopted a standard attendance plan in regards to

037what they have to do when they go through the tennis play. Again, previously it was a four page. We felt like that is basically keeping um our truency officers and from schools from moving forward. We made it one page. Now, it's just a onepage plan, but it still is what the what the uh court system required for them to have in order to move them forth to court. Some of the other things we've done to reduce it, as I stated, some of the other things we've done is that meeting agenda. We have certain things the meeting agenda that everyone is using. When we looked at all schools were using a different agenda. We standardized that agenda so that we can ensure that we're hitting the things that you're supposed to be hitting. So when we

038go to court, we can ensure that these cases are not coming back. In regards to some of the situations and some of the cases, some of the interventions when you go to court, the judge would say we didn't put these interventions in place and they couldn't they couldn't f go further with it through the court system. So some parents understood that and so what we put in place is a standardized meeting agenda that will cover what you need to cover for attendance. And so that's what we're doing for the school-based day-to-day attendance meetings that we have on a weekly basis. In regards to chronic absentism, I'm going to be honest with you, it's some of the same. So, we've done the early identification. Um, we can monitor, we did some flags. Next slide. I'm sorry.

039We've done some early identification. So, this week we can monitor and flagging at risk. So, we're now talking about those chronic students that are chronically absent. And yes, truency is already taking some of those students to court. We had to go back through Mr. So Brown has uh worked with me in regards to we have to create so many different uh forms that we're using with them the 15-day form in regards to if you have not if your child has been removed we've sent that form back out if they come back to us then we're sending out the proof of residency form we just recreated a new proof of residency form which we're going to tell make um show to the principal on Friday the new one five days target and I did everything I

040do I vetic through VBO and throughout schoolboard attorney terms. So now and you all may get some questions but we have to in order for us to improve scores in order for us to improve attendance we have to be real with our families. I'm from Petersburg and so I don't mind talking to them about this is real and so one of the things we have to do we are moving forward five days within a nine weeks if you are tied to school within 5 days you're going to get a proof of residency form if you are if there's an early release for 5 days that you're picking your child up because that shows a chronic issue there some of our students are not getting school on elementary until I'm walking in 11:00 they're coming in

041at 11 o'clock and This is from route. You're going to get a 5-day letter stating you must bring proof of residency. Now, we are going to allow an appeal form where you can approve where you can appeal for your due process, but you're going to have to show proof of residency. I just talked to the nurse this evening. She gave me something else that she finding out. We're going to look at and speak about nurses in regards to it's a medical form. You're getting prescriptions in from with medicines they're given from families with different addresses than what we have on file. Some of the addresses are not even in Hersburg. So that triggers a proof of residency. So we're putting those places those things in in regards to trying to approve our attendance in the

042chronic absenteeism. We're meeting with parents directly. We're still doing home visits. We're doing the five and 7-day notification. We're doing wraparound supports. We're taking more students to our um family assessment planning team. We have informed them. We're going to be bringing more students there because some in some cases some parents need some assistance and we're going to provide that assistance to those parents through the family assessment planning team. And then we're also just doing continuously monitoring going through the system seeing who's chronic seeing if they're having any issues with chronic obset and we're working with our registers and with our teachers in regards to how you have to take attendance daily. Miss Hines who works within attendance we meet with them every Wednesday. So does Dr. Jackson just to go through review and to sit

043down and see what are the issues that they may be having and that they're tracking. And so those are some of the things we're putting in place for our attendance to try to improve their attendance and to decrease our chronic absence. >> Thank you sir. So again, the data shows where we the need is and the team is supporting that need by using those data dashboards at our fingertips. We don't have to wait for anybody to provide us that information. It's right there. So now that we have it, what are we doing with it? These teams are in place to support our families to make sure students are here and we address those needs. So now this is um next steps. We want to definitely make sure we continue to look at our supports. Definitely

044make sure our family engagement and communication team is sending that information out. We want to make sure we have more in attendance incentives to make sure students really do want to come to school. Whether it means different um you talk about different activities after school. They want to be part of early identification intervention. We want to monitor them and then commit to um our goals. Commit to really making sure that we reduce chronic absism by 3%. And then our internal goal of making sure the average daily attendance is 95%. Questions. Do have another one. Some schools are releasing the um attendance daily through parent square but not everyone is doing it. So how do we get everyone on board so we can see what everyone's what everybody's numbers are looking like on a weekly basis?

045>> Mr. Brown and I just talked about that because we did see that. So, we have a meeting with the principles on Friday and we're going to make sure that take place because we did see that some schools are doing it and others are not. And so, we we're jumping on that. We're going to have that with the principles then and we're going to ask them. Some of the things we're also going to be doing with the principles are asking them what are you doing to improve attendance and what are you doing? So, because some of the things we have to do is we have to ensure that our students want to come to school >> and so we have to create activities. It's different from us. As I tell people year when it was

046when I was going to school attendance I mean coming to school was a privilege and so that was now it's compulsory they have to come we have to educate if we don't we're penalized for it so we have to be creative and we're working with principles on being creative so that we want that so some so students want to come to school like I did I did not want to miss a day because with so many activities so many things there was some type of incentives so we're working with the principles in regards to that we're identifying some of those things and that's one of the things to let the princip know what that attendance looks like and things like that. So, we're working on that with the principles. >> Thank you, sir. Mr. >>

047Yeah, I love um how y'all being more aggressive with the chronic absenteeism. You say take them to court. Now, in New Jersey, what they did to correct absent to address absenteeism when they went to court, if they were chronically absent, they had to pay a citation of $50. And that money that they paid to the court came to the school system. So, I don't know. I brought this up years ago when I first got on school board. But let me tell you something. When you hit them in the pocket, >> everybody look at it differently because people don't have $50 just to give away. And you know, for a citation, I don't know how we would set it up because this is a Commonwealth and New Jersey is not. But the thing is is that

048that's what they did in the city and it and let me tell you, it made a difference. So just taking them to court talking to them sometime you got to lay that little citation on them but set it up where that money come back to us so you can use it to address chronic absenteeism more >> that's just a thought I don't know how to do it too don't ask me I don't know how to do that that's what they did say it's probably a conversation you had to legislate >> yeah well the thing is they they did it they did it with the city so it wasn't the state. So the thing is is that I I don't know who who you would talk to, but the thing is is that it'll be some

049some something that we had in Petersburg because we deal with Commonwealth attorney or the or the department or whatever to um >> Yeah. But they did it within the city. >> So I I do like the fact that we're using FAP um to help out with chronic abism. Just a thought. I know in previous years the funding for FAP will run out and um so do we have a plan in place so that we can keep that um the same camaraderie around FAP and you know helping our families and our students um when it comes to chronic fatigue with the resources that they have. Do we on a division level have a plan in place just in case they do run out of finances for fat? >> And that's what we'll be with Dr. great

050with regards to make sure that we do have that. But one of the things with that um the earliest we can get them in court with those letters, the ear we can get them in that they become mandated. They become mandated under attendance. So when you do when you factor student special education is mandated, CPS is mandated, foster care is mandated and truency is mandated, which means that they have to find funds to try to do those wraparound services. If we identify early enough, take them through FAP early enough, then they have to be the first ones. So, they would actually have to go back through do a supplement through the state because we have those because they're mandated. They can't say no to those services. But what we have to do is we have

051to make sure that we have the documentation. I'm actually the chair of the CPMT team that oversees that. And so, they have their mandate to pro provide support to those students who meet that. we just have to make sure that we have the documentation. So that was one of the reasons why I started submitting universal documentation for the whole division so that when we go we can't have a judge, we can't have the fact team and say we don't have the appropriate documentation. So that's one of the reason why I just did it like that so everyone can have that documentation and makes it so that process will be clear and easy because some parents will need that assistance. >> Thank you. Thank you Dr. Mason and Dr. Jackson, great presentation. Thank you, [Applause] >>

052Mr. >> Thank you, coach. Schoolboard members, our final presentation of this afternoon or evening is a an update on our new PCPS school nutrition program. And so we will bring forward Miss T the Tis Martin who is our new program administrator for school nutrition. Miss Mark, congratulations. >> Thank you. Um good evening board chair, vice chair, prayers, uh board members, Lundy Miles and Proctor, Superintendent Brown, Virginia Committee, uh members and honored guests. Thank you so much for allowing me to Oh, yes, ma'am. Uh thank you for the opportunity to speak with you this evening. Um myself and Mr. Martinez together put together thisformational to give a little update on everybody about how our nutritional department is going. Um currently we are uh improving meal services, increasing student engagement, ensuring compliance across the entire board. Next

053slide please. So today our agenda um includes an overview. We're going to highlight our improvements, our increased involvement, department highlights, as well as holding any questions for anybody um at the end. Um next slide. So, um participation is trending upward. We're honestly serving more students than we have before. Um in the first nine days of our school, uh student year, student meal participation increased by 1% overall in nine days. Um in September alone, we saw a 10% increase in participation compared to the same time last year. As you can see in our graph, this is a comparison between September of 2024 and now. And um I have to say that the quality of the food has definitely improved. We've improved student options and consistency across all accounts. Our mission is to keep this momentum going

054by improving both the nutrition and the taste of our meals. Um, with it being a total of 14 days of service at the time of us drafting this, the high school is currently up 36% alone. And we've increased our meal um, intake by 1,800 meals just in those 14 days. [Applause] High school is definitely showing up and showing out this year. Um, next slide, please. So, our enhancements and our improvements so far, um, we have made major strides in several areas. because we are delivering meals that are not only nutritious but also culturally relevant and enjoyable. So we have partnered with Taher Inc. They have allowed us to elevate our services. Um our team includes three chefs, a general manager and a registered dietician. So with this being given to us through Tahare Inc. we're

055are striving to continue to be on the upward for our audit that's coming in January. We're looking to shoot for 100% obviously because that's all we want as a good standard. Um that's one for both compliance. We're trying to increase stronger staff morale in all of our accounts, all eight currently. And we're going to continue to focus on our growth of student participation. And it seems like we're excelling so far. Next slide, please. So, um, we were recently featured on Channel 8 News for our revamp program. And CBS 6 also highlighted our cultural meal experience called the Taste of Japan 2.0. Um, it was led by worldrenowned chef Josh Sugamura. The event was specifically created for our special education students currently and it helped introduce them to global flavors in a hands-on way. The feedback

056was overwhelmingly great, super positive, and helped spotlight our commitment to inclusive and engaging um experiences for our children in the classroom. You can play this clip if you don't mind. [Music] I'm sorry, we don't have audio currently. I apologize. Um, that was our highlight from CBS6 News that highlighted just our upcoming uh menu and diversity that we were including in our cafeteria. Um, can we go to slide six instead? Thank you. Okay. How we're growing involvement We're using monthly harvest of the month features that highlight a fruit, a vegetable, and an herb. All locally sourced. Um, for the month of September, it is apples, green beans, and dill. October includes cranberries, butternut, scotch, squash, and vanilla. This gives students real exposure to fresh greens that may be seen in their neighborhoods and farmers markets locally.

057We also introduce student flavors like wing Wednesday and pizza Friday. And this Thursday, we'll be doing tailgate Thursday. Um, these are fun themed days that are building incitement around school meals and activities, not just in the classroom, but extracurriculars outside. Um, lastly, we're encouraging families more deeply through our monthly newsletter and feedback surveys via Parent Square to be more involved in their child's nutritional makeup and and kind of bridge the gap between school and home. So, that there might be some times where they're able to see items that they've recognized at school also at the store. they can tell their parents and possibly have that parent engage and interact with them as something that they might have learned at school. Next slide, please. All right. So, nutritional part department highlights. Some department wins. Um, I'm

058proud to share every site team participated in bi-weekly two-hour trainings to stay sharp. We've passed all recent Virginia health inspections with flying colors. Six out of the eight school sites have received statutory uh health inspections up to date. And all of this puts us in a strong position as we prepare for our audit in 2026. I've also had some um visits from Miss Davis from BOE. We've gone through some dry audits just so I can get my feet wet to see exactly what will be looked for in January and so far so good. She's saying we're on the right track to be well over um whatever we've seen in the past. And next slide, please. Um faculty participation launch. So October 1st today. Oh >> should be eight. >> Oh maybe it's on this one

059now. >> You can leave it on that one. >> Thank you. Um lastly our faculty participation launch started today. Okay. So, starting today, faculty and staff are now able to purchase meals using their school. >> Next slide, please. >> There you go. >> There it is. There we go. Thank you. Um, starting today, our faculty and staff are now able to purchase meals using their school bus accounts. Um, they can either purchase a $5 meal, which can give them an adult serving of everything that is there, or they can purchase alle cartb items still using that same school bucks account. The goal is to increase adult visibility in the cafeteria. That definitely is something that boosts the child's morale. It normalizes a new model. It allows you also to have a p like a personal

060relationship with the child and actually get to know and even maybe even get some insight and an opinion on how they experience lunch these days. Um we want to normalize this and get this more get the children more acquainted with seeing more of our faces in their spaces outside of being in a leadership role. So the unity has a positive impact on the entire school culture as a whole. And now um in closing, I want to thank you for your continued support. The work happening in our department goes beyond the plate. It's about equality, exposure, and building strong, healthy habits for our students. I'm proud of our progress and I'm excited to see what's ahead and I'm open for any questions. Thank you so much. Thank you, Miss Mark. Can you go to the program

061expansion? I don't know if you I don't know if I missed it. Um what we're trying to introduce for next semester. If you could just call the attention so everybody can hear. introducing the new equipment to add a salad bar, a personal pizza conveyor. Yes, ma'am. >> Those are things that we're trying to add to our lunch and I want to make sure that you highlight it. >> Yes, ma'am. So, um, in reference to, uh, the new developments that we're incorporating, we are shooting to have a pizza belt installed in the high school that allows them to have personal pizzas. We're also going to incorporate a salad bar so they can get the vegetable component that they need and it allows them to have some autonomy to themselves and a little more independence in feeding

062themselves and becoming nutritionally valued. So um we will be um adding both of those items. We're starting in the secondary schools first, then we'll be launching the program into more of the elementary schools as things go on. So look forward to that in for our higher education areas. And then we'll be piloting hot breakfast. Yes, ma'am. That piloting hot breakfast will be January of 2026. Um we're starting that as well in secondary schools and then we'll be shooting it first elementary school to get it will be late coming in January 2026. >> Yes. >> Any questions, comments? Mr. M. >> Yes. on the last time you uh presented I asked a question about the coronary arts. Are we going to have anything to work with CTP to get the coronary art involved in what you're

063doing with nutrition? >> Yes, sir. I'm so happy you said that. Actually have to speak with Mr. How do you say it again? It is I spoke with Mr. We'll be actually uh circling around tomorrow to kind of see how we can get more students also involved not just in like CTE or preparing them to leave the program but more or less assisting with prep within the kitchen itself. So I was shooting some ideas with him just a few moments ago and we were going to circle back around and actually see about allowing a second block prep time for the kids to come in and get their hands wet. And I'm Safe uh proctor and instructor. So having uh being able to help Chef Gonzalez in the CTE program would be amazing if I can

064and we can kind of get a lot of these kids surf safe certified and be able to be more of a work study program more than anything. >> So the u they get credit for that so that u that show that they have experience. >> Yes sir. >> Chair spears. >> Uh first of all thank you ma'am. Wonderful presentation. I do want to add this. Yes sir. >> That what you what you uh indicated and spoke about about compliances >> and the audit that's coming. >> Yes sir. >> Uh is doing super stuff. We're doing great things and as we continue to do great things, people watch us. So, uh, every move we make, everything we do, how we conduct ourselves, especially with a program like this because we done jumped off into new territory,

065people paying attention to that, they want to kind of sort of do the same thing. Um, and we're first. That's correct. But we want to make sure that we do all the eyes and cross all the tees so that as we move forward doing uh super stuff that we following the letter of the law >> compliancy because you did say we had some dry audits. That's great. Continue to do those because you want to know if you're missing something that we cover that. You know our kids love this thing. The food is great and we want to continue that that process going into the future because it is we can't stop now. >> It's only moving forward. So you keep doing the great work. Thank >> you, sir. Any more questions? >> Yes. Can you

066share what's that $5 meal sideways? Can you share what you get for $5? What's >> Yes, sir. So, um, if you would have came down to our high school today, you would have had, uh, fried chicken, collard greens, and mac and cheese for $5. $5. >> I'm right around. >> Okay. >> Yes, sir. You got to check our menu out. I'm telling you. >> That's a full plate. >> No, it's a full plate. Like, >> $5. >> And I need a healthy meal cuz I need to get right for November for that cake. Was it 5K? Get back. >> Yeah, you helping me up cuz I'm going to do a 5K in November. >> Heard it. >> And I need to beat Mr. >> M. I did want to say um thank you so much

067for all that y'all have done. Um I'm not sure if you all know PHS was trending today on social media. >> Yes, we were. >> About that fried chicken. >> Yes, we were. I screenshotted it and I meant to send it to y'all but you know congratulations. Um I mean that fried chicken might be good. I say it was fried chicken, macaroni and cheese greens or green beans. But yeah, thank you so much. I know our kids are excited. Um you have helped me. I don't have to provide two lunches anymore because my children actually love eating lunch now. So, I just want to say thank you so much. I know our parents are elated. They are elated. And just to see the comments from the sharers, um it is amazing. So, y'all keep doing

068the great work that you all are doing. Thank you, >> board chair, vice chair, uh Pierce, fellow committee members, uh community. I just want to give an extreme outstanding shout out to Miss Tise Martin. What she's done since she's been here, nothing less than outstanding work. Um I'm very proud of what she's done and the team that she's creating. Uh the synergy that she's created um the um actual improved engagement with our um food service um company is amazing. and and and what we're doing now is nothing going to be compared to what we're going to continue doing. So, uh extreme kudos to Miss Martin. >> Thank you so much, Miss Martin. Thank you, Mr. Martinez. And I want to say thank you to the board for trusting in doing something different. This is the

069first time in Virginia that we rolled out a a partnership between our current employees that we kept in house and took care of and brought in a food service management company because typically it's all or nothing. And so it was something different. It pushed the envelope. It was hard to get across the the finish line. But you all it started with you all's support for how we were going to do something different. And as um Vice Chair Pierce said it so eloquently, we're going to continue to move forward within compliance and what we're supposed to do, but it started right here at this table with you all trusting let's try something different that Virginia has never seen and our kids are benefiting. So I just want to say thank you to the school board [Applause]

070and I just received a picture. My lord, that macaroni and cheese look good. And the greens look like I got a little piece of meat in there. That chicken look [Music] is able to be watching if you guys want to see that news. We listen to our students. We heard them and we're making it happen. >> For nutrition services workers, the goal is to provide a good lunch that can give extra support to students in need. >> Sometimes their first meal or their lunch might be their only meal. So we want to make sure that if that is their option that we give them the best option to allow them to continue to fuel and fuel these brains so that they can continue to be amazing children in our community. >> PCPS says after this

071year's contract with Taher Food Services, they're hoping to continue the partnership for at least three more years. Live in the back to school HQ, Mariah Gilad, 8 News. I'm Abigail. [Applause] >> And I'd also like to thank our wonderful cafeteria workers. Today I was at Cool Spring Elementary School and I think that was Cool Spring on the actually in the in the um news um news um not article but video um and I just want to thank our own employees for the work they embraced a new model something different and each and every day they are working alongside Tar Inc. and it's working wonderfully. Of course, we continue to work out in the kinks, but again, we kept our people. They are working alongside her. And so, it's not one-sided. It is both of them

072working together in a different model that Virginia has never seen. And again, it's benefiting our students. So, just thank you to all of our cafeteria workers, our school nutrition staff for a wonderful, wonderful job on behalf of our kids. >> Thank you, Miss Bernick. We'll move to her last presentation for you. Thank you board temperature school board members. Our very last our last presentation quickly will be our policies for first week. And so if you take a look at the screen our first policy of this evening for PCPS is policy JJ AG. It's a new policy. This policy titles is titled student athlete extreme heat safety and protection. This is in alignment with our VSBA policy JJ AG. Of course, it is new. And this purpose of this policy review was to create a new

073policy to reflect the addition of the Virginia code 22.1-271.9 by House Bill 1663 and Senate Bill 1104. The PCPS procedures have been added as required in align with VSBA 525. Policy number two this evening is policy LC for PCPS. And this PCPS policy title is charter schools. This VSBA policy is LC and the purpose of this review was to update this policy for more clarity and consistency. Footnotes have been added. Procedures for charter school applications are required and are outlined in our PCPS regulations LC-R in in relation and in alignment with BSBA 525. Policy number three of this evening for PCPS is policy LC-e. That policy title is Petersburg City Public Schools Charter School Application Addendum. This VSBA policy alignment is LC-E. And the purpose of this policy review was to update the policy for

074clarity and consistency. Footnotes have been updated and added in alignment with BSBA 525. PCPS policy number four, policy LC-R. Our PCPS policy title is Petersburg City Public Schools Charter School Regulations. There's no alignment to a VSDA policy, but we updated this policy with regulations that were reviewed and no revisions have been recommended. That concludes our policies for first read of this evening. Thank you, school board chair and board chair members. Thank you, Miss Brown. Any questions? This will come back to us in November. Thank you. Next, we I believe it's our public comment period. Next, we move to number five, our public comment period. Public comment period. The and public are encouraged during the public comment period. No person may speak on an issue for more than three minutes. Please give your name, address, or

075when approaching the podium. Our first speaker is Miss Lady Cook. [Music] Good evening, Superintendent Brown. Board members, I am speaking on behalf of the bus drivers. Uh we have I was here I guess last two term about this time asking for help. >> Excuse me, Miss Cook. Let's start back over. If you're speaking for the group, it's five minutes. If it's for the group, >> if you're speaking for the group, you get five minutes. So, you're speaking for the entire group. >> I got five minutes. >> Are you speaking for the entire group? >> No, you're not. >> I'm I'm going do one and a half minutes. Vanessa going to do something. >> We just to each person. >> Do each person get three minutes? It's fine about it. >> Let's get it on. >>

076I was here last turn talking about we need help and support and you brought in Dr. Lee. He was pretty good. He helped us along. But as you know, I had an issue the other day. And until this issue came up, no one seemed to care. No one still cared the way I feel. Okay. My issue was I got hit in the head by a high school student. Okay. Um, a couple people reached out to me and asked me how I'm doing and everything. Walnut Hill, Brandon, John, Mr. Harris and all of the way I feel, we have no support from no one. We are here constantly. I come in to every board meeting and I listen at what all you guys are saying about supporting the teachers, supporting this. I I'm all for supporting

077everybody, but what about the bus driver? It seem like rather give us, you take from us. That's >> right. >> You don't give us nothing. You took our bonus away. And when I mentioned the bonus, everybody eyes got big. I ain't never heard of a bonus. What is this all about? We need help. And we still need help. Who's going to help us? Are you guys going to wait till one of us really get killed or serious hurt before you step forward? We step forward every day. We drive to school, but we take abuse from the parent, the kids. But as soon as I do something wrong, oh, I'mma write Lily up. You're the more professional one. You should know how to handle your ch. You should know how to handle yourself just as well

078as I do. We still need help, guys. I'm sorry. We need help. Nobody helps us. Nobody supports us. You get up here and support other teachers support each other. Who's here to support us? Just us. It got to be someone in this organization that can help us. Thank you. Real quick, my name is Jackie Evans. I work at the transportation department. I We need help. I work on the sped bus. Somebody should put eyes on the sped program. We need all the help we can get. We're here to take care of students. We want to do the best we can do, but our hands are tied and we're not equipped to do what we need to do. Nobody's given us the resources. You talk to one person, okay, I'll look into it. Talk to look

079into it. Everybody's looking, but nothing has been done. Oh, we're working on this. I have to wait for this person. for that. Meanwhile, we're still in the trenches dealing with these students on a regular basis and we're not giving any help whatsoever. We're here because we need help. We're asking for help. We're asking for guidance. Anybody, please help us. We need help and I got to go. My grand playing football. >> I'm I'm here because of our salary. I I drive full time, but I I get paid part time. And they done even took the little part-time money that we was getting. We was doing like 28 28 hours a week. Every two weeks we got 58 58 hours. And now when we come in, if we come in at at 8:30, they give us

080uh if we come in at 8:33, so they mark us down. what 8:33 we don't get that that half an hour or that quarter too. And that's not fair. I drive the a full-time run and I've been doing it for the last three years. I've been back. I I worked with uh Petersburg Public Transportation for almost 20 years before I got pushed out. Okay. And I don't think it's fair. We don't get paid for no holiday or nothing. We don't get for no get paid for no holiday. And they didn't want to take the little bit that that we was getting. >> That's not fair. >> No, it's not. >> That's not fair. >> Can you give your name for the record? >> Excuse me? >> Your name for the record? >> List. >> Thank

081you. >> Good evening everybody. My name is Vanessa Graves. Um I live in the water here area. I'm a product of Petersburg High School's class of 1990. We got a class of junior coming up this month actually. So um I just want to say that I wrote down some paragraphs if I'm not going to read them. >> I just feel like we do need more support. We don't want to just hear it. We need to see it. We need to be loved and appreciated just like anybody else. Also, we go through a lot on that school bus while we driving. I'm telling you. Uh, kids fighting, cursing, smoking weed, throwing paper, pencils, object at us. It's It's not very safe for us at times. But yet, me myself, I'm still professional with my students. I

082still treat them with love and kindness. I still do nice things for them. And I just feel like we're not appreciated as bus drivers. We need to be seen. We need to be heard. We need support. We really do. And we just need to be backed up. Um, as far as the shortage of our bus driver, it's going to continue to stay that way because because of the pay, because of the work environment, because of the leadership, if the leadership doesn't get any better with managing us as employees, um, we don't feel safe, we don't feel heard, we don't feel important. So therefore, we're not going to want to stay on the job. and you're not going to be able to get new uh workers or drivers with all that going on. So, I just

083feel like it's something that can be done and I think we're in the right place and we're going to keep coming until we get good results. >> Thank you, Miss >> Yes. Um, Miss Wilson, are you speaking yourself before the group or you speak on your own? >> I'm going to speak on behalf of the group before myself. Oh, thank you. Uh, good afternoon board members, madame superintendent and attendees. I am uh the unis director. I also am a resident of Fsburg as you know have wor but uh recently I got lots of calls about some of the things that the uh bus drivers had talked about uh especially the injury that touched me because I know that she's been here several times with warnings about what may or may not happen if the support

084was not rendered and unfortunately it had to happen before someone took note of it. I heard restructuring. I think that is needed in that bus department. Um lot of tension. Uh it's not a pleasant place for them. They speak to that often. I think you do need to look at your management. Uh there are people been there a while and they've manipulated the system. And I'll leave it at that. I'll leave it there. But what I did do is try to seek solutions because I'm always coming here sharing with you because I have other districts and they're doing some good things and things that we can recognize and try to see if it fits here. I went to a school district today and I met um with a gentleman and I respect this gentleman because

085when I first came here 10 years ago, he was one of he was a bus driver manager that I talked to. And the first word he says is protocol. You know, everybody has protocol. But what I liked about and I he allowed me to say his name is Jerry Pin. Jared Par told his story. His story was he was a bus driver and someone saw in him over time uh potential for being a leader. He went from a bus driver to a manager of that department. While he was there, he went back to school, got his undergraduate degree, got his master's degree and his doctor's degree in divinity. And they felt so good about him in Sussex County. They now they now gave him several other departments to manage and everybody takes care of Dr.

086Parent because Dr. Parent takes care of them and one of the things he shared with me what they do as a system is they have uh retirees at work so they you know they're very careful about how many hours they work. So what they do instead of taking money away they give them opportunity to maintain what they are paying. We do they do have part-time employees but what they do is three hours they give them for the bus travel here and there but then after they're done I think someone mentioned that we can't pay them from sitting around. Well, at that school district, they don't. They go in the classrooms, they assist the teachers, they run papers off. You know, all he asks that you maintain your certification when you're coming in the dorm. If

087you don't have it, he helps you get it. He gives you incentives to go and get it. And you know, there are agreements that if you leave before, you're responsible for those payments. But I went to that school system today and I saw bus drivers in there. One was an aid and one was a a regular uh substitute and they were talking like they were planning for the day and I was like, "Wow." You know, I actually saw it in action. These bus drivers working with teachers in a school and they had smiles on their face. Yeah, you going to run that off. Yeah, I'll do that. You go ahead and do that. I felt good about that because I recognized as Dr. Par parent parent told me they valued their employees from the bottom

088to the top. There's a message that we value you and we will invest in you. Everybody you go there now everybody love Harry Pool. protocol was key to him, but more importantly, his people were key to him. And you've heard their pain. I've heard their pain. They call me, they call Miss Freedom, and they call their other colleagues to vent. But what they want from this board administration is change. Change that will meet their needs. some of these incentives that others best practices. You all are seeking best practices all across this state. Let's find something for the bus drivers that will work for them that will guarantee them living wages. We haven't even addressed living wages. When Mrs. Ball has to question someone question, well, you were complaining about um your working. They're working extra

089time because you don't have enough bus drivers and they're doing two routes. So, they are making extra time. So, I ask that you think about these things and remember these people because they're they're in there for if they don't get the kids to you. >> All of that statistical data that you're seeking, it won't make it because those kids won't get to school right there. So, thank you for the additional time for Thank you. Can >> I just say one more thing? Come on back, Mr. >> No. Yes. >> Come on. >> You know, thank you. I feel like I'm a dedicated job. I come to work every day. I do what I'm supposed to do. If I need to cover extra run, which is not in my group, I do it with no problem.

090But soon as I yell at a student too loud, I get written up. you know, management, where is it? Other groups get up here and they have someone with them. We come, we stand alone. Where's our support at? We need support. We need help. I don't think that's too much to ask for. I really don't think so. I know it's not. Let me put it that way. It's not a lot to ask. You need to help us sometime. Look at us. People just have forgot about the bus route. But we are the first step and we the last step. If we don't pick them up, you can't keep. You can't coordinate whatever you do on a given day. I know what I do. I drive a school bus. I do my job. Somebody else need

091to do a job, too. Hope I ain't stepping on no toes. >> Thank you. We appreciate you. It's ridiculous. You know, [Music] Do you think we just foundation? >> Thank you. Put it in schoolboard members. Um, and thank you everyone. I just want to make a correction to our donations list that was um posted. And so if you go back to our donations, I need to make a correction. Um the name in the report and so the name for the report 4912 2025 and so it says PCPS individual. So the name name of the donor of the organization was Miss Ann Taylor. >> And so the uh we want to make sure that that's the thank you to Miss Taylor for her donation. And so we want to make sure that that is correct in

092the minutes that it's Ann Taylor who provided this wonderful check for $400. And so we want to thank her publicly. I know earlier as I read them, the contact individual's name was read, but we wanted to make sure that we call out Miss Ann Taylor and Miss K. Alpha for your donations to JOTC and to our student support department. >> Thank you. Okay. We move board members to our action item 68. Thank you. So for our first it is a superintendent's recommendation the school board approve the title one part A 2025 20226 application revision as provided. And so this is revision to include the correct name for our interim support for title one programs. And so it is the superintendent's recommendation the school board approve the title one part A 2025 2026 application revision as

093provided. >> Okay, you've heard the superintendent's recommendation. Are there any questions? Is there a motion to accept? >> Moved by Mr. Pierce, second by Mr. Dan. >> All in favor? opposed. Motion carries 6B. >> Thank you. It's our for Virginia State University and Fuburg City Public Schools. It is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board approved the memorandum of understanding between PCPS and VSU VSU for the 2025 engagement pilot proposal as provided. >> And it's my understanding, Dr. Gay, the work is has already started. They started the work. >> Yes. >> Okay. Any other questions? And this is a revision. >> This was a revision to the format that was pre presented to the board previously. There were some changes when they resubmitted it. And so we had to bring it back to the board

094because you approved a different version, a different format. So we wanted to bring it so that it is the actual format um and implementation of all the information for this pilot. >> Thank you. You've heard the superintendent's recommendation. Is there a motion to accept? >> Question. M. Um can I guess can you tell us what was changed? What was the revision? >> Yes. Um so there were signatures that were added. Um and just for clarity, Dr. Walter Willis is still a part um he has a new position. So uh the vice chancellor is uh now a signature and won the >> Thank you. I think it was motion was made by Miss Parker. >> Second, >> Mrs. Tucker. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carries. Next, we have our advisory committees and board members.

095These are your advisory committees. Mr. Lund is not here, but I believe Okay. The current advisory committee. Miss Tucker, if you want to read your names of your new indiv that will be on for the two year term. >> Yes. [Music] Smith. This is for the parent advisory committee. So we have Lashanti Smith from Wan Hill, Virginia Blackwell from Vernon Johns Middle School, Mia Oliver from Plaz Lane, Dr. Neil, he'll be a division parenting committee member. Christy Ames of Cool Spring, Crystal Brown, PHS, Lakesha Tinsley, Ron Jones Middle School, Glenford State, Aaron Johnson, Warner Hill Elementary, and Sheena Jones. >> Okay, thank you. Mr. Lundy is not here. The following citizens are recommended for a two-year term for the Special Education Advisory Committee. Dr. Leslie Harris, Katrina Harris, Vicki Blunt, Janica White, and Bar. Is

096that Baronis? >> Baroness Butler. Also on the career and technical education, Miss Okay. Those members are Danica Coleman Milner, Larry Murphy, Alice Weather, Erin Roland, Kofi Annan, Claudia Williams, Constance Jones, Dr. Rante Neil. >> Thank you, Miss Clark. >> Thank you, board members. You've heard the recommendations for each of our committees and so it is the superintendent's recommendation that we approve all of the following citizens to serve on these committees for a two-year term. >> Okay. Is there a motion to accept the recommendation? >> So moved by Mr. Jameson second. >> Mr. Pierce. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. >> D for PCPS and YMCA. Learn to swim before and after school programs 2025. It is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board approve the memorandum of understanding with the YMCA for

097the learn to swim and the before and after school programs for 2025 2026 school year as provided. >> Any questions? Is there a motion to accept? >> Moved by Mr. Pierce. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Mrs. Proctor. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carries. 6E. >> Thank you. a request for additional budget authority for the Walnut Hill West View School Construction Project. And so if you could bring that up. Thank you so much. And so make it a little bit larger. Perfect. Thanks. Thank you. So to the to the members of the Petersburg City Public School Board, we're writing I'm actually asking for formally request additional budget authority to support the preconstruction phase of the Walnut Hill Elementary School and the Westview Early Childhood Education Center construction project. This funding is critical

098to advancing key activities such as the conceptual design, community engagement, and essential site preparation work. All of which are foundation foundational to the successful execution of this project. The proposed FY26 pre-construction budget encompasses two primary areas of focus. The first involves $175,000 allocated for the PPE conceptual and phase 2 design support, which includes tasks such as schematic development, stakeholder coordination, and technology implementation to enhance project management. The second component totaling $675,000 comprises owner cost essential for the site readiness and compliance including environmental and geotechnical studies, surveying, special surveying, special inspections and permitting fees. Permitting permitting permitting permitting can't get it the permits. The fees are related to the permits together. of these categories amount to a total funding request of $850,000. If you scroll up, a line item breakdown of the owner cost for the

099Walnut Hill and Westby project is below. So as you can see each phase a detail outlined it line item for our consulting phase one our PPA consulting phase two which is 30% of the design technology and project software meeting and community engagement cost administrative and personnel support legal financial council and owner contingency pre-esign and that's a total for the first two phases to support 175,000 and then for the other portion the environmental and geotechnical studies is working out broken out for the estimated cost the surveying and site investigation special inspections and testing PGMP insurance and permitting permitting fees and so the total estimated cost of 175 175,000 and 675,000 so the approval of this request will ensure that the division can meet its preconstruction responsibilities maintain project momentum and adhere to compliance and transparency and

100standards throughout the planning process we will proceed to phase two schematic design negotiations, init initiate community engagement efforts, and begin site investigations as outlined in the FY26 project timeline. All expenditures will be monitored and reported to the board on a quarterly basis. Thank you for your consideration and continued partnership in supporting the development of this enhanced educational facilities for the city of Petersburg students and families. So, in summary, we are asking for spending authority for $850,000 to be added to our FY26 budget. As you recall, our original budget was approved um by the board and then it went to city council. What is the total of our budget is $89 million. So, we you all approved an $89 million budget. It went to the to the city council. They approved $89 million. We have to

101add 875,000 to that FY26 budget because it is not a part of the original budget that you all approved and city council approved. We have to come back to the board to say that we are going to take this money which will come out of two sources. This $850,000 will come out of the first $75,000, which is the three proposals that we received for the conceptual phase of the Walnut Hill Westby project. We collected $25,000 from each company. So that's the first $75,000 that's added to this. And then the additional money will come out of the funds from our our SCAP grant which was the grant for school construction grant that Petersburg received um for the building of the Walnut Hill Rescue project. And so in order to be able to move forward, we must

102add $850,000 um to our budget. And we need authority to be able to move to the next step of going to city council to say we have new funding sources, which is the 75,000 from the three vendors that sent us proposals and the remaining money that's coming out of the SCAP grant. We need to take some of that money out to pay for the original pre-construction cost. So, that is the request that we're requesting approval for us to u add $850,000 to our budget and move forward to city council to ask for reappropriations. >> So, your request is for this board to approve you for us to accept >> the 850,000 and then your second piece will be for you to you and myself to submit a letter to city council accident um to appropriate

103the money into our budget so we can move forward. >> That perfect. Thank you, board, for that help. So, at this time, it is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board accept the $850,000 from those two identified sources. The first being the three three $25,000 um checks and the money from the Scap grant. And so it's also the superintendent's recommendation to also approve the next steps of going to city council with board and myself sending a letter to request additional reappropriations to our FY26 budget as provided. >> Thank you. Any questions? Is there a motion to accept the superintendent's recommendation? >> So move by M second by Mr. Pierce. All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion carries. Thank you. Next we'll move to all of our >> absolutely our first proclamation proclamation um of this

104evening is our education technology day and so it is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board approved the proclamation of education technology day for September 23rd 2025 as provided and just really quickly uh whereas technology plays a vital role in preparing students um for success for success in a rapidly changing global society. And whereas education technology day is observed annually on September 23rd to recognize the importance of integrating innovative tools and resources into teaching and learning. And whereas Petersburg City Public Schools is committed to providing students and educators with access to technology that fosters creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and lifelong learning. And whereas the integration of educational technology enhances student engagement, supports personalized learning, and equipss young people with the digital skills needed to thrive in college, career, and citizenship. And whereas our teachers, staff,

105and administrators continue to embrace technology as a means to expand opportunities, strengthen instruction, and bridge learning beyond the classroom. Now therefore be it resolved the Petersburg City School Board and the superintendent do hereby proclaim September 23rd, 2025 as Education Technology Day in Petersburg City Public Schools and encourages students, families, and educators and community partners to celebrate the power of technology in education and its role in shaping a brighter future for all. Adopted this first day of October 2025. Is the superintendent's recommendation the school board approve this proclamation as provided. >> Thank you. Is there a motion to approve the recommendation? >> So moved by Mr. Dams. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Mrs. Tucker. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carries. Next we move to G. >> Thank you board. School board members.

106It is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board approve the proclamation for National Principles Month as provided. And so whereas principles are visionary leaders in our schools who set the academic tone and foster an environment where students and teachers thrive. And whereas principles play a critical role in ensuring that every student has access to a highquality education that prepares them for future success. And whereas principles demonstrate unwavering dedication to maintaining safe, supportive, and innovative schools that meet the needs of all learners. And whereas principles are committed to building strong relationships with families, staff, and the community, ensuring that education is a shared responsibility. And whereas scroll up for me. Thank you. The success of Petersburg City Public Schools is a direct reflection of the dedication, leadership, and tireless efforts of its school principles. And whereas

107October has been designated as National Principal Month to recognize and celebrate the essential role principles play in shaping the future of our students and schools. Now therefore be it resolved that the Petersburg school city school board and superintendent do hereby recognize October 2025 as National Principles Month in Petersburg City Public Schools and encourage all students, staff, families, and community members to join in celebrating and honoring the outstanding leadership of our principles adopted this first day of October 2025 by the Petersburg City School Board. So again, it is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board approve the proclamation for National Principal Month as provided. >> Thank you, Miss Brim. You've heard the superintendent's recommendation. Is that a motion to accept? >> So moved by Miss Proctor. Is that second? Second, Mr. Dan. All in favor? >>

108I oppose. Motion carries. Next, we move to H. >> Thank you. Our proclamation for National Bullying Prevention Month in October. So, it is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board approved the proclamation for October 25th as National Bullying Prevention Month as provided. So, whereas a safe and supportive school environment is essential to ensuring that every student can learn, grow, and thrive. And whereas bullying is an issue that affects young people across the nation and it can have serious consequences for students, students academic achievement, mental health, and overall well-being. And whereas Petersburg City Public Schools is committed to providing a culture of respect, kindness, and inclusion in every classroom, school, and programs. And whereas National Bullying Prevention Month, observed each October, unite schools, families, and communities in raising awareness about bullying prevention and promoting positive school

109climate. And whereas it is it is vital students, staff, families, and community members work together to prevent bullying and encourage acceptance, empathy, and understanding. And whereas Petersburg City Public Schools recognizes the responsibility to equip students with the skills to stand up against bullying and to support those who have been impacted. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Petersburg City School Board and the Superintendent do hereby proclaim October 2025 as National Bullying Convention Month in Petersburg City Public Schools and encourage all members of the school community to engage in activities, events, and conversations that promote kindness, inclusion, and respect for all. Adopted this first day of October, 2025 by the Petersburg City School Board. >> Thank you. You've heard the superintendent's recommendations. Is there a motion to accept? >> Moved by Mr. Miles. Is there a

110second? >> Second. >> Mrs. Proctor. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carries. I >> thank you. Our proclamation for National Disability History and Awareness Month for October. Is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board approve the proclamation for the National Disability History and Awareness Month October 2025 as provided. Thank you. So whereas there are over 185,000 students with disabilities in Virginia's K12 education system and approximately 560 students with disabilities in Petersburg City public schools. And whereas research has shown that students with disabilities experience greater academic and social challenges than non-disabled students. And whereas the Petersburg City Public School Division finds that in order to ensure the full inclusion of all people into society, there's a need to increase public awareness of the history of disabilities and the disability rights movement. And whereas the Petersburg City

111Public School Division finds that instruction on disability history, people with disabilities, and the disability rights movement will increase respect for acceptance of people with disabilities. Now therefore, be it resolved that the school board of the Petersburg City Public Schools, Virginia, does hereby recognize the month of October 2025 as disability history and awareness month and hereby encourages our schools to provide instruction on disability history and people with disabilities. Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution to be included in the minutes of the regular meeting of said board and that a copy to be rendered tendered to Mr. Danny Costello, director of special education. >> Thank you, Miss Brown. Is there a motion to accept the superintendent's recommendation? Move Mr. Davis. Is there a second? >> Second, >> Miss Proctor. All in favor? >>

112I oppose. Motion carries. And our last proclamation, >> thank you po Richard. Our final proclamation of this evening is our National Custodian Day. And so it is the superintendent's recommendation that the school board approve the proclamation for National Custodian Day, October 2nd, 2025 as provided. Take it a little bit larger. Thank you. Whereas custodians play a vital role in maintaining clean, safe, and welcoming learning environments for all students, staff, and visitors. And whereas custodians work tirelessly, often behind the scene to ensure that classrooms, hallways, cafeterias, and school grounds are well-kept and conducive to teaching and learning. And whereas the dedication, hard work, and commitment of custodians contribute directly to the health, safety, and success of every school in Petersburg City Public Schools. And whereas National Custodian Day observed annually on October 2nd provides an opportunity

113to recognize and celebrate the invaluable service of these essential staff members. And whereas Petersburg City Public Schools is proud to honor its custodians whose efforts reflect pride in their work and deep care for the students and community they serve. Now therefore, be it resolved that Petersburg City School Board and the Superintendent do hereby proclaim October 2nd, 2025 as National Custodian Day in Petersburg City Public Schools and encourage all students, staff, families, and community members to express their gratitude and appreciation to custodial staff for their dedicated dedication and service. Adopt this first day of October, 2025 for the Petersburg City School Board. You've heard the superintendent's recommendation. Is there a motion to accept? >> So moved. >> Moved by Miss Proctor. Second, Mr. Pierce. All in favor? >> Motion carries. Thank you. Next, we move to

114number seven, superintendence report 78. >> Thank you. Next slide. Thank you. I just want to highlight this evening board members our Petersburg Petersburg High School senior breakfast. And so our Petersburg High School students recently held its senior breakfast. During the senior breakfast, we celebrate the bright fut futures of the class of 2026 with delicious food, uplifting words, and incredible community spirit. Also, just again, as you heard earlier, our tasting Japan tour returned to PCPS again. You saw that earlier with John Sugam Moore from Tar Inc. He came back to our students and he did it for our Pitman Academy, Lake Elementary School, Cool Spring, Petersburg High School, Pleasant Lane, and Walen Hill Elementary School. As you can see, our students learned about the history of Japan and saved up the authentic I don't know how

115to say that. Gozza Japanese dumplings. And I saw it firsthand when I was visiting the school. And our students were excited as he cooked the dumplings right in front of them in the classroom. And so I definitely want to highlight one of our stars here in Petersburg City Public Schools. Alli Jones was featured in the Charlotte Fashion Week. Ally Jones is our very own seventh grade student at Roman John's Middle School and was recently featured in the Charlotte Fashion Week for her brand one versus a million. So she's 12 years old and she has been highlighted and she is representing herself, her family, and the rest of all Petersburg City Public Schools. So this is her designs and we are so excited about her showcase. That's right. So congratulations to Ally. [Applause] >> Thank you.

116Thank you, M. Brown. Do we have any committee reports? I know many of we just voted on these. We have not had our meeting yet. >> Yes. CPE had its meeting um I think it was the 22. and um did that for me for those of us who didn't know Mr. and our doctor excuse me and um I was so impressed those of you who don't know I have a vocational education background so I felt like it was hand in glove although it is changed so much since I was in vocational ed I mean you're into careers we still at the home and in the in industry. So, I really really appreciate what's uh happening there. >> Thank you. We appreciate you. Thank you. Okay. Next, we move to new business from board members. Any

117new business, >> Mr. N? >> Yeah. Um this is really old business, but we we get to it now because it's October is anti-bullying month. you know they do with um CBM concerned black men anti-bullying forum that we do u so that will be scheduled soon at the middle school and burn and through communities school okay so we'll be I'll be this >> okay appreciate sir thank you just have one one um question this month and I ask it where are we the bathrooms here at the high school. I'm still being told that they're not available to our students nor the public. >> Absolutely. Martinez. >> Absolutely. You are correct, UF. Um it's unfortunate that this particular um contract has been a challenge. We have um been addressing them daily. Um they g us reports.

118Uh it is my um idea that it will be done probably within the next 5 days. They they they wanted to make sure that the floors was cured correctly. Um they put one sink in I believe in the girls um gym restroom and whatnot, but um we're on it, but we definitely won't be doing any business with this contract anytime anytime while I'm here. So I I I'll definitely keep you in the loop. Um but it's been a challenge and and and we're dealing with them on a daily and um we're forcing them to do what they need to do and um it should be done within the next five days. Thank you. And I ask Mr. Also, you know, with with every bid that we put out is can you put a clause in

119there to say if if it's not completed with a certain date, you start you start taking money back. >> Liquidated damages. Absolutely. Absolutely. And that's that's going to be the standard moving forward here. Um we want to add that on our contracts. Um but we also want to have um uh best management practices is to have a pool um already vetted if you will of contractors and whatnot that you know like for an example um like this particular contractor I would already fire off the job but I would have somebody in place to uh fix the things that that he's not doing but we can't do that as of right now. You know what I mean? But absolutely move forward we'll never have this conversation again. Thank you. Appreciate it. Okay, if that is all

120just need a motion to adjurnn moved by Mr. D and second by M. All in favor? >> I motion carry. This will be meeting J. Everyone have a wonderful night and see you on October the 15th for a work session. There will be no public comment and no voting, no action. over here would probably be best because we have more room to put our stuff out. Yeah.