001[Music] good evening the regular meeting of the Richmond Board of Education will come to order please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance Pledge aliance 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 s if you could please read our mission statement take rooll at Richmond Community Schools we provide a quality education that empowers students to be successful in a global community uh board member tto here board member Cunningham here board member Alani is absent with notice board member michan here board member pel I'm sorry btel I am here whenever you call me uh board member Sutton here and I board member Fortuna I'm here and we have a court thank you very much I'm looking for a motion
002to approve our agenda so whoops amend the agenda to add oh it's not on here it's not on the okay I'm sorry before we approve the agenda we are going to be adding an action item a letter B uh it will be for the approval of a resolution to lay off a Richmond Early Learning Childhood Center employee to um okay thank you maret to approve the agenda as amended second thank you any discussion so I'm sorry you said we're moving that to B Bo 15b will be an add item okay got it sorry about that okay any further discussion all those in favor I oppose motion carries I'm looking for the approval uh I'm looking for a motion for the approval of the consent agenda so move do we have a second second Mr Onley
003any discussion there were no questions or comments brought regarding the minutes from the last meeting in your board packet you have the um Personnel Report with many new new hires um that have come in um since the last board meeting and at the next board we'll still have board that will processing this week for anyone have any questions all those in favor oppose motion carries next item on our agenda is our second is our um Raves our Blue Devil rides um we'll start with Sandy um so then just real quick want to rate about um the welcome back assembly um I was able to attend this morning whoever did all of the setting that up to make it look awesome um organizing it and everything just awesome job I think that it was it was
004done very very nicely and I think it was well received as well I really enjoyed myself actually so thank you to everybody and that had any part in that thank you Daniel I'm cace yes I wanted to um ra W for a second I really enjoyed the communicator that came out in the children's envelop it was very well done and um very informative a lot of information in here um that was amazing I like the fact that um it talks about us supplying some of the students um back to school supplies so thank you for that thank you Margaret I want to Second what uh Sandy said about the welcome back this morning it was fabulous Cynthia thank you for the organization and you get everybody where they need to be um s's right it
005was a great event um I'd like to Rave um last week the Richmond education Foundation was able to um make some money at the Red Barn at the AR fair and several of our staff people volunteered their time to help us make some money so I'd like to acknowledge them Mr Walmsley Angela Pino Cynthia our plants Stacy JV okay McKenzie schy and her fiance Evan our battle and El a hunter and I want to thank our board members Deb and Danielle for coming and helping us and Danielle got her teenage daughter to come work to so thank you for that she enjoyed it we just really appreciate that the staff uh did that for the foundation and my last thing is I want to shout out to Heidi manoni Mike Gibson John morala Paul Knight
006Brian Wamsley and proston Trent who uh joined in but I was part of a family that did a tour of the buildings on Friday to um they're contemplating bringing their kids to the district so I was able to be part of the tour um just an amazing job what our people do to represent us and welcome new families that are looking to come to Richmond schools we're just really lucky to have people working for us that's it thank you Tracy I'm good I to want to Rave about um RPD this morning um I was present and I want to acknowledge U Mr Walley and Cynthia and our food service custodial staff our Tech staff admin everybody who is involved in uh this event um the speaker today I have Joe guys um talked about U
007having jokes or sharing a joke and that it's a way to um make people feel secure or feel safe and that it's maybe something we should use in our classrooms and getting to know our students so here's my joke and I'm going make all of you have a joke at the next meeting let's see jokes you have you they got to be school related okay here we go did you hear about the school supplies that had in a fight no the scissors got a bit sniffy when the pencil made an excellent point ni okay I have to you know I followed our speaker's advice I Googled it and I did not make that one up there's a whole bunch of them like he said online so anyway um I just felt that it was I
008really enjoyed the speaker it really hit home to me and I I it was like an aha moment and I really understood it and I understood where he was coming from so um I truly appreciated the presentation today okay next item on our agenda is our students so Joe and Elizabeth I'm not sure who wants to go first but it's to you yeah so today girls golf had a tournament in boy soccer game versus Arma this evening Tuesday the 27th varcy volleball has a scrimage at Almont Wednesday the 28th boy soccer has a game versus alont JV volleyball also has a quad at home lastly JV has their first game away at St Clair Thursday the 29th varsity varsity volleyball has a game away in Dexter varsity football also has their very first game of
009the season versus St Clair and then lastly Friday the 30th um cross country has a meeting a meet at 12:30 p.m. at uh and then just a couple reminders about uh Blue Devil night tomorrow Tuesday August 27th 5 to8 uh meet teachers find classrooms get your schedule uh along that schedule um if there is to be any issue like going over changes you are to articulate them to Mr Zack Osborne uh via email or whatever works best for him uh Tuesday September 3rd our first day being a half day the day afterwards being a full day um and then September 16th is picture day make sure everyone looks all fabulous otherwise that's all for the students we're just looking forward for a great year any questions for our students thank you very much okay next
010item on our agenda is our superintendent on legislative update thank you um as far as legislative there's no news good news at um I Know spoken about our today was our first official day with all of our staff back um some staff have reported back sooner this was the first day and we did have a a welcome back at draft where we not only have to acknowledge um kind of the positives going on in the district and our successes um but we also have to acknowledge some of our staff members who receive some Milestones 5 10 we 15 20 25 and 30 plus years of employment in the district we have a new group of employees that bur the parking spot at 25 years congratulations them they got their parking sign s s staff spot
011that they want to sit time is there so so it just astonishes me and actually how time flies um many of these individuals who I work closely for the last 10 years with um um reaching these mod Stones I also want to thank the Education Foundation they gave away um the classroom grants and scholarships at today's meeting be three recipient and U also it's uh giving away $50 $50 um for each of the different groups to recognize that the often times you very it's a staff Grant but sometimes Associated just being teachers that anybody can apply for these grants um so I'm hoping that when we hit the grants in the spring later on that we have more more people applying to various parts of the organization um which goes into really what our speaker
012Devin SE who's a comedian you haven't seen him YouTube Google um and talk about the message and the importance of having laughter and clas and what laughter does uh to an individual providing that safe place um it it really is coupled with what we talked about last year with Jerry Brooks um and just building that environment of trust and and safey so um after it I had the the pleasure of visiting all of our buildings um see the professional development um you know all my years I think this is the best year that we started out the staff uh each of the PDS was really dedicated and focused just looking forward to a very positive start for school year so uh to Echo what the our rep Set uh next Tuesday is our first day
013for K12 students and Wednesday is the first day for our preschool program it is a half day school um who was that the time this who received the 25 year oh say we got Mrs dorsy Monroe Mrs Monroe Tammy Wilson Lillo Linda gillo Linda gillo one of our bus drivers um there five six no there one this is dorsy this is Monroe this is gillo this is Wilson I will get you the name Sor I will get you the name it is uh and our top um Larry our mechanic celebrating his 33rd year in the district um still doing a remarkable job keeping our buses um moving and a z uping all the instructions thank you next item on our agenda is are items of interest from the board Tracy um I just would highlight
014you know some of you know what I what I do for Romeo Community Schools is to enroll um new students and one of the things that I'm sharing with families and you know I am one to to to shout out against what happens in Lancing on a regular basis about public education but this is a shout out that I just think needs to happen that says thank you um to a good thing that's come out of Lancing I sit with families and the minute that I share with them that all breakfast and lunch is covered again for their children moving into another school year the looks on parents' faces when I say that to them is um pretty astounding as there's this relief that comes to their face they look at me and say are
015you kidding me really I mean there's there's disbelief um and I just think it's important that as much as we can share that information as this is really good for for our families it's really good for our communities that this continues to happen and I'm hoping it will continue to happen because it's so important on so many models so um that's my item of interest thank you very good point your next I'm good um campus you know I can just pick ADV back what Tracy has said too because coming from a couple years of not having to page I think you perhaps maybe have taken it for granted a little bit until you think about it oh I don't have to go grocery shopping and worry about lunches this week so I think that even
016for us that maybe didn't necessarily need it on one hand we kind of got comfortable with not to also so it is Danel um more of a housekeeping to question for the action item to S this evening about the conference like I am asking to attend but I wanted to do the CBA courses as well do I need to give you guys those ahead of time or I just maybe Candace I know she didn't at the conference before or because they get it say they're reimbursed by the Association anyways but I didn't know the way the motion is Right any cost the conference cover so cba's part of that and we we with cind she said actually right year so we can know which ones we have to reimburse try to get reimburse from the
017state for which one be District expenses so believe when you register all one thank you um no and I don't have anything our next item on our agenda is public comments since the last board meeting the board has not received any emails um there were no public comments that needed addressing from the last board meeting so at this time any member of the public May address the board please sign in and state your name um you have 3 minutes to address the board are there any public comments hello I'm Christina Walla I'm a teacher at the middle school um I'm here today to discuss hats why do you wear a hat when I think of the purpose of a hat I think of keeping the Sun out of my eyes my face during the summer
018during the winter to keep myself warm almost always worn out side or possibly BN as a fashion statement Google Google defines a hat as a shape covering the head had worn for warmth as a fashion item or as a part of a uniform I like to keep this short hats should not be allowed in schools for many reasons as a teacher I have two reasons why I do not want students wearing hats in school one it is a safety concern not being able to identify a student it's there's an upset right there second hats are a distraction I'm a teacher they're a distraction in my classroom distraction to other students not being able to see the board presentation paying attention hats do not need to be worn in school hats should not be worn in
019school I'm asking you board members to vote no on action item a please I'd also like to ask when things are being changed to the student handbook is there any way for staff members who spend their whole day with students can they be surveyed on how they feel about these changes also when I watch board meetings it's really hard to hear some of you if we can remember to click the button for our microphone to turn on I'd really appreciate that thank you for your time thank you any other public comments okay no other public comments we move on our next is our presentation um the board of education training and superintendent evaluation not sure who I'm turning it over to I can I'll I can start I guess we'll just kind of think have
020a conversation about it but um The Tool uh so uh Margaret and um Candace and I attended the uh training for the superintendent evaluation and um it's the tool is the same tool that we have been using it's even the same I'm sorry small print so I got to take my glasses off to do this um it's even the same six categories um they did try to uh they did try to like before list like what would be um considered and part because there is a change instead of the four different things um possibilities now there are three and those three I do have here I think our well I'm sorry I passed it up I wasn't really going to talk about this part but it kind of I kind of have to so needing
021support yeah need um hold on I have Sor P four thank you that's why I don't have it marks because I wasn't is it a different one yeah I'm sorry oh oh yeah no I'm looking at this one I do the three that you have to report are effective effective developing and needing thank you I appreciate your help that I'm sorry so instead of the four it's just those three but they did like before they did take like what would be considered you know needs Improvement what would be considered exe exemplary all of that um and so that it's it's the same kind of breakdown it's so it shouldn't be anything too too new or too crazy because they're all it's all it's the exact same tool um there's just a couple of a couple
022of changes being instead of and I think they they do still have the fourth one in there but it's just not it's not going to be part of anything that you can use on the evaluation well you can it's exemplary they exemplary would used to be highly effective correct so but there is no more highly effective but you can and I was talking to Danielle before the meeting you can take exemplary and you can use that in your comments you know that kind of to me it doesn't make any sense why leave it in there there if you can't if it's not you can't really it can't be the end result correct but you can when you're when you're you can rate someone effective but you can take the exemplary things in the exemplary category
023and use them in the comment part that while right the rating is effective but he or she superintendent is exemplary in this area things that we do but there's no longer however so we are just the get correct that's correct okay there is just the three but it does they do still break it down like what would be you know like what would be the issues in in like needs Improvement or in right you know is so broken down that way to here but needing Improvement in Exemplar or the effective and they basically said if you seeing something that's effective and you have something that maybe could be a little TW time you can but they're Exemplar in this area they want use the term when theying in something but we can't give them an
024it's the highest you can give give them that's it yeah that's the highest want us to use the term but we can only give them correct okay I mean yes but it is it is exactly the same tool the only difference is that and the fact that you instead of and now it's only 20% of the student um growth or whatever that is part of the evaluation used to be 40 it used to be 40 yes instead of run so those are the only two changes but the tool is all the same okay now the other thing is um well let marget talk about the other thing she wants because if you have if you have like um what was it um years two yeah two years of being effective then you technically only have
025to be evaluated every other year but we would have contractually there's stuff in Brian's contract that we would have to discuss you know at a later time I guess whether or not and and you know and with him um whether or not we would even Implement that but you still would have to do a progress report well every yeah yeah it's mid year it's saying it's saying that you don't have to you're effective you you don't have to be evaluated every year in the instance that we are like C said in Bryan's contract his contract roles based on an effective evaluation so when we do his evaluation we are going to have to have some contract talk on how that works our conversation the three of us when we were in the training um and
026quite frankly I think there were schools there that the whole midyear are we we do our support it calls in here for a midyear meeting with the superintendent I believe there are districts that don't do that so that's another piece that's been added well yeah is it required I mean I guess I mean I know we're doing our re what I'm saying is if we have an effective evaluation on our superintendent you don't have to evaluate that superintendent the next year but our thoughts and the conversation to have with Brian right now is to still have whether we do a quarterly or we do a midyear because that's how we work together on knowing what Brian's go you know when he sets his goals or he meeting his goals that kind of stuff so for
027us when the three of us were there our conversation was wouldn't wouldn't so because I think the question was asked and they kind of didn't really answer about whether you do it or you don't do it because if you're not evaluating them then this Midway Point thing is only when you're evaluating so our our feeling was why wouldn't you do that that's the whole point of running the district your setting goals you're still working we already are doing that quarterly like there isn't anything different that we would have to do in regards to that I guess um I guess if we decided to do away with that which I don't know why we would do that but if we did we would have to do something midye okay that would be required we understood it
028no it's only required to do if you're evaluating the mid year yes so on the year let's say we're not evaluating then we do nothing are there any well you well you would have them from his last evaluation I guess well yeah you if you go in this year and you have an effective evaluation based on that eval you to set the new school year you would set the goals but the reality is you can set those goals but if this is the second year of an effective evaluation you don't have to do anything in that Middle Point that's where the of us talk that be a conversation with the superintendent to continue working together as a board successfully would we want to do that and I believe Brian tell me if I'm right or
029wrong it's you have to agree to it if it's not if you if you're not EV Val if you get the effective evaluation and we don't have to do an evaluation on you that next year you have to agree correct yeah the law requires evaluations to be negotiated now in the previous probably since May six seven years probably a long time evaluations were a prohibited subject of barue but when we identified in the contract we identified the instrument the actual process and all that wasn't prohibit it's not neoti just as we're doing with each of the the groups teachers are in the process now the administrators are in the process so the only difference with mind contract and the teachers the teachers would go every 3 years or administrators can only go two years evaluation
030um and the other as you mentioned um in the past my evaluation was the basis of any compensation changes that are outl in the contract right every other contract in the district it has nothing to do with their evaluation it's what's been negotiated they're going to get a step getting to step regardless of their evaluation um so my only hesitation is there's no even even in um my um my administrative team they have a three-year contract and it shows over 3 years they're going to make x one year X Y and one year z um mine's the only one that doesn't Define that so that would be my only hesitation that there's no midye that secondy year conversation um and conversation with something else but um but that has to be considered in correct right
031which is like I said I mean Bas right now it's here's the evaluation tool and we're lucky because when Tracy was on the board with us last time it's the same tool cuz I reached out to her to make sure so there this isn't anything new that she's going to look at so it's just those changes so really our our stuff that we're going to do is when we do the event valuation in November is then to figure out what to do contractually moving forward yeah and we can choose to keep it the same you know I mean and you know like I said as long as Brian greed to that I me we can continue to do it that way um we don't have to notal you know what I'm saying um because that
032was something that we did bring up too is like well how do you do compensation all of that you know what I mean we have to be all talked about obviously ran sent we talked about this because of the contract so we have a letter or an email already G out to our district attorney to give us some some recommendations or or how this would work so that on that off year what can we discuss or should we discuss and things like that so that when we're ready to do that discussion we'll have some which I assume we would just due during the evaluation in November at that time would we discuss it at that time would be a separate contractual conversation right where if you recall before you had the conversation because your evaluation
033required you to talk compensation based on the evaluation law doesn't requir so now it's basically two separate enties so my my my recommendation to the board is um have the attorney provide you a letter attorney com letter your options talk about it and figure it as a board what you're comfortable with because you know like I won the lottery and I'm about to be in Hawaii tomorrow youl I use that often in this District but it it's a it's whatever you're establishing is going to set the precedent going for so it's important that the board is solid in what they want oration plus understand yeah the only other thing that they really did kind of drive home is that it's a consensus um which I mean it is anyways but um they just really did
034drive that home when we were um there um that like it so like you know when we're in there and we're doing an evaluation it's a consensus consensus means we're all together it's one thing it's not you know each individual I mean each have to say Obviously in the evaluation but you know and vote and all that it's a it's a consensus yeah it really to when you are finished with it it that you vote on as a consensus document you have reached a consensus that this is what your what you are um rating your superintendent and that's what you're voting on what the consensus came in the evaluation process right we did we we've been do yeah yep so I know that we're we're on that page I I mean that's all I think
035that's it I think that was well he also talked about the training everyone has to have proper training if you don't have the proper training the right after the fact you may not be taken for a vote if you don't get right so I guess may not count if you don't take the time every person has to take the time to get there was a training and I think there may have even been a deadline but I don't remember the deadline to be honest with you I don't remember them saying that you wouldn't be able to get a vote but we could the pap we could make that decision oh we could make it at the board to say we're not counting it because you didn't do the training right we've trained though everybody I
036went and did the actual training through the ISD so I know know who I did here's the reality we we've all been trained on this mome County toour corre Tracy when she was on the board before now the three of us went for the additional stuff which takes off the highly effective takes off the 40% makes it 20% if you're evaluated two years so our job was to come back have this discussion this is the train they said this would could be considered the train this is the train so if there are question and for us the reason that it works is because we've already been using this tool there are some districts that have not or new people you know they've got lots of new people that kind of thing we we've done our
037training so you just you may want to get I guess with Kelly just to go over the new stuff but if she's been attending the legislative meetings which I think that she's our person to do that right then she probably or no no I don't know I will double check with her and make sure that she is aware okay perfect okay anybody else any questions any comments just language sorry this language just lines up with teacher evaluation I mean it always has to do that I correct administrative everybody in the district language right yeah the um the only difference is in the administrator and what's pending for approval with the teachers is highly effective was given to four eff it was given a three so forth um and you've done is you've taken if you
038were highly effective or effective in your range you're going to be sent given effective to the state so when you do the calculation page I could have as a teacher I could have in Daniel said it's called distinguished but it's highly I could have distinguished categories and the way we weit that is you it's four you look at the calculation the way the superintendence is is regardless of whether you're effective or highly effective or exemp I can't it's just AE so it's it's the the the other groups are weighted differently and this one but it's still laugh and K I think we're we're I don't I didn't hear that part of allw but I think where comes into play is if someone is given uh needs Improvement or developing which are the two lowest categories
039whether it's a teacher administrator or myself the law allows um kind of an appeal and where that comes in is people aren't trained that plays into the appeal process so for our administrative team they've all been trained the administrated of the teacher Val they were trained week of August 10th they're all set ready to go for our teachers this year the administrative team in central office is getting training for the administrators so so I think that's where if someone's not trained that can cause issues and finally that someone's giving input training is very broad there's no definition of what training is this could be this is considered training here's the instrument here the category let me know if you have any questions there's no definition of training and the teachers percentage of their base of
040their grow growth has also is that correct Yes again I I want to go holy the head with they they're process to their their Union to approve it um but theirs is also 20% and the domains that we use in Charlotte Danielson have increased at 80% Val their student dat is 20% other questions or comments okay next item on our agenda is our action item number eight or letter eight I'm looking for a motion for the approval of the 2425 student parent code of condu iead I move to accept the recommendation of the superintendent and approve the 2024 25 preschool apparent handbook no no superent parent no all right sorry I move to accept the recommendation of the superintendent approve the 2024 2025 student parent Code of Conduct Handbook as presented on August 12th 2024
041and outlin in the attach documentation support thank you any discussion yeah I just want to um the comment with respect to this voting on this the the changes that are made the Hat policy is not a change that's being made tonight the Hat policy was made last year we had several meetings several discussions with and heard from administrators and teachers along way so all this is is just an update on things there's no change to that rule from last year um I'm just trying to remember the memory but does it not say in there that if it is a distraction or a a h of distraction or a safety piece that teacher can ask them to remove it there's a St about being able to see the students SP that I recognition and that um
042there could be certain situation you know chemistry class where they don't keep all the extra stuff on lose clothing and all that we ask kids to take that Stu sa so com I had because when Miss wall brought it up I pulled it up like you were talking about how it talks about um they can't see the face or it's at the discretion of the administration or whatever it may be a good thing to put on our radar since it's not a change from last year so even if we approved this it's not changing anything but maybe to put on the radar for the next revision um because the way I was reading it it is kind of confusing in one paragraph um it says while fashion may change a reason for being in school
043ises not blah blah blah um and unless it does drops in educational envirment prents a safety risk it will not be permitted but then a couple of bullet points later it says that drafts may not cover the student face to the extent that the student is not identifi identifiable and specifically says except for religious or medical purpose which completely understandable but then it's I don't know why it specifically says acts may be worn as long as the student's face is visible but I don't feel like with a baseball PL C the student SP is visible I understand the idea of it being a safety risk at that point which then contradicts the paragraph a couple paragraphs of because it is a safety issue at least if there's no hat on the student you could at
044least identify what color of hair they had if you're looking at the back of their head when they have a hat on you can't see even a color of a hair to attempt to determine male maybe you could tell by walking male or female but you're then your in assumptions and so then that does be so maybe that's something to flag for next year I don't know cuz we can't do anything it now well in first and foremost it would be good if we had all three buildings who follow the policy first and then let's see if there were issues cuz I agree if you want to look at if there was a problem but all three buildings have to follow it first and then tell me that it doesn't work and were we I
045thought we were going to back back as far as how the dress code went but you gave me a feedback if everybody didn't follow the P so may feedback when everybody follows it because I I I agree if something's not working that's the whole point of every year bringing the handbooks back looking at different things what's happened and that but until everybody follows it you can't ask well then that goes back to like Daniel said let's put it on our radar let's get some feedback from our staff you know come I don't know May April May maybe the administrators can put it on their radar to listen out for what talking with I'll just say you you know me I'm all about safy I'm all but we contradict ourselves when we tell people you can't
046wear hats because it's a safety concern but old next Friday wear your crazy hat day so if we're going to do it then we got to go some crazy other thing crazy socks crazy shirt you can't be inconsistent and claiming that it's a safety has I can tell you a person who's going to do something or someone who's is not waiting for crazy hat because they can be H so um I have no problem and you know we have looked at discipline reports we've been reported here multiple times we have significantly reduced referrals and and High um administrative team that deemed up here with Mrs Staples several months ago um and we constantly look at those dist referrals so this becomes um disruption an issue obviously we're we're going to relook at the issue consistency
047is what we're true now I say consistent because it's sometimes challenging from a kindergarten to a 12th grader but in the broad Spectre we have to have consistent ability in order to see is something working absolutely okay I just question Brian on the we talked about the AP classes and allowing them to test out you know that it's still the same in there yes that they are allowed to test out I was just curious about the response from um there are two questions the AP and then the insurance they do not have the answer for based on the policy policy any other discussion or any other questions when you say test out do you mean not take test okay I'm sorry I said that wrong the ret I understand okay thank you I stated um
048at our last meeting that I you were here I believe but I didn't think we should be allowing retakes for class colleges correct yeah now that might be different out there I don't know I haven't been in a college classroom so okay benefit if we find I guess it's an issue or something we can always revisit okay any other discussion okay all those in favor I I opposed motion carries okay next action item is our preschool parent I'm looking for motion for our preschool parent handle I motion to accept the recommendation of the superintendent approve the 20242 preschool parent handbook as presented on the August 12th 2024 meeting and outlined in the attached documentation do I have support support thank you any discussion all those in favor I I oppose motion carries I'm looking for
049a motion for the approval of the 2425 Child Care parent handle I move to accept the recommendation of the superintendent and approve the 2024 2025 Child Care parent handbook is presented on August 12th 2024 and outlined in the attached documentation do I have support second try um any discussion all those in favor I I opposed motion carries I'm looking for a motion for the approval of the 2425 student athletic code of conduct hand a motion to accept the recommendation of the superintendent and approve the 20242 student athlete Code of Conduct Handbook is presented on August 12 2024 and outlined in the attached documentation support thank you any discussion all those in favor I I oppose motion carries I am looking for a motion for the approval of board polies I Mo to accept the recommendation
050of the superintendent and the attached board policy as presented on August 12th 2024 and outlined on the attach documentation do I have uh support Second thank you any discussion yes I do um of prepared myself here with a little bit of a note because going off the cuff doesn't always work for me so um I just want to say that although I agree with the majority of these policies I do not I do have one major hang up on the language in policy number 5106 regarding the transgender rights to be clear I definitely think that we need a building protocol in place for when these particular situations arise I do understand that these policies are not only for the Adolescent students K through 12 but also for the staff who are adults with full functioning
051frontal loads as well as high levels of cognitive function in a perfect world I would like to see separate policies for employees than for students when it comes to the transgender 5106 I can understand keeping staff protected from other staff that may be bullying each other and possibly even bullying the children but when it comes to Children specifically it is scientifically known that there is a natural age where the Adolescent mind is still figuring things out and to me this particular situation does not need its own policy in the bylaws um there are so many other situations we could create our own policies for other than the transgender um we could be here all night with that um also in addition to that um specifically I on the pronouns I would also like to say
052that the pressure being put on the children as to which pronouns to use is unnecessary when we we try to teach our childrens to address people as Miss Miss Mister and now you're saying to them they could be wrong just by looking at them and making that decision you are confusing them for instance when I walked into this room tonight I even said to everybody hi guys nowhere in my mind was I thinking that you were all guys it's just me it's my personality it's who I am so for me I feel that um it's a it's my language that I use and if it is offensive then I'm sorry but it's still who I am so to put the pressure on the children um and make them think that they might get in trouble
053if somebody is sensitive to something like that it's just I I just think that there's certain age um of children that it's not something that they should be worrying about um and also I don't feel that the staff should have to worry about dis children for that either um and I I do feel that maybe some of the language like for instance the locker room how we put in the student handbook about um how to dress or change and be more conservative with that part um perhaps we can put that language into the bylaw um that would maybe help on some things also so um instead of just the handbook but in as the policy um and then also in another part of the policy I think that it states that um advising or um
054inputting for the parents it's not very clear that the parents would be um notified um some of the language which kind of suggests it need be or um if it result kind of like if it results to that in stuff and I understand that our protocol within the building is to obviously tell get the parents involved I get that I understand that I have full faith in the protocols that we have in our buildings my point here is I just don't feel that this needs to be a policy in our bylaws I just think that it's a little Overkill and um I would hope that the generic bylaws that cover bullying and such would be should be enough there's a whole bunch of other situations that um we can create an entire bylaw for and
055or a policy for and so that's my feelings on 5106 thank you I would just like to add a piece to canas to what you said I don't believe anywhere in our board policies it states that we require our students to use the correct pronouns that we discipline them if they don't um I did not read anything I did not um as far as I'm aware and if somebody I'm wrong please let me know I missed it um but our teachers aren't required to discipline our students um that is nowhere in that only says that our staff will attempt to make an honest attempt to try to use the correct prams um the other question I had for Mr Wesley are we required under the new title 9 requirements to have the transgender piece in
056our policies know um the training one just went through talk about the process so for um it is recommended by the the attorney I don't know if it is actually a requirement to actually have it this or we're trying and I talk last we talked s um policies govern the way we operate in District and when we have situations that are in our district we need to provide guidance to our team whether it's administrator teach or whoever on how we're going to operate um in this particular one that was referenced um we had we basically took our practice and put it into policy so that um CU we were already doing it in terms of a a plan um we do not we get to a point with the student where the student is comfortable
057enough and we use our social workers to help our student because we want the parents involved if I have a student that is absolutely we're going to continue working that student to get them to a safe place but we also have situation we have students that do not feel safe and I do not want to ever jeopardize a student um while being life and put them in the situation all we have been successful to this state with every um transgender student we've had in the district and I'll be honestly there's probably many that are here and I use this example that nobody knows um we have students that can not talk we come up with a plan in the situation um with the teacher and the students how are they going to functional school because
058they're afraid of what would happen to them so um when I look at this um yet it recognizes that this is a a population that exists in richond and that we need to um um do everything we can to make sure they feel safe just as we would if we have someone who's got a a a racial background that's different from the norm here or an ethnic background that's different from the norm um are be perfect for humans um but I think our our student body is um very accepting kids with different backgrounds and diversity um are we again are we perfect know situation so I guess that's I guess my position is this this population exist richment and we have an obligation to make sure everybody feels safe here and this is a way
059of helping that PO it's not for me to pass judgment it's not for me to say whether I agree or don't agree that's not my job my job is you walk through the door it's my job to educate you provide you a safe environment and I think that's where some of our conversation we talked the other day was putting our personal beliefs at the door we say to our teachers all the time those students should ever know how you vote CU if they do they you're not doing your job as a teacher because it's our job to present both sides of the situation same thing here it's no student should ever feel someone so doesn't like me because of my race ethnicity lifestyle whatever it is um we should be all students I just I've
060been very proud of the way we've handled it we've done it with integrity and discretion would needed to be um all of them have devolved the parents at some part of the process um and so there's no parent my members I could forgot there's no parent that doesn't know in our district but it got to a point where the student felt safe enough to have that conversation with their parent um and we do have students that do not feel safe bringing up topics at home and we use our trained expert guid with social workers helping that student get to that that safe place I guess um just to add the cuses a little bit why in the in the section in our policy where it talks about uh harassment and things like that it mentions
061all these classes why do we have to have a separate policy or a separate page or whatever for strictly trans we don't have a separate one in there for African-American students or a separate one in there for I don't know um ADHD or other things so I guess I wonder why I for me I just question we talked today a little bit and I just question why do we have that when we don't have those a separate policy for just those STS that was my next question as well because the disciplined one does mention it or race Creed it talks about um uh you know gender the whole thing is in there and to me my attitude is I don't care what a student has or the issue but we should be treating them all
062the same and we should be making sure that all of our students are not bullying and not you know that that we're working with all of them to make sure they feel safe and are welcome here in distri right so for me um our professionals that we pay our attorneys are suggesting that we put this language into our policy so that we are prepared for a situation um and and so that our staff is prepared and knowing how to handle this particular situation so we have protocols already within the building as Mr W is saying that they've been following for years that have been working I'm not second guessing that yeah now right policy are1 106 5106 is the policy that I don't I think specifically it is specific and again I wish that we
063could separate this 5106 and have the adult version versus the children's version adult version this for sure would be a a reason to call out bullying and discrimination if an adult is treating a coworker like this or if a teacher is treating a child um on this I I agree with that but when you're talking adolescence and the little mindes they they shouldn't be held to this level of standard in as a a 78 year old and remember this type of stuff they be they should be held to a standard to treat people equally and fairly that's my problem so the pronoun specific no no no no no no no you just said that young that young children shouldn't be held to the I I can't they shouldn't be held to calling somebody by their
064proper they shouldn't my 5-year-old shouldn't have to remember that their friend said I don't want to be called Susie I want to be called suzan do you do you understand what what this is your your 5-year-old doesn't have to remember to do it and they're not going to get in trouble for not remembering to say they and St whatever that you're you're you're missing the whole point of what this is the whole point what's considered discrimination harassment and bullying that is part of it it is not f for the students cace can you point out the policy because I did not see it where it was directly said our students can be disciplined to clarify when we're talking discipline we do a restorative practice agressive displine in this District so if we have a student
065they fight whether they call someone the wrong name or so for we address it correct it and move out don't be suspend it there's no letter that goes in your file and so forth it's ongoing you have a conversation what's going what's going on here if it's persistent and consistent and intentional that's where we start getting into formal discipline as out by the hand kids and staff make mistakes I make mistakes every day I may call someone something that I forgot it it goes back to did you intentionally do it to cause harm or distress to that person and that's where our conversation leads into discipline but if I have a 5-year-old and I'm not aware of this in our district but if this run it that um transgender male and they call the wrong
066pronoun um we deal with f you deal with it in the process if I have a high school and we look at the age as our discipline says you have to consider the age of the student you have to consider cognitive abil student you know we look at into the special end um I and so forth so I just want to make clear nobody is disciplined because they made a mistake no kids I guess I want to make sure that's it and it does say here it says unlock discrimination harassment and bullying if a district employee receives a verb written or electronic report of of witnesses or otherwise directly or indirectly has noticed that a student has experienced discrimination harassment or bullying in violation of this policy the staff member must promptly report the alleged
067misconduct pursuant to the district's unlawful discrimination and harassment policies if a student receives a verbal written or electronic report of witnesses or otherwise directly or indirectly has noticed there has been an incident of discrimin ation harassment or bullying in violation of this policy the student is encouraged to promptly report such incident pursuing to the district's unlawful discrimination of Gres policies the differ in violation of this policy must be handled pursuant to the district's unlawful discrimination and harassment policy so even just to accuse a small child of something like this if they hear about it no what what it says is if a student SE harassed whatever you want to talk about harassed bully whatever student sees it encourages them to report if I'm a Staff person and I see it and I turn a blind
068eye we as a district are liable and we set it for the last 3 years and the staff is going to hear it again Thursday you are you are an employee of this District if you know of a situation sexual assault anything you have an obligation to report it if not the district if it goes to a lawsuit can be financially held harm because a staff member didn't report it that's where we might have to discipline staff if they knowingly knew it and didn't do anything it'd be like if I know a student comes in with a black eye and I don't call Protective Services you're in trouble because it's a law you have to do that what this is saying is if the staff member knows that Johnny is being tormented or harra whatever
069word you want to use by other students you don't do anything you're encouraging that and it's it's a failure on the employees part that's what that saying it says in there students are encouraged and we do encourage them we hear it all the time if you ask any principal and teacher someone so doesn't like me they're mean to me I mean they're reporting this stuff out and then once we know it we have an obligation to look into it and that's where if Joe tells Mrs Bor so and so's going on and Mrs Bor doesn't do anything this board has failed the system by not investigating the situation and wouldn't that be in one of our other bylaws for protecting harassing I mean what this is specific policy this is specific to transgender students this
070whole polic or policy is no so just read the top of the very the very first page does it not of this one that you're looking at right now does it not or one of the definitions I know it has the definition page where it says blah blah blah blah blah blah blah specifically what that this whole policy is specific to transgender stud I I will tell you the transgender policiy the guidelines 5106 is following the guidelines that we have to follow for OCR I know there recognizes that transgender students it's the that policy is but if you go back talking about if you go back and you look at the I think it's 30 31 something or another um that one definitely gives everything that you read about what to do in actions and
071stuff is in that policy and that pertains to everybody no matter if it's trans if it's uh racial if it's whatever sure then yeah but then the confusion becomes why is it only for this issue is that correct yes the guidance we've gotten from and the attorney is this guidance I said at the last board meeting there is a lawsuit that we have been named in you did not part of it it is out of Kansas it doesn't even follow our jurisdiction that overseas but until this is changed at a supreme court letter level if it ever is this is what our district or our fed pass the B we are not part of the Kansas but we are naming so if we get a a civil rights complaint I think they said this at
072the last time because we're named they're going to wait to see what the court rules yeah this is and that's why obviously why our attorney wants us to have it in there is to protect us from those from lawsuits I mean that's what that's why they want us to put it in there yes and maybe at this point we we put it in there because to protect ourselves however we may watch down the road and and depending on what happens could be removed right so and our personal feelings sometimes just have to go by the wayside exactly exactly yeah so exactly it's it's it's personal yeah is to for youbody else it's not personal to me this is specific fairness all I'm saying is it's it's all about what your personal feelings are towards transgender
073absolutely yes it is and we've listened to it we've listened to it for a year oh my God can't just at least admit it out loud are you kiding me not ladies admit it out loud ladies no I am not against the protocol that we have in place in the building I them to create it in a policy that is political that is but that is how you get procedures at the building you have to have one you have to have policy that then speaks to what happens in the buildings and that's just making that right right this is just just makes that right so if you're okay with the protocol that happens in the building related to transgender students then the policy has to feed that and that's building protocol also goes for other
074things that are within not just specific to this but other ADHD the protocol of addressing and assessing and all that this why do you have a problem with it then now if if you're saying this is already all covered in another policy that you're fine with then why do you have a problem with this one particularly because it calls out transgenders because it talks about restroom access it talks about a bunch of other things okay so it has other things in it other than the policy that you're keep referring tocy I'm I'm against the whole policy okay any other comments any other discussion on any part of our policies Brian can you just um if you're talking to District lawyers in reference to the expansion of title n um can you just get clarification as
075to the Elliot Larson act Michigan's Elliot Larson act um from the 1970s which was just updated in 2020 and 2023 I believe to have expansive language I know that federal law surpasses state law um but I also know that if people are discriminated against in school situations that you can contact the Michigan civil civil rights uh office in relationship to the AL cment so how do we um if this lawsuit does potentially affect the language that we can have in policy how does the Elliot Larson act um help us keep um the language that expands um protection um and I I guess I would just maybe like their input on that if we ever come to that point well I can tell you from our administrative uh training with um TR law the Supreme Court
076tomorrow threw everything out we're still obligated to follow this under the Michigan law right so just cuz it goes out of the federal missig has adopted this and it's our responsibility so a lot of the reference um especially the the LA lar sections in there reference those changes to the law specific to staff your employees specific to discrimination of any are so if we use the Elliot Larson Act and the guidance for the employees in that language it's not just employees it's also students there's a student who feels discriminated under the LA ARS that we have an obligation to into it and correct me or address it and they and they and I don't quote me but it's race gender uh gender identity it's just as expansive as what we're doing here it's not limited
077to just racing that Miss which is why you have um policy SE on staff who are nursing we cannot discriminate against a staff member who who nursing so that's why they call and that's included in state um have staff for students I have a student who's pregnant and comes back to school and ask to nurse the baby I have to provide an opportunity of them to nurse the baby okay any other comments or on any of our policies that we're going to approve okay um is this a roll call it says roll call vote on here okay all all in favor I oppos I motion carries okay looking for a motion for the approval of board members to attend the Michigan school Board Association conference I move to approve the registration lodging Neils and mileage
078for board members Cunningham or tuna Shan and Sutton to attend the Michigan School Board Association conference on October 24th to the 27th 2024 at the Lancing Center in Lancing Michigan as outlined in the attached documentation do I have support Second thank you any discussion all those in favor I oppos motion carries I'm looking for a motion at this time to go into to go into close session pursuing to Section 8 of the Mig meetings act I move that the Board of Education go to close session for the purposes of school sa have support support any discussion all those in favor I opposed motion carries ready to back into Open session at 851 we have two action items I need a motion for the approval of the district Emergency Operations plan motion I motion to accept
079the recommendation of the superintendent and improve the district emergency apparation support thank you any discussion do remind board this plan is not subject to for any discussion all those in favor I opposed motion carries I'm looking for a motion for the approval of a resolution to lay off a Richmond early running Childhood Center employee e a motion to accept the recommendation of the superintendent and approve the attached resolution to lay off richment early learning Childhood Center employee do I have support thank you any discussion um I'll just uh reiterate to the board um with the new Collective Mary agreement that took effect um August 12th um we have to follow that agreement it requires a 30-day notice based on the enrollment at this point we do not need a um one of our teacher assistance
080the individual was offered an open position to CL the position in next ask take playoff so we have since filled the open position some stat that's that's the process thank you any discussion all those in favor I opposed motion carries being no further business the board will adjourn at 8:53 [Music] he [Music]