001All right. Well, good evening everyone. Hope everybody had a happy new year and happy holidays. Before I gave us in, I do have a couple words that I would like to share. So, the first school board meeting in every January is always unique in that the superintendent starts the meeting off prior to determining the school board chair and vice chair. Per the school board's policy, the chair only serves a one-year term, but can serve multiple terms. This is also a very special evening of appointments and recognitions. As I mentioned, we will be determining the chair and the vice chair, as well as determining members of our schoolboard committees, other representatives and administrative designations, and establishing the regular meeting schedule for the upcoming year. So, with that, I would now like to call the organizational meeting
002for the Frederick County School Board to order. Board members, please state your name and magisterial district. And we will start here with Mr. North. Uh Patrick North Shauny District Mike Proac Redbud >> Diana Klein at large >> Joe Moran Stonewall Daryl Bell Opekin >> Marina Caruso Gainsboro District >> Scott Sturdivan Back Creek >> All right we have an agenda before us. Do I have a motion for approval? >> Dr. Chair, I move that we or Dr. Chair Dr. [laughter] Hummer I move that we approve the agenda as set before us. >> Second. All right. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you members. I would now like to pause for a moment of silence. >> Thank you. I
003now would like to ask everyone to please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Thank you. At this time, I'm going to be asking for nominations for the chair of the Frederick County School Board. Please keep in mind, we do not need a second for any nomination. Dr. Hummer. >> Yes, Mr. Bell. >> I would like to nominate Marina Caruso as the chair of the board. >> Okay. Thank you. Mrs. Caruso, um, you have been nominated to be the chair of the Frederick County School Board. Are there any additional nominations? Okay, hearing none, can I have a motion to close nominations?
004>> Dr. Hummer, I move that we close nominations for chair. >> Second. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay, motion passes. We now have one nomination. So, can I have a motion to elect Mrs. Marina Caruso a as the chair? >> Dr. Hummer, I move that we elect Miss Marina Caruso as the chair of the Frederick County School Board. >> Second. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay, motion passes. Congratulations to Mrs. Caruso. [applause] >> [clears throat] >> Thank you. I'm humbled and honored and I also want to thank um Mr. Scott Sturdivan for his leadership
005and service. Um I've enjoyed working with you and I look forward to continue working with you. Thank you and thank you to the rest of the board. All right. I would like to now seek nominations for the vice chair of the Frederick County School Board. >> Madam Chair, I'd like to nominate Daryl Bell. Thank you, Diana. Um, Mr. Daryl Bell, you have been nominated by the vice chair of Frederick County School Board. Any additional >> like to nominate Patrick North. >> All right. Can I have a motion to close nominations? Motion has been made. Oh, sorry. >> Madam Chair, I move that we close nominations for vice chair. Second. Motion has been made and properly seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Do I do I
006do this? >> Motion passes. Thank you for bearing with me. [laughter] >> All right. We have a nomination um for Mr. Bell and Mr. North to be vice chair of the Frederick County School Board. Do we have a motion to conduct a roll call vote for each nominated individual? >> Madam Chair, I move that we conduct a roll call vote for each nominated individual. >> Motion has been made and properly seconded. Any discussion? >> There has not been a second. >> Second. >> Thanks. Motion has been made and properly seconded. >> Any discussion? >> Now, let's conduct a roll call vote. Madam Chair, if I may, just a a brief discussion just before we have that vote. Um the reason why I'm nominating Mr. Bell is we have several significant issues coming upon us and
007I'm not sure if the new board members have been fully briefed. If you have, wonderful. If not, I'm sure that's forthcoming. Uh but Mr. Bell has the time and he also has the background knowledge to all of those things. Um I have a sense that those things will consume quite a bit of time. Uh both Mr. Bell as well as yours um potentially Mr. Bell as vice chair and yours as chair and I feel that there is no better person to be your wingman if you will uh than Mr. Bell. >> Any additional discussion? >> All right, Mr. Sturdivan, >> Mr. Bell, >> Miss Caruso, >> Mr. North >> Mr. Bell >> me >> Mr. Moran >> Mr. North >> Mrs. Klein Mr. Bell >> Mr. Proac >> Mr. North >> myself. >> It is
008one, two, >> 43. It is 43 for Mr. North. [applause] >> Congratulations, Mr. Vice Chair. Please join me in a round of applause. We Thank you. [gasps] Next up is approval for our school board meetings. Can I get a motion to approve the next schoolboard meeting schedule? >> Madam Chair, I move that we approve the meeting schedule as published. >> Second. >> The motion has been properly moved and seconded. Any discussion? >> Madam Chair, if if if I may, um I would recommend because I know there was conversations of the time of the meeting. I know the public is used to a 6:00 7:00 start. I know there's been conversations of potentially moving it an hour earlier, which is totally at the will of the board. I would recommend having that conversation, also knowing what
009we should post. You don't have to approve it per se, but I think it would be in your best interest to have that conversation just so the public is aware of what time those meetings will be starting. Um, the actual approval is the actual meetings for this upcoming year. So, that would be my recommendation. >> And Madam Chair, it's my understanding that those are published as 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. start with dates as published. Okay. So, so what we would be discussing is any changes that we wanted to that. and not hearing any, but just we're all on the same page. >> Yeah. I mean, I I would recommend a uh 5:00 PM start and then six o'clocks for close session. Um just in support of getting folks home a little more reasonable hour,
010but totally okay with with either or. >> Uh point point of understanding, do you mean a five o'clock start with a five o'clock close session and then a six o'clock start to the regular meeting? Yes, sir. Okay. >> Um my my personal thoughts on it is I think we should leave it the way it is. Um although I do not work anymore. When I worked in Manasses, I wasn't getting home until 56:00. Those folks who work in the city and commute, which there are quite a few who want to come to these meetings, won't be getting home in time to be here. Um we've had it for at 6 and 7 for eons. I don't see the reason to change now. Uh I think we need to take into consideration our constituents. Um a lot
011of these people work and they're not getting home until 5 6:00 and you look at the traffic in Winchester. The traffic is horrendous and it's not going to get any better. It takes people forever to get from one end of this town to the other. And I know when I've tried to get to Milbrook for uh events and things at 6:00, if I don't leave my house at 4:30, it's going to take me forever to get there because by the time I get up here on Route 11, the traffic is backed up forever. The traffic's backed up on Route 7. The traffic's backed up on Route 50. So, I strongly suggest that we keep our uh constituents in mind and not change those times and leave it the way that it is. >> I I
012can agree to that. I think we need to look at other um avenues of saving time in these meetings in the future though if we're going to keep the start time at the same time. >> I agree. Um I think those are fair arguments and I think that we should move forward with with goals of efficiency to get people home at a better time. So yeah, I'm I'm in in favor of keeping the same time as of right now. >> I certainly am in favor of keeping the same time. I know that uh my wife is a perfect example. She doesn't get home until six o'clock. Not that she'd ever come, but um sorry, just telling the truth. Um so I would be in favor of maintaining the same schedule. >> Same. I have nothing
013to add clarify. Um but I do agree with Mr. pro about having a goal of increased efficiency throughout the meeting. >> All right. All those in favor of moving forward with the schedule >> I [laughter] hope those opposed. Any opposed? >> Any opposed? >> And then it passes. >> Motion passes. So, we're keeping it the same way and we're publishing it out as yes. >> Perfect. >> Next up on the agenda is the approval of school school board members to serve on committees and to be a representative. >> So, Mrs. Caruso, if I can make a recommendation, that's more of just discussion. You don't need to approve that for committees and for representatives, you can go right to advisory committees unless there needs to be a discussion. >> Now, when when should we have that
014delay? Um we would prefer to have that sooner rather than later because we do have a lot of business to conduct especially with finance and with our budget coming up. So if we can get that by the end of the day today tomorrow plus we also have to notify the public who's on each committee. So if we can get that this evening no later than tomorrow will be appreciated. >> Okay. Um yeah I would like to have conversations with those that we haven't had the discussion but I will definitely have that to you by tomorrow. >> Great. Thank you Mrs. Caruso. >> All right. Next up on the agenda is the approval of advisory committee and representative assignments. Do I have a motion? >> Madame chair, >> I would like to make a motion to
015approve the advisory committee and representative assignments. >> Motion has been properly moved. Oh yeah, thank you. Motion has been properly moved and now seconded. Any discussion? >> I don't. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> All right. What are we approving here? >> Uh just the advisory committee representative assignments. Um I believe those were shared um earlier and these would be the representatives that are on this day that would represent that would be assigned to represent the board on the citizen advisory committees. >> Right. >> There's a multitude of committees. One on >> right. Do we have that list? >> It was sent to us. >> It was sent by email, I think. Yeah. Okay. With each person's assignment to those committees. >> Correct. Yep. >> Okay. >> And Madam Chair, just to
016clarify, this is for advisory committees, not the committees for the school board. >> Right. Right. >> That's correct. >> So, is that something that I would also deliver to you? Okay. All right. >> So, we have a motion. Has it been seconded? Well, we don't have a list to to approve at this point. >> Yeah, that's that's what I'm there. There is no list. >> Thought there was a list that was emailed out. >> There's a list of committees, but not people on. >> So So the the list that was the document that was shared with you had two sections on it. The top section was the committees for the school board. The bottom was the representatives, which which we were talking about. Now, we have not seen that. Um, but if if that's not
017something you guys are ready to appoint today, that can just get pushed to the January 20th meeting because it doesn't look like um everyone has seen that. Um, but I would definitely recommend we get that done on January 20th. Um, with those advisory committees continuously meeting. We can still meet and conduct those meetings as we've been doing. Um, but we definitely want to make sure one of you is representing on each of those committees. Hearing that, I resend my motion. >> All right. Next up is additional citizen appointments to the advisory committee. >> Mr. Cruso, can we make sure we do that correctly, Mrs. Jordan? Because there was a motion on the table. >> And I do want to confirm, was that motion seconded, >> Mr. Bell? >> Okay. So, since it was seconded, it
018it's an active motion. It's we would have to do um I think the most efficient way is to have uh is to move forward with a vote on the motion, but what everyone would want to do would be oppose the motion. you don't want to approve at this time. So, you would oppose the motion. That would just be the most efficient way to move forward with the motion that's on on the floor. >> Thank you. >> All those in favor? >> Do I have any opposed? >> Name. >> All right. Motion fails. All right. Then we have the additional citizen appointments to the advisory committees. Do I have a motion? >> Yes, this was in board docs. >> Yeah, that's what I thought. Okay, I must >> uh madam chair, I make a motion to
019uh appoint the cit to for the citizen appointments to the advisory committees. >> Second. >> Motion has been properly moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Nay. >> Motion passes. >> Next up is the appointment of the clerk and deputy clerks. Can I get a motion to approve Nina DeSantis as clerk and Katherine Joll, Whitney Scrugs, and Tracy Writtenauour as deputy clerks? Madam chair, I move that we approve all of those wonderful ladies for their appoint the positions that you mentioned. >> Second. >> The motion has been properly moved and seconded. Any discussion? >> All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion passes. [clears throat] Next, we have the approval of the fiscal agent and deputy fiscal agent. Do I
020have a motion? >> Madame Chair, I would like to make a motion for the appointment of the fiscal agent and the deputy fiscal agent. >> Second. >> Motion has been moved and properly seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Next is the approval of the superintendent design. Do I have a motion? >> Madame chair, I would like to make a motion for the appointment of the superintendent design. >> Second. >> Motion has been moved and properly seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Next up on the agenda is the approval of the superintendent's VDOE design. Do I have a motion? >> Madame Chair, I make a motion to for the appointment of the
021superintendent's VDOE designate. >> Second. >> Motion has been made and properly seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Last but not least is the approval of the FOYA officers. Do I have a motion? >> Madame Chair, I would like to make a motion for the appointment of the FOYA officers. >> Second. >> Motion has been moved and properly seconded. Any discussion? >> All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Do we have any board member comments? >> Madame Chair, if I may. >> Uh, thank you very much. Uh, first of all, uh, I want to say congratulations to our new board members. Welcome to the board. Uh, congratulations to Ms. Caruso for being nominated and chosen for the chair.
022And congratulations to Mr. North for being nominated and chosen as the vice chair. Um, you have my undying and full support in both of those roles. and anything you need from me I am happy to give. Um this is pretty much folks how the sausage gets made for those that are watching. Um we basically go through this every year and we make these appointments. The committee appointments are made solely by the chair of the uh com of the board and through discussion with different members of the board and it's a good process that we have and we have to trust that process. So, I think moving forward, we're we're putting a good foot forward. And I just want to thank everyone uh for being here tonight. And again, thank you uh oh, I actually I
023want to say thank you to Miss Klein for nominating me. I appreciate that your kind words. Um and then uh finally, I want to say thank you to uh Mr. Sturdivan for leading us through the first two years of my term and getting done what we've been able to get done. Um thank you very much, sir. I appreciate the work and uh effort that you put into that position. All right. No more. Okay. Again, I I sincerely thank all of you for believing in me and I hope to live up to that vote of confidence. I I really do. um this means a lot to all of us and I'm just here to make us look good hopefully and um lead with integrity, transparency and professionalism and I hope to deliver that to Frederick County.
024Um and I sincerely do appreciate Mr. Surivan's leadership and I his passion um that is something that we can all um look up to. So, I I really appreciate I also intend to lead lean heavily on all of you to help me through this. So, thank you. Any other board comments? Okay. All right. We do have uh one announcement. Our next school board meeting will be January 2026. Do I have a motion for adjournment? >> Madam Chair, I move that we adjourn the meeting. >> Second. >> Motion has been made and properly seconded. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. We are adjourned.