001Good evening. I would like to call to order the regular meeting of the Newport New School Board for Tuesday, June 16, 2026. On behalf of the members of the school board and Dr. Mitchell, I welcome each of you present this evening and those of you who are watching on TV and online. And now I will call Miss Kyla Legette, our student representative to the school board to introduce tonight's student guest for invocation and pledge. Thank you, Chairman Dr. Bast. We will begin tonight's meeting with the invocation and pledge to the flag. Here to do the honors is Mr. Robert White, executive director of public information and community involvement. Good evening, madam chair, Dr. Best, madam vice, members of school board and superintendent Dr. Mitchell. I will say I'm not a student, but I'm a student
002of life. So [laughter] start with that. Uh it is my honor to open tonight with an invocation and since it's my first time, I asked my colleagues and peers what I should do and they all said about the same thing. Keep it short. Okay. So I have written a haiku in honor of summer break. And so I will start. Love, joy, and laughter. Long are the days of summer. short are summer breaks. That's my haiku. So, [laughter] if you will please stand if able and we'll join me in the pledge of allegiance. All right. [laughter] I pledge of 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. Thank you so much. Thank you. The next
003item on the agenda is school board recognitions. Dr. Mitchell, please join me at the podium. Well, good evening everyone and happy Tuesday. Yay. [clears throat] I have the honor of presenting our recognitions this evening. We'll lead off tonight with an acknowledgement of service for Kyla Legette, the student representative to the school board. In honor of her distinguished service to the school board and Newport News public schools, she's receiving a resolution, an award, and a gift. The resolution reads, "Whereas resolution of recognition presented to Kyla P. Leggete Kyla join resolution of recognition presented to Kyla P. Leot 2025 2026 student representative to the Newport News School Board. Whereas the Newport News School Board approved in 2004 the creation of the position of student representative to the school board to increase board awareness of the views of
004students and to provide a peer with whom students could share ideas for improving education. And whereas Kyla P. Legette, a senior at Mchville High School, was elected according to the approved procedures by the members of the student advisory group of on education, also known as SAGE. And whereas Miss Legette served in this capacity from July 2025 through June 2026, faithfully attending meetings of the school board. And whereas Miss Legette served as the facilitator to the superintendent's high school student advisory group on education meetings and whereas Miss Legette actively sought student ideas on educational issues and pursued information and experience that would assist her in efforts to provide valuable insights during the discussion of the schoolboard meetings agenda items. hand. Oh, this is good, y'all. Whereas Miss Legette diligently fulfilled all of the duties of the
005student representative position, also while continue to excel in her advanced class coursework, participating in the United States Senior Youth Program after being selected by the Virginia Department of Education, attending the highly competitive Virginia summer residential Governor School for Medicine and Health Sciences, co-founding the Sunflower Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters Junior Circle, leading her school's health education advocacy league, serving as the president of the Model UN, and as the captain of the archery team, and participating in other school organizations, including the National Honor Society, science honor society, and Spanish honor society. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the school board of Newport News that Kyla P. Legette is to be highly commended for exemplary service, dedication, and commitment during her tenure as the student representative to the school board. Be it further resolved that a
006copy of this resolution be spread across the minutes of this meeting for all to acknowledge. In witness thereof, we have here unto set our hands the 16th day of June, 2026, and it is signed by each school board member and the superintendent. Congratulations and thank you for your service, Kyla. Let's give it up for her. Yeah, we're gonna get a picture. Give me a second. Yeah, we're going to get a picture. Give me one second. Joining her tonight is her principal, Mr. Jason Hollar. Where are you, Mr. Mr. Hollar? Her family and friends with her this evening. If you could please stand. [applause] I would like to add that Miss Legette has been accepted to Harvard University [applause] for the fall and we wish her all the best in her future studies. So, thank you
007once again for being a servant leader. We are so proud of you. Now, we're gonna get a picture. We're very proud to recognize that one of our students placed first in the 2026 Virginia School Board Association Tidewater Region Student Art Contest. Taking first place in the Elementary School Division was Kingston Brown L, a fourth grade student at Deer Park Elementary School for his piece titled Me. Kingston, if you would please join me up front. [applause] The VSBA Regional Art Contest was established in 1989 to promote the artistic talents of Virginia's public school students. For each of the nine VSBA regions, a winner is chosen chosen for the elementary, middle, and high school levels. The Tidewater Region R contest was held in conjunction with the regional spring networking forum for area school board members who judged
008the entries on April 23rd. Congratulations, Kingston. [applause] Joining him tonight is his principal, Scott Meadows. Would you please stand? [applause] family and friends, would you please stand as well? [applause] We want to say thank you for all your support. Now, we're going to get a picture. All right, our next honores are regional and state champions for the Virginia High School League spring season. Tonight, we're thrilled to recognize their achievements of these talented students and athletes. First, we have individual event, regional, and state champions for outdoor track and field. Please join me in congratulating them as their names are called for them to come forward. And students, please remain at the front until we take a photo. Region 3A champions from Heritage High School, Jalia Beasley in girls 100 meters hurdles. Terrace Bowen III in boys
009400 meters. Marcus Doer in boys high jump. Marcus Doer in boys long jump. Marcus Doure in boys triple jump. He can jump y'all. Coach Jacqueline Baitman, please join us. Coach Carl Chandler, Coach Lawrence Kirby, Coach Raymond Pard, and Coach Shantel Powell. Come on up. Let's give them a hand of applause. [applause] Region 5B champions for Menchville High School, Malachi Finch in boys 100 meters, Michael Singleary in boys 300 meter hurdles. Head coach Natalie Pierce, assistant coach December Hutcherson. Please come forward. [applause] Our next student to be recognized is unable to be with us this evening. The region 5B champion from Warick High School, Nathan Corin, in boys 1600 meters and boys 3,200 meters. His head coach is James Highmith, who is also unable to join us this evening. Region 5B champions from Woodside High School.
010Avea Hampton in girls shot put. Come on forward. Ana Hampton in girls the discus am I pronounced discus? I'm sorry. Discus. Xavier Canfield Jr. in boys triple jump. Dantree Walls Jr. in boys 110 meter hurdles. Coach David Kerry and coach Marshall Parker. If you're with us, please come forward. Come on. Okay. [applause] And we have a state champion in track. Please join me in congratulating Xavier Canfield Jr. from Woodside for his state class 5 championship in the triple jump. [applause] Xavier won the title at the state track meet held on June 5th and 6th at Todd Stadium. His winning triple jump was a distance of 48 feet and 3.5 in. And he added that to his state indoor track title in the same event this past winter. His coaches are G David Garary and Marsha
011Parker. Congratulations. [applause] We would also like to thank the families and friends of our outstanding track and field athletes who may be with us this evening. If you would please stand. All right. [applause] And we will also like to acknowledge their administrators. Heritage principal Dr. Dyron Ford, assistant principals Jose Pedaway and Melissa Rose, and athletic director Jamie Plicker, Menchville principal Jason Holler, and assistant principals Dr. Nicole Arrington and William Huffsteckler, and athletic director Jennifer Nunnik, and Woodside principal Dr. Mary Hardesty, assistant principals Gracie Foley and Michael Bellamy, and athletic director Eric Battle. Thank you for all your support. Now, if we could all come around and get a photo. You are taller. Next, we would like to acknowledge the Menchville High School girls soccer team, which won the region 5B championship. Please join me in
012congratulating them as their names are called for them to come forward. Kendall Bagwell, Evelyn Bell, Michaela Booth, Aean Bird, Kayn Candia, Ava Carter, Sarah Cash, Charlie Daltry, Valentina Dilla, Ariana Deval, Nadira Diggs, Naria Diggs, Cameron Eckleston, Sarah Hamilton, Addison Harris, Maladan Leachch, Lily Maynard, Lani Porter, Elizabeth Sanchez, Caitlyn Sakito, Payton Smith, Abby Watson, Autumn Williamson, and Lisia Wright. Coach Douglas Diggs and Coach Clayton Patchet, please come forward. Congratulations, Menchville. We want to take a moment to uh acknowledge their families and friends. So, if you're in the audience, please stand as well. Oh, don't be shy. Also, a big thank you to Menchville principal Jason Holler and assistant principles Dr. Nicole Arrington and William Huststeppler and athletic director Jenny Nutty and all for all your support. Now, we're going to come up front and get a
013picture. [applause] Now we would like to recognize the Menchville High School boys soccer team which won the five region 5B championship. Please join me in congratulating them as their names are called for them to come forward. Marvin Bilman, Leman Betar, Aiden Blard, Arian Bhachi, Joshua Centenno, Caleb Chatard, Bryce Filumi, Liam Forbes, Devin Gaskan, Spearman, Jazelle Gomez, Sutat. Am I saying that correctly? William Gorton. Y'all bear with me. Thomas Gregus, Nathan Harvey, Amando, Maladando, Michael Marlo, Charles Moral, John Neville, Niles, Okasio, Ian Per, I think I'm pronouncing this Purera, Solomon Sanford, Jude Smith, Kaden Stevens, Ethan Stool, Luke Stoof, Jackson Wells, Chase Wilson, head coach Bryce Fail, assistant coach AJ Kasano, Kasanu, and assistant coach Ethan Larson. Congratulations. Come forward. I like your shirt. We want to take a moment to acknowledge their families and friends
014who are in the audience. Would you please stand? Again, we would like many thanks to the building principal Jason Holler, assistant principals Dr. Nicole Arrington and William Hustckler, and athletic director Jenny Nutting for all their support. Let's huddle in the middle and get a picture. [applause] Yes. For all of our VSHL spring honores, we would like to like to congratulate and acknowledge the support of the NNPS athletic director, Mr. Lee Martin, for all that he does each day to support their success. Thank you, Mr. Martin. Give a round of applause. So, NNPS family, at this time, we're going to take a short break. So, our presenters and guests and their families may leave if they wish to do so. You're certainly welcome to stay. We'll stand in recess, a brief recess at this time. Thank
015you. During our regular meetings, we provide time for the public to address the school board. These opportunities are scheduled in the early part of our agenda and towards the end of our meeting. As advertised, citizens may submit comments via email up to 30 minutes prior to our meeting time to be included in the official meeting record. For those of you joining us in person, the board considers this an opportunity to listen to your comments. Please understand that we will consider your concerns. We ask that you comply with our three minute time limit. As you begin your comments, a green light will come on. A yellow light signals that you have 30 seconds remaining and a red light and beep indicates that your time is up. As your name is called, please come forward. Our first
016speaker is Reverend Natalie Chamberlain, and she will be followed by Mrs. Jackie Patterson. Good evening. I'm Reverend Natalie Chamberlain, pastor of Hilton Christian Church. I have been coming now for getting on toward three years and um All y'all know me now. I come to speak for those not for them but with the students that are part of the LGBTQIA community and I'm so grateful for the stand that this school board has taken to be sure that all the students in your district are being protected and I'm very grateful for that. Tonight is the last school board meeting that I will be attending as I am retiring and moving to Oregon and it's a bit of a commute so I won't be coming. I I do want you to know that Hilton Christian Church, the congregation
017that I've pastored for the past eight years, is very much interested in standing with and for the students of your district. And so members of my congregation will continue to be present at these meetings. I do truly appreciate all that you do and I am grateful for the protections that you have offered. And I will close my last statement with a benediction. May you find time for rest and refreshment this summer. And may the peace that comes from work well done be yours. And may what comes ahead be filled with good things. Thank [applause] you. and Miss Batterson will be followed by Tama Gatlin. My name is Jackie Batterson and I am a resident of Newport News and a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Peninsula. My fellowship interacts with kindness and we
018strive to build racial and social justice in our communities and the wider world. It's interesting that when someone in our community wears the shirt with love on it, that triggers some folks. At the last board meeting, I heard a woman state that she did not want her child to go to school where they where they teach transitioning. That is not a thing and should be taken out of your vocabulary. Since I have been attending these meetings, I have had the opportunity to meet many teachers in the school system. You are fortunate that you have such caring professionals working with children. These teachers have too much to do keeping decor in the classroom and teaching the curriculum they have been given in order to make sure that the students are ready to move on to another
019grade, school, college, or the workforce. They do not have time to be indoctrinating children in the classroom. I find it discouraging that there are people who spend their time trying to take rights away from others and disparaging vulnerable communities. People who attend pride events only to pass judgment on others instead of participating in the joy of others around them. When I am asked my political views, I say that they are that I want people to be alive and to have the life that they need. Apparently, that is controversial. If you consider yourself a religious person, then you might follow the law that states you shall love your neighbor as yourself. If you find yourself trying to take rights away from others, you are not following that directive. I will end with this quote. If you
020don't want your child to be gay or trans, then don't have kids. Your child is not a Build-A-Bear. You don't get to pick and choose these things about your child. You are not ready to be a parent if you aren't able to love them unconditionally. Thank you for your time. Thank you, Miss Tamika Gatlin. And she will be followed by Miss Nancy Meadows. Hello everybody. Good evening. Um I was coming to talk about our contracts that we received um for the past two years and I know after covid it was a lot that happened as far as having to pay us regardless of was not deal or we was given options to do furlow but in the contracts for the past couple of years has had the calling about furlow and it makes me a
021little uneasy because it makes it seem as if at any given moment you can affect my bottom line because your bottom line is affected. And with that being said, I know y'all have a budget. And is there any budget where you have an emergency fund or a backup for the day that comes that we may have that again? Because there's a lot of employees who work here. I'm not the only one that feel with the furlow and the cost. They make it feel it make us feel like you can say today, oh, we're going to be off and you're not going to get paid for it. You can't use your time for it because we have to use our consider our budget. That's uncertainty on our bottom line, our families paying our bills and making
022sure that we stay afloat. Um, also when the contract, it was lack of hours being showed in the contract that should have been there. It had our pay and that's great, but making sure that I'm still going to receive my contracted hours should be in there because again, we've had situations where well, you know, this is this doesn't say that in the book, but this is how we've been doing it. But the but because it is not in the book now we're going to utilize this rule because it's in favor of us. To me at any given moment you can say well we can take you back down to the 5.5 or take you away your 6.5 that you've been getting. So I'm just asking for a lot of clarity on my contract to make
023me feel safe as far as being here as a an employee who will be here now July in fact 21 years. And I would like to continue but I don't want to continue with the stress on my back of feeling like you can just change your rule whenever you get ready and that's what that one clause especially the furlow part really explains like it's [clears throat] been in there and again I signed it last year and I was like okay just I give everything to God so for me it was like I'm going to give it to God I'm not going to stress it but I'm like it's there again and with the climate and our political climate and how things are being slashed and I understand that I just want to feel like when
024I sign a contract that it's going to secure me as an employee to make sure that I'm still going to be able to meet my obligations on my end for my household. So, um, and also clarifying, like I did say hours, the pay is there. Um, it was another one and I'm sorry I forgot about that one. But those were our main main concerns about further learning and making us feel like we're not secure here anymore. So, thank you, [applause] Miss Nancy Meadows. And she will be followed by Gina Bowman. Hello. Thank you. My name is Nancy Meadows and I thank you for allowing me to come to speak concerning the JB-P policy. The new policy states, and I quote, "A plan may include addressing the student at school with their name and pronoun consistent
025with their gend gender identity, while using the legal name and the pronoun associated with their sex assigned at birth when communicating with parents and guardians." End of quote. With this policy change, you are appears to be encouraging schools and students to lie to their parents because you consider the parent to be non-affirming. That's a fancy word for a parent who simply says no. It is the right of every parent to say no because they have the right to raise their child according to their beliefs. [clears throat] The parents are the ones who will have to deal with the repercussions of any manipulating that might be done with these kinds uh with these kids and the secrets that appears to be encouraged to for them to keep. Your new policy also states and I quote if
026schools maintain separate restrooms, locker rooms or other facilities that that males and female students, they'll be allowed to use a facility that corresponds with their gender identity. End quote. This means that male students will be allowed into female locker rooms and restrooms and vice versa. This is now a rule for kindergarten to 12th grade. Why are we busy pushing political agendas and personal ideologies onto our children instead of making sure they have a strong educational foundation? Why aren't we focused on reading, writing, and math skills? This policy does more harm than good. You may not see the damage now, but we will. Someone is hurt because it was allowed for gender identity to override biological sex. It appears you have gone behind the backs of parents of the Newport New Schools and grandparents as well.
027We will make it our personal mission to make sure the public is made aware of your choices. Um that means I'm done, right? Thank you. Gina Bowman will be followed by Adam Lugwring. Good evening, members of the school board. My name is Gina Bowman. I'm speaking on behalf of Adena Riviera who could not be here tonight. Everything I am saying is written directly is written from her directly with my support. She has previously spoken on the opposition to the JBP policy change. The policy was changed in May and made public in June. There were definite red flags from how the policy was changed that do not make the public feel that you can trust them. The policy was changed without a public vote, decided on behind the scenes, and the people in favor of the
028policy being changed were the only ones who had knowledge of the change before the new document was published on your website. This raises serious concerns about which people on the board are tipping off the supporters of this policy change. This is highly inappropriate and unfair to the people who may oppose the change. Since you did not notify the public of the policy change, the public was not given a proper opportunity to object or agree with the decision. When the public feels like they have no voice, they lose trust in you. When trust is lost in the school system, parents will start to pull their children out of public school and seek alternate way forms of education. The enrollment for Newport News public schools has declined over the years and will continue to do so because
029of this policy change. Last month, one of the speakers said, "If you do not agree with the policy change, you have the ability to homeschool your children or send them to a private school that aligns with your beliefs." This is a very uh small-minded way of thinking. It implies that everyone who does not agree with the policy change has other options. That is a huge generalization. Not everyone has the opportunity for one parent to be able to stay home, teach the children and other one work. Not everyone has enough money to live in one income households or send their children to private school. For many parents, public education is the only option. All those that oppose the policy change are not all going to be in comfortable income brackets. the suggestion that they have alternative
030options for education is a very um uneducated blanket statement. So the new policy makes it a choice for the schools to include the parents. So we need to teach the students how to think and not what to think. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Mr. Lman Lugring will be followed by Miss Kishanda White Miselle. Hi, that's fine. It's unpronouncable. Um, my name is Adam Luring. Uh, I was here last month and uh heard a lot of comments. There were about 20 people last month showed up to speak in favor of the change you all made getting rid of Youngkin's rules, being more supportive of trans people. I really appreciate that. Obviously, there are some people who are still opposed to it. So, I thought I might just take it from the top. You know,
031I try not to assume malice or ignorance will do. go through the basic difference between biology and gender. That's all right. There are three concepts that people tend to invoke and conflate when they bring up the topic of biological sex. Uh these three are ktopic or genotypic sex. Uh in humans, this is like what chromosomes you have. Often this is XX or XY. But there are 17 observed combinations that you see in humans. And you can actually have more than one of those combinations through chimeism or mosaicism. what we most commonly refer to as biological sex. What a biologist will generally call biological sex is the dorphism in gametes which are the hloid cells that turn into embryos. Um a human can have zero, one or theoretically two of these. Uh a prepubescent child, someone
032who is medically impotent or infertile or someone who is postmenopausal may not have gametes at all. So this is again that is the second way of finding sex that does not divide humans cleanly into two sexes. You know typic traits are those associated with sex. These are primary sexual characteristics. Won't go into that since we have children here. And secondary sexual characteristics like facial hair. A person can have traits from both sexes. Again, often interex people are erroneously labeled male at birth. Um these kinds of errors are the reason that uh people who are advocating for queer issues talk about someone being assigned male at birth or assigned female at birth. That is not an attempt at euphemism or opuscation or vocation. It's just a necessary biologically grounded clarification because if you didn't make it,
033you would be getting things wrong. Separate from biological sex is the social construct that sociologists call gender. I'm a aware that uh previously in our society there has been another meaning of the word gender. The word has more than one meaning. So police are not going to come get you if you sometimes use the other meaning of the word gender. But when we're talking about transgender rights, we mean the modern academic sociological definition, which is subject, interubjective, mutable, and culturally contingent. If you went to a Scottish wedding, uh you would not tell the groom to change out of their skirt because you know that what is considered appropriate for a man or woman is culturally contingent. These things change all the time. And we're just asking people to stop making the facious mistake of reasoning
034from the idea that sex and gender are the exact same thing. Uh, I'll wrap it up there and say that I'm just very grateful that you all are trying to stand up for trans people in this community. Thank you. Thank you. Miss Kashanda White Miselle will be followed by Miss Ivana Jones. Good evening, board and superintendent. Respectfully, we stand here together to advocate for my child, Desan Mazelle. She is not a prop. She is not a symbol. She is a child with a name, a voice, and rights that deserve to be protected. No one here is barking. We are not dogs. We are parents, family members, community members who have spent months seeking justice for my child who has been harmed and failed by our school system and the justice system. Referring to a child
035who has been victimized as a prop is disrespectful, demeaning, unacceptable. Such remarks diminish the seriousness of concerns being raised and the very impact these the very impact that these circumstances have had on my daughter and our family. Let's be transparent. Tell us how you really feel because if you don't have any children of your own who have been through this type of pain, you cannot fathom what we are going through. Where's your humility? I sincerely hope that no child has to ever endure the situations that my daughter has faced. I have bandals full. Everything has been documented. We have recordings of what has been said, what was promised, and unfortunately the silence, disrespect, dismissive attitudes, and condescending responses we have received from everyone. For more than half of a school year, you have had the
036authority to address the failures that haunt my child to ensure appropriate accountability with the removal of the three individuals whose actions set all the events following December the 19th, 2025 surrounding my daughter in motion. the incarceration, the increase in depression, anxiety, her night terrors, her self harming, her uncertainty, her ability to trust adults and police, PTSD along with trauma. No justice has been provided to my ch 12year-old child. I hope a review of actions and inactions of everyone is done accordingly. No one should use their position or influence to harm others. My hope is that the public will clearly see what responsibility was neglected and where opportunities to do the right thing were missed. Even if these failures begun before they reached this board, once they reached you, you had a duty to act. You
037had a duty to protect a child. You had a duty to do what was right. Those entrusted with public responsibility must also be prepared to accept accountability for their decisions and actions as well. As the good book says, whatever whatsoever a man seweth, that shall he also reap. We'll be waiting your response and at the conclusion of this meeting, as always, respectfully. Good evening, school board members and superintendent. My name is Ivana Jones. I am the eldest sister of Desa Miselle. I am a former graduate of Woodside High School and an active member of the United States Navy. Our sister, Elijah Jones, is also a former graduate of Warick High School and currently attends Holland University in Roanoke on a full academic scholarship. Tonight, we stand with our family and community in part of our
038baby in support of our baby sister Dana. I am not here to disrespect anyone. I am here to state the facts. If the facts make anyone uncomfortable, that says a lot about the situation we are facing. Unfortunately, my sister has now been physically injured at two different schools. The most recent incident occurred at Hines Middle School. I will say that my mother has worked handinhand with the staff and administration there and they have done a good job communicating with our family. However, the same cannot be said for the school resource officer nor the officer supervisor. Once again, we ask where is the justice? My sister is still dealing with the effects of a concussion and is unable to actively participate in basketball, a sport she loves. No one seems to care about the long-term impact
039that the actions and failures of adults have had and may continue to have on her life. What message are we sending to students when rules and laws appear to be enforced only when it is convenient? Accountability should apply equally to everyone. Our family will continue to fight for Disha for every student who has experienced or is currently experiencing similar treatment. We refuse to be silent and we refuse to give up justice for Desawn. Thank you, Mr. Jir Brown. And he will be followed by Mr. Frank Richardson. All right. Good evening. Good evening. Um, my name is Jir Brown. I am the director of bands at Heritage High School, downtown Newport News. Um, I'm actually here today not to raise a concern, but actually here to give thanks. Um, I'm here joined by DeAndre Ward, who's
040one of my seniors in the band program. Um, also attended Kittton Middle School, Audrey Stpin, who's also a senior at Heritage High School in the band program, our upcoming drum major for next year. She attended Huntington Middle School. And Mr. Mason, who served this past year as the band director at Huntington Middle School. We're here to say thank you on a multitude of reasons. Um, as most people know, we have had an experience unlike any other school probably on the East Coast. I only know one other school who's been able to do the things that we've been able to do. And I just wanted to come and say thank you and understand that it doesn't go unseen. um when we hold events, um band battles, band competitions, drum competitions, field show competitions, I see you
041all at the events and that means a lot. The kids notice it, the kids love it. Um Dr. Best, I think you've been to almost everything we've done this year, which which we really appreciate. And the kids always look and when you all came in today, they were like, "Oh, I know them." So, we just wanted to say thank you. Um, now what we're giving thanks for, uh, just within the past, I think it's two and a half years, my students performed and represented the state of Virginia in the National Independence Day parade in Washington DC. Um, we've performed at a Washington Wizards NBA basketball game. That was a separate occasion. That's two times in Washington DC. Um, after that, we had the privilege of taking the band to Rome, Italy, which once again, we
042were here and you all helped a lot. Um, I really want to give thanks for that. You all ensured that the students were able to go and when things got tight, you all stepped in and made sure that the students had everything that they need. Dr. Best also came through in the last hour to ensure that every student had a jacket because we went during winter time and make sure everybody was warm and any students who did not have luggage, she ensured that they all had suitcases and things of that sort. Um, after we did that, we were able to take the band to Philadelphia in Thanksgiving. We were on TV for the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day parade. Um once we completed that just recently, a couple weeks ago, we went down to Atlanta and the
043band uh performed pregame for the Atlanta Hawks NBA team. We were able to also take the students to the Atlanta Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola. um feel like I'm missing something, but we we just really wanted to say thank you for allowing our students to have um this experience and just say thank you for the impact that you all have had on the students at our 5,800 family of Heritage High School. And in closing, I just wanted to say we made these uh thank you cards for everyone on the board so that way you all could um whenever you have time look and I guess my time's up. [laughter] Thank you all. Thank you. [applause] Thank you, Mr. Frank Richardson. Dr. Best, members of the school board. I haven't been here in a couple years.
044So, uh, I looked up on the, uh, AI website today and looked at the, uh, statistics for Newport News in the state of Virginia for math and reading proficiency. And for Newport News, it said 52% for math. For reading was 54%. for the state of Virginia is 68% for math and for reading is 70%. So as an Air Force retired colonel, uh if I was doing 50% I'd be uh out of the Air Force. I wouldn't have made it for 28 years in the Air Force and we got to do something different. You've heard a lot of issues discussed tonight and I consider that uh not part of the core issue because I don't know who's black, who's white, who's gay, who's straight on the 50% who didn't or wasn't able to read or write.
045And I believe the school board should be focused on that core issue because you can't solve some of the problems that you heard here tonight uh with home issues or personal issues or gender issues because when you walk in the class as a six-year-old all I want to know is teacher please treat me with respect and I'll be nice to you too because my Mom's going to beat me uh with a switch if I get home and be uh disrespectful for to an adult. So, you know, be all you can be. You know, I learned a long time ago that uh America is a place where you can resolve to be whatever you want to be. I spent uh 28 years in the Air Force, 26 different countries. I spent two weeks in Egypt last
046uh two months ago. Saw these kids. They could speak English. 10 years old. How many people uh here can speak Arabic and English? I couldn't speak the Arabic. I tried to speak a few words. Tried to be nice. But people are beautiful all over the world. But their economic status is a whole lot different than America. And 90% of Americans are considered rich when you look at the rest of the world. So my focus is how do we get 50 to 100% of the folks who come to school to read and write because that's your core mission and please focus on that core mission. Thank you. Thank you for your comments and thoughts this evening. We will now move to section three, the consent agenda, which includes 3.01 minutes from the work session, May 19th,
0472026. 3.02 minutes from the regular meeting May 19th, 2026. 3.03 minutes from the special meeting June 2nd, 2026. 3.04, 04 financial reports including the revenue and expense reports for May 2026 child nutrition reports 3.05 the personnel report 3.06 VOE authorization of signature in absence of division superintendent 3.07 boys and girls club at hidenwood agreement 3.08 08 annual and bianual policy approvals. 3.09 budget transfers. At this time, can we have a motion to approve the consent agenda? I move to approve the consent agenda as presented. Second. It's been moved and second to approve the consent agenda as presented. Are there any questions or discussion? Uh yes, Madam Chair, for 3.07, 07 Boys and Girls Club at H Highenwood agreement. Um when I know that I've had uh quite a few constituents over the years reach out
048regarding the Hidenwood community. Um and one has been uh focused a lot on light pollution and with this uhou agreement. I'd like to find out what the agreement actually uh shares for the community. Madam Chair, I can I can answer that question. The partnership or ... with the Boys and Girls Club will consist of u staff from the Boys and Girls Club being at Hidenwood at 7 in the morning for parents to be able to drop children off for before care and the students then will proceed to class during instructional time. And then after school has dismissed the students then for after school care would return to the designated space within the building. So parents will be able to have before care and after care. Actually it's an amazing price. It's $25 annually and then
049$25 per month. Um they will have um enrichment activities within the building. They may go outside and play on the playground, but there will not be any type of construction, added lights or anything of that nature. Okay. And then um I know it says uh you or your designate for theou and I know um usually that's Mr. Fairheart who does most of that negotiation. Actually the 3.06 authorization for signature in the absence of the uh superintendent is Dr. Rogers. um that's not connected to theou. Okay. I will sign the if you the board approves. Okay. Thank you very much for that update. Any other questions or comments? Miss Buffalo call the role, please. Brown for. Harris for. Hunter for. Surles law for. Aman for. Alger for. Best for. Motion passes 7-0. Thank you. We will
050move to section four action items. new and revised policies. Dr. Mitchell. Thank you, Madame Chair. As you recall, Miss Tracy Brooks has been working very closely with the policy committee. There are two board members and then a variety of other um individuals on the policy committee and Miss Brooks comes before you and presents the work of the committee. So, we are asking at this time that you will approve the new and revised policies. Okay. At this time, we will have a motion to approve the new and revised policies. I move to approve the new and revised policies as presented. Second. It's been moved in second to approve the new and revised policies as presented. Any questions? Comp. Madam Chair, I just making sure the public understands what we're voting on. This is chapter D that
051we're going which is part of our annual uh our annual our five-year plan where we go through our whole policy book. So, this action is for chapter D policies, which is our fiscal management policies. So, I just wanted to um make that comment so then folks know that we're talking about chapter D and we're not revising the whole policy book. [laughter] Thank you, Mr. Brown. Anyone else? Miss Buffalo, please call the role. Brown, for. Harris, for. Hunter, for. Surles law. for. Aman, for. Alger four best for motion passes 7-0 thank you we will now move to 4.02 federal funding applications Dr. Mitchell thank you madam chair last month Dr. Oliver who is our director of federal programs presented to you a proposed plan for the funding that we do receive um for federal um from
052the federal government. She walked through walked you through what the proposal would be, which schools would benefit, keeping in mind that the schools that would benefit have to meet a certain criteria. She did share with you those schools that no longer were eligible. So, at this time, we are asking that you will approve the plan that was presented to you regarding the proposed federal funding uh spending. Thank you. We have a motion. I move to approve the federal funding application as presented. Second. It's been second. It's been moved and second that we approve the federal funding application as presented. Any questions? Are we actually going to get the money? Any comments? Are we actually going to get the money? And hearing none, Miss Buffalo, please call the role. Brown, for. Harris, for. Hunter, for. Surles
053law for. Aman for. Alger. Best for. Motion passes 7-0. Thank you. We will now move on to section 4.03 personnel actions. Dr. Mitchell. Thank you, Madam Chair. Tonight, I am pleased to present the following recommendations for your consideration for u positions that are currently vacant, most of them due to individuals getting promotions. So, I begin tonight with the recommendation of Dr. Eleanor Blow for the position of chief schools officer. Dr. Blow does hold a doctorate of education in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech and she currently serves as our director of high school leadership here in Newport News. Next, I'd like to present Miss Irene Cooper with recommendation as the director of budget and ERP. Miss Cooper holds a master of accounting and financial management from DVY University and currently serves as our
054supervisor of budget. Next, I'd like to bring forward to you Miss uh Charice Charice Boyd for consideration as an administrative assistant at H Hidenwood Elementary School. She currently holds a bachelor's of science and education degree from Old Dominion University and currently serves as a teacher at Saunders Elementary. Moving forward, I would also like to recommend Miss Amber, Miss Amber Camua for the position of administrative assistant at Sedgefield Elementary. She holds a bachelor's of science degree in elementary education from Elizabeth uh City State University and she currently is a teacher at Hidenwood Elementary. Next, I would like to recommend Miss Nichollet Krauss for the role of assistant principal at Stony Run Elementary School. She holds a master's of arts degree in teaching from Christopher Newport University and she also has an administrative leadership endorsement from Longwood
055University and currently is serving as an administrative assistant at Sedgefield Elementary School. Miss Shaon Pernell is currently the assistant principal at Knollwood Meadows and I am recommending appointment of Miss Pernell as principal of Knollwood Meadows. She does hold a master's of science degree in educational leadership and supervision from Old Dominion University and she currently serves as the assistant principal at Knollwood Meadows Elementary. And finally, I present Mr. Edmund Rhett for consideration as assistant principal at Sanford Elementary School. He holds a master's of science in educational leadership and administration K12 from Old Dominion University and has been a teacher and currently serves as an instructional technology coach. And I'd like to say that these recommendations do reflect individuals with strong educational backgrounds, demonstrated leadership, and a commitment to student success. Thank you, Dr. Mitchell. You heard
056the recommendations. Do we have a motion? I move to approve superintendent personnel recommendations for Dr. Eleanor Blow as the chief schools officer, Miss Shereice Boyd as administrative assistant at H Hidenwood Elementary, Miss Irene Cooper as the director of budget and uh ERP um department. Uh, Miss Amber Kamua as the administrative assistant as S at Sedgefield Elementary, Miss Nichollet Krauss as the assistant principal at Stony Run Elementary, Miss Shayon Pernell as the principal at Knollwood Meadows, and Mr. Edmund Rat Rhett as the assistant principal at Sanford Elementary School. Is there a second? Second. It's been moved and second that we approve Dr. Mitchell's recommendation for personnel. Any questions, comments? Hearing none. Miss Buffalo, call the vote, please. Brown, for. Harris, for. Hunter, for. Surles law, for. Aman, for. Alger, for. Best for. Motion passes 7-0. [applause]
057Thank you. We will now move to section five, reports and information 5.01, 01 the 2026 27 student fees. Dr. Mitchell. Thank you, Madam Chair. At this time, I'm going to ask Dr. Kip Rogers, our chief academic officer, to come. Um, as you know, every year we have someone come before you to share with you the proposed student fee schedule for our new year, which will be 2026 2027. Dr. Rogers. Thank you, Dr. Mitchell. Good evening, Doc. Chairwoman, Dr. Vice Chair, Mrs. Alger, members of the board, this evening I am going to share the proposed student fees for the 202627 school years. Dr. Mitchell just shared the presentation is similar to what you've received in the past years and outlines our feetting processes, our commitment to equity as well as the specific changes by program area.
058We begin our annual fee review by collecting requests from schools as well as departments and they are carefully reviewed in collaboration with the department of school leadership, teaching, learning as well as budget and finance. Principals and supervisors are given opportunity to provide input and once finalized the fee schedule is then shared on the NNPS website. Now, we do want to emphasize that no student is ever denied access to resources or participation due to inability to pay. We do have support services that are available to assist our families who are in need, including flex flexible payment options. So, the slide you see in front of you are for our middle school students in the arts. Those fees cover instructional resources as well as materials. Things like art, chorus, and theater classes carry a nominal fee of
059$5 per year or per semester depending on the grade level. Band and orchestra resource fees remain unchanged at $10 each per year. And previous instrumental rental fees were $35 for the first year and then $50 every year afterwards. That cost has changed to $50 a year in order to keep up with the rising costs that are associated with instrument repairs. Uniform costs for band, chorus, and orchestra programs do vary by school. And that's because of the various types of uniforms that are at each school, such as warm-up gear, polo shirts for concerts, as well as formal assessment attire for competitions. Now, for high school, at the high school level, the structure is very similar to that of the middle school, our fees for art classes are $7.50 per semester. Theater courses carry a $10 fee
060per year. Instrument rental follows the same model as middle school with middle school students paying $50 a year. Uniform costs associated for band, chorus, and orchestra programs are also varied by school for the same reasons that were mentioned for our middle school students. Our career and technical education as well as IT STEM programs. Our middle school students that are enrolled in technology, engineering, business, or consumer sciences courses courses will continue to see modest fees ranging from$3 to $6 depending on the grade level and the type. Those fees cover consumable materials as well as hand on hands-on instructional supplies. Our CTE and high STEM at the high school level for high school CTE programs fees remain consistent as they have been in past years and semester courses carry a $5 fee, while year-long courses are still
061set at $10 each. those support materials in areas such as engineering, business, medical sciences as well as trades, education. Now for our technology replacement costs, technology replacement costs reflect the actual cost of lost or damaged items. So for example, AC adapters are $20 each, protective cases for computers are $10 each, and LCD screen replacements are $45 each. Full device replacement for damage beyond repair or theft is capped at $480. Now for driver's education and physical education, our driver's education behind the wheel remains at $225 for Newport News public school students and $325 for non Newport News public school students. Physical education items such as locks are provided for students at no charge with a $5 replacement cost if they're lost. Heart rate monitors are also provided for students with up to a $150 charge if
062they are lost or damaged and charge of replacement for the monitors are $15. Relative to textbooks, fees for lost or damaged textbooks, library books, and calculators are calculated based on the prrated value of that particular item. And this does ensure fairness based on the item's age as well as the condition at the time of loss. Student tuition rates, out of division and non- Virginia resident tuition rates are adjusted each year. For the 2026-27 school year, the rate for out of division students is $7,24 and for non- Virginia residents, it's $15,523. Those prices reflect incremental rec increases over recent years. Tuition RA tuition waivers, easy for me to say, remain available for students of NNPS employees that are subject to review each year. And in closing, this does conclude the overview of our student fees for
063this coming school year and we welcome to answer any questions that you may have and appreciate your continued support of ensuring that we have access and opportunity for all of our students. Thank you, Mr. Rogers. Of course. Any questions? Dr. Rogers, I'm sorry. That's okay. Any questions? I I do have a question. And I'm It wasn't in there, so I'm thinking it's somewhere else, so I guess you could answer it. Regarding cheerleading outfits, I've heard a couple of comments and regarding that. Where does that fall and how does that work? Um, that would be in athletics. So that will fall under athletics. Yes. And and you can get back with this later. It just popped in because you were talking about fees and a parent had talked to me about fees and I just wasn't
064aware. So thank you. Thank you. I appreciate it. Anyone else? Thank you Dr. Rogers. Of course. Thank you. We will now move to section five reports and information 5.02 02 rights and responsibilities handbook. Dr. Mitchell. Thank you very much, Madame Chair. As is customary, we have someone come before you to share any [snorts] revisions to the rights and responsibilities handbook or I should say any proposed revisions to the rights and responsibilities handbook. So this evening, Dr. Shayla Woodard, who is our program administrator, will come and share with you some of the revisions. and there are not many, but I will say that this handbook really does serve as a foundational resource for students, families, and staff. Um, it outlines very clear communication um expectations, rights, responsibilities, and supports and division procedures. Thank you, Dr. Wood.
065Good evening, Madam Chair B, Vice Chair Alger, members of the school board, and Dr. Mitchell. Tonight I am presenting the proposed revisions for the 2026 2027 Newport News Public Schools Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. These updates improve clarity, align with current policy and legislation, and make the handbook more accessible for students, families, and staff. You all have received a printed draft version, and an electronic version will be shared following this meeting. The rights and responsibilities handbook is a foundational resource for our school community. It outlines expectations, rights, responsibilities, safety procedures, discipline processes, and available supports. Most importantly, it promotes consistency and transparency across Newport News public schools so families, students, and staff have a shared understanding of expectations and the resources available throughout the school year. The revision process was guided by the rights and responsibilities
066handbook committee which included a sorry the handbook is much more than a discipline document. It includes school and division information, attendance and transportation procedures, family engagement resources, annual notices, student and parents rights, multi-tiered systems of supports information, bullying prevention, athletics expectations, the code of conduct, dress code, cell phone policy, and discipline procedures. The goal of this revision process was to make the handbook more user friendly and practical so families can use it as an ongoing reference throughout the year rather than only reviewing it when concerns arise. While the handbook does include the code of conduct and information related to student behavior, it is important to recognize that the majority of students are doing the right thing every day. As of May 22nd, 2026, Newport News Public Schools had a unique enrollment of 26,937 students. These
067are students who have enrolled in Newport News public schools during the 2025 2026 school year that may or may not still be enrolled. Of those students, 19,959 have had zero discipline referrals this school year. That represents approximately 74% of our student population. That data is important because it reminds us that this handbook is not solely about discipline. It is also about creating safe, supportive, and successful learning environments where expectations are clearly communicated and students are positioned for success. The revision process was guided by the rights and responsibilities handbook committee which included administrators, teachers, parents, community members, and students. Together, we reviewed policies, procedures, discipline data, and handbook language to identify areas where expectations could be clearer, more consistent, and easier for families to understand. At this time, I would like to ask committee members who
068are present to please stand and be recognized. Thank you for your time, thoughtful [applause] feedback. Thank you for your time, thoughtful feedback, and commitment to ensuring that our handbook supports students, families, and staff. Thank you all. The revised handbook focuses on accessibility, clarity, and alignment. It has been rebranded and reorganized with updated formatting, improved navigation, clear section labels, visual tools, and more practical resources. These changes support stronger family school communication, consistent implementation across schools, and alignment with current law and schoolboard policy. One major revision involves personal electronic devices. The handbook now reflects bell to bell expectations aligned with Virginia Senate Bill 108. The policy applies to smartphones, earbuds, tablets, smartwatches, and other connected devices. Students are expected to keep their devices off or silenced and out of sight during the school day, including transitions and
069lunch. In addition, references to technology use and social media have been updated to reflect current technology trends and communication platforms. Examples and definitions have been revised to provide greater clarity and clear expectations, [clears throat] minimizing opportunities for misinterpretation when addressing inappropriate or disruptive technology use to support consistent implementation across the division. Discipline procedures related to personal electronic devices violations have been reorganized by elementary and secondary grade levels. We also clarified several safety and security expectations. Students may carry a small non-transparent pouch or purse approximately 5 by seven in for personal or sensitive items such as hygiene products or medical necessities. These items remain subject to search. We also clarified that the student IDs are formally issued in kindergarten and nth grade and students in other grades should use their most recently issued ID. One new
070addition is the Elevate 2030 strategic plan. Including it helps families connect the handbook to the division's broader vision for academic excellence, student well-being, family engagement, workforce readiness, and positive learning environments. Because this handbook is widely distributed, it is an effective place to share that vision with students and families. We also added the Newport News public schools school location guide and map. This provides families with a quick reference to schools across the division, which is especially helpful for families who are new to Newport News public schools, have students in multiple schools, or attend events at campuses outside of their assigned school. Another addition is a communication guide that helps families know where to begin when they have a question or concern. It identifies the appropriate starting point for issues related to instruction, student behavior, discipline and
071safety or athletics. This supports timely responses, clear communication, and stronger family school partnerships. The handbook now includes a multi-tiered systems of support or MTSS infographic. MTSS explains how schools support students academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally. The visual shows how universal supports are provided to all students and how targeted or intensive supports are added when needed. This helps families better understand how schools identify needs and support student success. We also added a divisionwide behavior matrix. This matrix defines what it means for students to be safe, respectful, responsible, and ready to learn in settings such as classrooms, buses, hallways, cafeterias, and school events. It gives families and staff a shared language for teaching, reinforcing, and recognizing positive behavior. The new parents rights and responsibility section recognizes the important role families play in a student success. It outlines
072parents rights to receive information, participate in their child's education, and communicate with school staff. It also highlights ways families can support attendance, communication, and expectations at home. The handbook also includes a discipline flowchart. This visual gives families a clear understanding of how schools respond to behavior concerns, beginning with classroom level interventions and moving to administrative involvement when needed. It reinforces that our approach emphasizes teaching, redirection, communication, problem solving, and support before a more significant discipline is considered. Schools may create branded versions, but the division framework remains consistent. At this time, the administration respectfully requests the schoolboard support of the proposed revisions and additions to the 2026 2027 rights and responsibilities handbook. This revised handbook reflects collaboration, clarity, consistency, legal alignment, and our shared commitment to safe, supportive schools for every student, family, and staff member.
073Thank you for your time and attention this evening. At this time, I [clears throat] am happy to answer any questions. Thank you. And I think this book has everything. I really think it has everything. Um any questions or comments? I'm gonna I will let Mr. Brown go first. Great job though. Good job. Very good job. very good presentation and I really appreciated the uh the portion about uh number of students who don't receive any discipline at all. Uh that's very that's that's very good to see. [clears throat] Um cell phones. So under this revision students can still bring their cell phone to school as long as they keep it put away. Is that the that the provision? Yes. Bailto bail thei cell phones have to be silenced and out of sight. Okay. So, but they
074can still uh bring it with them. Yes. To school. Okay. And I will say in part, Mr. around because we have a number of students who work um after school jobs, a number of students who are responsible for getting to their siblings, you know, so they can't use it during the school day, but once they exit the building and they're able to turn it on, mom may say, "I need you to go straight home from school because you need to get little Douglas from his bus or whatever the case may be." But many of our students do work a job and often times their schedules are changed. I know our student rep works the job. Um, so so they can bring it but they can't use it during during the course of the school day.
075Okay. And uh in terms of [clears throat] um parent education because it's one it's one thing to uh this great book and uh uh what I find in talking with parents is that they haven't especially they have not necessarily read it and then you're actually educating them on you know this is actually in the rights responsibility handbook and pointing them to it. So, are there some planned education roll out communication classes that parents can have on the book so that they can get a little bit more um orientation on the on the book uh prior to something happening with their child? There are not any planned at this time, but that is something that Dr. Mitchell and I can discuss at a later date. Um the plan is to ensure that each before schedules are
076released to parents, parents are acknowledging that they had an opportunity to review the handbook. Right. Okay. And uh I I ask the same question I ask every year, which is is electronic copy of the handbook we could I could have before the next meeting said that he said it. [clears throat] Thank you, Mr. Brown. Anyone else? Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah. Um sorry. Um, a couple things I like adding the additional information. I think that's great. Um, I would say if you guys are looking at something for the upcoming year, you may want to look at all that's included and see if any of it can be streamlined. I could see as a parent it being, oh, which page do I go to for all this? But I think it's it's great. It's great. There just
077might be a little distill a little bit more for families to chew be able to ch more of it. Um and Miss Aman, um in the handbook this year, there is a general information section that gives brief descriptions of everything that is found in the handbook and it refers either to the policy connected to that topic or the page that you can find further information in the handbook. Oh, that's good. Um, and I will say to the cell phone point, it helps to have it on them because when they find out there's a um a celebration or a um a a banquet right after school they didn't know about until they got in school, they can call parents after the bell and we're not sitting there waiting for them to get off a bus they
078didn't get on to. Um, but the question on the electronic acknowledgement, I know as a parent and maybe I miss something. It's I feel like I go on to parent view and I have to sign that I've gotten it or read it and understand it and agree with it, but it's like I have to do that to get to the schedule and unless I want to take an hour to go through it, you're people are just going to sign it. So, are we can we how do we ensure that parents can get a physical copy um and or have time to look at it before they're you've got to check this before you can access your system. So, my department is responsible. We we print 10% of the school's population in handbooks and have them
079delivered to the school before the school year starts. We also have the electronic version online at all times and it is actually translated into eight different languages online at all times. Okay. And will there be like popups or something? Just a suggestion like in parent view because people might go on to see their kids schedule or check on things saying, "Hey, by X date you're going to have to sign you've seen this." So they don't pop up and all of a sudden I can't get access to this until I because you can imagine seeing it having to get access to something and not having a half an hour to go and look at it. So I'm just thinking an early warning system if you will before a deadline and tell them where to like a
080link to get to that on the website. Absolutely. I will work with our um student information system department to make sure that that Okay. Thank you, Miss Aman. Miss Alger. Yes. Um a couple of things. First of all, um it's I I think it's it's tighter. It's the book is definitely tighter. I love the fact that there are resources, you know, I was able to flip through resources for families if there's a crisis, who to contact and so on and so forth. So, I I I do believe that that's really good. uh also the fact that the elevate uh 2030 is here and included um because all of this is so that we can achieve those goals that we want and and I love the data that you included um it was uh slide number
081four where 74.1 percent I mean personally I want 80 to 90 but you gave us uh information that we can grow from. And uh and the more that we increase the percentages of students that are not getting referrals, who are making the right choices, the better we can improve our our academic literacy and all of the workforce readiness and everything as far as our our goals. So, thank you for tying it all in and for giving us the information to help us measure success. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, Miss M. I just want to thank the uh committee. Thank you very very much for your time and commitment um to review it and read each page and say how it's meeting the needs or how it's not meeting the needs and making those recommendations. So,
082we really do appreciate and we appreciate you coming tonight, too. Thank you. I think Miss Alger had something else. Yeah, just one question. Um, in here, uh, appeal process. If a referral is refuted or let's say disciplinary action is refuted, is there is that process outlined in the in the handbook? Yes, ma'am. There's a whole due process section in the handbook that explains the appeal process at each level for parents so that they know who to communicate and contact. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Thank you. Then any anyone else? Then I have one. So under the searches and again I'm not sure if you can answer it. I'm just putting it out there in the universe. Um what um let me see how I want to ask this. under these searches. How how are the teachers trained
083on this book? That that's my question and that'll kind of address that. And in particular, I just the searches caught my attention because of recent incidents. And so just how how does this as if I'm a teacher, how do I how does this play into my what I do? Can you tell us a little bit about that? Yes, ma'am. So each summer my department does administrators academy with principles, assistant principals and administrative assistants. Um the information that is provided there they then turn and during pre-service one of the things that they should be doing is reviewing the rights and responsibilities handbook with their teachers and staff who are in their building um for that school year. Okay. Thank you. And then regarding um again very thorough job. It it is a lot but I just
084I think I can just say it. We can't make people read this. We we hope that every parent would read it read it time and time again. I I read mine. I highlighted it as a parent and as an administrator, but we need to have it and and make it as simple simple and friendly as possible. We encourage every parent to to read it to actually sit down with your students to u review it, but in a real world we can't make people read this book. So, we're just hoping and praying that they do. And again, we appreciate all the work and the thought that went into it. So, thank you. I think questions. Thank you. Uh moving on the section five reports and information. Uh 5.03 the attendance report. Board members, you received a
085copy. Are there any questions? Thank you. 5.04 Membership Report. Board members, you've received a copy of this report. Are there any questions? Thank you. Moving on to 5.05, the construction report. Board members, you receive a copy of this report. Are there any questions? And hearing none, we will move on to item 5.06, comments by the superintendent, Dr. Mitchell. Thank you, Madam Chair. And I will be brief, but I do want to share that we uh celebrated graduation with our seniors and their families earlier this month. [applause] Kyla being one of them. Um we actually graduated 1,616 students across six high schools. Um, one of the things that we are extremely proud of is the in the class of 2026 received approximately 2500 college, university or military institution acceptance offers and they earned more than $77
086million worth of scholarships. We are extremely proud of our students, [applause] our parents that may have helped their students, pride them on to go for those scholarships as well as our staff that help support. In addition, one of the things that we are very strong at and in comparison to maybe some other districts, the class of 2026 contributed 40,448 hours of community service. That's who our who our students are. I'm gonna get that number one more time in case you didn't hear it. 40,448 hours of community service from our seniors alone. It doesn't count other students that are doing community service. So, we congratulate each and every one of them. We are proud of them and we know that they're going to do great things. Thank you, Madam Chair. Okay. Thank you, Dr. Mitchell. We'll
087now move on to item six, another opportunity to hear from the public. Miss Buffalo, are there any more cards? No, ma'am. All right, we'll move on to matters by the school board and we're gonna I think we're just going to have closing remarks with our school board representative for the final last time and the floor is yours. Thank you. It's such a bittersweet moment with this being my last time being up here. And I just to begin, I want to thank the board for giving me this opportunity. And I wouldn't really be where I am without the leadership. Oh, my mom's going to make me cry. Sorry, [laughter] guys. Look at uh without this position. And I want to thank the Newport News community. I think there is no other community like it in the
088world. you will never find a place with such humility, grace, kindness such as Newport, such as Newport News. Um, and it's just been such a blessing to have this position this year. And I've gone to meet so many wonderful leaders and people who have been my inspiration and role models. Um, and I wouldn't have gotten that without this experience. And for the next student rep, Cameron Smith Remoric. Um, I really wish him luck on this journey and to really embrace it and take it to the fullest extent because it's so unique and rare to have a voice where you can amplify others. So that's about it. Um, thank you guys all for your support and yeah, that's those are my final comments. Wow. [applause] And with that being said, this meeting is ajourned.