001Wait for him to finish. Good evening everyone. We would like to call the business session schoolboard meeting for Tuesday, October se 7th, 2025 into order. Madam clerk, >> Mr. persal >> here. >> Miss Ricard >> here. >> Mr. Farooq >> here. >> Mr. Hedgepath >> here. >> Miss Rizzy >> here. >> Dr. Harris Muhammed. >> Miss Burke >> here. >> Mr. Jafari >> here. >> Miss Fernandez >> here. >> We have McCorm. >> Thank you. At this time, I'd like to ask for a motion for Dr. Harris Muhammed to join via Zoom as she is currently out of town. >> So moved. It's been moved. >> Second. >> It's been moved by Mr. Peral and seconded by Miss Burke. Madame Clerk. >> Mr. Perl. >> Yes. >> Mr. Card. >> Yes. >> Mr. Farooq. >>
002Yes. >> Mr. Hedgep. >> Yes. >> Miss Rizzy. >> Yes. >> Dr. Harris Muhammed. >> Miss Burke. >> Yes. >> Mr. Jafar. >> Yes. >> Miss. Fernandez. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. >> Thank you. At this time, we'll have the pledge of allegiance and moment of silence led by Miss B. 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. And now we'll ask for translation services announcement. Good evening. >> Good evening everyone. On behalf of the language justice team, we welcome you. If you need interpretation from English to Spanish, please come see me in the entrance where I'll be with the interpreters. We have interpretation headsets for anyone that needs one. Interpretation in
003Spanish is also available for those watching this meeting through Zoom. I want to remind everyone to please speak at a normal pace and keep your face no more than a couple of inches from the microphones so that our interpreters can hear you clearly. Thank you. And I will now make the same announcement in Spanish. Thank you. >> Thank you. Moving on to 1.04. approve the minutes of September 2nd and September 3rd school board meeting. >> Madam chair, I have a motion to approve the minutes of the school board meeting on September 2nd and September 3rd, 2025. >> It's been moved by Mr. Hedgeb and seconded by Mr. Jafari. Madame Clerk, Mr. Pel, >> yes. >> Mr. Ricard, >> yes. >> Mr. Farooq, >> yes. >> Mr. Hedgepath, >> yes. Miss Rzy Dr. Harris Muhammed. Miss
004Burke, >> yes. >> Mr. Jabari, >> yes. >> Miss Fernandez. >> Yes. Motion passes. Thank you. Now we have the adoption of the agenda. Mr. Card. Madam Chair, I move to adopt the agenda. Second. >> It's been moved by Miss Ricard and seconded by Miss Burke. Madame clerk, >> Mr. Perl. >> Yes. >> M. Ricard. >> Yes. >> Mr. Farooq. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hedgepath. >> Yes. >> Miss Rizzy. >> Dr. Harris Muhammed. Miss Burke. >> Yes. >> Mr. Jafari. >> Yes. >> Miss Fernandez. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. >> Thank you. And now for one of the most exciting parts of our school board meetings, our recognition start. Starting off with our student representative, I'll allow Mr. >> Thank you, Madam Chair, and good evening. I'm delighted to introduce Javana Harvey from Hugenat High
005School. Javana is a sophomore at Hugenat where she excels both inside and outside the classroom. As the current student council president and an active member of the Hugenat High School Academy, Javannia demonstrates strong leadership and commitment. She's also a proud athlete on the Hugenot Girls Flag football team and often captivates audiences as an MC for school events like the Black History Month program. Beyond school, Javana combines her passion for clothing design with her dedication to community service. Through the student council association, she has supported the kicks crew fundraiser, which donates a portion of its proceeds to shoot, a nonprofit providing new or gently used running shoes to economically disadvantaged communities. An honor role student, Javannia plans to attend a 4-year university where she hopes to play basketball while pursuing a career in the medical field.
006She is driven by a desire to save lives and serve as a positive role model in her community. Javannia doesn't just participate. She leads, inspires, and uplifts those around her. With her strong academics, passion for service, and talent in sports and public speaking, she is already making an impact. Her dedication, creativity, and vision make it clear Javana Harvey is on a powerful path, and she's only just beginning. Please join me in welcoming Javana Harvey. Good evening, chairperson Sio Fernandez, members of the school board, superintendent, cameras, teachers, families, and fellow students. To begin, I would like to thank the board and superintendent cameras for giving me this opportunity to share both my voice and the voices of my fellow peers. I am grateful for the opportunity to sit among you and gain a deeper understanding for
007your mission and plan for the future. First, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Javana Harvey and I'm a 10th grader at Hugenat High School. This evening I will be speaking about myself, my involvement in my school and addressing challenges at Hugenot. At Hugenat I serve as the student council president. As president, I aim to bring ideas that my peers and I believe should happen around the school. In addition, I am a scholar athlete and serve as tight end and quarterback on our flag football team at my school. I hope to use today's opportunity to share feedback on the challenges impacting not only Hugenat but also RPS. One of the challenge it one of the challenges is the lack of diversity and for food chain choices in Richmond public schools. Some students at
008Hugen High choose not to eat the school breakfast or lunch and will go the whole day without eating anything. Many students lack food at home and school lunch is all they can eat a day. So it is better to provide better lunches for the students. Students should have better options of food that provide nutrients that can be better for their brain power and help them learn. One stu one solution for this challenge is that RPS should consider putting vending machines in the school cafeterias. Many students do not eat at school because they feel that the school food is not edible or has a good taste. Also, the vending machines can be useful for staff. Also, the vending machines can provide healthier snacks such as neutrorain bars, baked chips, water, Gatorade, etc. This will give students
009another option if they feel they do not want to eat the school lunch. The vending machines could be accessible throughout the day. However, during lunch, the vending machines will be unplugged so that the vending machines will not interfere with school lunch. Another challenge is the need for more security staff members to ensure safety and security. Although clear bags are not a bad idea, the daily morning checkpoint process is very time consuming. Security checking the clear book bags take ups a lot of time in the morning and many students arrive to class late because they're waiting on security to check their book bags. More security will help hold better safety throughout the school. In addition, more security can help prevent altercations and any sort of trespassing. One solution is to hire additional security to help with
010the morning checkpoint and more protection in the school. More security will help improve the overall flow of checking bags in the morning. Thus, more students will arrive to class on time. Increasing more security can help by making sure the students are safe at all times. These two these two challenges, the need for increased lunch variety and clear book bag checkpoints and protection are important to myself and my fellow peers. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak. I hope my ideas and suggestions will be considered and possibly implemented. I appreciate your time and attention and I wish you all a good evening. Thank you so much for being here this evening and for sharing um your thoughts with us. We've all a couple of us wrote some notes. So, thank you so much for
011that. Moving right along to receive proclamation and recognition of national I'm sorry uh recognition of school bus transportation employees and bus safety week. Mr. Cameron. >> Good evening everyone. Since we have many proclamations and many attendees tonight, we have folks uh coming in one proclamation at a time to be recognized. Uh we have our videos. What we're going to do is show the video, then press pause. We'll have the board come down and take a picture. And then I'm going to actually have the board stay down, watch the video on the screen, we'll do the next picture, and then the folks can go out, we'll do the next picture, and so on so that we don't have to come back and forth. Sound good? All right. And welcome folks. I'm going to ask if you
012can part just slightly so folks in the audience can see the screen. We want them to hear the great proclamation in your honor. And if there's anybody in the audience for school bus transportation employees and bus safety week, come on up. All right. Pardon me. I think we might be playing the wrong video. I see. Got it. to grow up in a safe, supportive inclusive environment where they can learn Port Hill. Bullying prevention month is October 2025. Whereas every child deserves to grow up in a safe, supportive, rank inclusive environment where they can learn, thrive, and reach their full potential without fear of bullying bullying or harassment. And whereas bullying, whether in person, online, or through other forms of aggression, is an intentional and or and harmful behavior that undermines a student's sense of safety,
013dignity, and belonging with lasting academic, social, and emotional consequences. And whereas educators, parents, caregivers, students, and community leaders play a vital role in bullying prevention by fostering a culture of inclusion, teaching empathy, encouraging open dialogue, and providing students with the tools and support they need to stand up to bullying and report it safely. And whereas RPS affirms the values of belonging to be seen, heard, loved, and supported within our every school's four walls. And whereas RPS encourages schools to participate in activities throughout the month to recognize the importance of adopting an anti-bullying mindset, teaching students to be upstanders rather than bystanders and creating opportunities to demonstrate kindness while all while incorporating these practices into the culture of our schools to ensure lasting change. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that Richmond public schools recognizes October 2025
014as bullying prevention month and encourages all schools and community members to join in this recognition. Hi, I'm Dylan Barnett, a sixth grader from Albert Hill. We celebrate National School Lunch Week from October 13th to 17th in 2025. Whereas for more than 75 years, the National School Lunch Program has been a cornerstone of student health and academic achievement, providing balanced, nutritious meals that fuel children's bodies and minds, helping them stay focused, engaged, and ready to learn each school day. And whereas RPS participates in the community eligibility pro program that ensur ensuring that every student regardless of household household income receives a nutritious breakfast and lunch at no cost and where whereas RPS schools roughly serve roughly 23,500 meals a day from breakfast to lunch to the National School Lunch Program. program totaling more than 3.9 million
015lunches during the 2024 through 2025 school year. And whereas school lunches, school lunches, nutrition professionals work tirelessly to prepare and serve these meals, ensuring that students have access to fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proton, and lowfat dairy while adhering to food safety protocols and addressing the dietary needs of diverse student population. Whereas RTS is proud to highlight student voice and leadership in shaping school meals as demonstrated through the student taste test takeover in the season which allows students to sample and be provide feedback on new menu items to improve school lunches. And whereas partnerships with local farmers community organizations and initiative such as farm to school farm to school strengthen our commitment to nourishing students with fresh sustainable and cultural relevant meals. Now therefore be it proclaimed that Richmond public schools recognizes October 13th
016through 17th, 2025 as National School Lunch Week and encourages all schools and community members to join in this celebration. My name is Tia Pride and I'm an eighth grader at our home and this is custodial worker recognition day. Whereas RPS recognizes the vital role custodial workers play in maintaining a safe, clean and welcoming learning communities for our students and families. And whereas the RPS custodial team works diligently behind the scenes, often in the early morning and late at night. in though challenging circumstances, ensuring that the classrooms, hallways, cafeterias, restrooms, and playgrounds are kept spotless and ready for our students and educators. And whereas RPS custodial staff play a vital role in contributing to a student success by fostering a healthy safe spacing that are conductive to learning and custodial staff serve with love by developing
017meaningful relationships with students offering encouragement, support, and a friendly presence that helps foster a sense of belonging with the school. And whereas the dedication, professionalism, and pride demonstrated by RPS Sodio staff reminds us that every role within our school is essential to creating a thriving, equitable, and supportive learning environment. And now, therefore, it be proclaimed that Richmond Public Schools recognizes October 2nd, 2025 as National Custodial Workers Reco and encourages all schools and community members to join us in this celebration. I'm Ariel Green. And I'm Charlotte Abner. And we're seventh graders at Alver Hill Middle School. October 2025 is Head Start Awareness Month. Whereas since its inception in 1965, the Head Start program has been a cornerstone of early childhood education in the United States, providing comprehensive support to children and families to ensure that every
018child enters school ready to succeed. And whereas Head Start and Early Head Start programs take comprehensive approach to starting young children and their families through four essential pillars. High quality education that supports intellectual, social and emotional growth. Health services that promote healthy development through screening, nutrition, and medical care. Family involvement that empowers parents as partners in learning and wraps around support that help that connects families with individualized and community resources. Whereas RPS Head Start programs proudly teach and serve with love hundreds of children and families each year, empowering parents as their child's first and most important teacher while creating meaningful pathways for family stability and growth. And whereas Headstar has been proven to narrow achievement gaps, foster social emotional development, and equip children with tools they need to thrive in school and beyond. Whereas Head
019Start Awareness Month provides an opportunity to celebrate the dedication of our teachers, staff, families, and community partners to make this work possible and to reaffirm our commitment to equitable access to early childhood education for every child in Richmond. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that Richmond public schools recognizes October 2025 as Head Start Awareness Month and encourages all schools and community members to join in this recognization. Hi, I'm is also and I'm in sixth grade and today I will be reading National Farm to School Month and Virginia Farm to School Week. Whereas farm to school month is celebrated nationally each October to recognize and provide critical opportunities for students to understand where their food comes from, appreciate the work of farmers and build connections between classroom learning and real world sustainability. And whereas the Commonwealth of
020Virginia has long produced a bounty of delicious and nutrious farm commodities including corn, peanuts, soybeans, apples, pumpkins, tomatoes, sweet potato, lettuce, green, cucumbers, and peppers. And whereas by integrating Virginia grown products into school meals, students not only enjoy nutrient food, but they also learn about food seasonality, the environmental benefits of supporting local farmers and the importance of reducing transportation and protecting farmland. And whereas RPS is committed to fostering lifelong healthy eating habits by engaging students in hands-on learning experiences such as school gardens, taste test, and farm visits and collaboration with valued partners including Greater Richmond Fit for Kids, Lulus, Local Foods, and many others who help bring farm to school to life. And whereas on Thursday, October 9th, 2025, RPS students will join in the church in the Crunch Herd round the Commonwealth, a fun
021and engaging event that raises awareness about the Virginia Farm to School program and highlights the diverse varieties of apples grown. in Virginia while supporting local apple growers and celebrating the season's freshest products. Now therefore be it proclaimed that Richmond public schools recognizes October as National Farm School Month and joins the common wealth of Virginia in recognizing the week of October 6 through 10th 2025 as Virginia Farm to School Week and encourages all students to enjoy a crunchy apple to celebrate. Good evening everyone. And I am happy to recognize our wonderful care and safety staff. Whereas the safety and security of students, staff, and school communities are essential to a positive and productive learning environment. Whereas school security staff appreciation month recognizes the vital role that school security personnel, administrators, teachers, and community partners play in
022ensuring the well-being of all who enter our schools. Whereas school security professionals demonstrate dedication, v vigilance, and care to help prevent emergencies, respond to incidents, and build trusting relationships with students and families. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that Richmond Public Schools hereby recognizes the month of October 2025 as school security appreciation month and calls upon students, staff, families, and community members to join in honoring the individuals who help make our school safe places to learn, grow, and succeed. Congratulations, security staff. We accept. Good evening, school board. I am here with the three educational technology integrator leads, Mercedes Buck, Joselyn Birdie, and Carla Wood to uh recognize digital citizenship week. Hello, my name is Mercedes Buck. Richmond Public Schools Digital Citizenship Week October 2025 recognition. Whereas Richmond Public Schools is committed to preparing students to be
023responsible, respectful, and safe citizens in an increasingly digital world. And whereas Digital Citizenship Week provides the opportunity to highlight the importance of guiding students in the ethical, safe, and effective use of technology. And >> whereas digital citizenship includes fostering skills in online safety, responsible and ethical use of technology, data privacy, digital literacy, communication and etiquette, rights and responsibilities, and overall health and wellness in the digital world. And whereas teachers, staff, and families play a critical role in modeling and supporting positive digital habits that prepare students for success in school, work, life, and whereas Richmond Public Schools recognizes that teaching dig digital citizenship is essential to cultivating empowered learners who can think critically, behave responsibly, and contribute positively to digital communities. And whereas during the third week of October, schools across the division will encou engage
024in lessons, activities, and discussions that promote the thoughtful and ethical you ethical use of technology. And therefore, be it proclaimed that Richmond public schools recognizes the third full week of October 2025 as digital citizenship week and calls upon all students, educators, staff, families, and community members to join in promoting safe, responsible, and respectful digital practices. Together, we affirm our commitment to preparing every student to thrive in an interconnected world while upholding the values of integrity, respect, and equity in both digital and face-to-face interactions. Thank you. >> We have something for you. For our final proclamation, we have Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day. Whereas, Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Today is a national event that encourages students and families to choose active transportation options that promote healthy habits, reduce traffic congestion, and support
025cleaner air. Whereas, walking, biking, or rolling to school fosters independence, increases physical activity, and helps students arrive at school alert and ready to learn. Whereas this initiative builds connection among families, schools, and communities and highlights the need for safe, accessible routes to school for all children. Whereas Richmond Public Schools is committed to student wellness, safety, and environmental responsibility and proudly supports efforts that make walking, biking, and rolling to school a viable and celebrated choice. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that Richmond Public Schools hereby recognizes October 8th, 2025 as Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day, and calls upon students, families, staff, and community members to participate in this important day and support ongoing efforts to create a culture of active transportation across our schools. Thank you, Mr. Cameras. >> Thank you. I just wanted to
026thank everybody who came out tonight to be recognized. We know it was a little bit challenging logistically speaking, but we do appreciate everybody coming and being recognized. We also understand it would be helpful if the students voices were a little bit louder. So, we will take care of that next time around. We are learning and growing and look forward to an even uh more celebratory November. So, thank you everyone for your your patience, your grace, and your understanding. >> Thank you. Moving right along to 3.01 announcements. Mr. Hedgepath. >> M. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I have um a handful of announcements. First, the uh October 4th District Parent Teacher Advisory Council meeting will be held at JB Fischer Elementary on the 22nd of this month at 5:30. If you are a teacher or a
027parent in the fourth district, um you are welcome to attend. I encourage you to be there. The light light refreshments will be served. Uh Brown Middle School is Lucille Brown Middle School is having its next steps breakfast this Saturday for its eighth graders. Um, that's from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Southampton Elementary School is electing its new PTA officers on the 14th of this month. Uh, which is again, it's at October 14th at 5:30. JB Fischer, this is really cute. Um, on Friday at 9:00 a.m. they're going to be performing at the Richmond Folk Festival. So, if you're available, um, I encourage you to go out and and check that out. Um the uh Hugenot High School has been celebrating uh Hispanic Heritage Month and they that includes uh Kiniera dresses that are uh on
028loan from uh students and families that are on display in the front of the of the school and they're they're gorgeous and I encourage you to see them. I hope they're still up. Um uh and if not then we do have pictures that we can share. And then finally, uh, Westover Hills Elementary is hosting a garden cleanup for their courtyard, uh, garden this Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you, Miss Burke. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. If you weren't there, you missed a treat. The East End Festival took place last Saturday before last. It was supposed to have been in Shimarazzo Park, but because of the weather, we had it inside of the MLK Middle School. And it was an event to be so proud of and then some. We
029started out with our students performing, including Dustin Scott of Franklin Military Academy to sing the Scott Spangle Banner. If you haven't heard him sing, you need to. You're missing a treat. Um, the Franklin Military Academy choir performed. Sharonzo Elementary School's choir performed. the Armstrong High School dancers performed and I was told that 500 Richmond public schools all city band members were were in attendance before I got there and performed but I don't think we have quite 500 students in the all city band but they were so everybody was so delighted to have had a great great celebration inside ML King we thank principal Cordell Watkins for being um the host along with Cloia Lawrence I don't want to miss anybody Um, Antonet ESSA. It was a grand celebration to include the Richmond Symphony. Um, Corel,
030oh, the line goes on and on and on. But, um, we're sponsored by Bonsor. And this is our, this was our eighth year. And um what we do is to provide opportunities for our students in the seventh district and the sixth district, the East Ends area schools with um instruments, paraphernalia to to make creative art pieces. Thus far, we've raised 500,000. We haven't gotten a report yet from this year, but we put in place a dance studio, and it goes on and on and on. So, thank you for those of you that attended and thank you so very much to our children and our families that attended as well. Um, the other item is East on the Hill, Schools on the Hill, Shimarazzo Elementary School, Belleview Elementary School, and Henry Marsh had a festive family
031outing as they do every year at the Shimarazzo playground, not the park. And it's a fun opportunity with vendors and and uh per time to land line dance and and just all type of toys and other artifacts per se that children can partake in. It's a great family evening and it's always well attended. So if you're in the seventh district, yes, we are celebrating. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Ricard. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I know this was mentioned last night, but I did want to um thank all our partners with Secondary Student Success and the Richmond Technical Center. They put on a lovely breakfast for our business partners a few weeks ago and the culinary students cooked a very delicious meal. Um, and I just wanted to announce that if there are any
032business owners listening or in the audience, we are always looking for partnerships for our students. Whether it's just a visit, a field trip, whether it is a mentorship, whether it is an internship, we will make whatever work um so that our students have some real world experience um about enrichment. I also just wanted to announce um as always if parents can sign up for parent square and speaking to some of my principles it is really helpful to have all our parents sign up for that so they're receiving all the news. If you are unsure of how to sign up you go to parentsquare.com put in your information that's in our system phone or email but you can also contact the school. Um, but it's I know that for me is how I get all my
033information for my students in RPS. Um, and then three final announcements. Dogwood Middle School is having their October showcase on Thursday. They do this at maybe not once a month, but at least every other month where the students, because it is a performing arts school forum, they have their art displayed and that's from 5 to 7 on Thursday. Um, Fox Elementary is doing a trunk or treat and fall movie on Thursday, October 30th at 5:30 and all are invited. And then just a special thanks to the engagement office and VCU um who was out at Carver a few weeks ago once again welcoming our students, getting them pumped Friday and then they put on a um field day for the students where they could come out on the playground and have some fun. >> Thank
034you, Miss Rizzie. >> Thank you. I just have two quick ones. Um, the Maymont preschool is still looking for volunteers to help with grounds beautifification. I posted that on social media. Um, they're looking for a group of parents or community members who are interested in stopping by periodically and doing things like, you know, taking care of dead plants that are on the grounds, beautifification of, you know, I mean, there's there's debris that's been there for quite a while. Um, and just helping out with just general making the front of the school look more welcoming for our children. So, that call is still out. If you're interested, please call Principal Pride at Maymont Preschool or you can reach out to me and I'll connect you with her. Um, also on October 14th at 6:30, there is
035a it is actually a Carolon Neighborhood Association meeting, but uh the topic will be the second serve tennis proposal. I know that there are quite a few people who are interested in that. Um, the representatives from that organization will be there. I'll be there and so will Councilwoman Lynch. So that will take place at Unity Church um which is over by Bird Park. Um so come out if you are interested. Thank you. >> Thank you >> Dr. Harris Muhammed. >> Good evening everyone. Um just wanted to share out that on October the 15th I am hosting a town hall at Martin Luther King Jr. middle school beyond the score is the title. We have several members from the academic team. The superintendent's cabinet will be there discussing the new so cut scores and how do
036we move forward with the information that we have been provided thus far. So this is an opportunity for our division, our parents, our community to come out and hear the direction of the office of accountability and the office of student assessment with the Virginia Department of Education and how Richmond City Public Schools will be prepared. We will take on the lift. We will address the task together um regarding the new so cut scores and dinner will be provided and the school in the division that has the most staff present will receive a party for me. I'm just saying. So that's my and I hope y'all heard me. Can you I should have asked that first. Can you hear me? >> Yes, Dr. Harris Muhammed. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Jafari. >> Thanks,
037Madam Chair, and good evening. Uh, a couple of announcements for the Rocklas 8th district. Uh, the district is excited about the move, the proposed move to contemplate a move of the tax center to Mar Street. We're really looking forward to that in the district. uh has more space. We certainly want to thank uh all of those who played a part in making the decision to include the ETH district in that and to use that space. Now, I want to extend a hardy thank you for all the services and all of the work that was done at the back to school nights at each of our eighth district schools. The most recent one being at Summer Hill. Uh, I wasn't able to speak with the custodial staff. She just left out kind of early, but I
038did recognize her. But again, my thanks go out to Principal Doxy and the way that they rolled out the red cop and for all the families that turned out that evening. Okay. U wanted to also give an take the opportunity to thank uh Miss Leticia Irby who happens to be present. and I wanted to thank her for her volunteering efforts to be on the AI task force panel. And it is it's very critical that Richmond public schools not only reaches out to but that we are able to engage parents who actually have youngsters in their school system. Uh that's very important not just to know what's going on in their school buildings but also because they have firsthand they can firsthand see how our youngsters are interacting with with technology and how it's being taken
039into our schools. So again, Mr. Urban, if you can just stand one moment, I know you didn't come for that, but it's all good and we certainly appreciate you. one also uh she she wasn't able to continue because she has those youngsters in Richmond public schools and kind of got more time consuming than she was able to do. But we want to reach out to other volunteers. If if you want to volunteer, you can contact our clerk here or you can reach directly out to me to volunteer to be on the AI task force. And I'm really looking forward to the phones just ringing off the the hook here. You got to be positive, right? Okay. Uh and and lastly, I did get the opportunity to meet with uh Katie Rhodess and director Sean Miller
040who were down at the uh 100 block Everett Street Boys and Girls Club office. And what we're trying to work with, we're trying to work on getting some uh transportation so that we can more fully utilize the afterchool services in the Bush Hall community. And that's that's uh we talk about food deserts, but that's kind of like a a wreck desert over in there. Uh the kid the youngsters do have act access to Bushaw and the wreck services there. But we're trying to work on getting some transportation so that we can get the youngsters not only taken away from there in afternoons, but to also bring them back. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you. Bear with me. I have a lot of announcements which means great things are happening in the ninth district. Um
041first and foremost I I'll have to go back a little bit. Uh want to give a shout out to JL Francis who just recently had their convocation um on September 26 unfortunately because I just recently had surgery. I was not able to attend but it's always a joy to see the representation that comes out. Um they'll also be having JL Francis will also be having a career day which is always exciting. Last year they had a helicopter well year before last they had a helicopter come out um and uh pilots talked to the children um as well as Mayor Avoola uh came out to speak with the children. So this year is going to be just as exceptional and that is at 9 from 9 to 1:30 on October 24th. Um we also want to
042give a shout out to um Reed Elementary School on September 24th. They had their first uh parent council meeting. Um I uh regret that I wasn't able to attend because of u my current situation, but I heard that it was an amazing turnout and that um we're looking forward to hearing more about um what the parent council will be able to share uh moving forward. Several schools in the ninth district um celebrated Hispanic Heritage Night, which was amazing. Um so fabulous pictures were shown and seen and so we're really excited about that. Um, I want to give the board a shout out. Uh, we will be doing our VSBA board governance training coming up. Um, yes, toward the end of of this month. I believe it's October 28th. So, looking forward to that and just
043thanking um, my board colleagues for um, just the passion around continued governance and professional development. Um um Councilwoman Nicole Nicole Jones has some amazing activities for the youth coming up in the 9inth district. Um on let me make sure I get the date right. We have on October 9th, which is this up and coming Thursday at 6 PM at Southside Community Center, um we are having the youth explore um generative AI. And so we're excited for those that have curious minds. Um it says from the cu curiosity to confidence, we want to build confidence around the youth around AI. So, we welcome you all to come out. Um, it is absolutely positively free. There's going to be a lot of brainstorming ideas. Um, create logos and flyers. It's going to be amazing opportunity to just
044get more in depth in AI. Also, she will be having a 9th district youth town hall uh coming up um from 6:00 to 8. Let me make sure I get the right time for that. That's going to be on October 16th. Uh and again, that will be at Southside Community Center. We're calling all youth from ages 12 to 18. Show up. Um you will have an amazing time. It's going to be a night of fun, food, and future planning. So, we hope that you can uh make it there. Want to make sure I didn't miss anything or anyone. I believe that is it. Uh so thank you so much for your time and I hope that um you'll be able to join us for some of these amazing events. Oh wait, did I say Reed
045Elementary School will be having their fall festival on October 30th. Um and then also the state of schools event will be October 30th from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Truth Building downtown. Thank you so much. All right, moving right along. We're going to go Dr. Harris Muham has one more announcement she'd like to make. >> Okay, thank you, Dr. Harris Muhammad. >> Yes, ma'am. Thank you. I couldn't get my video to work before um Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School is hosting their harvest festival on October the 11th. I believe it's from 11 until 3. Um, of course, on the campus of Martin Luther King Jr. middle school. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. All right, moving right along to public information. Um before we begin, uh Madame Clerk, if you could read for
046us the um the guidelines and I'd also like to ask those speakers that approach the podium to please sign the clipboard and pass it back so we can maintain efficiency with that portion of the public speaking. Thank you. Conduct of speakers. Speakers shall state their full legal lane prior to addressing the school board. Speakers will address the school board as a whole rather than individual schoolboard members, the division superintendent. Schoolboard attorney, clerk, or any other staff. School board will listen to comments but will not respond during the public information period. Persons appearing before the school board will not be allowed to one campaign for public office, two promote private business ventures, or three use profanity or vulgar language. If community members comments during the public information session relate to school-based issues, the chair may refer
047that individual to Richmond public schools administration for one-on-one consultation and followup. Is important that all community members who wish to participate in the public information period abide by the guidelines set forth in this policy. Refusal to abide by the policy result in the forfeite of the remaining time that has been allotted to the speaker. Community members may express their views in writing in lie of any oral presentation. comments proceed in writing in lie of an oral presentation what will not be read during the meeting which shall be posted to the school board platform board docs. >> Thank you. Before we uh transition and call in the names colleagues, I just want to share with you at the present moment um we have just about appears to be 31. Is that right? 31 that have pre-registered,
048which um according to the calculations will be about an hour and 17 minutes worth of for public comment. Just want to get a pulse check um and everyone's thoughts as relates to that. Typically in the past we've gone over about 15 minutes, but obviously this is going to be uh quite an adjustment and so want to get your thoughts and how we proceed. All right, with that being said, as I call your name, please come up to the podium. Um, we would ask for the audience to please refrain from outburst. I know it was very tempting, but we want to allow the speakers their opportunity to speak without disruption. Um, also if you can uh refrain from clapping, we're certainly happy that you hold signs, give the spirit fingers, what have you. But again, we
049just want to make sure that we have a good flow and there are no distractions from those that are speaking to give them an opportunity to share their thoughts. I'm going to call folks up five at a time. Once you come up, if you could just line up as um Miss Richard has uh requested, please sign a clipboard and pass it back. That's just going to help us keep the flow um going. We want to hear from all of you this evening. Okay, with that being said, we have Miss Alana Harris, Lakesha Wils, Steven Strauss, Grace Gentry, and Jacob Neil Helt. If you are present, please come forward, Alana Harris. It's okay if she's not present. Next up is Lisha Wils. and then Steven Strauss, Grace Gentry, and Jacob Neil. Please be reminded to state
050your name before speaking. Good evening. Microphone on. >> Testing. >> There we go. Thank you. Good afternoon. Many of you have may know me as Laisha Williams, a teacher, a parent, and a resident of the eighth and ninth district, but I come to you tonight as one half of whiff can't wait. The whiff reimagine committee was created in 2021 2022. Dr. Aaron Brown spearheaded that committee with imagining what WIF would be for the future. when she resigned, that committee no longer existed. And we're coming before you tonight asking you that you restart that committee and that the 22 members of that committee, including myself and Tisha Herby, resume as members of the committee and continue engagement and updates on the Richmond High School for the Arts new school. That committee has not been engaged since
0512023. The family engagement office spearheaded that committee to make the community informed of the construction process. We have not been updated and I come to you tonight to ask you to reinform us. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Stephen Strauss >> Good evening. My name is Stephen Strauss. I'm the treasurer of the Richmond Education Association, a fifth district resident and a teacher at Hugenot. Today I'm speaking as an individual and calling on the board to vote down the proposed changes to the collective bargaining resolution. Last month this body rejected a public-f facing maintenance resolution because the proposal was not put forth with involving the facilities team. The school board often stands by the idea that the community should have a seat at the table. Today we're telling you we have been excluded from the table.
052Will you all be consistent in your values and reject the collective bargaining resolution proposal, or will you not give us a seat at the table? It's true that collective bargaining costs money and time. Last year, the district spent more than $120,000 related to arbitration. Also, last year, RPS spent $225,000 to pay 30 teachers a $7,500 early signing bonus. I participated with new teacher orientation for the past three years. Every year people tell me they chose RPS in part because it has collective bargaining and it has a union. Educators see the value in having a real seat at the table. It's a more sustainable than huge signing bonuses. Collective bargaining also helps with retention. It gives education workers the ability to provide input into district policy and procedures. These are processes that will improve our working
053conditions and the learning conditions of the children we serve. I witnessed firsthand the value of this process for our office associates, family leaison, and other central office workers. Education workers just like students are more likely to be invested when they put have input in decisions that affect them. We want to work with you all. We're willing to tell we are telling you that our voice has not been reflected in this process or document. You believe in giving us a seat at the table. You will vote down these propos proposed changes. establish a collective bargaining committee composed of members of the school board, administration, and unions to revise the resolution and direct the administration to move forward with collecting bargaining as is. Together, we can move forward. >> Thank you, Grace Gentry. Before you come up,
054good evening. >> Good evening. I'll ask if Lisa De Leo, please forgive me if I'm pronouncing your name wrong, is is present, please come forward. Floyd Trier and Andrea Bryant. Thank you. Good evening. Um, my name is Grace Gentry and I'm a LEAP teacher at River City Middle School. Um, and again, I'm speaking as an individual. Um, I also want to remind everyone in the room that River City Middle School is the largest, most overcrowded, and often designated hard to staff Title One middle school in our district. Um, and it is also one of the largest middle schools in our Commonwealth. Um, I come to Richmond from Ohio, a state that tried to crush collective bargaining for public employees and failed because its citizens refused to accept silence and complicity in a system that would
055drain them dry rather than recognize their right to dignity in their work. Once I earned my master's degree in Tissaw, I could have chosen any district in the Commonwealth or the country. But I sto chose to stay at River City in Richmond public schools because of the potential of the promises made by the collective bargaining. If both the union and the school board hold integrity and compassion as our guiding principles because yes, this is a negotiation and every worker in this city knows when the house is stacking the deck. To be clear, I stayed at River City, one of our hardest to staff schools, one of the most poorly designed school buildings I have ever seen in a metropolitan area, a building without sufficient restrooms for staff or students. And still, I stayed because I
056believed our promises that here in the former capital of the Confederacy, workers voices, the voices of black, brown, female, working-class public employees would be honored and bargaining would be fair. Why is that promise on the line? This very school board not long ago made history as the very first school board uh the very first district in Virginia to grant collective bargaining rights in 43 years. That was the dream made real. Our moment of courage and vision. The Richmond Education Associated Association celebrated a new era of partnership and trust between our educators in the school building that represents us, our families, and our students. Um, the new underlying agreement strikes out the right of union representatives to meet with employees during the workday to welcome new hires or to address orientations. Okay. >> Thank you, Miss
057Gentry. Jacob Neil Hilt. >> Hello, my name is Jacob Neil Helt. They them. I am on the REA District board and I am a history and LEAP teacher at RHSA. Today I speak for myself. Today I am sharing the listed priorities that REA members in the licensed and support staff units each agreed for our second contract negotiations. These were shared with all members earlier this year, which means they were also shared with Mr. Camis since he is a member of REA. When we plan to negotiate, we hope to be transparent as possible. With that said, I also want to address three things that were vocalized yesterday when the changes to the resolution were presented. First, it was discussed that negotiations happen best when everybody assumes good intentions. This is true, but these changes that were
058proposed to collective bargaining resolution actively prevent staff from being able to fully negotiate. These aren't about what is being negotiated. This is about allowing negotiations to happen. Good intentions do not matter when they create harmful outcomes. Two, the budget is of course at the center of the conversation surrounding collective bargaining. When we take the reasons given for these proposed if we take the reasons given for these proposed changes at face value, then we can assume that staff are too incompetent to be able to consider budgetary shortfalls when negotiating. It is a slap in the face to see you praise the district for historic gains that have been begun to happen since our first CBA was enacted in the 2023 school year and then follow that up by saying that the staff who are at the
059center of those gains don't understand the problems that the district faces. I'll skip the third one. All I want to say is let's stop simply talking about respect. All of these proposed changes can and should be brought to the negotiation table, not made in a way that limits the voices of those who are most affected by them. Let's move forwards, not backwards. >> Thank you, Lisa Deia. Sorry. >> I appreciate the effort there. >> Yes. Thank you. Good evening. Buenos. Um, my name is Lisa De Lao and I'm a teacher at Hugenat High School and I live in the 9inth district. I'm here today to share uh on the following issues and ask you first to vote no on the superintendent's proposed changes to collective bargaining. Second, to provide more tangible support and protections to
060our families afraid of being targeted by ICE. And finally, to change the policy on clear backpacks, though I love Javannia and I adore everything she has to say, and allow students the option to bring a non-clear backpack. First, our working conditions in schools and on buses are our students learning conditions. When teachers don't get uninterrupted planning periods, it directly impacts our students learning conditions. When there isn't clean air in the schools because of mold and asbestous, it directly impacts students health. as well as staff. Oversized classrooms directly impact students um learning conditions. We are consistently advocating for our students when we are advocating for ourselves through collective bargaining. We deserve to have our feedback be heard. That means when we share our opinions on these proposed changes, we ask that you listen with an open
061heart and mind. When my students give me feedback about how class is going for them, I do my best to listen and act accordingly. Thank you to the schoolboard members who have heard our overwhelming feedback. I urge everyone to listen to us by voting no on these changes. Secondly, what is RPS doing to protect our students and families from ICE? >> 30 seconds. >> Okay. Uh there have been multiple ICE sightings on the southside at school bus stops the last few weeks. Parents and students are fearful. Um what are you willing to do to protect our students and their families? And what resources are you willing to put forward? Finally, I strongly urge that you make it optional to use clear backpacks. I've asked my students about this and they all agree. It seems like
062every other week, every week, I have a student who asked me for a new backpack because theirs broke. Many students replace their backpacks multiple times. Thank you. Thank you. As Chloe Tempri comes up, I I'd ask if Sophia Barbaria, I'm so sorry. I know I'm not pronouncing that correctly. My apologies. Charlotte Hayer and Sean Casser also come up. Thank you. Good evening. >> Good evening. My name is Chloe Treer. I'm a teacher at Booshaw Middle School and I'm here to address two important issues this evening. First, I'm disappointed in these proposed changes that undercut our collective bargaining. If you all truly care about the success of RPS students, then you need to support and fight for your teachers. According to the RPS website, love is ensuring equity. Public education must be about more than just
063good instruction. It must be about creating a more equitable society. Taking power from the people does not create a more equitable society and will cause teachers to leave RPS. Teacher turnover is a huge equity issue. High rates of teacher turnover harm student achievement and creates lasting instability for our students. Multiple studies have shown that collective barting agreements are associated with reduced teacher turnover, especially in high poverty schools like ours. I'm urging you all to vote against the superintendent's proposed changes. Secondly, what is RPS doing to protect our students and their families from ICE? There have been multiple ICE sightings on the south side of bus stops in the last few weeks. Parents and students are fearful. A few RPS parents have been taken. That leads me to ask you these questions. What are you willing
064to do to protect our students and their families? Saying they are safe does not make them safe. What is specifically being enacted to ensure they are safe? What resources are being put forward to ensure our students are safe at their bus stops? What resources and supports are being provided to families impacted by ICE kidnappings? We have students who have had parents deported. That takes a huge emotional and financial toll on a family. All I hear our PS say is lead with love, teach with love, serve with love. Please stop saying these things and do them. It is time to act. Thank you. >> Thank you, Andrea Bryant. My name is Andrea Bryant and I am current I currently serve as the president of the Richmond Education Association. I don't take this position lightly and work
065diligently to represent our members to the best of my ability. I am here because changes to the collective bargaining resolution have been made without the collective. The REA and other unions are frustrated because we were not given a fair chance to collaborate. Collaboration on changes to the collective bargaining resolution could have started in July when I took office. Collaboration could have started in August with good faith in a true chance to build trust and assume positive intent. Yet, this did not happen. The unions were provided with a detailed overview of changes to the collective bargaining resolution on September 18th and told that these changes would be presented two and a half weeks later. We received the actual language changes to the collective bargaining resolution on September 24th, which left two weeks to try to process
066these changes, their ramifications, and propose our own ideas with the short deadline provided. I even asked if the changes could be retracted so we could have collective discussion, and that was brushed off with the statement that changes will be presented on October 6th. This type of behavior contributes to an already tense relationship between the workers and the RPS administration. How could we build trust and goodwill with behavior such as this? Financially speaking, we understand that the school board has a fiduciary responsibility to Richmond public schools, but there are many things that the RPS workers want that don't necessitate additional funds or provide good reasoning to remove negotiation from the table when funds are tight. Trust me, many workers are work living paycheck to paycheck. So, we know what a tight budget means. Please trust that
067negotiations will be very mindful of the budget and many of the changes to the collective bargaining resolution do not have financial ramifications that help the district but have social and structural ramifications that can hurt the workers. Also, let's not be hung up on the rhetoric. Every campaign has its extremes from one end of the spectrum to the other. The rhetoric should be an indicator of how serious of an issue this is to the workers of RPS. It could lead it should lead to more a more dissecting practice when looking at documents such as this. One day or two weeks is not enough time to truly review a document like this and break down how it affects everyone involved. Subjective language in the collective bargaining resolution can erode our free speech, especially in our school buildings,
068especially when anything could be misconstrued as interfering in the day-to-day operations of RPS or engage in behavior that negatively impacts the working conditions or environment of any RPS employee. Lastly, I ask that you vote no to these changes. We need an opportunity to come together truly together and make changes to the resolution that yield to the true definition of compromise. A settlement of differences by mutual concessions. Additional time would not hurt this process and bargaining without any changes to the collective bargaining agreement. >> Thank you. >> Hi. Could you pronounce your license? >> It's Barbary. I'm sorry. >> It's okay. Good evening. My name is Sophia Barbieri and I'm a proud teacher at Henderson Middle School. When I graduated college in December of 2024, I was thrilled to be hired into what I thought was
069a truly progressive district, one that made history as the first in Virginia to recognize the right of educators to collectively bargain. That meant something to me. It meant we were building a future where teachers had a voice, where we could stand together and fight for the conditions our students deserve. But that promise feels like it's being broken. I've seen the instability our students face firsthand. Last spring, I even taught Superintendent Cameras's own son as his fourth English teacher in a single year. That was my introduction to this career. That's not just a staffing problem. It's the result of a system that keeps pushing workers to their breaking point. And now, instead of strengthening our ability to fix that system, these proposed changes try to silence and divide us. Let's be clear, collective bargaining is not
070a privilege granted by leadership. It is a right that workers won through struggle. And when any administration, no matter how polished the language, tries to weaken that right, it's not to be mistaken as reform. It's regression, plain and simple. We, the educators of RPS, will not be intimidated and we will not be divided. Our power comes from solidarity. I urge the board to vote no on these anti-worker changes and stand on the side of labor, justice, and democracy in our schools. Thank you. >> Thank you. Please, if you could, I know it's very tempting. Refrain from clapping. I'd appreciate it. Good evening. How are you? >> Good evening. My name is Charlotte Hair. I am the only CTE teacher at Richmond Community High School where we are very proud of our pharaohs every single day
071and I come to you tonight speaking on behalf of the proposed changes to collective bargaining. So I remember what it was like before we had a collectively bargain contract. Every time we turned around, we had to come down here and beg and plead and beg and plead to be treated like human beings with people with rights. We thought we had gotten past that juncture with the collective marketing contract. So tonight, I'm going to ask you to do something that nobody's asked you to do before. And I'm going to ask you to put yourself in our shoes. Put yourself in our shoes and think about how you would feel if this had happened to you. We understand that you are an employer. So I ask you, would you want your employer to treat you this way?
072Would you want them to put these changes to you without your voice being at the table? REA is only seeking to be a part of the solution. That means give us a seat at the table. Give us a seat at the table. I was a part of the first collective bargaining team. I know what it's like. Give us a seat at the table. Come to the table with honesty. and with a real purpose of doing what's right for all of your employees. This is not right. So we ask you, I ask you, do you want these things done to you? If you answer no to that, then why would you do them to your own employees? Because trust and believe. If you told us when you came to us for recommendation and endorsement and you
073said you believed in collective bargaining, we will remember how you vote on this and we will make it known to all of the constituents of this city that you changed your mind. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. As Sean Caster comes forward, I'd also like uh Dr. Carl Vaughn, uh, Daryl Turner, Katherine Flowers, and Beth Almore to come forward. Sean Casser. >> Good evening. My name is Sean Casar and I'm labor co-chair for the Richmond chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. Years ago, after working together collaboratively, this board and the unions put forward a historic collective bargaining resolution. It was the first of its kind in the state and truly one of the better agreements I've witnessed in my years of labor work. These changes to the resolution proposed today are a disgrace to that
074achievement. This amendment is full of union busting provisions, including limitations to interacting with union representatives, union recruitment, and bargaining. Today I'm going to try to cover the three larger structural changes I find to be the most harmful. One, it limits the number of topics the unions can bargain over to just three. Creating a completely arbitrary limit based on fear is not acting in good faith defeats the entire purpose of negotiations and guarantees austerity. While widely reported mold, asbestous, extreme temperatures, and outcome inequality plagues our district, this would make it near impossible for the union to continue to advocate for the changes needed to actively eliminate them. changes that can only be identified by empowering those who have to work with all these problems, not by mandate from a political body who ignored them for decades,
075who has shown an inability to take meaningful action even with millions of CIP funding won by union and community advocacy, nor by an unelected superintendent who received 10% raise and new bonuses while leading the call for common sense budget precautions. Two, it makes bargaining completely impartial. It makes the school board the neutral arbiter during an impass, which is not only unfair to the board members, but is also completely laughable. The school board is management, plain and simple. Three, it gives the administration the ability to completely nullify any provisions that in its opinion aren't fundable. It removes the existing collaborative process and instead gives all the power to management to decide. With the superintendent writing the budget, scoping its discussion to a fraction of its provisions, and not giving the board an acceptable amount of time
076to review or amend the full document, this will happen most of the time. >> Time. >> Thank you, Dr. Carl Bond. >> Still out of place. Good evening, superintendent cameras and board members. You're fully aware I'm Carl Vaughn, founder of Jumpstart YouTube. I understand the former Thompson Middle School may be discussed tonight and I want to ensure my request to designate the building as surplus is part of that conversation. You know my purpose and why ending the cycle of under you underuse matters. Tonight, I'll highlight one key point. We are actively doing the work and Thompson is essential to that momentum. For 13 years, we've operated without a permanent base, major funding or bailout. Yet, we've delivered results year after year. Securing Thompson isn't the end, it's the beginning. Ownership unlocks leverage. With Thompson, we
077can attract backers, secure renovation funding, and cover two to three years of operations. Without it, we remain stuck in survival mode. JSU2 brings a plan and a legacy. 500 families enrolled in our life skills academy. 300 housed, 100 secured leases, several pursuing home ownership. 500 graduates ready to rise and reinvest in Richmond. Weekly presence at the homeless resource center. Hand demand services in underserved neighborhoods. Youth and family engagement across all all four quadrants of Richmond. partnerships with Senior Connect, VCU, Virginia Union University, and Virginia State University, yielding two dozen interns and over a dozen work study students, serving as program advocates. I've led schools others gave up on. I've served this city for over 40 years. I've done the work with no building, no budget, and no bailout. We're not asking for a handout. We're
078offering a hand up. Let's be consistent. Let's be courageous. Let's surplus Thompson and give Richmond another chance to rise. Meanwhile, remember the HU6 principle called Hugh 6 that I presented last board meeting. Shoulders high. H chin up you. We stand upright like clock hands at six. Even when the winds howl, we don't bow. Even when the walls shake, we don't break. Six times we fall. Six times we rise. On the seventh we build. This is Q6. This is us. And remember, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Philippians 4:13. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Daryl. Is it Derell? >> Daryl Tur uh Turner. Thank you. >> Hi, good evening members of the school board, Superintendent Camas. My name is Daryl Turner. I am a prek teacher at MLK Preschool. And
079I come before you tonight because I think back to December 6, 2021. That was the night that the Richmond School Board passed the collective bargaining resolution. That was a collaborative effort between RPS and the Richmond Education Association. There was collaboration throughout the process to get to that point. That collaboration continued after the resolution was passed, when we went to the bargaining table. And that collaboration continued when we celebrated the victory of being the first school district in the Commonwealth of Virginia in nearly 50 years to pass a collective bargaining resolution. So, we collaborated in the celebration. So when I heard that one of my fellow union members and the administration was proposing changes that takes away our seat at this table, I was shocked. You know, I wondered what happened to that collaboration. During that
080time, I served as the vice president of the REA and I was in the room for all those negotiating meetings. And I can tell you the gains that we got in collective bargaining, you know, made sure that our workers felt loved, seen, and supported. And in this district, we often talk about leading with love. But I have to ask the question, where is the love when we want to take away the seat at the table? Because here is the thing. When we support our teachers, >> 30 seconds, >> we also support our students. Because remember, our educators working conditions are our students learning conditions. And if I encourage you all to vote no on these changes because if you take away our voices at the table, you're also failing your promise of supporting the workers
081and our students in RPS. So vote no on this. Thank you. >> Thank you. As Katherine Flowers, Beth Almore come forward. And I also ask Mariah White, Sharon Gilbert, James Smith, and Brian Payton to come forth as well. Good evening. >> Good evening. My name is Katherine Flowers, and I'm a teacher at Hugenot High School. I come here tonight to ask that you please reject the current proposed changes to our collective bargaining agreement. I'm a recent transplant to RPS as I moved here from Florida in the summer of last year. The last schoolboard meeting I attended was in Florida when I went to speak about the proposal to strike language of LGBTQ inclusion from the district handbook. Despite the concerns of the community of parents, teachers, and students coming together to urge the district to
082vote against it, they moved forward taking away protections from a very atrisisk community. I have such different hopes tonight. I stand in front of a very different school board. I was here for the elections. I saw the platforms you ran on. So, I know that this school board and our superintendent are committed to fostering conversations and that you celebrate the diverse perspectives here within RPS. That messaging and your commitment to working together with the union are part of what I love about working here. It's part of why I moved. I'm asking you to demonstrate those commitments by voting to reject this proposal. I know that the budget is tight and I understand that you are under an immense amount of pressure. I am urging you not to sacrifice the power of collective bargaining in the
083name of efficiency or streamlining. Good conversations are messy. Having more space at the table is difficult. Oh, I turned it off. I'm sorry. But I truly believe the best changes happen when we have a collaboration. Once again, I ask you to please reject the proposed changes to our collective bargaining agreement. We have a wonderful community here in Richmond. Let's work on making our schools better together. Thank you. >> Thank you, Beth Almore, not present. Next up would be Mariah White. Good evening. >> Good evening everyone, school board, Madame Chair and Superintendent Cameas. I am speaking on behalf of our organization tonight, the Richmond Crusaders for Voters. I am the education chair for the Richmond Crusaders for Voters. The education committee will focus to improve our education educational concerns at every school level and educate our
084citizens, our voters on the performance, the policies, parent rights of Richmond public schools. First, our action items will be literacy of course. So, we're looking for a literacy plan. Absency, chronic, dropout rate, behavior, um receiving reports for too many high-f flyers in certain schools. What are you doing? Bullying, overcrowding, and disparities in our schools. The Richmond Crusaders for voters will remain attentive to the concerns of our constituents as well as our communities. We will respond accordingly and we will bring the community to you. What we really want to know tonight is your collective bargaining really equitable. See, there are primary positions that are emitted from your CBA. And I'm really not sure why there is not agreement with everyone that is in red here tonight because they were in agreement just a year ago. So
085there should be some type of togetherness, collaboration because we know on the board and I know you all know all nine of you know that no one on this board has the expertise of law here and we went through this a year ago. It's not as simple as you think. We must be able to treat our people, our teachers, our students with dignity and respect. This cannot be every year, every year the same thing for collective bargaining. Bring everyone to the table. We have a lawyer over here and you need to use your attorney for negotiation. Thank you. >> Thank you. Sharon Gilbert. >> Good evening, superintendent and school board. My name is Sharon Gilbert and I'm a very proud REA member and the administrative office associate at William Fox Elementary School for over 20
086years. Let me just start by saying that I nor any of these union members are your enemies. I am one of the five who worked extremely hard to get collective bargaining for our school-based administrative office associates and office associates. And I want to continue to build on that. I could be at home cooking dinner or working my second or my third part-time job. But it was important for me to be here not only tonight but also uh last night. And so I'm here before you tonight to ask you to vote no on the proposed changes to our collective bargaining resolution. Now you often talk about giving workers a seat at the table, but a real seat means making decisions with us, not for us. These changes were written behind closed doors without any input for
087from the very people they affect. This is not collaboration. We're being told these revisions are aren't anti-UN, but if that's the case, why keep unions out of the process until the last minute? And why hire an attorney with a long record of opposing collective bargaining, even lobbying against lifting the state ban? Calling these proposals small revisions doesn't change the truth. They weakened the progress we fought for and put at risk RPS historic achievement as the first district in Virginia to secure bargaining rights. So tonight, you have a choice. You can stand with us and we can work together or you can continue the secrecy and unilateral power. I urge you to reject these changes and to vote no. It benefits not only us and our students but our community and our parents as well. Thank
088you so much. >> Thank you. James Smith as he comes forward. I also like Allison Kaplan, Melissa Johnston, and um Reverend William McKe. >> Good evening. I'm Jim Smith, uh president of Local 592. Uh first, I'd like to thank you for approving our representation of the managers and coordinators last night. So, thank you for that. Uh second, We finally have a ratified tenative agreement with the principles and the assistant principles and yes it's on we finally have a ratified tentative agreement with the principles assistant principles and directors. I think that will be before y'all next month for approval and look forward to that. Um, speaking on the changes to the resolution, one that gives me the most heartburn is the changing of the talking points. They have instead of having groups of talking points, they've
089individualized them which will restrict negotiating quite a bit and I think it um would be detrimental. You know, there's a lot of things We've spent a lot of time with you in negotiating committee. They know how to say no. They can talk about things. They respectfully decline things that they feel would be harmful for the district. But there are things that we talked about that cost nothing. You know, one example of that was goal setting meetings that were held here. It was a problem with the principles having to get parking, not knowing how long they were going to be here. We requested they be moved to a school. They moved them to a school. No cost to no one. But if we're limited on what we can discuss, then those free items that have no
090expense go unattended to. So the main thing we object to is breaking the talking points into individual items instead of groups of items. So thank you for your consideration. >> Thank you. >> Brian Payton. >> Distinguished members of this governing body, my name is Brian Payton. and the president and principal officer of Teamsters Local 322. Thank you for granting me the opportunity to stand up here and speak. I will be brief. A lot has been said this evening regarding the the upcoming vote potential changes. My quick question to this this group board of fine people is there's a lot of talk about partnership and collaboration. What kind of what type of partners are really effective truly effective? You can either have a collaborative partnership or you can have a silent partner. The recent changes that
091have been suggested have stirred up a lot of controversy. What you see right here, right now, what has manifested in front of this governing body is people banning together, making their collective voices heard, and saying that they're not going to cosign this. You have a decision to make. I urge you to vote no. I urge you to do the right thing. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. >> Uh my name is Allison Kaplan. I'm the school counselor and the REA rep for Elizabeth Wright Elementary School. Uh the new proposed language in the CBA resolution says that employees shall not engage in behavior that negatively impacts the working environment and that organizing activities must not interfere with work duties, including planning time. For two years, I advocated regarding RPS's ongoing violations of
092federal mandate surrounding asbestous. If during school hours, I had looked through our asbestous ma management binder, would this have been considered part of an organizing activity? If during their planning time, a colleague informed me that the moldy water spot on their ceiling had returned, could this be considered contributing to a negative work environment? Could we face reprimand? Had the proposed uh subjective language been in the resolution back in April of 2024, RPS would probably be 16 years in violation of federal mandates rather than 15 and students at staff at RED might still be kicking up asbestous dust in the auditorium. I may not have felt comfortable speaking up in regards to these violations for fear of facing reprimand due to these vague policies. Last night, a member of this board commented commented that everyone in
093the room was getting along and that no one was having their free speech restricted and that the school board and administration does not have an aggressive campaign as such an aggressive campaign as the REA and therefore the narrative is skewed in the media. Here's the thing. The original resolution was created by a committee that included union representatives. Refusing to return to the to the committee to discuss proposed changes is restricting our communication. Yes. Everyone was getting along last night, but we were also not permitted to speak while this matter was discussed. Tonight, the same night that the vote will be conducted, is the only time since we received the proposed changes that we even have the opportunity to offer public comment. So, yes, maybe the union's public campaign has been a bit more aggressive. But
094we were also left with little time and few options. We would have much preferred to address these changes amicably and fairly during committee meetings. Refusing us this opportunity is not negotiating in good faith. >> Thank you. Melissa Johnston. >> If someone has the clipboard, would you please pass it forward? >> Greetings, chair, members of the school board, and superintendent cameras. My name is Melissa Johnston. I'm proud to teach at Thomas Jefferson High School, where I'm in my 24th year. I'm speaking this evening to urge you to vote no on the proposed amendments to the collective bargaining resolution. I've reviewed the repo the proposed revisions and the additional edits the RPS administration proposed just this weekend. These edits are insufficient to address the concerns of your employees, our collective bargaining units, and the unions that represent
095us at the table. As an example of how these proposed changes serve to silence the educational workforce, I would like to turn your attention to pages four and five, which describe the parameters of identifying topics of negotiation. Please note that in the current unrevised resolution, there are 10 topics that are inclusive of subtopics. For the first round of negotiations, each side was able to bring two of these topics to the table. The proposed changes have crossed out these topics and parsed the subtopics out, raising them to the level of topics. we see a proposal to move from 10 topics to 25. If we then extend the limit to the number of topics each party can bring to the negotiation table, it is evident that this is a move to imply harsh limits to the scope
096of each round of bargaining. Complicate this with the proposal to move from a three-year contract to a 5-year contract, and opportunities that each bargaining unit has to negotiate a better workplace disappear. Again, please understand that this is a move to limit speech. If we are held to an arbitrarily low number of tightly defined topics, we are limited in our speech. If we negotiate less often, we are limited in our speech. No matter how many times the phrase shall in no way be construed as a as a restriction on an individual's constitu sorry, constitutionally protected freedom of expression is entered in this document. For all practical purposes, the proposal before you is an effort to limit employee speech. Please support a collaborative and expressive relationship with your workforce. Vote no to the changes to amend the
097collective bargaining resolution. >> Thank you. As you come forward, I'd also like Nikki Omnzi, my apologies if I pronounce your name wrong, Dennis Mallerie, Tina Bno, and Jonathan Mueller. if you could come forward as well. Good evening. >> Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is William McGee. I am the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference here in Richmond, Virginia. But I don't come to you as president of SCC. I come to you as a former teacher and administrator, administrator for 20 years here with the Richmond Public School System. My first job, I was assigned to teach at John F. Kennedy High School. and I taught there with perfect attendance for six years. After that, when I returned to Richmond public schools, I worked for 20 years as an administrator here in Richmond public
098schools, serving in many schools, including Armstrong High School on Cool Lane. So, I had the honor of working in both John F. Kennedy High School on Cool Lane and Armstrong High School on Cool Lane. I want to ask you a question. Be honest with you. Everybody in here, if you all tried to t change the name, there are two schools in the city of Richmond named after presidents. One of them is Thomas Jefferson High School and the other one is John F. Kennedy High School. I dare you all to try to change the name of Thomas Jefferson High School. I really do. You know what would happen? All things would happen. So, I'm saying to you, it's a win-win and is a win loss situation here. If you change the name to Armstrong Kennedy, Armstrong
099still wins. If you don't include John F. Kennedy, all of my former students, and there are hundreds of them, who are very responsible citizens, they would they lose all of their identity. They don't have any high school to say they went to in Richmond. People say, "Well, where is John F. Kennedy High School?" Oh, it's at 2300 Cool Lane, and then now the name is Armstrong High School. try to change the name of Thomas Jefferson. Thank you all very much. God bless each and every one of you and God bless everybody here and I'm with the unit. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Nikki Omana. I am a proud union member and a representative of Unite Here Local 25. I'm also an RPS parent. My daughter started kindergarten this year at Belleview.
100Um, it's funny. I'm having dja vu right now. Uh, several years ago, I stood in this very same building, different room. This one's smaller. It's a little hotter. But, uh, I stood in this very same room alongside very many of these people, and we were fighting for collective bargaining rights for Richmond city workers. Now, we're standing here again and standing up for the criminally underpaid and overworked employees of Richmond public schools and arguing the same nonsense despite the fact that in 2021 and 22 report that Mr. Cameras himself commissioned uh it described the devastating job losses experienced by this district where one in four teachers chose to resign and how much of a problem retention was despite the fact that study after study confirms that collective bargaining leads to higher wages, better benefits, improved safety,
101increased job satisfaction, and the fact that unions foster greater quality by reducing wage gaps based on race and gender and are associated with lower worker tone turnover and increased productivity. And despite all of those, we are still here. And somehow the superintendent has unilaterally decided to silence RPS workers and go against the wishes of this city and its residents. These workers deserve better. You know what? I was going to stand here and give you all these statistics and things and the fact how much money of their personal money they spend. But then I went to the bathroom before this when we were in the overflow room and I met a teacher and she worked here before CO and she didn't have paid parental leave and she had to use short-term disability. Sir, long after you're
102gone in a distant memory of a mid-level bureaucrat going against the needs and demands of this city, we will all be here. We will still be fighting. I urge you all to please vote against this disgusting union busting proposal. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Members of the school board, good evening. My name is Dennis Mallerie and I am the chairman of the John F. Kennedy High School alumni and friends scholarship fund as well as the event planner of the multiclass John F. Kennedy reunion events. First of all, I'd like to say thank you for the survey that was done in the schools for the name change. And when I looked at the results, I saw that the students and the administration of Armstrong was not in favor of the name change. However, the results
103of the parents and the community favors the name change. So I would not ask the question, well which one's more important? Because I know you will agree all of them are important. However, I will ask the question, well which one has more tenure? Which one of the groups hang around longness? Well, students come and go in four years. And staff, they may come and go in four years, less or more. However, the parents and the community, they are forever figuratively speaking. So, when you make your um vote on this name change, please consider that. Now, the administration suggested a plaque and a winner showcase for Kennedy's history, but believe me, Kennedy history will not fit in a window showcase. We will suggest maybe a um a room designated as a museum. Okay. Now, we're not
104asking for the whole cake. In other words, to do that, we'll be asking you to change the name back to John F. Kennedy High School Cougars color scarlet and gold. We are now asking for half of the cake, which will be asking for John F. Kennedy or Armstrong Kennedy Jaguars, colors gold and blue, mascot, the Jaguars. We are asking for a slice of the cake and that would be to name the school Armstrong Kennedy. >> Armstrong would keep his status as a wild cat as a color orange and blue. It will keep his status quo. All we want is the name Kennedy on front of the building. But remember this, if John F. Kennedy High School was not built. Where will Armstrong High School be? Considering the fact that you had to tear it down,
105but you couldn't replace it. So, >> time. >> Thank you for your time. Have a good day. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. Um, I'm Tina Bueno. I'm from Rich River City Middle School here in Richmond. Um I've some of you um I've spoken to individually before, some of you maybe not as much. Um but I have been in public education for 21 years. I am proud to be part of RPS. I was very proud that RPS had this collective bargaining agreement and we were very excited about going through the process and really representing our people and having a real seat at the table. One of the things that everyone wants in their job, in their workplace, is to feel as a professional, to be respected as a professional. And I know we have a
106lot of fine folks in front with a lot of good expertise, but I also know that the people behind me in red are the ones who get it done every day. They're the ones who walk in and make sure everybody is taken care of. They take care of our children every day. And I just think it's really important that we actually give them give us all a real voice at the table and we honor the original agreement. Um RPS has done a really great job of hiring some amazing workers. I love my co-workers that I work with. It's what keeps me here. Um but retention is not it. I'm in River City Middle School as well and the turnover in that building is scary some years. Um, so it really does worry me and I
107know that with professionalism that is something that's going to draw people to RPS and if we're serious about retention, we're serious about transparency and making RPS better, then we're going to honor the original agreement. Thank you. >> Thank you. As Jonathan Mueller comes forward, I'd also like Kathleen Whale, Adam Melinowski Louie, sorry, um, Carol Brewer, uh, Patrick Corte, and Gail Freeman. Thank you. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> My name is Jonathan Mueller. I am a union member. I am a union worker. I'm an organizer for Starbucks Workers United. And for those who don't know, Starbucks workers enrichment and throughout the country have been attempting to get a contract enshrined. For years, our management has stalled, retaliated, and ignored our demands for better pay, dignity in the job site, and stability in our work hours.
108They've restricted how we can express ourselves. They've restricted our ability to afford rent and have even fired some of us for just wanting to make Starbucks a better place to work and a better place for everyone who doesn't work at Starbucks to get their coffee. I believe that this resolution, as written, is just as bad faith as what we see from Starbucks management. It ignores the real concerns of your employees, polices their expression of the First Amendment, and gives you all the ability to, just like Starbucks management, completely ignore the bargaining process. Just like us at Starbucks, these teachers, janitorial staff, support staff, bus drivers, counselors, all Richmond uh education association members want to make their schools the best learning environments for students through bargaining. After all, their working conditions are our students learning conditions.
109I ask that you all vote no on this amendment. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hi, I'm Cat Wall. I'm a former George W High School teacher. I'm a present river city teacher and I serve on the REA executive board. I just want to know why we're here tonight. I find it so disturbing. I've been working all day. We all been working, all of us. And I find it deeply disturbing that the cameras administration feel sufficiently emboldened to make such a proposal in the first place. This was all supposed to be happening at the bargaining table. I already worked all day. There wasn't any soap or toilet paper in the bathrooms. Okay. But I still had to come up here, get manhandled by uh our awesome CSAs. Someone talked to them and kept us all
110in a hot overflow room when there were seats available. I don't know what we're doing. Someone talked to them. Someone intimidated them and is they're intimidating us. For years, this is why we're here because for years in Richmond, we've been trying to get this collective bargaining going. I'm part of the I'm part of a southern workers group and uh they look up to us a lot here in Richmond because of everything we've won. So, I wanted to take us on a little history trip of what got us all here tonight. Back in spring of 2021, the REA launched its collective bargaining card campaign. Uh we held rallies to put pressure on uh everyone to pass an ordinance. December 2021, y'all passed the collective bargaining ordinance. Uh but we had to settle on a compromise resolution.
111It limited our scope of bargaining in the beginning on the first contract, but it was supposed to have opened up. This was the first public sector collective bargaining ordinance passed in the state of Virginia after a 47-year ban on collective bargaining for public sector workers was repealed. Uh 2022 we finally had some negotiations that included everybody. Uh anyway, but we had to sign confidentiality documents with the union and management and that only benefited you. June 2023 and 2024, our union faced challenges and repression, including bad faith bargaining by management, management retaliation of American Sign Language interpreters by trying to strip their tenure rights and worse than working conditions, a refusal to grant an unpaid leave of absence for the REA's president. >> Thank you. >> A whole lot more. >> Good evening, school board. My
112name is Adam Malinowski Louu and I'm an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation. I'll start off by saying that education doesn't work when we place dollars over people. We cannot expect our students to be succeeding when we are not investing in our schools and when we're not investing in the honest and hardworking people that make our schools run. Our teachers and staff have one of the most important jobs in our country. And everything I just said, I would assume all of you would agree with, at least for the record. Uh yet last night several of you revealed yourselves to be in support of this initiative to change and weaken uh RPS workers ability to collectively bargain. And uh that is also to those of you who revealed that uh revealing that you have
113different priorities over making our schools run better and improving the lives of our teachers and students. the community sees what you're doing and that's why the community has turned out as it has tonight. I also would like to take a moment and commend those of you who did reaffirm your commitment to this community and to RPS workers and to students in RPS schools. But at the same time to the rest of you who are attempting to actively mislead the public, we see what you're doing. If you as members of this school board don't feel that you're able to work with this union and with our teachers, then you should not hold your positions on this council. If you feel that you're not able to trust the hardworking teachers and staff that make our schools run,
114then you should not have your positions on the school board. If you feel that you need to mislead and confuse the public in order to do your job properly, then you should not be on the school board. Investing in our teachers and in our staff is the same thing as investing in our students. Attempting to fight our unions is the same thing as attempting to sabotage the futures of our students. This community sees through these anti-UN lies that you have spread, which we've heard for the majority of our lives. And really, this community is resolute in not allowing these Trump policies to affect our community or to affect our children. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. >> My name is Patrick Corte. I'm a history and social science teacher at Richmond High School
115for the Arts and a member of the Richmond Education Association. and I stand before you to voice my opposition to the last minute changes to the resolution governing the collective bargaining process as proposed by the cameras administration. The REA was only informed about these radical changes at the midnight hour and at no point was the REA or any other labor union invited to participate as equal partners in a dialogue concerning the nature, scope and purpose of these changes. But why speak of dialogue this evening? Take you on a philosophical detour. uh the theorist of progressive education pelopury makes a distinction between two methods of teaching and learning. He explains that on the one hand there is dialogic education rooted in the principles of humanism meaning freedom self-determination democratic participation authentic communication constructive criticism and mutual
116respect and in opposition to this vision stands the banking system of education and furry states that under the banking model the teacher student relationship becomes an act of depositing in which the students are the depos uh deposiitories and the teachers are the deposiitories as an educator and lifelong learner I adhere to FR's democratic and dialogic vision in opposition to the undemocratic and bureaucratic nature of the banking model. So I decided to conduct a thought experiment. So let's consider the following scenarios taken from FRA and ask ourselves if they ring true when considering how RPS is approaching collective bargaining specifically and employer employee relations more broadly. The employer issues communicates and directives and the employees receive them. The employer knows everything and the employees know nothing. The employer thinks and the employees are thought about. The
117employer talks and the employees listen meekly. The employer disciplines and the employees are disciplined. The employer chooses and enforces his choice and the employees comply. The employer acts and the employees have the illusion of acting through the action of the employer. The employer chooses the program content and the employees who are not consulted adapt to it. >> Thank you. >> Vote no. >> Thank you. Good evening. >> Good evening, Madam Chair, school board members, superintendent cameras. My name is Carol Bower. I'm a national board certified fourth grade teacher, president of the Virginia Education Association, and a proud union member. I'm here tonight not just as a supporter of collective bargaining, but as someone who believes deeply in the power of educators and communities working together to transform schools. When Richmond adopted collective bargaining, it wasn't
118just a policy change. It was a promise. A promise to listen to the people. Listen to the people who show up every day for our students. And that promise has delivered. I want to share with you some statistics. Since the collective bargaining agreement has been made, students in Richmond pass rates have grown faster than the state than the state in every subject with science scores jumping 13 points, reading up six points. Those numbers represent real children, students who are learning more, reading more confidently, and thriving because their schools are stable, and their educators are supported. I have these statistics. I'm going to share them with you. Vacancy rates tell the same story. Richmond now has one of the lowest teacher vacancy rates in the region. We've seen the largest reduction in aid and paraprofessional vacancies
119in the entire state here in Richmond. That means more classrooms with consistent adults, more students getting attention they deserve, and more families able to trust the schools are strong and that we're here for our students. Another statistics I want to share is tonight I've been keeping my tally marks. We've had 28 speakers, 25 of them who've spoken to vote no on this proposed resolution changes. Collective bargaining works because it's built on respect, trust, and shared responsibility. I urge you to keep strengthening this partnership and the collaboration that has been proven so successful. I had the opportunity to speak to many of you this past week and even some of you today and I appreciate that and I actually appreciate that you've taken the time to listen to everybody who signed up. That's truly tremendous. Thank
120you so much for doing that. I hope that you will listen and understand that the statistics show that you have members here that want to collaborate with you and they want the time to do that. I also want to give one more shout out because National School Lunch, Rosalinda Anderson. Yeah, there she is. Lucille Brown Middle School. I just want to give a shout out to her. But I do appreciate you being here. I do appreciate you listening and I do hope that you will vote no on the proposed changes on the resolution. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Gail Freeman Hall and I'm an I am the administrative office associate at Lynwood Holton Elementary where I've been for the last 24 years. Two years ago, I was fortunate enough
121to be a part of the team of four along with Sharon Gilbert for the school-based administrative office associates and associates. We came to the table with RPS leadership for collective bargain bargaining for over 80 aas and OAS collectively. From August to March, we tirelessly met with the RPS leadership to negotiate fair wages and other conditions that we felt were important to all front office staff. This was a result of being overlooked the previous school year in which secretaries had not been given raises. The uh collective bargaining team met during school work days for months and even during our winter break to have a seat at the table. We came to the schoolboard meetings and city council meetings during the same time period to share our personal stories. This was no easy task. The negotiations were
122long and sometimes challenging, but we hung in there and we prevailed. school-based AOAs and OAS. We're currently we are currently in year two of our third or third year negotiations agreement. Richmond is the first in the state of Virginia to have CBAs for teachers and for AOAs, something that I'm proud of and I take pleasure in. Please note, other localities are looking and have been watching us. to the new school board members. I don't know if you are aware of how challenging this process has been. It took a lot of fight and everything that we had to prevail. Most importantly, we fought for what we deserved and for what we bring to RPS students, parents, and our community. Our parents and community and the past school board all helped in this fight. >> Having a
123see that >> Sorry, your time is up. Thank you all for your time. This now concludes public information session. We thank you all for your patience. We'll transition to board action items. First up 5.01 01 receive for action head start report. >> Good evening chair members of the board and superintendent uh Mr. Cameron. Uh you have the report for the um for the head component for the month of August. Um our enrollment sorry. So in your report you have the enrollment numbers for head start and early head start for the month of August which was uh combined with Petersburg head start was 474 and early start was 37 but as of today head start is 541 and early head start is 49 which is uh only seven spots available in early head start. We are
124cleaning the list and shop plus to make sure that we have all the intakes uh and we are counting also the 25 applications that are are being accepted and are in process to completed intakes. Um so we are hopefully to be fully enrolled by the end of this month. So, tomorrow, October 8th, we're are going to have the planning call for the rand review um from the office of headto leadership has been um getting together twice a week to be prepared for this call, but we also have been meeting twice a week to create uh continue monitoring systems for all components. Uh and also preparing for the further review. uh most likely will be in 2026. Uh we conducted a health fair on 927. Some some screenings were completed. Uh we are planning to do
125another one to be able to um provide physicals and dentals for our families. uh policy council retreat is scheduled for November 14 to the 16 and parenting and engagement conferences in December from 8 to 11 in Florida. uh all components are receiving training in CHOP plus which is a plus and now during the governor shutdown we don't have access to our program specialists all the TA uh team but any federal review are taking place uh and in the links that you have you have the program monthly report for August you have the approved financial statements you also have the policy council bylaws approved approve U policy council approved those on 95 um 25 do you guys colleagues any questions >> Mr. Pible >> yes >> thank you Mr. Taylor um thank you for this presentation
126you you pointed out for head start that we have 33 out of 513 funded slots. If I do my quick envelope math, 175 slots, we have an active plan of filling those by the end of this month. >> Yeah, that was for August. Uh yeah, so today I went over the numbers and we have 541 >> 5 >> 41 >> 541. Excellent. >> So that includes the waiting list. >> Uh that know those are enrolled fully enrolled. uh the high heads are call it button seat. So those are those are um childrens that are attending. So we have a list of accepted which is are the ones that are we are working with the intakes those are around 30 but we also have a list of applications that we also are are working on. >>
127Okay so just so my math is correct and we're doing apples to apples. So 513 is the number of seats in Richmond. >> Yes. >> So 541 out of 513 when indicated waiting list is 541 out of the fully >> 649. Yes. >> Which leave me a 108. My math is not >> Yeah. And um out of those 108 we have 25 to 30 accepted and my staff is doing intake as we speak. Um but we also have a list of applications that we are working with the team of enrollment with DPI will look um and we hopefully uh we are very hopeful that we will be fully enrolled by the end of the month. I have a question as it relates to the bylaws. Um it some of the changes appear to go against
128the federal regulations in terms of um those members that are aging out. Can you explain how and why we would you guys would approve that if it doesn't fall in line with federal regulation? So the performance standards are very um open and open to interpretation. Uh and hear has something that they call best practice. Um they recommend that the policy council at least the key positions like share and by share to be to be u occupied by current parents of children that are current enrolled in the program. Um, head start doesn't specify that former parents cannot be part of the policy council and can hold an office like community representative, ex official, a liaison and things like that. As a director, my recommendation was to really read really the standards and interpreted the standards and
129if we we will decide not we the board and policy council decide to um move forward with former parents holding key positions like share and by share to really specify uh what is a former parent. If it is a parent that I was here two years ago, three years ago, five years ago, uh because in the federal review, we will be questioned why somebody that has not been in the program for three, four or two years is holding a position that should be held by a current parent. So those are um my my job was to send you the standards to interpret the standards and as a governing body, the policy council and the board to work together to um kind of go over the language of the bylaws because if the reviewers come and
130interpret it as literally it says in the standards, they could say why you have former parents and keep and keep decisions when you have so many current parents. >> Thank you. My concern is that obviously we have a lot at stake here um with this grant and we certainly don't want to fall out of compliance in another area that would cause us to lose more money or ultimately lose the grant. So my recommendation would be for you guys to revisit that so and to ensure that it aligns with federal regulations um so that we have everything ticked and tied. We want to make sure we get this right um and ensure that we are following federal regulations because as you know it's very touchandgo um and it's unfortunate that the government is shut down and
131so we can't leverage resources and and ask for guidance and so we're hoping that that changes um in the near future but until that such time I do believe that it should be revisited so that we can remain aligned with federal regulations. >> Okay. >> So, at this time, we need a motion to approve the reports. I would just recommend that we reconsider the last one that we spoke of, which is the bylaw, so that they can revisit that um at a later date. >> Sure, Mr. Pible. Thank you, Madam Chair. Just one more comment for the benefit of this board. Um because this board does serve in oversight capacity. I've been frantically searching for it in this copy of the bylaws. I did notice in the bylaws that the liaison position from this board
132is no longer considered a member of the policy instead is invited to meetings and may be invited to special meetings. >> So that's the beauty of the bylaws. The bylaws should be um completed with a collaboration with the board and the policy council because they are basically the policies and procedures for both governing bodies. Um the leaison according to the performance standards can be either a parent or it can be a staff. So it doesn't specify that it has to be uh a parent. So if it is a staff they don't have a vote. Uh but apparently can participate during policy council meetings. >> Wait. So I I guess my point is that that to date the liaison position from the RPS school board has been a full member of the policy council. >> According
133to these bylaws, that liaison position which would come from this board is no longer considered a member of that policy council. the the board and the policy council has to have a liaison is either um person that is elected from the board as the leaison or it has to be the chairperson that participate in every single board meeting and comes back and report to the policy council. But the communication between board and policy council has to be through a liazison. That person can be a staff, that person can be a board member and that person can be also the share person from the policy council but that position has to stay. >> Okay. So Madam Chair, I just highlight that to this board as we consider these bylaws. I I would like to see personally
134I would like to see the language strengthened a little bit so that the liazison from this board is can show up to any meeting including special meeting. >> My questions to the board is um how would you recommend for us to approach this with a policy council? Um, would you like for any other members of the board to be part of that conversation with the policy council members? >> I mean, at the very least, it should be in alignment with federal regulation. as you just shared um >> as a a means of oversight, >> the bylaws can't go against what federal regulations say as it relates to a board member being able to be a part of meetings. So, I think there's just some work to be done >> and um you know, perhaps you
135we are always open to being a part of that conversation um as we have in the past. Um, but there are some other key elements I won't bore the folks here tonight, but some things that I've I'm highlighting and and would like to share for you all to consider. I just want to make sure we are aligned with the federal standards. That is the most important thing. Like it's some of the bylaws are fine, but it can't be a matter of opinion. It has to directly reflect the rules and regulations for this grant because if not, we'll lose it. >> Yeah. It has to be based on best practice too. >> Absolutely. >> So I appreciate your feedback if you um give us that feedback and then we can schedule a meeting and go over
136the B. >> Sounds good. >> Madam Ches at this point Dr. >> I haven't got any indication from her but she is listening. >> It's hard to know. That being said, can we have a motion to approve um what's listed with the exception of the bylaws? >> Madam Chair, I would move that we accept the uh report as presented for the bylaw. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. It's been moved by Mr. Pible and seconded by Miss Ricard. Madame Clerk. >> Mr. Pible. >> Yes. Miss Ricard, >> yes. >> Mr. Farooq, >> yes. >> Mr. Hedgepath, >> yes. >> Miss Rizzy, >> yes. >> Dr. Harris Muhammed. >> Miss Burke, >> yes. >> Mr. Jabar, >> yes. >> Miss Fernandez, >> yes. Motion passes. Thank you. Thank you for your time. >> Thank
137you for all your work. You're doing an amazing job. The enrollment numbers are up. We're happy to hear that. >> Yep. All right. At this time, we'll transition to um 5.02 received for action collective bargaining resolution update. Mr. Cameras. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I welcome any and all feedback from the board. >> Miss Ricard, Mr. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, Superintendent Cameas, one thing I would like to propose changing is there was a um change to put it as a five-year contract. Um, I would like to see it go back to a three-year contract. Um, a lot can happen in five years educationally, economically. Um, I think it makes more sense to return to our three-year cycle like we've been using. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, yes, that certainly seems reasonable. Happy to
138make that change. >> Thank you, Mr. Faru. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Yesterday, we celebrated some milestones where we reached 18-year highs in graduation rates, including for our economically disadvantaged kids. And that is because all of our staff and all of us work together. And so, I know that I have gotten a lot of questions and concerns about the language. And so I think it's normal and appropriate to look for ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our processes. But to use Steven Kovy's famous quote, it's important to move at the speed of trust. And I worry that this process has eroded trust between our management and our staff. And when you if you want more efficiency and effectiveness, you really do have to build trust because I think in the long run, the
139eroded trust will cost us more. And so that is why I have to vote no today on this. And it's because, you know, we use the phrase RPS family. And as someone that has a big family, it is normal for family members to sometimes be in conflict. sometimes be an ugly conflict and it's also normal to reset and to heal and to move forward and so I look forward to us doing that together because I know that all the staff despite the heated rhetoric I know all the staff including our management including our central office staff including everyone at all of our schools comes to work because of the kids even on our tough days when we're not showing up as our best selves and so I am looking forward to us moving forward forward
140and trying to rebuild trust. And I would ask everyone to take a step back and think about that and also to realize that it is normal for management to suggest things that employees might think are silly and vice versa. It's normal and I have worked for civil rights organizations that had similar tension, the most progressive people you can imagine having the exact same arguments we're having today. So, just wanted to make some of those thoughts and feedbacks known to everyone and I appreciate your time. >> Thank you, Miss Burke. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. My position remains the same as I stated on last night. I would like to express my appreciation um for the respectful manner in which the speakers addressed us this evening. It wasn't personal. It was professional and I thank you
141for that. I thank you madame chair and my board colleagues for the time aotment for this evening. I'm glad we discussed that in the beginning. I have a strong desire to be I heard a strong desire to be at the table. We know all the sayings about uh the lady's name now. You don't have a table at a chair at the table and pull up a folding chair. Don't leave us out. As Maya Angelou stated, people will never forget how you made them feel. And as an as an educator, as a person, as a woman, as a civil rights child of the era and then some. Um, I look forward to our working together and when items are placed on the table with well intentions, but you get more with honey than you do with
142other stuff. So, at the end of the day, I am very much concerned about the process. It's not about the money, not about the working conditions. It's about how you made me feel. So, at the end of the day, I am voting against this resolution at this time as it is written. Thank you. >> Thank you. Dr. Harris Muhammad has her hand raised. >> Thank you. Good evening, everyone. Am I sounding too loud? I turned up my um volume a little bit. You can hear me just fine. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you so much. So, thank you so much to all of the speakers who have come out. I'm so sorry I'm not there to be with you this evening. I'm attending professional development as I shared with many of you. Just want to
143take a few moments to share my position too has not changed and I just want to be clear on why it will not change and it doesn't mean that I do not support the work of the superintendent or his um chief of staff Miss Chain as um many may think or a few may think which is really not the concern for me to be focused on. The concern for me to be focused on are two things. Decency and order. And I have heard as I shared yesterday evening from many of my dear longtime colleagues from the Richmond Education Association and whom I trust that I've known for a long time that the process was not clear. They could not unpack such a thick document in a short period of time. And several of them made
144this point. And Miss Bryant was very clear and I just thank her for bringing some of the clarity. If they had known when this discussion had started in July or August, they would have had the due time that they had. I had not even thought about that. But that is correct. And so even though we acknowledge some errors and some missteps on the way, I do not want any of our union partners to believe that the relationship has been has been so far removed that it cannot be repaired. My heart doesn't believe that. I believe it can be repaired. And I'm going to continue to walk in that level of faith that it will be repaired. I am also eager to continue um as I volunteered before to have a town hall with you um
145because I I we really want to remain a partner. This process has concerned me. Um I do agree there are just some things that the school division would not be able to um cover from in the years to come. But I've always talked about the three Ps. process, procedure, and the policy. And I'm just not sure that our friends that we want to build a bridge with together, be collaborative with had the opportunity to make sure that they were clearly um in the process and that they were collaborative and and I don't see what delaying it is going to do. I really don't. But if that's the will of the board, that's the will of the board. However, I will be voting no. Thank you. >> Thank you. Please refrain from clapping. We appreciate your
146understanding. >> Miss Rizzy. >> Uh, thank you, Madam Chair. Um, as someone who is a lifelong teacher, I've never been anything else. Devoted my life to my students. And now I'm at near the end of my career and they actually are some of them are like in my life voting it to me. Can y'all hear me? Okay. Is it me? I'm not okay. Yeah. I mean certainly I'm I'm uh speaking low because this is hard. Um yes, I'm a lifelong educator. No, I've never had collective part. I started off teaching. I made $24,000 a year and I raised two kids. I understand and I recognize that we need to progress and that, you know, teachers have been perennially underpaid. I also there's a part of me that you know we've we've gone we've combed through
147that document multiple times and some of the adjustments I see are common sense adjustments that prioritize and protect instructional time and they also are fiscally responsible. I don't I'm not going to say here how I'm going to vote, but what I will say, yeah, please be respectful. I will say that, you know, sometimes this is really felt, this is our first time doing this. We're the first district in the state to do it. It's not going to be perfect and it has been a learn as you go endeavor. What I will say, it's my hope that our journey, including our difficulties and hiccups, will make the road easier for other districts who are considering taking this incredible step. Uh because I've been contacted by some from other districts who are like, you know, there's no
148way we're going to do this. We can't. Um and I don't want us to be an example for why collective bargaining won't work. Um, and believe me, they're not here, but there are quite a few people out there with that perspective. Uh, I wish this were easier. I have no clue otherwise. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Hedgeh. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll be brief and uh not repeat too much of what I said yesterday other than uh I continue to regret the timeline. Uh that I do appreciate that uh my board colleagues and I we we did take a lot of feedback and the superintendent did attempt to to satisfy those concerns. So, we did co cobble together something that would uh that we would hope to work for everyone, but I again I'm
149I uh I'm I'm still concerned about the the the process. It's been a number of years since some of our partners have engaged in collective bargaining. We just are fresh off of that practice recently. U I think it would be wise for us to go through that that process together as in the existing document uh one more time and in tandem revise or suggest revisions as partners. So we model the collaborative spirit that we we hope we receive and uh that we hope that our our employees and our scholars also practice. Uh so u again I I would would also vote no uh because I think that it's most important that we uh build relationships u not tarnish those >> thank you >> Mr. Jafari. Thanks, Madam Chair and my colleagues. Absolute difficult difficulty in
150in getting to this juncture. RPS brought this into existence. So I I have been concerned about the kinds of attacks that uh the board has come under. But basically doing what its job is. It's not just RPS's job. this board here and superintendent's job to create the CVA and the opportunity for it. It is also a reciprocal response to come behind it and to refine the process. We'd be derelct if we didn't do that. As I sit here and I and I listen to my colleagues and we always we listen to one another try to come to a conclusion after listening to one another. As I revisit the the document that I see before me, I see a it's a twoprong situation that we're dealing with. First of all, we're dealing with whether or not
151the refinements work. when the superintendent went back and he put the information basically put it back in and he redivided some of it into disputes. I was I'm on board with that. I'm on board with the refinements. I've heard it said here this evening that and I and I want to make sure I get this quote correct. Everyone must assume good intentions. Much of what I've heard assumes the opposite. assumes that we're out to centrifuge or or to undermine uh the workers and those who actually tow the line in the schools. And I've not found that to be the case. Have not found that to be the case. Now, as I've said, it is a two-pronged situation that we're dealing with. First of all, the refinements, and I recognize it is our job to refine
152this >> one minute. But I also recognize and I have to uh respond to my constituents, some of whom I heard to before even coming down here today and also my conscience as I look at the document here. There are still a number of of blue lines and red lines and that basically says it's an unfinished document. And so I have a problem with rushing >> 30 seconds >> simply just pass it for the sake of passing it. I want to get as many uh of our partners on board as possible. And so because of those factors, I'm called to to vote no this evening. I'm called to vote no because uh we must allow ample opportunities for everybody to come to the table. And that's what I stand in need of this evening. >>
153Thank you. Mr. Pible. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, regardless of what happens here, I'd like to address some of the false dichotoies that I've heard. Some of the things that I heard were if if you're for this, you're against teachers. That is patently not true. I I can speak my colleagues on this front. Everybody on this DAS is overly the teachers of the thing that I heard is that we haven't listened to teachers. It I got an I got one email from a teacher. That's all it took and I was physically there for a meeting to discuss this. Another narrative that I heard is that there hasn't been a at the table. There hasn't been a voice. There hasn't been input. The document that Mr. Jafari just referred to empirically begs to differ with
154that. There are strikethroughs of strikethroughs. There are multiple colored fonts. This is not a document. This is not a document that was put together and had no additional input to this document. This argument is a collaboration and argue about the length of time, but it is a collaboration. So repeating something over and over doesn't make it more or less true. So what I will say is that teachers are the most important resource in this school system and always will be regardless of what happens tonight. Whether you still like one of us or all of us, we will still be fighting for you every single day. One last point that I will point out that points to the importance of these types of changes was something that was brought up tonight about negotiating about where meetings
155are held. What that tells me is that this process does need to be changed because we should not be negotiating where meetings are held in a collective bargaining environment. Send me an email. I will go to bat for you. Have the meetings held wherever you want. Let's not put those into a collective bargaining where we're spending multiple people's time trying to figure that out. Thank you. >> Thank you. Please refrain if you can. I know it's very tempting. We're all passionate about this topic, but it helps us to just streamline the process without having to stop for disruptions. Um, would you like does Miss Rizzie have any time before I share my thoughts? >> 33 seconds. Yeah, I you know I just did want to add because I hadn't heard it. You know I I
156referred to this as a negotiation last night and I was you know corrected by the chair. This this does not have to be a negotiation. creating the agreement actually is the purview of the school board and the fact that we are entering this as though it's a negotiation I think is um you know reflective of the fact that we care about where you are in this. Thank you. My thoughts and sentiments are this. Um, as many of you know, I've spoken with many of you, been emailed back and forth, had some conversations. Um, and the value of the union is one that's extremely important. Support and advocacy for our teachers is extremely important. You are a major part of the success of our students. And so this night comes as, you know, I don't think
157anyone walked into it this evening um with a happy heart, right? Because these are hard decisions that we have to make. As I shared yesterday, the fiduciary responsibility of the board is one to oversee all things. I had a conversation with the REA representative who shared with me, you know, there are some things that you could possibly consider that aren't related to budgetary constraints. And I agreed. So, we went back and gave that feedback to the administration. Changes were made because of that. We had some more conversations. We talked with one another. We talked with our constituents. We went back to the administration, gave some more feedback. So the idea that folks are not being heard is farthest from the truth. The decisions that we've made had you in mind. Also the opportunity to share
158what I agree that there could have been more time to consider the resolution. Absolutely. Hindsight. I think that we all agree that we probably would have addressed that a little bit sooner because of that. My request this evening is that we allow time defer this so that we can allow for more conversations with our constituents, those in the community, teachers and the unions to understand and get more feedback surrounding the resolution and see if there's any more consideration to any changes that might take place. One minute. Thoughts, colleagues. Miss Ricard. Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm wondering if it would be possible to make a motion um to instead defer the decision until November to give time for conversation. Is there a second? >> Dr. Harris Muhammed has a thought. >> I'm sorry, M. Richardson. >>
159Dr. Harris Muhammad has a thought she'd like to share. >> Okay. Once we close this piece out, then we'll open it up the floor. So, we have the motion and then the second was from Mr. Jafari. And now we'll open the floor for debate. So, we have Dr. Harris Muhammad. Is there someone else who'd like to share? Miss Burke, >> Mr. Hesh, >> Dr. Harris Muhammed, >> thank you so much. So, I just want to make sure I'm clear. Just also want to share with you all if you can help me out by leaning into your mic because I can't hear many of you. So, um um I I just appreciate that. I really do. I'm I'm struggling to try to find out what you're saying or hear what you're saying. Okay. So, let me
160be clear. I just want to be clear. I really need to be clear. We went through what we went through yesterday which was a robust conversation which is part of the governance. >> I'm sorry. >> It's time. I thought this was a new set of I thought I'm conf I'm really confused. I thought a motion was on the floor. It was seconded. So, we're open for discussion. Did someone say time? >> Unless someone disagrees because of the type of conversation, I will be open to resetting time for folks to speak again since a no motion is made. Thoughts about that? Any concerns? No concerns. >> Well, Dr. Harris Muhammed, go ahead and continue. We're going to reset the clock for you. I just want to be clear that really yesterday we we could have taken
161a um a inquiry of where we were and we really could have put out the announcement today that we would defer. So, I was just under the assumption that we were going to go through the process of what the superintendent asked of the board. I was under the I was told by the superintendent that the majority of the board was going to vote in favor for it to for um the document to move forward, which I I was fine with because that's a part of governance. I just feel like we dropped the ball on communicating again when we could have told the people that we are going to defer this until November because of some concerns. Also recognizing that pieces of the information in a document may or may not change. I just I just
162really feel like we have allowed hundreds of people, thousands of individuals to go through this for nothing when um and I appreciate the motion to defer. I I really do, but we really could have dealt with this yesterday. We could have publicly um said that we would defer based off the information that we shared with each other. But that's just me. Um, I I again I do appreciate the motion to defer, but we're working backwards. And so, and that may not make sense right now, but we are because we had an opportunity 24 hours ago to do that. Um, so here we are. I support the the deferment. I do. But I think it also should come with um the understanding that information in the collective bargaining documentation may not change based off of because
163here's the thing. If we vote to defer but we don't vote to change the information in it, what was the point of deferring? I'm just saying you we have to think about that. Now I want to defer, but don't let it be the same because you're going to be back in the same place. Thank you. >> Thank you for your feedback. I would also remind I would also remind you that this was our first opportunity to hear from the public and if we were to have deferred it yesterday, we would not have had the opportunity to hear the heart of the public. So, I just wanted to throw that out there. Miss Burke, >> thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I appreciate the motion to defer. However, I am concerned about November. Um, is so my
164question is, is there a time frame whereas this needs to be done? My second thought is I agree with your statement you just stated, Madam Chair. I needed to see the people. I needed to hear the people. All right. We received hundreds and hundreds of emails, lots of phone calls, lots of text messages, but it's a difference when you're face to face. And I think that goes back to the original position on how this was done. Yes, meetings were held with with the president. Yes, meetings were held with the chair and the administration. But at the end of the day, the persons who are going to be affected by the decisions of which we make. They're just asking for a collective effort. So, I'm I wasn't in favor of deferring based upon our conversation because
165it's a difference when you hear from folk. So, my question is number one, is there a timeline time frame with this? Number two, being realistic November with everything else coming up, are we going to be able to revisit the whole process? And there will be changes made to what was done at some point. Something is going to have to change. So my question is, is there a time frame or has that not been done yet? I'm in favor of deferring but not a response by November. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Hedgepad. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate the comments of uh that my colleagues have made thus far. Um I am concerned about a delay. Um, I I know that we should be starting our uh negotiations in earnest that uh with budget season
166on the uh on we're on the brink of that. I um I'm I'm very concerned about it. That was I think what what necessitated the expedition expedient uh process that we have been experiencing at this moment. Um so I I'm intending to I'd like to hear from my colleagues about it as well but I am tending to say no to defer. Um and again my uh my preference would be that we continue the course with the continue with the document that we used last time uh and in tandem with our union partners uh together reflect and revise the process for the subsequent negotiation. Thank you Madam Chair. >> Thank you. We have Mr. Jafari and then Miss Rizzy. >> Thanks Madam Chair. I think we're doing the right thing doing the right thing here by
167defering. Uh we need not be expedient. It's better that we try to get it right and that we get in as many voices as we can and get them to the table. Um we'll take care of November when November gets here and we will get collective bargaining agree agreement. It may not be agreed upon by all parties. when I came in here, which is a reference to my colleague who stated perhaps that we could have gone with what we decided or the way we were leaning last night. That wouldn't have worked for me because I had to come in here and I had to hear you. I had to hear and be swayed. I I could have been leaning a certain direction, but you don't make a decision based on how you lean. You make
168the decision based on what the constituents say and what the people say and and you listen to their concerns. At least that's the way I do it. I'm only one nth of a vote and everybody else up here can speak for themselves. But I know my colleagues and I know that they have your best interest at heart. They are not here to do anything untoward to any of you. And I can I can say that to you with honesty and with a clear conscience. But I can tell you I had not made my mind up when I came in here to lean one way or another is it's not good enough. We got to do what we need to do to refine the language and get it right because that burden still rest with us.
169Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you, Miss Rizzie. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I would recommend you know as one half of the um well I was co-chair of the committee that um ushered this agreement in the first place. I can see that one area of oversight we have is that we did not codify this process. And so this process needs to be written into the collective bargaining agreement so that we know from now on how this will work. We will, you know, hopefully, you know, the administration in conjunction with our unions will sit down and work out a process so that this does not happen again. Thank you. Um, so questions about what's next. my suggestion um as I shared I I believe it it's important um to defer uh one of the number
170one um themes of this evening is it was rushed we didn't have time and hearing that we can't ignore that. Um with that being said I do believe that we do have time is definitely ticking. Um, and so pushing this out obviously with granting that request will push out negotiations. And so I want to be very transparent with that. That will give folks the opportunity. You know, I would lean on the administration to really um continue conversations with union representatives, give feedback. I'm sure all I know my door is open. the door of um the board of my fellow colleagues is open to hear as we've done. This document was one thing and it has been stripped down since the very beginning based upon feedback considerations not just from you all but from us internally
171as well um based upon our experience and foresight. And so um I think in good faith that's the that's the best approach. Um uh that being said, one of the things that I did um share and ask to be a part of this resolution is that it share in the resolution that this is going to be a part of the process moving forward. There should be a time frame for folks to be prepared for that to know that it's coming so that they don't feel blindsided and the administration has agreed to that. But I think that we can go back and look again. Um, that doesn't necessarily mean I I don't foresee us walking out of this where both sides feel like they've been completely vindicated, but if we could try to meet somewhere in
172the middle, I think that's where we will win. And so that would be my charge to Superintendent Cameron and the administration. Um, and I think we revisit this in the November board meeting. Um, if there are no concerns or feedback, Mr. Edgepath. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, I I still would like to understand if um what the conditions will be for that delay. U I would like some guarantees that there are there will be m multiple meetings scheduled with our leaders of our our unions. um because if time is what we're uh we're uh providing here, we need to also provide the space for that to happen. Um and that again is is has been a critique of this process. Um, so I I if everyone else on is on board with moving uh
173this to the November meeting, u again, I I need some guarantees that that there's going to be dedicated time um not just one time, but multiple times that that administration's going to sit down with our union partners to flush through that uh that process more thoroughly. >> Mr. Cameras, >> absolutely. I'm happy to meet with all of our partners uh as many times as they would like >> I'm sorry, Miss Ricard. >> Thank you. Um Mr. Hedgepath, I appreciate that. I think it would be good to leave with an understanding of is there a committee? Is there just meetings? um what we are looking at so that the time is productive for all parties and that all parties feel heard. I think that's that is very important. >> Miss Burke. Thank you, Madam Chair. Reflecting
174upon what Mr. the hedge path is stated as I stated earlier to be realistic if I'm seeing this picture correctly colleagues to have less than three weeks to come together with a plan of action not just a run through to get it done. And I want us to think also back to when we went through well okay Miss V just collective bargaining Dr. um Harris Muhammad is still there. It took months. It took months and it's going to take a while to get this straight. We know the budget is coming up. We know that. That's one of the reasons why we're going through this process so that we can better be able to move forward together because there will be some things that need to be addressed. So just being realistic and I keep saying
175you all thinking about the time that put that's put into this effort from Buzzman mediator whomever >> we need we need help >> I just got started how I get 30 minutes already the second speaker okay so my question is I'm just I'm thinking that to ask the administration to come in here in November with everything done is not going going to happen if we're going to do it right. We're going to do it right. Allow the administration the time. Look at all the hours they've already spent. >> Time. >> Thank you. >> God said it. >> I'm sorry. Your time is up, Mr. We >> Thank you. Thank you, >> Dr. Harris Muhammed. >> Thank you. I just want to make sure I heard a couple of things. Um that will a part of
176the review explain the process of how we're going to move forward. Mr. Cameron, very quickly, is that going to be an addition? >> I'm sorry. What was the question? Dr. responding. >> Will the process that is going to be reviewed, excuse me, the document that that's going to be reviewed, will that have included now the process moving forward for collective bargaining? >> Oh, uh you mean in the resolution articulating how >> correct future changes? Yes, we could happily put that in as well. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you for that. Um >> 30 seconds. >> So I'm out of time. I'm sorry. >> 30 seconds. >> Okay. So um and also can I I just want to make the statement again. Um you know I am open to holding a town hall with our partner with
177our union partners. They can reach out to me um and we can discuss some date and times. I really appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you to the to my colleagues for having a robust conversation. >> Thank you, Mr. Farooq. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a suggestion and I would like to hear from Mr. Cameras and our management about this. Following up on what Miss Burke and Mr. Hedgepath said, "This is difficult work." And in addition to actually talking and negotiating some of the language changes, like Miss Rzzy said, we also want to maybe build in some language that lays out a clear process going forward. So my suggestion is that we actually convene a formal committee that would include reps from each of the unions and Mr. Cameron, whoever his design, and task
178them with negotiating these changes. while the rest of this year we go through our normal CBA process as it exists to come up with changes to the CBA that would take effect the following year. Um, and I think that would give us time to do this properly but also in a way where people feel heard and I would like to hear any of Mr. Cameras's thoughts. I am happy to do whatever the board would like me to do. truly um I do think uh given the work that has already happened that actually uh a lot of good compromise has occurred and I certainly believe over the next four weeks that there is time for us to have further conversations and produce a document that um addresses what I heard from many folks on the deis
179which was that you wanted more time This is more time to truly consider and I'm happy to meet with each of the union partners every week for the next four weeks to take their feedback to share that with the board to get your input. Um again, I I think that is a reasonable amount of time to try to close the gap on this and bring it back to the board. But um I serve at the pleasure of the board and will do as directed. Miss Rizzie. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I, you know, however we go about doing this, I mean, I feel better that we're having this conversation that you're here in front of us. I think we want to think about the fact that we want to get this as right as we
180can because believe me, there are some people in this state chomping at the bit to shut it all down and to say, "Hey, it didn't work." I've heard from those people and so we want to work together as much as we can to get this right so that this can continue. And I mean I think you know I don't know how many of you know that that's really a serious um potential outcome but it is. Thank you. Thank you. All hearts and minds clear. It's time to vote. Um the vote on the table was the deferment. Yes. Who was the second on that? It was Mr. Jafari. And the motion was to defer the vote to the November meeting. That's correct. Okay. Are we ready for the vote now? >> Yes. Miss Burke. So the
181vote is to defer. We're going to vote again in no we're going to vote again in November. Is that what did you just say? That's what I that's the motion on the floor is that we defer the vote until November because the consensus has been um that colleagues and also constituents have shared the concern of that it feels rushed and they've asked for more time to give more feedback. to um address key areas of the recommendations um so that we can make adjustments accordingly. So the document that we see today nine times out of 10 will not be the document we see in November because of the feedback and work that the administration will do with the unions. >> I'm I'm not going to vote in favor of that and the reason being is number
182one just as we are here tonight. We were last night and here tonight. So when we come back in November, if we don't have a chance to study or see anything in between. So I I can't vote tonight in favor of that. And I know the majority rules, but I'm voting no on that because that means when we come back here the Monday in November and and it's put before us, we don't hear from the community, the persons that it's going to affect until Tuesday and then we vote on Tuesday. No, I'm gonna vote no. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um, madame clerk, >> yes. >> My mic's off this time. Mr. Pel, >> yes. >> Miss Ricard, >> yes. >> Mr. Farooq, >> no. >> Mr. Hedgepath, >> no. >> Mr. Rizzy, >>
183yes. >> Dr. Harris Muhammed, >> I'm sorry. What is the motion again? I can't I can't >> to defer the defer the vote to November to allow for the union and the administration to work out and iron out concerns relating to the document and make revisions. >> I had a I had an amendment to that. I just can't hear y'all. I'm sorry. I I'm really working hard to try to hear. Um, >> we do an amendment in the middle of a motion on the floor though. Okay. So, >> so yes, >> go ahead. >> I'm sorry, Dr. Harris Muhammad, I cut you off. I'm sorry. Did you say yes? >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you, Miss Burke. >> No. >> Mr. Jafari? >> Yes. >> Miss Fernandez? >> Yes. >> Motion passes. Thank you. Moving
184right along to 5.03. Receive an update on RPS Education Foundation. >> Madame Chair, I'm sorry I'm out of order and I apologize, but what was the end result? >> I'm sorry. >> What was the end result? The motion passed to defer. That's all we voted on was defer. >> Thank you. >> Please, let's do this in decency and order. We appreciate it. We Okay, that's not going to work. Let's not be disrespectful. Good evening. All right, y'all. Good evening. Um, I'm going to be brief tonight. Happy to answer some questions, but um, really just want to give you all a snapshot of what I think is some exciting momentum from the Richmond Ed Fund and preview what's ahead. Um, in short, I want just to say that I think Richmond is at an inflection point.
185Um, and it's a really great opportunity for Richmond public schools. Um, so a couple things, fiscal year 25 in review. Um about a year ago, I I stood here and shared that we uh have rebranded and that we were making a couple changes. And then also in last school year, I made a stretch pledge that we would raise $5 million. Um I'll be very honest with y'all. There were a lot of folks who told me I had lost my mind when I when I came up here and said that. And even one of our vendors said it's impossible for organizations to grow that quickly. I um I'm I'm here today to share that in fiscal year 25 we received 7 million492,000. Uh, so where I'm from, we would claim the $7.5 million, but that works
186out to be about $340 per student. I also told you all that in in um the Jark report, it said that RPS is underfunded by about $2,000 per student, which is essentially an additional $40 million. And my goal is that we will meet the state halfway on that. State, the city halfway. And so my goal is that we're going to become a $20 million organization. Um, just quick rehash, we talked a lot about we changed the way we talked about money. We don't ask for donations. We don't ask for gifts. We don't ask for contributions. We talk about investments. A lot of times those investments we we I talk about the social return on investment. Um and honestly great schools are are the infrastructure for great public safety, housing stability, the economy um and public
187health. Um and so something else that has come up over the past few months, some folks ask why do we charge an administrative fee and what is that administrative fee? So, our administrative fees are between three and 10% actually between zero and 10%. The overwhelming majority of our funds we charge for 0% administrative fee. The things that we use for administrative fees is actually a really good deal for organizations that we serve as a fiscal sponsor for. They don't have to worry about being audited. They don't have to pay an outside accountant and they don't have to worry about a fundraising system. So, um, last month, for example, we we've been trying to help support the Chimberazzo Playground and, um, they raised $118,000. Um, we also have another $25,000 pledge for them and there are
1882,647 supporters of that campaign right now. that meant that we had to increase our fundraising infrastructure at the organization um to support that. I want to talk a little bit more in the future with you all about safe play spaces throughout the city because um Chimberazzo, Miss Burke started this conversation over a year ago with me, but there are number of other um pl elementary schools in this city that there are needs for safe play spaces. Um, have you all heard about RVA Ryzen? What do you know about RVA Ryzen so far? Do you all just think is a collection of people just talking about doing something? Um, I think that's kind of consensus overall, but I don't think that's what it actually is. And I think it's really an opportunity. is a collective impact
189effort that's regional, but it's really focusing on economic mobility for all. And I'm really excited that to work with you all because this is something that you all have been talking about for um for several years, ever since I started following the Richmond public school board. But um I was really excited last night when the graduation data was presented and a couple of you all said, "Well, this is great, but what does this really mean long term?" Truthfully, um no K12 school district in America is doing a great job of research and outcomes for their kids. We are aggressively pursuing investments all over the country um to do that to build the infrastructure to ensure that we can not only tell the story but we really know what's happening with our students. Um, I think
190the most exciting thing about RVA Ryzen is that in Richmond, we have this culture of trying to do everything on our own and we have an opportunity to really work um cross- sector in collaboration to to serve the needs of our students. And something else I think that's really really exciting is that local folks are now talking about impact investing. Um, and I think there are some opportunities for us to talk more about that. But impact investing is like philanthropy, but folks not only talk about a social return, sometimes they get a modest financial return as well. Something that we've been talking a lot about is, and I'm I'll be the first to tell you I'm really excited about the growth and uh graduation rates specifically, but literacy and everything else that we're seeing. But
191what are we graduating our kids into? And I told this story recently. Um, where I'm from in Farmville, we always thought of graduation as the end. And it took me a long time to really realize that commencement meant is actually the beginning. And so what are we graduating our kids into? Um, in Virginia, the minimum wage right now is $1241 an hour. The living wage in Richmond is $2345 an hour. So, we've made a commitment that we are only working with partners that total compensation is at least $23 an hour and we are aggressively pursuing investments. Um, I'm cautiously optimistic, but we're working on everything from paid externships for for teachers to paid work-based learning opportunities for students. Um, and I'm literally on the phone around the clock. Um, yeah, I mentioned earlier building infrastructure.
192Someone said to me one day, "When do you when are you all ever off work?" And I said, "We're never off work." Um, New Year's Eve last year, a financial planner called and said, "Hey, I have I have a client who wants to donate some stock. Can you can you take it today?" I was like, "Absolutely." Um, but these are the types of things that our staff is doing because our students deserve it. Our students need it, and I think this is how we're really going to move the needle forward in Richmond. Um, as far as Give 804, I think most of you all know we launched this campaign on August 4th um to support literacy and RPS. Our goals were $50,000, 10,000 books and signing up as many reading buddies as possible. Um, proud
193to say that we raised $62,000. We collected over 1,000 books. So, it's not too late to donate books. Um, and we will continue to explore how we can build upon this momentum this year and in future years. Um, I do have some asks this evening. Uh, we have two board members, potential board members that our board has already approved. Um, first is Miss Hersher uh, Freeman who has an extensive education nonprofit experience. uh she's pretty new to Richmond but a lot of experience with fundraising grants um and external affairs nationally. And the second is Miss Ariel Nathan who's a senior manager of philanthropy at Constellation and Marilyn uh she moved to Richmond over the last couple years as well. And our board unanimously approved both of these ladies to join. Um and so for for
194new members and people at home, this is part of our process. It's almost like Supreme Court, um you all have to confirm these members. And my two asks tonight are um I humbly ask you all to confirm these two new board members and I'd really love some direction on name opportunities. Um we talked about it briefly before. I know that you all probably still aren't ready to make a decision, but I'd really like some direction so we can hit the ground running on that as well. Happy to answer any questions you all may have. Thank you, Mr. Show me the money. Well done. Well done. Manage my finances anytime. Um, I do have a couple of questions. First of all, thank you so much for your hard work and what you're doing. I'm glad that
195you shared uh gave us a pretty a good update, per se. My question is, and I I'm also glad that you clarified that your fee, administrative fee is usually from zero to 100%, excuse me, to 10%. Sorry. >> Um, because I've been hearing 16%. I don't know where that came about. Do you know anything about the 16%. >> There is a fee on the platform when people donate at times. So let's say you donate $10 to Chimberazzo Playground. When you go to press donate, you have a choice of covering the fee or not, the processing fee for the platform. If you say no, they take that out of it. So we may only receive $9.40 instead of $10. Now, you know, I'm surprised about that because I've donated and I don't remember seeing 16%. >>
196No, it's not 16%. I I don't know where 16% came from. >> That's And I'll talk to you later about that. I have two questions. Um, and I guess that's probably opportunity to look at your budget, per se. What's the donation line? At one time you had in place an opportunity to support families that were experiencing um trying times through death or whatever else. What's do we still have that line item in place? >> Yes, we um we've rebranded that that fund. It was honoring the memory. >> Yes. um is now the crisis response fund because we wanted to support things outside of just bereiement. Um and like that fund was activated when we had the water crisis in January to pay for meals for families. >> So my last question is thinking in terms
197of the upcoming holiday of Thanksgiving which is at the end of the month where most people don't have I know we go to the group of us going to the neighborhoods because it's end of the month people don't have what's what. So, in the event that we have some families in our districts, do we and how is that handled per se in terms of can you help with that per se? Number one, and if so, what's the procedure or you want to get back with me? >> No, I'm happy to publicly talk about this. We've tried to move away from some of that type of support, but we know I have plenty of partners and I think we can figure it out even if it's not us. >> Yes, we have plenty of partners that
198and I'm happy to figure it out and I think Dr. Green Bill can help as well. >> Thank you. because we've been some parents have come to us already to ask for homes. Richmond public schools does everything to ask for homes, to ask for a place to lend their heads, they've gotten jobs, they don't have a place to stay. Um, we we have we have a lot of that unfortunately because of being mindful of the times as well, even federal workers. >> Yes. >> Um, that's that's happening. And I'm not saying you have to do it. We have to do everything. But my question is if there are if there's a line item or if there is support to to address that and if so, where do we go? if you know that. >> Yes.
199And I'm happy to try to compile some resources as well. Um, yes. I I think that you all go above and beyond trying to serve our students and their families holistically and that's noble and I want to be as helpful as we possibly can. >> Have Mr. Hedge. >> Thank you. Uh, vice chair. Um, thank you, Mr. Cooper. Uh, I really appreciate all of the work that you're doing. It's really very, very important. Uh, u, I am excited about the two new candidates. Thank you for bringing those to us. I also am excited about the possibility of, uh, some, uh, naming opportunities. Uh, I I saw I'm curious about maybe some sort of rubric that we'll use for determining the companies, but I saw that you are already talking about working with folks that and
200businesses that uh pay their employees of living wage. I think that's really important. I think uh that those that have a social justice commitment uh those that are committed to to DEI um are of particular interest. Um I to me personally and I I don't want to speak to my board colleagues but um maybe also minority owned businesses right so things that you're probably already on your list but I just am curious about that. >> Yes I don't anticipate that um I will ever have the authority to actually make that decision unilaterally. Um what I anticipate is you all will say hey there's an appetite to name to name the football field at X school and then I can begin to communicate that and then I come and say hey I have these three organizations
201or these three families um and you all then will evaluate it and I don't anticipate that you all will um I I did talk to Dr. Harris Muhammad about this a few months ago and I think it's something that the policy committee will definitely have to establish a policy on, but there are some folks right now who are interested in different opportunities. So, for example, there's a family that wants to support a podcast studio at Richmond High School for the Arts. Um I I think it that could be a great opportunity for us and this could be a way that we can begin to think about how we furnish some some schools and I think eventually that could be a way for us to think about some capital projects in schools as well. >> M
202and then Dr. Harrison. >> Thank you um vice chair. So yeah, I really appreciate that you are open in this discussion to talk about um impact beyond high school. Um you know where I work, you know, everyone is talking about work-based learning. Um vertically integrated projects that also you know prepare students for real work outside of the educational environment. um also highlighted the fact that you know minimum wage is not a living wage in this state. Um and so anything that we can do to support um innovation in that area um I think is going to be good investment because that is that is the way that things are going right now and I think we do our kids a disservice if we don't set them up well for life after high school. So, um,
203I'm very excited that we having this conversation, >> Dr. Harris. >> Thank you. Um, >> I too support the two members that are being brought forward this evening. Thank you so much for that, Mr. Cooper. Um in addition to that, um when will you all begin opening the window to share any scholarship information for the class of 2026 if you plan on providing opportunities? I know there was some discussion in the past about re um revamping that process. Um but if you have some information to share really would like to hear that. Thank you so much. >> Yes, thank you for that. Um two things I want to I want to share about scholarships. Um last year when we made the decision to end our scholarships um or to sunset our scholarship program that was
204never to be said that scholarships had to stop. um we begin communicating with the donors if uh so we don't have an endowment right so everything we raise we raise um and so some donors had given us dollars um and I I use the word donor intentionally there um some donors had given us dollars for scholarships and so we communicated with them and some of them repurposed them there were there are some sit situations that aren't as clean and we are working through some of those scenarios. Um I um what I will say about scholarships, I just I didn't believe that was the best use. We didn't have the capacity to do that in the way that I thought was really meaningful. And I think it made sense for us to have scholarships when the
205future centers were with us. Uh but at that point as of when future centers came to RPS, the only time people ever heard we only only time we ever worked with those students were during the application process. So um there will be I think there will be some things that we can do with specifically there's one large scholarship fund that we still have that we have um responsibility to govern and to steward those dollars and the others we're working with the donors to to repurpose individually. >> Thank you for that. I really appreciate it. Thank you. >> Any other questions for Mr. Cooker? >> Many um >> 40 seconds. >> Thank you. How many openings do you still have on your board? Any more empty seats? I know you you have a number in mind.
206>> Yes, ma'am. Um the we currently have seven openings. We increased our number of board seats in our new bylaws. Yes. >> So, how many people do you have currently on the board? >> We currently have 14 voting members. >> So, you need seven more. >> Well, I hope we only going to need five after >> Oh, because of this. Oh, of course, of course, of course. And the reason I'm asking also um would like to see a balance there. would like to see a balance uh backgrounds as well as uh racial and experience. And it seems like it's more women than men. Is that correct? >> Is that a bad thing? >> No, that's a real good thing. I'm just I'm just checking. I'm just checking. I just have a couple of people in
207mind. So, >> Thank you. happy to have a conversation with any and everyone about joining our board. Mr. >> Um yes, I'm happy to make the motion. Um >> um I also just wanted to say I love that we're talking about pursuing naming rights and I think it is a great thing for the policy council to put into policy and so I would just love to see that process start. I think these times call for creative fundraising and if we can do it right, this is a avenue. Um so with that, I um make a motion to confirm the two new board members um as stated as identified in this document. The Richmond Ed fund. >> It's been motioned by Mr. Mr. Card second by Miss Burke to approve the new members to the ED
208fund that appear in this document conversation. >> Madam clerk, >> Mr. Pival, >> yes. >> Mr. Card, >> yes. >> Mr. Farooq, >> yes. >> Mr. Hedgepath, >> yes. >> Miss Rzzy, >> Dr. Harris Muhammed, can you hear me? >> Yes. I'm sorry. Repeat that. >> There's a motion on the table, Dr. Harris Muhammed, to accept the two new members to the ED fund board. >> Mr. Pival, can you can you lean into the microphone just a little bit? >> Absolutely. I'm about eating it, but I'll try what best I can. There was a motion on the floor to adopt two new board members to the ED fun. >> Yes. Yep. So, you needed a second. No, just a vote, ma'am. >> Oh, it's my time to vote. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Yes. >> Got
209it. >> Thank you, Dr. M. >> You're welcome. >> Yes. >> Mr. Jari, Miss Fernandez. >> Yes. Motion passes. >> Thank you all. Dr. Greenbell, before we move forward, was it something you wanted to add to the conversation? I just I just wanted to say that if any board members know of folks who are struggling throughout the holidays, um please send them my way and I will see what we can do through our center for families in transition. We do a lot of support um over Thanksgiving um Christmas um and we're we're delighted to help people find resources. >> I'd also like to add I know that um every year Delegate Mike Jones does a turkey giveaway. He will be hosting that again at River City. As soon as I get that date, I will
210let everyone know. And I was also thinking about perhaps that might be a good opportunity for us to have a table um since it's going to be at um one of our schools in RPS so we can have more conversations around on that. All right. Up next, our consent agenda. Any concerns before you vote? Miss Ricard. >> Um thank you, Madam Chair. I saw that we are receiving for approval the calendar. Um I just was wondering if it was possible to get an update on if there were any survey results and and how our community was feeling about the calendar. Sorry. Okay. Hello everybody. I will try to keep this brief. We did have um a survey that we opened for a 3-w weekek window via RPS direct. We received 300 responses. And if you
211um take note of slides four and five, um I showed you how your districts participated. Um as well as for RPS 200, it is not broken down by district, but because there are only four RPS 200 schools. Um, and so that would let you know how our RPS 200 voters particip how how they identified as well as our traditional calendar district response. As you can see, we had an overwhelming response from district three um followed by district 1 and four, but we did have representation from all districts as well as individuals who identified as just members of the central office. Just really quickly, there were some preferred changes that were um na named. Uh we got a lot of information about a kindergarten staggered start day. I'm just requesting a little bit more time on
212that to get some conversations with our engage our elementary school leaders um about that and open it beyond uh that one survey. We did get a lot of feedback about starting in August and May. However, we are bound by the quote unquote king's minion rule. our our constituents really want us to start in August and end in May, but unfortunately we're not able to do that. There are some suggestions of moving a wellness day to the long stretch between a return from spring break and Memorial Day in May. Um there is one date for that wellness day to be moved which is February 16th. Um however, they also it was more so that they wanted an additional wellness day. um inclusion of the day off to recognize incl indigenous people's day. Unfortunately, that recognition is
213not included in schoolboard policy. I happy to take that to the policy committee if the board if it is the will of the board. Um there's been requests for five five day breaks for Thanksgiving holiday. Um actually the board only prescribes two days. We gave an additional day to make three. Um, so right now per policy, it's just the Thursday and the Friday. We also gave the Wednesday already. Um, and then there was a lot of feedback about there was some mistakes on the calendar, which I really appreciated. Um, not very many, but the feedback really allowed me to make sure that it was very clear and consistent across calendars. As I mentioned before, um, we will be doing two calendars. one that will be staff facing as well as one that is public facing
214because a lot of folks find our calendar to be incredibly confusing. So, we received that feedback. So, we're going to make that a lot smoother than the one that you see. Um, and there were a bunch of celebrations which I gave some quotes about and I just offered some notable discrepancies from surrounding counties and left the the the remaining FAQ. Happy to take questions. Micard, >> thank you. Um, so I think if I'm reading the presentation right, the idea is that you'll get feedback about the staggered kindergarten day. And so it may still come, but we do want to consult our leaders first. >> We do need I need more time to consult our our leaders and how that would look. It looks very different across our neighboring divisions. And so we need to make
215some decisions on a if we are going to do it and then b how we are going to do it because um Chesterfield for instance does it very differently than Henriiko which I just need a little bit more time. >> No, I appreciate that. One more followup. I did have a constituent reach out um that the blue and the purple look very at least on this year's calendar when you print it they >> it's going to look so different. Um we just didn't I we didn't have time. Um our amazing um brand and uh strategy and thank you our digital strategy coordinator just returned from maternity leave. So we're very excited to to dive in that. It's going to be very clear, very concise colors. We won't need as many. I promise. I promise that
216you will love it. Thanks, Mr. Farooq. Any other thoughts before we Is there a motion on the floor? >> I'm sorry, Madam Chair. I sent Miss Richardson a text that I had a question. >> Oh, okay. I'm sorry. I didn't see you. No, I said to M to Mrs. Richardson. Oh, >> okay. Go right ahead. >> Um, thank you, Dr. Greenbell. So, a question for the superintendent and Dr. Greenbell. Are all of the other religious holidays written in our policy? And if so, what policy number is that? >> Yes, they are all included in schoolboard policy 7-7.6. So, I I use that. >> Okay. Yes. Um I use that as my guide for determining which holidays we um include into the calendar. >> Okay. Thank you. And I have a follow-up question. Um the feedback
217in terms of having a staggered kindergarten day. Can we make sure we are obtaining research not just from the building leaders but also research about a staggered start for that age group? because there there is some research out there. So, I just want the school board to have the information. Um I know that there may be some individuals that desire to have a stagger start for kindergarten kindergarteners but um also research speaks to the importance of um our youngsters particularly in that age starting a routine um and having a routine as early as possible and sometimes staggered starts may not be a part part of that um it may not be what we what it sound like it could be is what I'm trying to say. So I want the research to guide our decision
218and our discussion um when that comes up. So thank you very much. >> Absolutely. We will pair our um work with school leaders as well as chief academic officer of elementary Leslie Wiggins and some informed research into our recommendation. Mr. Percal, >> I was just going to move to adopt the consent agenda. >> It's been moved by Mr. Percal and seconded by Miss Burke. Madame Clerk. >> Mr. Peral, >> yes. >> Miss Ricard, >> yes. >> Mr. Farooq, >> yes. >> Mr. Hedgepath, >> yes. >> Miss Rizzy. >> Dr. Harris Muhammed. >> Yes. >> Miss Burke, >> yes. >> Mr. Jabari, Miss Fernandez. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. >> Thank you. Next up is um new business 7.01. Colleagues, >> anybody have items or >> I do. I'm sorry. I was trying to text I
219was trying to follow the process and text you and Miss Richardson. I'm sorry, but I I can wait. But I do. Yes, ma'am. >> Dr. Harris Muhammed. I don't see any Oh, I miss. Okay, Dr. Harris Muhammed, go right ahead. >> Thank you. So, um, last month I asked that we could have an update on the Richmond for Richmond High School for the Arts Council board or art board or art council. um and the diversity of that board slashcounsel. I don't know what title they use. I was told by several individuals that it was a board. Um I'm not quite sure if that's how they function, but I still would like to have um I would like for the board to have that information. For example, um who's on it? How were they chosen? Where
220where do they do they live in the city? um whether they work, you know, just that background just the same um the equitable information that our Richmond ed provides us about their board members we should have about the board for the Richmond High School for the arts. That's the one thing that's my second ask actually my third because I put it in the email. The second thing is this. I also would like for the board to have information on now this is going to be a little lengthy and I'm sorry but some information on when I former chief of operations left what was the heavy lift on the construction and has there been any work orders has there been any changes or discussion of changes made for the construction and the board is not aware
221the full board is not aware. I don't think that's a heavy ask. I just think um if there were work orders in terms of changes made on the construction of the building that could be easily prepared for the board to review or could be discussed by our chief operating officer or the superintendent. Um I thought I heard during public comment tonight that um people were feeling left out. um they were no longer a part of the process. I don't know if that is true or not, but I also know that perception matters and so I would like that information if it can be presented to the board and it's it's an easy it's an easy search. How many orders has been approved? What were the cost of those orders? When were those orders approved? Did
222they go through the the procurement process? All of that information should be a part of that. And are we in debt? Also important last thing, are we going to be in debt with any of the changes for the Richmond High School for the Arts? If we're not, let's say so. If there is money out there that we're going to have to um be prepared to spend, we need to know that as well. Thank you very much. Thank you, Miss Burke. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. This is my second act regarding the Early College Academy. I asked previously that it be added to an agenda to include what supports were in place for our students. We talked about that last year. We talked about that earlier and I look forward to receiving that. And my other
223question is, are there any tutorial programs in our second in our comprehensive high schools? Are there any tutors in place to support? And I'm still referring back to that those 10 students that were dropouts that were listed yesterday. I just want to know what type of supports are in place for our students. Maybe they are beyond just study hall. So I have two qu two asks. Charlie College Academy what's in place to support the students as we discussed and number two if there are tutorial programs in place for secondary. Thank you. >> Thank you. I can share with you that Berles College Academy is on November's um agenda. Um just so you're aware. Anyone else? All right. Who has close session? >> Mr. Faruk. >> Madame Chair, I move that the school board of the
224city of Richmond convene in close session to consult with legal council regarding the possible filing of a lawsuit where such consultation in opening meeting would adversely affect the litigation posture of the school board as authorized by Virginia Code 2.2-3711A7 2-3711 A7 to discuss the religious exemption request of an RPS student including student matters 2526-4 through 2526-9 as authorized by Virginia code 2.2-3711A2 to discuss the evaluation of specific central office employees as authorized by Virginia code 2.2-3711A1 2-3711A1 and to discuss the performance of one central office employee as authorized by Virginia code 2.2-3711A1 and to consult with legal council regarding the same as authorized by Virginia code 2.2-3711A88. >> Second. >> It's been moved by Mr. Farooq and seconded by Miss Ricard. Madame clerk >> Mr. Pival. Yes, >> Mr. Ricard. >> Yes, >> Mr. Faroo.
225>> Yes, >> Mr. Hedgepath. Miss Rizzy. >> Yes, >> Dr. Harris Muhammed. >> Yes, >> Mr. Berg. >> Yes, >> Mr. Jafari. Miss Fernandez. >> Yes. Motion passes. We are now in close. colleagues