001Good evening everybody. Uh like to bring to order the Picosen or the FE or sorry January 20th Picosen City Public School Board meeting. Okay. The first thing up is uh Miss Stud, are you ready for the pledge of allegiance? Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please pause for a moment of silence. You may be seated. Today our quote comes from Richie Norton. Every sunset is an opportunity to reset. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay, Miss Carol, are there any additions and or modifications to the agenda for tonight? >> Chair Burbage, we have no additions or modifications this evening. >> Okay, thank you. Uh,
002Miss Party, do you want to come up for the recognition? >> Chair Burbage, members of the board, Mr. Tillith, colleagues, and community members, thank you for joining us this evening. I would like to um share with you the senior of the month for the month of January. So, academically, the January senior of the month consistently challenges herself by taking numerous honors, advanced placement, and dual enrollment courses. Her commitment to her studies has earned her an impressive 4.34 gradepoint average, as well as membership to the National Honors Society, Math Honor Society, and Social Studies Honor Society. And beyond the classroom, Ashley demonstrates strong leadership and involvement in a wide range of extracurricular activities. She's been an active member of the Student Council Association, Chick-fil-A Club, DECA, and Leo Club. She's also served in multiple leadership roles,
003including class president of the student council administration, SCA, vice president in 2024 and president in 2025 of the Key Club, vice president of the Chick-fil-A club, and chapter president of DECA. And in athletics, Ashley plays on the Lady Islanders varsity field hockey team for which she was a state runnerup. She also plays on the Lady Islanders varsity soccer team where she was captain assisting and winning the state title. This year, she joined the varsity football team as a kicker. In addition to her academic and extracurricular achievements, Ashley has gained a valuable professional and community experience. She worked as a lifeguard and field supervisor for the local parks and recck group. She's also dedicated significant time to community service through her work as a student helper with the neighborhood food drive and golden age gala. She
004is a motivated, ambitious, and well-rounded student who sets high goals for herself and consistently achieves them. Her strong leadership, time management, and interpersonal skills make her highly respected by both peers and faculty. Please joining join me in congratulating Miss Ashley Gith for being the January senior of the month. [applause] So, I actually know that um Ashley is in transit on the way here. She is running a little bit late. So, maybe we can hand her her certificate later if time allows. Um but we wanted to congratulate her nonetheless. So, thank you very much. And that does end my recognitions for the evening. >> Okay. Uh when she gets here, we'll just uh depending on where we're at, we'll we'll make a pause. Is that okay? >> Sounds great. Thank you. >> Okay. Um moving on
005to presentations and reports. Um, Miss IDE for the uh instructional update. >> Good evening, Chair Burbage, schoolboard members, Superintendent Tilllet, staff, and community members. Tonight, I will be sharing a few brief updates regarding our active committees and information about advanced placement courses here in PCPS. However, I do want to remind you that we promised more information regarding our school performance and support framework data. At this time, we still have not received any updates from the VDOE. We did have communication last week. Sorry, with the holiday, I was last week that they promised us an update which we have not received. They have shared that they are reviewing their data with their third party vendor which is Old Dominion University. So, as soon as we have those updates, you will have those updates. So, as a
006reminder, we received a STEM grant to support exploration of STEM careers and to support literacy. So, again, just a reminder to plan to join us on April 23rd for this family engagement event hosted at Picosen Middle School. If there's inclement weather, we will move inside. We do have this QR code because we are looking for volunteers and donations for this event. Our committee has already met. We have subcommittees that will be reaching out soon um to establish the activities that are happening. So we hope that we have a lot of community uh participation. Our AI committee which we spoke on earlier in the year has already begun its work. We're being very intentional how we move forward. The team started by grounding their work in the VDOE's guidance to ensure our approach aligns with state
007expectations, particularly around ethical use, student data privacy, and appropriate instructional applications. From there, they reviewed AI guidance and implementation resources from neighboring and comparable school divisions. This helped the team understand the common practices and guardrails that are already in place and ensure our work is informed by regional best practices while still reflecting Picosen's values and instructional priorities. And finally though, we will be piloting Magic School for educators. It's an AI platform that helps educators in their planning and resources. And this pilot will allow teachers to explore how AI can support planning, differentiation, and feedback while maintaining professional judgment and clear expectations for professional use. And then that feedback from the pilot will inform our next steps as the committee continues its work. We also wanted to share that we have formed a playground committee with
008the goal of reviewing our current playgrounds in order to identify opportunities for improvement related not just to the fun and engagement of our students but the safety and inclusivity. The committee held its first meeting which included teachers, building administration, division administrators and Mr. Keith Vi bringing together instructional operational and facilities perspectives. Together, the group reviewed the playgrounds at Picosen Primary and Picosen Elementary School to better understand how the spaces are currently used, what students enjoy most about the existing playgrounds, and where additional or different types of equipment may be needed, and any safety concerns that we needed to address. A key focus of this work will be identifying opportunities to improve improve inclusivity so that all students across physical, sensory, and developmental needs can fully access and benefit from these spaces. Next, the special education
009advisory committee will be meeting on this topic at their next meeting so that we ensure that we have parent input um with a goal ultimately culminating in a playground project on the capital improvement plan. So, be on the lookout for that. We are pleased to share that Posen High School made the AP honor role for 2025 with a bronze distinction. In order to earn this, they must meet the following criteria uh for their students in the graduating class. 40% or more of the graduating cohort took at least one AP exam during high school. 25% or more of the graduating cohort scored a three or higher on at least one AP exam. And 2% or more of the graduating cohort took five or more AP exams during high school. One of those had to be during
010the 9th and 10th grade year to balance the load. We also wanted to share that we had 36 students qualify for an AP distinction of either AP scholar, AP Scholar with honor, or AP Scholar with distinction. These 36 students had an average score of 3.59. The scholar is granted to students who receive scores of three or higher on three or more AP exams. The scholar with honor is granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and scores of three or higher on four or more of their exams. And the scholar with distinction is granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on AP exams taken and scores of three or higher on five AP exams. lots of different qualifications, but we had
01136 students meet that, which is very impressive. As shared previously, our enrollment in advanced placement courses is increasing, reflecting our continued focus on expanding access to advanced coursework. We look forward to sharing additional accomplishments of this program as it continues to grow. Again, just a reminder of what is to come. And before I introduce my next group of students, because I do have a student presentation for you, is there any questions you have for me? Yes, ma'am. >> So, the AP um scholars, how many um total students took the AP exam this? >> Oh, gosh, we were just looking at that. We >> and I I you probably said it >> 187 students took AP exams and over 300 exams taken >> but some were recurring student but 300 exams >> um and of all
012of those exams well no how so it's how many non duplicated >> 187 but I can double check that number for you we looked at a lot of numbers before this [laughter] >> yeah so 187 so that so 36 ended up being either scholar with honors or extension out of 187. How does that compare with previous years? >> Well, this data is new to us because remember this is the first time that we've invested in all students taking the exam. So, we don't really have a baseline for that because prior to this students had to pay to take their exams and so we didn't have a high participation rate. >> But, but do we have any scholars of the ones? I mean any doubt at all? >> We can look up that information for you
013on if we had any of fall into that. I think we got a lot of this publication this year because of our high number. AP actually sent us this data congratulating us on these distinctions. >> They don't send it normally. >> Well, because we met a distinction, we got it. You see what I'm saying? We >> There may have been none before. >> There may have there may have been none. If I could just weigh in on that, when when you have um historically in school divisions that don't require the exam and if you require it, you have to pay for it. So, because this board chose to invest in that, we're now able to track real data. Um about less than 50% of our students historically have taken the AP exam after taking the
014course, which is bogus data. Um so in order to get real data we have to have um 100% participation or close to it with few extreme exceptions and um now for the first time in P because in history we actually have that data. So um we've already seen the participation obviously grow because we require the exam. Now we will start tracking performance on these exams. Um this is all part of a comprehensive initiative to grow uh both participation and performance in high rigor uh coursework. >> Thank you. We did have a student. >> It was 182 total AP students. >> Mhm. >> And then 307 um exams taken. And in comparison to previous years, the year before we had 107 that took the exam, 93 the year before. So we have, you know, >> I
015think she was from two years >> asking if we had any students of distinction, but we'd have to dig for that. We've received part of that but not all of the information yet. Like um so I wouldn't want to give out >> we'd have to research that for you. >> Thank you. >> Mhm. Okay. All righty. So for the final portion of our instructional presentation, I'm going to turn it over to a few of our college now students. These students were enrolled in dual enrollment courses this semester at Virginia Peninsula Community College and they'll share a few of their insights with us. We're pleased to introduce to you Henley Smith, Tony Batista, and Ava Dleski. Okay. Who's going to be responsible for the Thank you for allowing us to present today? Hey, I'm Ava Dleski
016and I'm here with Tony Batista and Henley Smith. We are students here at Poston High School and VPCC and we'd like to tell you some more about what we are taking this year. So, there are many reasons that we joined. Some being we will enter college with some experience of what college life is and how it works. We will also enter college with over 40 um credits. We are opened to an opportunity that not many students are allowed to have since there are only five of us in this program this year. So we are just going through this for the first time. There is a financial gain because we do not have to pay for these classes at all. We do not have to we just have to pass the classes. It provides an positive
017outlook on our transcript and provides just a good look. Um it challenges us uh mentally and it is new work and new material that we haven't learned in high school and we are exposed to different learning styles and a college pathway. So our first college class went very well and it inspired us to have a very strong learning environment. All of our co our college professor was very inviting and encouraged us to stay after and gain all the material that we needed to continue. And like I said, we had a positive social development. Like everything was very easily laid out and we got to explore many different diverse ways of areas of learning with having new environments, not only being at the college, but also new faces that um allowed us to collaborate with new
018ideas and others that had different ideas that we could include in new learning. And also, we all finished the semester with an A, which was a plus. >> [applause] >> We are currently in philosophy as we did public speaking earlier, but it helps in other classes too as we're here today presenting. Um, we've gotten the confidence and the ability to speak in front of others. We also have new views on topics, how to read, how to write essays, how to speak in public, how to learn more about college. Um we sharpened some previous skills as said as public speaking um how to write better, how to learn more and new teaching styles as college professors are much different than high school and is a positive way. Um so new material as we have VPCC instead
019of Picosen High School. We have a little of different curriculum. um some useful life skills as well as we have some good skills just to get us ready for college and it's overall just a great experience for us. >> So there are many things that we learned in this class and that we are going to learn. One, we looked we learned what a college class looks like, as in the pace and how quickly it goes, how much work we're going to get, how much response responsibility it is, and how to act in a college class. We learned how to work with others. We had to do a speech with other students in college, and it was a little difficult as high school students, but we learned to work through it. Um, we had to keep
020an open mind. We had to use others ideas and you know take what they think and incorporate it in what work we were doing. We had to communicate with our audience and know our audience to formulate a speech. We had to keep up with any projects and work. We had to write presentations by the due date and the deadline. and we had to learn a variety of ways to present as public speaking taught us. >> There are many reasons why we're continuing this opportunity, but it one of the biggest ones is it continues to challenge us to use our skills that we learn from the classes we're taking at BPCC and the one we already took and the one we're doing now. And obviously we get college credit from the classes since we are a
021college. Um obviously the opportunity is the best thing that has been allowed at Person High School in my opinion. And um we also have new connections with others and new connections with other schools. Um, it helps us build more confidence since we can say we're co in college as sophomores in high school and we get to experience a bunch of new different settings in different classrooms and at different schools and obviously it gives a one break from the high school environment which is very nice. >> Thank you for listening. >> Thank you. [applause] Do you guys have any questions for our presenters tonight? We're so thankful for you guys. I know we could see your confidence up here. So, thank you for doing that. >> I just want to say uh congratulations for stepping outside
022of what was obviously probably a comfort zone and going into a potentially scary situ. You know, you're in college now and you you're getting A's and you're growing. So, you know, put up the good work and, you know, get as much as you can out of it. >> And and just one, I think it's an easy question, too. It sounds like you took one course, college course on the VPCC campus in the fall. It sounds like one in the spring. And will you take more next year or is that kind of what do you know yet or is that up for planning as you as you get closer? We are taking one class next year and it's going to be an elective and count as more credits like towards college. So, it'll replace one of
023our electives that we're taking next year. >> Great. >> Are there any other questions? >> Thank you guys. Great job. >> Thank you, >> Miss Cy. Okay. Yeah, >> thank you. Our senior of the month has arrived and so we have already shared all the glowing things about you, Ashley, but I'm going to give you the write up so you can read it as well. But at this time, I would like to invite Ashley Gross up to be recognized as the senior of the month for January. [applause] Does do they want to come? Oh, never mind. >> Yes. Yes. Come, come, come. [laughter] >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> [applause] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LETTING US TO sneak that one back in. Um, I'll hand it back over to you. Thank you. >> You're done. Okay.
024>> Next up is Mr. Roberts with the operations update. >> All right. Good evening, members of the school board, superintendent, Mr. util staff and community members. Just want to first start off with just a quick update for transportation uh particularly bus patrol and the stopfinder app. Uh bus patrol we will be starting installs hopefully next week according to the company. Uh they expect no longer than a week of installs and we should be ready to run. Um there will be a a period of time where we're going to be just broadcasting what we're doing to the community. uh so they're well aware what what these bus cameras will do. Um and there'll be a kind of a trial period where some warnings will be issued before actually the the tickets as well. So uh we'll
025be broadcasting all that information as soon as it's given to us and all the installs are completed. Uh the stopfinder app before break uh I talked to you about um sending an email through par parent square asking for more um involvement in the the stopfinder app. We had over 800 responses to that survey. So, I was very pleased with that. So, we're uh our team is working hard on getting all those emails entered. So, they will start seeing those emails coming from Stopfinder to sign up for the bus app. So, hopefully that 30 some% will jump significantly um in the next couple weeks. Um then, of course, as always, bus evacuations when second semester rolls around. We're going to be starting those um very soon. All right. So the main topic today um which we
026will bring to you for approval um next month is the uh 2627 school calendar. So I've just written some quick notes up here just to kind of get um things started, get you thinking about it. Uh we did meet with all of our um you know stakeholder groups, we had parents, staff, of course administrators to take a stab at this to give it to you for approval. Um the feedback kind of led to a calendar that was produced the clone of the last three calendars. uh not much changed. It is regional calendar compliant and what that means is all the schools that are in the region that you know makes a huge difference like we've discussed before in some of these regional programs uh we're in line with those other school division so we don't
027have a disadvantage of our students either starting before or after um in those programs that they would share um like New Horizons um it is 180 instructional day calendar there are requirements from the state um you either have to go 180 or 990 hours uh so this is a 180 instructional day calendar. Um we're starting on the same day that we have um in the previous years. The only thing that's kind of funny about this when you're looking at the calendar is where the Labor Day holiday falls. Um which does push us two weeks ahead, but it's the same day that we have started the last few years. Um and I even counted up the the days in summer and we actually still have one more day in summer than we did the previous year.
028So, um it just seems like we're starting earlier, but it's not really. Um it's the same day that we have the past few years. Um last day of school is that you know first week of June the end of that homecoming is definitely different this year just based on the um schedule the football games you have to find obviously a home game and we don't want to conflict with things like seafood fest or other things that are going on. Um so we had to move that to a September game um to make sure that we have all our boxes check on what we need for homecoming. So that was a change from years past. It's always in October. Of course, Seafood Fest week, we we have early release during that week. You see that there.
029Uh we still do have the 10 half uh days where early release happens. And that's a mix of things like homecoming, seafood fest, but also that collaborative time that our teachers uh and staff would have to to plan. Even some of the teacher conferences are during those times as well. So, um I'll be providing a little bit more data next month about um the day of the week, um how statistically like the attendance looks, um if we went with the Wednesday, Thursday. Currently, um the the draft calendar, everybody kind of decided on the Thursday um uh for time being, but again, uh for your approval, but I will have a little bit additional, you know, data to help guide you on that one. Um all the major u holidays are of course going to be
030observed. Uh you see the dates there. We're still getting that 3 days at Thanksgiving. Uh winter break is still that big chunk of time that we're used to that we've had in the few past few years. And then so on. Spring break is the same as the region. Um and ending there with Memorial Day. So again, not a huge change. Just kind of wanted to bring it up um just to kind of give you a surface level look at the major holidays um and kind of what we're looking at. I did make sure that all the quarters and semesters and things of that nature are evenly spaced out um in this calendar too. I found some calendars that we've had in the past kind of have more days than not in certain um you know
031semesters and things. So made sure that was straightened but uh overall kind of a clone uh calendar is like this year and the past two. Okay. through the um particularly the parents input um for them stakeholders. They asked if you know we could go a step further this year and look at the 2728 calendar. Um not to have the full calendar per se, but just to be able to approve or at least post what our major holiday schedule would be like. Um, so that's just one request that I'm just kind of bringing to you to maybe consider uh for the next month when we do this is if we want to go ahead and uh you know approve the holidays for the 2027 2028 school year, I can definitely have those ready uh for you
032know for you to approve or or at least consider um you know in subsequent you know meetings that we have this year. Doesn't have to be the next month but uh if approved of course we can post it on our website, social media just make sure that everybody's aware. Um the point that that was made and I think it's valid. You know there's a lot of families that are trying to plan out vacations and you know these chunks of time off that they have as much as we you know stress attendance you know I like to see when parents are trying to be proactive and take the time when it's you know actually off. So uh I applaud them for that. But uh overall uh the calendar committees from you know each um stakeholder group
033did a great job. I really appreciate the input and um that's basically all I have for today if unless you have questions >> and I know of all the things on the calendar it may be one of the more trivial ones but was there feedback from the high school about the homecoming date that does seem exceptionally early to me. I mean and again I I know it's in the grand scheme of things we are certainly much more concerned about instructional time but >> you know a complex thing because you know we're on a two-year cycle with all these teams. So, um, it kind of was the flip. You know, we we were home, you know, last year for all these games in October and, you know, even late September and, uh, with the seafood fest
034being in October and can't really don't really want to touch that weekend. Um, it was a tough sale. It was really between this and like a I think a game in August or Halloween. Yeah. So, there's just certain dates that we just, you know, knew it probably wouldn't be the best and uh, it's kind of what we were left with. So yeah, we even actually asked a few schools to to change and uh since we travel so well um they didn't want to probably lose that ticket gate money which I can appreciate well as well. So I get it. >> Good question though. >> All right. Thank you very much. >> Next up, uh Miss Spence for the finance and budget update. Good evening, Chair Burbage, members of the school board, Superintendent Tilllet, staff, and
035members of the school community. For the finance report this evening, I will present a brief look at the FY27 budget factors as well as the governor's proposed budget for fiscal year 27. These are some of the factors influencing the preparation of the FY27 budget. I will cover each of these in more detail in the following slides. The factors include compensation, health insurance, as well as state revenue. In regards to compensation, the governor's budget, proposed budget for fiscal year 27 includes funding for a 2% salary increase in FY27 for all SOQ funded positions. We have been in contact with our health insurance consultants and we are currently um estimating that the increase for the health insurance cost will be 9% resulting in an estimated increase cost of 255,000. We've asked the health insurance uh consultants to
036go back and see if they can sharpen their pencils more to get that uh percentage down. Last year's I'll note that the increase was 17%. The PCPS fiscal year 27 budget is going to be based on the governor's proposed 2026 2028 bianial budget that was he issued in December of 2025. The budget is based on a ADM of 2057. As you know, if the student population grows, the school will receive additional state funding, which could be used to hire additional staff staff if necessary to accommodate the increased number of students. The general assembly is currently in session and is scheduled to adjourn on March 15th. As you know, the new governor was um inaugurated had the inauguration on Saturday, and she did her statements to the state legislature just Monday, yesterday. So, um we're really
037at the beginning stages. Uh we really don't know at this time if there's going to be any changes um or what what the changes will be and how it'll affect the schools. At that time, as far as March 15th, the general assembly will present the budget for the governor's uh signature. So, the proposed state revenues that I'm getting ready to review with you may fluctuate. Okay. So this chart presents a comparison between the fiscical year 26 governor's adopted budget which is what we are currently operating under for fiscal year 26 and the fiscical year 27 governor's proposed budget which includes as mentioned earlier a 2% salary increase effective for July 1, 2026 resulting in additional state revenue of $225,324. It highlights that the total decrease in state funding excluding funding for the 2% is that
038$21,000. So if we were going in flat, nothing changed. We're short 201,000 which actually was a little bit better than we originally had estimated because we actually Governor Yncan's proposed budget just gave us a little bit more state revenue even though our eight our um LCI we had a the LCI unfortunately increased significantly. Um so we're operating right out of the gate with $21,000 less in state revenues. But again, we will have to base our fiscal year 27 on this proposed budget. But we are um really have our ears to the ground to see what's going to be coming out with any new monies that could be available. And this is just you've seen it every month. Just putting in front of you. So February 17th, Superintendent Tilllet will uh uh present his proposed budget
039for fiscal year 27. and a month later the public hearing will take place. And that is all we really have at this time for the fiscal year 27 budget. Do you have any questions? >> Yeah. >> With our SOQ positions, how many do we have that are not in that? So, how many do we have to go above for that 2% raise if all staff is going to get that? >> It's it's approximately 5050. >> Okay. About right down the middle. Yeah. [clears throat] >> Any other questions at this time? >> Thank you, Miss Spence. >> Miss Carol, do we have anyone here for public comment? >> We do have one speaker this evening. >> Okay. Um before you come up, I need to read you our public comment statement. Um the Picosen the Picosen
040school board welcomes public comment during regular meetings. Schoolboard members do not respond to public comment during a meeting. All comments should address a matter related to Picosen public schools. The school board will not hear public comment that involves an individual student related matter. the disclosure of which would violate applicable confidentiality requirements. The school board expects that each speaker will be courteous, modeling for our students how one can respectfully disagree with others views. Speakers will address their comments to the entire school board and not to one individual board member, nor to the superintendent, a staff member, or the audience. Speakers are encouraged not to engage in personal attacks. Speakers will present their comments from the podium. To follow schoolboard policy, time allotted speaker shall be three minutes. >> Okay, >> we did have one additional speaker
041sign up, so we have two tonight. Okay, first speaker will be Michael Burman from Lodge Road regarding hate speech. >> Sir, sorry. Sorry. I'm Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> Good evening, Chairman Burbage, members of the school board, Superintendent Tim, and everyone here. This is a very personal and I'm here on behalf of my family. My name is Michael Berman. I live in Picosen. Since we moved to Picosen, there have been a number of related anti-semitic incidents in Picosen schools, including swastikas and hate speech to my wife as well as my son. My wife started teaching at PCPS at the beginning of the last school year. When she first started, our table was brought into her room to set up this class. She noticed elastica to cut. Unfortunately, it was just covered up in in
042a black substance. No, nothing was uh mentioned to anybody else. Nothing was reported. Nothing was documented. Near the end of the 2425 school year, another incident occurred in her classroom with a swastika on one of her rubrics. An internal an internal investigation was conducted with no apparent findings. After speaking with the police about our own safety, we found out protocol was not followed as the police should have been notified of the situation. It took our family to it took our family to bring this to the police. No one obviously confessed, so the investigation didn't go anywhere. There were more incidents last year and there have been more incidents this year as well. Mrs. Burman has also had a threat against her from a student that said they were going to hit her. One student said
043they were never. When the next one replied, "Oh, but I will." Students have mocked her about this exact instance. Finally, last week she was on a field trip and during that time some students caused damage to her classroom. Some of her personal items have disappeared as well. This is completely unacceptable, especially for secondary school students. Unless someone speaks up, I don't see any repercussions for these offenders. My son has had anti-Semitic comments toward him recent recently as well. The student overheard it and apparently there was a consequence for this. Nothing to the extent of what should be appropriate without schoolboard involvement. And last year a text with no knowledge was also sent to the cusp of these problems. And he said my student has had students who won't talk to him anymore as well as
044my wife because of this whole situation when there is no fault on our end at all. We know there are other incidents of anti-semitism and racism as well that we've heard and also witnessed. Realize there has been hate speeches in the past through generations and this is not excusable behavior. There's no room for any kind of hate, anti-semitism, racism or general inequality or gender inequality. We're all human. We only need air to breathe. Doesn't matter what someone looks like or what their faith is. Someone something needs to be done and it needs to be done now. This is only going to get worse. And those of us in my minority do not deserve the treatment we are receiving. My wife as well as my son do not feel safe going anywhere in Picosen, not knowing
045if and when the next situation will unfold. Living in this community only adds concern in case of any retaliation. We're not asking for special treatment. We're only asking for equal treatment. We're also asking for others to come forward with their situations to make everyone aware of what's going on here. I thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Mr. Burman. >> Next speaker is Eden Harris from River Road uh regarding recess and free play. Good evening. Thank you so much for being here uh for volunteering your time, for supporting our schools and our children. Um I recognize I have a great privilege here tonight and I'm sorry that you felt you have to be here and I'd like to talk to you afterwards, but um I have a great privilege to stand here tonight and
046talk to you about recess. Um, over the past few months, I've had the most enlightening conversations with school leadership and school board members regarding the importance of recess and free play in our K through5 schools. Uh, earlier, Miss ID, I was so excited to see the playground committee um get up and off the ground and meet for the first time. And I asked you to consider um as part of this presentation supporting and prioritizing free play for this age group. Research is increasingly showing the importance of free play, especially in K5, as we move to more tech-based education environments. Supporting free play does not necessarily mean big equipment expenditure, although that helps. Don't take it out of the capital plan. Um, but it's ensuring that an inclusive and dynamic environment supports children as they learn
047to problem solve, take reasonable risks, and regulate themselves emotionally. Most importantly, it can help improve focus and cognitive functioning. Even Mr. Rogers was quoted as saying, "Play is not often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. Rather, that for children, play is serious learning." So, as we enter this testing season and beyond, please, I urge you to work with our K5 leadership to maintain an environment for children that allow them to explore and be curious beyond the classroom. So, thank you so much for your time and thank you for being here tonight. >> Thank you, Miss Harris. Miss Carol, is there anyone else? >> That concludes our speakers for the evening. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, let's see. All right. Let's move on. Uh, section seven, the consent agenda. We have
048four items in the consent agenda tonight. It is approval of financial reports. uh authorization to change appropriation and to accept and expend funds in accordance with attached request, approval of personnel action, and then approval of minutes for December's regular meeting. Um can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Can I have a second? >> Second. >> Any questions or comments about the consent agenda tonight? Um, okay. Miss Carol, can we have the vote? >> Dr. Bartlett, >> I. >> Mr. Dow, >> I. >> Miss Jones, >> I. >> Mr. Maxwell, >> I. >> Miss Orsbborne, >> I. >> Chair Burbage, >> I. >> Vote passes 6. >> Thank you. Okay, moving along to section 8. Other matters for consideration. We have three items. Uh the first item, item A,
049is consideration of approval of proclamation for Black History Month. Can I have a motion to approve the Black History Month proclamation? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any questions or comments? Okay. Miss Carroll, the vote. >> Dr. Bartlett, >> I. >> Mr. Dow, >> I. >> Miss Jones, >> I. >> Mr. Maxwell, >> I. >> Miss Orsbborne, >> I. >> Chair Ber Beach. >> Hi. >> Vote passes 6. Okay. The next item, item B, is consideration of approval of proclamation for career and technical education month. Uh, can I have a motion to approve this proclamation? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any questions or comments? Okay. Uh, Miss Carroll, the the vote. >> Um, Dr. Bartlett, >> I. >> Mr. Dow, >> I. >> Miss Jones, >> I. >> Mr. Maxwell, >> I. >> Miss
050Oresbornne, >> I. Chair Burbage. >> I >> vote passes 6. >> Okay. Uh, last item, item C, is consideration to approve the adoption of the probability and statistics textbook for Picosen High School. Uh, can we have a motion to approve the new statistics textbook? >> So moved. Second. >> Second. >> Any questions or comments? >> Okay, Miss Carol, the vote, please. >> Dr. Dr. Barbage, may I confirm who made the first motion? >> Mr. Dow. Thank you. >> Sorry, Miss Carol. >> It's okay. >> Dr. Bartlett, >> I. >> Mr. Dow, >> I >> Miss Jones. >> Hi, >> Mr. Maxwell. >> Hi, >> Miss Osborne. >> I chair Burbage. >> I vote passes 6. >> Okay, thank you. Uh, moving on. Communications andor other matters by school board and superintendent. Uh, Miss Stud, if
051you'll start us, please. >> Um, so our primary students have been busy and engaged as we head into this winter season. Second grade students participated enthusiastically in Jump Rope for Heart, promoting physical activity and healthy habits while supporting an important cause. Our PTO hosted a wonderful winter fest which brought our school community together for bounce house fun, crafts, and lots of pizza. Thank you to everyone who made the night a success. We are looking forward to a second semester full of growth and success. Gosen Elementary School is starting the 2026 calendar year off on a positive note as our third graders enjoyed a field trip to the Virginia Living Museum the first week we returned from break. Students were able to enjoy the museum, a presentation, and time outside in the sunshine on this field
052trip. We also had students plant bulbs with the direction of master gardener and retired teacher Susan Northcut. Miss Northcut took advantage of the warm temperatures in early January to teach our students about planting bulbs in the winter in hopes for a colorful spring. Our PTO also sponsored a wellness hospitality event for our staff to try and beat the winter germs. Our PTO provided tea, fruit, and wellness care items for staff to choose from. Our students and staff are also completing midyear assessments to help us make adjustments to our instruction. We look forward to a strong second semester and thank everyone for their support of Picosen Elementary School. Picosa Middle School had 40 students participate in this year's spelling. Congratulations to our champion, Kieran White, who we are proud to have represent Picosen Middle School in
053the next round of competition. Last week, our eighth grade students went to Picosen High School to participate in rising freshman family night and course fair. And now, PMS school counselors are gearing up to host rising sixth, 7th, and eighth grade parent information nights in February. Pakosen Middle School is proud to share that 14 students were selected for district 8 middle school band. Teams have been selected and students in all three grade levels are hard at work in preparation for Battle of the Classes. This is an annual event that all students in the school can participate in to help their grade level accumulate points. The week of February 9th will consist of spirit day, coin wars, lunchtime games, and accumulating competition on February 12th, where one grade level will be named the winner based on total
054points earned. Congratulations to Kaden Whitman, Baylor Paul's, and Landon Adams for being recognized as the January Golden Bull students of the month. Their hard work and accomplishments are certainly worthy of celebration. Thank you to all who attended our su successful chart your course last week where students and families were able to learn about course options for next year including information regarding college now enrollment and dual enrollment options with our partners at VPCC. Thank you to all who attended. Drama students will be hosting a one-act performance at PHS on January 22nd at 6 p.m. in the forum. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to see our students perform. BHS is gearing up for its first ever snowball winter formal on January 31st. Tickets are available during one lunch. Winter sports are underway and we look forward to
055another successful season and postseason. Scholastic Bowl hosts regionals on February 2nd and wrestling with a home regional wrestling tournament on February 7th. As always, check out the Island Times on Parent Square for important updates from Picosen High School. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Maxwell. >> All right, as uh as always, I will begin with my preemptive echo of whatever my colleagues will say that I will. I'll start by saying happy new year. Special thank you to both of our public commenters today. I appreciate you coming out and and voicing your opinions. Uh without commenting on either of those, you you were both heard. Thank you. Um special congratulations to our senior of the month, Miss Miss Ashley Gross. 4.4 GPA. I noted one of the things you mentioned in her accolades there was extreme
056time management skill. >> I would argue that is time wizardry. So, um thank uh congratulations to her. Um special congratulations to the um SEA and the everyone involved with the Winterfest for the primary school. I heard lots of great things about it. Unfortunately, my family was their plague, so we weren't able to participate. Um but thank you to those who who uh put that together. Um I I love seeing the statistics on the AP uh AP testing there. Uh congratulations to all those students who did that and hope back up as they're continuing their education um either in the next year of school or in colleges across the country. Uh thank you to our college now presenters. Um I didn't didn't want to put them on the spot, but I I love seeing all the
057positives, but this is a new program for us to provide any kind of feedback on how we can improve that program or things that may may uh may. So, thank you to the calendar committee for drafting up your proposal hearing more about that. Uh, also thank you for the playground committee and that new committee and it's uh good to have community input there and a good safety for kids. Um, and congratulations. I didn't get the names that quick, but congratulations to our school golden bulls. All right. And that >> Thank you, Mr. D. Mr. Maxwell covered everything. So, I just want to tell everybody happy new year. Thank you. You guys were heard tonight. So, uh that's all I got. >> Mr. Horses, >> I agree that Mr. Maxwell did cover everything. Um again, happy
058new year. Thank you for everyone for sharing tonight. I did want to congratulate our high schoolers who made district band. Um and our middle schoolers. I know that was a trying out. Um big congratulations to Ashley for senior of the month. I did get to attend the rising ninth grader night and this is my third one. So, this one was I think the best one yet because we got to see all the different things going on and I am so excited to see the growth in our college now program. I know we're starting out tiny but I can't wait to see how it continues to grow over the next couple years and I'm kind of excited for bus patrol too. Um [laughter] I want to see the data when we're done and see what we
059find out. >> Thank you Dr. Bartlett. Well, I don't have a whole lot left to add um of value um except I just want to I'll I'll have to echo um about college now and I want to applaud those brave students. 60% of the enrolled students college now presented today. So um I got Henley Smith, Tony Batista, and Ava D. That's I don't want to fill it in. What is it? Doi. >> Doeski, not Dostesi. Um, so anyway, I just really applaud them and I hope that they will be ambassadors for the program. Um, I come from a program like that. I helped start several of those schools in another state and they've been lifealtering not just for the students but for their families. So anyway, bravo for that. That's it. Thanks, >> Miss Jones.
060I some is mine is redundant as well, but I do take notes as I go and if I go too far off track, I will forget something. But um again, a congratulations to Miss Ashley Ashley Grossth, a very deserving student of the month. Um again, I think it definitely warrants duplication or redundancy. The College Now presentation really was spectacular. So to Miss Smith, Mr. Batista, and Miss Daweski, thank you for coming this evening. Um, like you said, it it's brand new and I appreciate their update and hearing and seeing from them. Um, not just for our purposes, for the community and other students. I think that is a really neat opportunity. To our speakers this evening, thank you for your time. Um, again, as Mr. Maxwell said, you were heard and we appreciate you being
061here very much. And to the committee members, we heard a lot. Playground, AI, Calendar, to all of the members, thank you for that extra time. I know a lot of these committees um are probably uh passionate topics for a lot of the people on the committees, but it is extra time and the normal day-to-day duties don't go away. So, thank you for that extra um extra commitment and last two things, the PTO's you mentioned the Winterfest. Um thank you to everyone in our PTOs. I hear a lot now this time of year coming back about events and assemblies after prom planning actually has probably already kicked off but will be ongoing and again it's just a lot of extra time. So thank you to those volunteers. Those extra events really do make a difference and
062make the entire experience um very memorable. And lastly, Mr. Roberts, I thoroughly enjoy the stopfinder app. Thank you. I will give a plug to anyone who has not signed up. When my children are running a bit late, I pull it up on a regular basis and can check and see if we have missed the bus or if the bus is in fact in route and I find it um for my purposes glitchless thus far. So, thank you for that. >> Thank you. Um first of all, happy new year to everyone. Um I don't want to repeat, you know, senior of the month, Miss Gross. um you know, another amazing high school senior with everything that she's doing and keeping up all of her academic and sports and extracurricular activities. Uh Kieran White, the spelling be
063champion. Um congratulations. Uh learning under the lights. Uh I hope that the organizers of that will keep us updated on the details about volunteering and fundraising. And that's it. Uh, that's all I have for tonight. Thank you. >> I think it's all been covered. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, Miss Carol, are there any other any more additional material for board review? >> Chair Burbage, we have no additional materials for tonight's meeting. >> Okay. Uh, that being said, I will adjourn the meeting.