001Good evening. The date is September 16th, 2025. The time is 1,800 hours. I'd like to call the Frederick County School Board meeting to order. We have an agenda before us. Do I have a motion for approval? >> Mr. Chair, I move that we approve the agenda as set before us. Second. >> Motion has been made and has been properly seconded. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed? We have an agenda. Madame vice chair. What is the pleasure of the board? >> Mr. Chair, I move that the county school board of Frederick County, Virginia enter a close session meeting for the following. to review and discuss appointments, administrative leave, dismissals, resignations, support staff, hires, substitutes, tutors, and volunteers pursuant to Virginia Code section
0022.2-3711, paragraph A.1 and to review and discuss individual student matters that would involve specific students and particular information contained in their scholastic records pursuant to Virginia code section 2.2-3711 2-3711 A.1 and for conclude cons consultation with legal counsel regarding probable litigation related to a student matter pursuant to Virginia code section 2.2-3711 paragraph A.7. >> We have a motion to go into closed session. >> Second. >> And we have now a second. Do we have any discussion >> hearing? None. >> Excuse me, Mr. Chair. >> Yes, ma'am. I'm so sorry, but the section regarding student matters, that should actually be a.2, >> not a.1. >> Okay. >> Um, since there is a second, >> would you like me to amend the main motion? Make a motion to amend the main motion. >> Yes, that would be
003great. >> U Mr. Chair, I move that we I would like to make a motion to amend the main motion. >> Second. >> And I'd like to Oh, and then we need a vote on that. >> Okay. So there is a motion on the floor to amend the >> main motion. So it has been properly seconded. Is there any discussion on that? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> Any opposed? >> All right. So now we are going to amend that first motion. >> Mr. Chair, I amend the motion to read for the second reason for close session. It will now read to review and discuss individual student matters that would involve specific students and particular information contained in their scholastic records pursuant to Virginia Code section 2.2-3711 paragraph A.2. And
004madame parliamentarian if you don't mind double-checking that. Did I say that correctly? >> Okay. >> A.2. Okay. Great. >> All right. Motion has been made. >> Second. >> Now it has been seconded. Any discussion hearing? None. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? We are now in close session. >> Madame vice chair, what's the pleasure of the board? >> Mr. Chair, I move that we reconvene from close session. >> Second. We have a motion to return from close session and it has been properly seconded. Is there any discussion hearing? None. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> And Mr. Chair, I move that to the best of each board member's knowledge only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under the Virginia
005Freedom of Information Act were discussed in the closed session and only such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which the closed session was convened were heard, discussed or considered by the school board. >> Second. We have a motion has been properly seconded. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, madame clerk, call the role. >> Miss Martin, >> here. >> Mrs. Caruso, >> I. >> Mr. Bell, >> I. >> Mrs. Sturdivvent. >> Yeah. I >> Mrs. Klene, >> I. >> Dr. Erskin, >> I. >> Mr. Atkins, >> I. >> All right, that passes. >> And Mr. Chair, uh, there is one motion out of close session. I move that the board approve the personal actions as recommended by the superintendent. Second. >> Motion has been made, properly seconded. Is there any discussion? Hearing
006none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? That motion carries. All right. So, that's done. All right. I am going to ask you that you would please join us in a moment of silence this evening. Um before we do that, um I'm going to dedicate this moment of silence to one of my former employees from the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center, Margaret Diane Smith, who passed away last week. She served the uh citizens of Frederick County for uh 20 years and retired. And uh Mr. Bell would like to dedicate part of this moment of silence for the uh students and families at Brown University. So, if you would just join us in a uh moment of silence, please Thank you for that. Um, at this time we're going to
007uh I'm going to ask you to stand and recite the pledge of allegiance with us tonight. Um, we're going to be led in that pledge by Kennedy Spade, uh, Brena Brianna Carp. I can't even Rihanna Corbin and Claire Kefir. >> Sorry about that, ladies. >> I 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 for all. All right. Next is the consent agenda. Do I have a motion to approve said consent agenda? >> Mr. Chair, I move that we approve the consent agenda. >> Second. >> We have a motion to approve. Excuse me. And it has been properly seconded. Is there any discussion? hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any
008opposed. We have a consent agenda. Okay. So, next on our item is student and staff recognition. Tonight, we have the great pleasure to enjoy our student showcase presented to us by the small jazz ensemble from Jameswood High School. Are we going to do this one at a time or? >> Um, so what we're going to do is we're going to go sit down there. They're going to come up here and then once they're done, we'll come up and then we'll finish the rest of >> I don't get to stay up here and sing. >> Um, you can if you want to. >> All right. Say a prayer for Heat. Heat. Down. Yeah. Good evening, folks. >> Thank you so much for having us tonight. This is the Jameswood High School Little Big Band. Heat. Hey.
009Hey. Hey. Bat down. Come on. Hey. Hey. Heat. Heat. Hey. Hey. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Thank you so much for having us. Don't touch my All right. So, next. Oh, well, I'm not much a drummer. I was a guitar player. So, up next, I will uh turn it over to our fabulous superintendent. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. What an outstanding performance. Can we give them a little round of applause, please? I know they're out there in the hallway. That is what it's all about, our amazing students. So, thank you board for allowing us to do that and provide you guys with a little treat. Um, so we're going to keep the celebrations going. So, good evening and welcome everyone to our awards of excellence program. Before we proceed, I would like to ask that
010everyone stay here through the entire program out of respect for each individual or in this case team who is being recognized this evening. Uh once we've completed all of the presentations, you will have an opportunity to leave and enjoy the rest of your evening. In addition, in this case, so when you guys come forward to get your certificate, please stay up here because we'll take individual photos and then a team photo with Mr. Sturdivan and myself. So with that, Mr. Sturdivan, if we can head on down. Thank you. >> All right. In November, the Jameswood High School volleyball team traveled to Petersburg. Virginia to play Lowden County High School in the VHSL class 4 state championship. The team defeated Lowden County to become the Class 4 State Champions. The Colonels set a program record for
011wins and are the first Frederick County team in any sport with four straight state titles. Congratulations First up, Kennedy Spade. >> Kylie Plum Kyla Wilhelm. Kylie Bllye, Bella Middleton. Macy Huitt, Brena Corbin, Claire Kefir, head coach Adrien Patrick, Assistant Coach Brandy Corbin, manager Ethan Mononttoya. Manager Fielding Conway. >> Yes. Hey, see you next year. Oh, break my neck. All right, that concludes that portion. Um, before you all take off, I I just want to say I I thoroughly enjoyed the band. It was fantastic. It was awesome. There are some things that go along with being a school board member, as some of these fine folk up here can attest to, that aren't a good thing. But the good thing is we get to see those types of things, the band. And me personally, and I
012know I've said this a billion times, I'm sure they're tired of hearing me talk about them, but I I want to commend these girls cuz I I met them at the Stuff the Bus. Um mo the most decent group of girls I've ever met. The coaches were fantastic. Um Miss Kefir there, the first game I attended, she's all the way on the other side of the gym. I was sitting on in the bleachers. She comes running all the way over to thank me to come into the game. I mean, that's just how they are. And through this whole process, they've just been fantastic. Never gave up, never quit. And it's just been a pleasure to watch volleyball. I'm I'm telling you, I just hope good things for all y'all. But it's been a great pleasure
013to meet you and know you and to watch and I enjoyed every minute of it. So, thank you. And uh with that said, if all y'all anyone wants to leave, feel free at this time. And then those that want to stay, we'll continue when everything quiets down. >> Oh, everybody stay. Let's go. Next up is citizen comments. Frederick County School Board is pleased to receive public comments at each monthly meeting from members of the public, which include residents of Frederick County, uh, including residents of city of Winchester, FCPS students, parents, and legal guardians of FCPS students, FCPS employees, and businesses located within within Frederick County, Virginia. Individuals speaking to the board will be allotted three minutes. Those individuals representing groups or organizations will be allotted five minutes with one representative per group. Upon recognition by
014the chair, a speaker should approach the lectern to speak to the school board. Members of the audience and speakers are expected to be courteous to others and model for students how to respectfully participate in public meetings by speaking and behaving in such a manner that adheres to the FCPS code of student conduct. Complaints regarding FCPS employees should be first submitted to the school principal or to the school board office. Uh complaints regarding individual students should be submitted to the school principal or the appropriate school official. The school board is committed to showing respect and courtesy to all citizens. Comments that are not protected under the first amendment of the United States Constitution will not be tolerated. This includes comments that are vulgar, obscene, threatening, and comments that are intended to incite violence or other breaches
015of the peace. Members of the audience are not permitted to interrupt the speaker or meeting by asking questions or making comments. Signs, posters, placards, banners, or objects or like objects are permitted into the school board's meeting, but only if the individual possessing such items remain in the back of the room so as not to restrict the view of those attending the meeting in person. Violation of the guidelines will result in the chair ruling the speaker out of order. Continued violation may result in removal from the premises. The chair has a discretion concerning participation at schoolboard meetings. Schoolboard meetings are tape recorded for the purpose of clarification and the development of official minutes. First person uh to speak is JR Gibson. How are you guys doing today? >> Good. >> So, I'm representing an organization as
016well. >> Who's the organization? >> Willie Walters Youth Wrestling Club. >> Got you on for five. >> Thank you. Um, as I stated, I'm here on behalf of Willie Walters Youth Wrestling Club. Uh we are a nonprofit organization that has been part of Frederick County for over 50 years. We were supposed to have our largest fundraising tournament this past Sunday at Shando High School. Unfortunately, we got a call Saturday at 9:30 at night stating that we're not going to be able to host our tournament because the school is closing due to forecasted weather. As a club, we fully understand safety is paramount, but there was no use of county vehicles. Um, it turned out that the janitorial staff was at the school Sunday at 7:00 a.m. anyway. Um, the late notification gave us zero time
017to find a different location. In the grand scheme of things, that cost our club over $10,000 in registration fees. To refund registration fees, we had to pay $750 out of our club funds to do that. We're out over $2,000 on awards that we had for all participants. But more importantly, it impacted 450 wrestlers from Maryland, Central Virginia, West Virginia, and probably more importantly, Frederick County, Frederick County itself. We asked numerous times if we could delay the closing announcement until Sunday morning at at least 5:00 a.m. According to the weather, if it did snow, it was supposed to stop around 3:00 a.m. All it would have taken was someone to wake up at 4:45, look outside. If the roads are terrible, you cancel. Everyone understands. There's no hard feelings there. Instead, we had no chance to
018reschedule our tournament, our largest and only real fundraiser of the season for a nonprofit club. So, not only did it impact 450 wrestlers, youth wrestlers, it also has a direct impact on Frederick County Public Schools, because at the end of our year, based on how much we raise from the different fundraisers we do, mainly the tournament on Sunday, we donate money back to Frederick County schools, in particular, the middle schools for their wrestling program. Last year alone, we donated $8,000 amongst the four schools, resulting in new singlets, new mats, um new headgear, whatever whatever the wrestling programs could need. We were able to donate and help with that. I'm not here to cause animosity or ruin the bridges that have or burn the bridges that have been built. I'm here to make it known to
019the board and the public the impact it had on Frederick County itself. All we as a club are asking is that accountability is taken. That someone on the board say, "Hey, we made a rash decision. We decided to close the schools too soon, right?" And making a public apology because as an organization, as a club, we took the brunt of that cancellation because there was no official notice put out through Frederick County Public Schools that the tournament was canceled. So, we were getting comments, texts, emails, phone calls left and right from participants wondering why we canceled, especially when there was no official notification put out. Again, we understand safety is paramount, right? Wrestling families are different. They understand that their sport takes place in the winter. Parents, as parents, right, it is our job to
020determine, is it safe for us to drive and risk going to this tournament. We didn't give parents the opportunity to do that. No Frederick County transportation was needed. The gym was already set up. We had five mats and three scales set up at Sharando High School along with numerous donations that were dropped off the night on Saturday by parents and community members. So again, that's all we're asking is someone take accountability, admit that a mistake was made so that this doesn't happen in the future. Thank you. Uh, Ashley Lasco. Hi. All right. Good evening, guys. Thank you for allowing me to speak tonight. My name is Ashley Lasco. I have three children in Frederick County schools and they're also on the Willie Walters Wrestling Club. I'm here to speak to you tonight about the premature
021cancellation of the activities on Sunday. Um, our wrestling club, as you know, was set to host our biggest fundraiser and it was canceled due to the possibility of the bad weather. And I want to be clear that I completely understand that the safety of our children, that is all of our number one priority. Um, but I want to talk about something else tonight. And that is the importance of preparing our children for real life. And um, I'm a parent of what many would call like old school kids. They're wild and crazy. They play outside. They climb trees to the tippy tops. They make their own jumps for their bikes. They're taking risk. And it makes most people nervous. But what I see is they're learning the ability to ac assess risk for themselves. and they
022gain confidence and learn so much more that they would if they didn't do those things. And you know, growth doesn't come from avoiding every possible risk. It comes from learning how to face our challenges and move forward anyway. So when we remove those challenges, it's that something might go wrong. We actually hurt our children more than help them. And that's why wrestling matters and this tournament matters so much more. Wrestling teaches our kids how to endure discomfort, handle failure, and keep going when quitting feels easy. Um, do they fight or do they just give up? And that's lessons that they would have learned on Sunday. I myself was a division one athlete and I can honestly say that wrestling it instills resilience, accountability, and mental toughness. And these kids, they understand that. That's the path
023that they chose. That's why this decision to close so prematurely matters. When schools close before conditions actually presented themselves, we unend unintentionally sent the message to those kids that discomfort should be avoided and opportunity should come second to fear. This Sunday, there was no accumulation of snow or ice. Conditions were safe and a tournament students were worked incredibly hard for was lost. I'm not asking for recklessness. I'm asking for balance and for real time decisionmaking with this going forward in the future. Our children don't need to be protected from every hard thing. They need to be prepared for life and that cancellation or this past cancellation was something that kept them from becoming better adults this weekend. Thank you for your time. Rebecca Regger. Hey, I am Becky Ragger from Gainesboro. First of all, I
024wanted to say Daryl, I haven't forgotten about the bookshelves for I have forgotten until I walked in here. Um, I am just here to say as a parent of children that went to and are still going to Jameswood High School, uh, I would like to see the incoming board worry more about the people that they're hiring than the books that are on our shelves because I feel like every time we turn around, there's another notice and we know exactly what it is. And this last time hit close to home with my middle son uh who was on the group that was affected. And we don't all know all the information. I know you can't talk about that, but it's beginning to get to the point that I don't I don't trust this school or this
025board. My son is going because he's asked to. My youngest will not be attending FCPS. I'm sorry. Uh but we need to do a better job at protecting our children. Um like these parents said, life can be hard. So, you're gonna read hard stuff sometimes, but when we have actual predators in our school and our school board continues to go, but it's the books, it's concerning as a parent and um it's really upsetting. So, uh just hope the incoming board thinks more about our kids than the cultural correctness of book banning or book removal, whatever you want to call it. Thank you, >> Mr. Dunn. Good evening. I'm Blaine Dunn from Redbud. Um, this has been a long year. So, Mr. Chairman, thank you for the jobs that you've done over the last year. I
026know it's been a little bit rough in the beginning of the year. Things have improved dramatically. So, thank you very much for that. I'd like to talk about just two things. I sent you all an email. The email talked about knowledge of US history. When you get out of high school, you're gonna have to be able you're gonna have the opportunity to vote. If you're going to make a vote, you ought to know about the background of this country. And the article said basically that most people do not have a good grasp of US history. I don't know how Frederick County stands, but I would encourage you all to take the test that I was sent to you and see how Frederick County stands and see where you stand. And you want to get at
027least a B, not a C. Because if you're going to cast a vote, you ought to know the background of a vote, why you want to vote for or against a particular position, and know the history. This country has 250 years of history, so I would just strongly encourage you to go and take the um test that was given and see how you all stand. The second thing I like to do is I am a resident of Redbud. Dr. Erskin, I want to thank you for your service. I think the red bud has been well served by your contributions to the board. Um I think they're going to miss you when they leave, but I really really do think and appreciate your service. For the rest of you, the same. But Dr. Erskin, thank you
028very much. Appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> All right. Uh Dr. Hummer, um next is your uh superintendent report. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, so first I want to give a another huge thank you to not only our Jameswood High School students, but for the reception that we had for our three board members coming off. We had some amazing students come over from Shirando and perform a little chorus concert for us and they did an outstanding job. We're very, very proud of all the hard work that they do. And I've made it out to to numerous concerts and ensembles I do every year and we have just such extremely talented students. things that that we were talking that we can't even do back then and even today. So, we're just very
029very impressed with all the work that they do. Their dedication, their energy is just contagious and they always do amazing work. And another big round of applause for our Jameswood volleyball players for going on four years in a row. And if you all remember, we were actually next door when we congratulated them on three. And what did I say? We're going for number four. And look what they did. So, we're going for number five. and uh hopefully that that continues and just very very impressed with the progression they've made as amazing athletes and students and uh we're looking forward to that that continuing every single year. So congrats to them. I also want to give a big congratulations to a momentous opportunity for us with our two student reps which we're going to be announcing
030your bios here very very shortly. But I want to thank the school board for allowing us to do this because student voice is so important and it's why we do what we do and we are looking forward to what you can do for us and just keep this ball rolling. So thank you Gavin. Thank you Isabelle. We're looking forward to all the hard work that you're going to do on the school board and thanks to the families as well. So looking forward to those next steps. I also want to give a huge shout out to all of our staff, to the finance department, to the building level admins, to our students, to our school board, to the board of supervisors, was m Mr. Dunn here, as they have contributed to the building of our FY27
031budget. We are at the initial stages of that, but we still have a lot of work to accomplish. But as we continue to work through our needs, I encourage everyone to please stay tuned this budget season because we have a lot of challenges that we have to overcome and we have a lot of needs and these are things that I want to make sure that everybody is aware of our needs so that we can continue to provide for our amazing students while we continue to meet the needs of our staff as well. So, a lot of work that's going to be going into that. So, I just want to make sure that everybody knows we are going to fight extra hard for every penny for every student, every staff member. I know we have support
032from this board and the and the and the board coming as well as our board of supervisors and we're looking forward to those conversations. So, thank you everybody for all of that that hard work. So, next up, I I have a a mixed emotions statement here, and I just thank you for this opportunity for sharing this, but I I want to take a few moments to thank, acknowledge, and appreciate the the extremely hard work from Mr. Atkins, Dr. Erskin, and Mrs. Martin. Um, being a school board member is a very, very hard task. There is a lot of work. There is a lot of sacrifice. There's a lot of opinions thrown at you. and you all do it keeping the students first every single day and I thank you for that. Um it is a
033thankless position and and every day there's a lot of pressure for you all to perform and do what's best for our students and our community and that requires a lot of time and energy and we greatly appreciate that time and energy. Um your time and commitment does not go unnoticed and we thank you for that time because that will go on forever. You are remembered forever as a school board member and I thank you so much for that. Your passion for students, your questions, your ideas, all will be truly missed. Now, we've not always agreed, but we've always respected each other and we have always walked away understanding where each of us stood. And at the end of the day, you all are my boss. and I greatly appreciate you allowing us to have conversations
034to do what's best for our students and continue to bring the great things into this school division. So, I want to thank you for that. Mr. Atkins, you are a man of many, many words, but you always always do what's best for our students, and that is always been unwavering, and I cannot thank you for that from the bottom of my heart. >> Thank you, >> Mrs. Martin for your always thinking outside of the box and challenging us every day to be better and I greatly appreciate you incessantly doing that every single day. Thank you, Mrs. Martin. And of course, last but not least, but but Dr. Erskin um for your depth look at everything we do every day and you always end it with how are we doing this best for students and what
035are we doing for our staff and you never failed at saying that after every conversation and I greatly appreciate your time and energy and dedication to this school division. So, with that being said, I know that you all each will be supporting us from afar. And I offer this to every board member, current and now, uh, or previous, is that I'm always a phone call away. Um, and I always want to stay connected. And this is something we started two years ago in showing our appreciation. We have a few gifts for you. One of the gifts was actually made from our amazing students at Dow J. We also have a little picture frame here, and I have a card that I wrote for you guys as well. So, if I can have each of you
036come down. We're going to take some big pictures. And please everybody let let's give them a round of applause for their dedication, time, and energy to this amazing school division. So, here's the the frame that our students made and they made this by their hand. So, again, amazing things that our students do. So, first up, we have Mrs. Martin. You come on over here. We'll take a picture. >> Next up, we have Mr. Atkins. Congratulations, sir. >> Lasts. >> All right. It's really special. >> Yep. And you also get to take this picture with you so you can hang it on your wall, right? And that will stay. We do a group photo. >> Gotcha. Thank you all. Okay. Next, I I want to take a moment um to to address some some reach recent
037and unfortunate personnel matters uh that you all may have heard about through division communications or the news media. When I joined this amazing school division just three years ago, I promised to always keep our students first. I remain wholly committed to that promise. I along with this school board continue to uphold the division's high expectations for staff and other employees so that we can continue providing our students with consistent excellent programming. Our students deserve nothing less. Nothing less. Part of establishing and enforcing these high professional expectation involves our schoolboard boundary policies and holding staff accountable without exception when staff violate these policies. I want to be abundantly clear. FCPS does not tolerate the behavior that jeopardizes student safety or gives the appearance of impropriy. There is no excuse. I'm grateful for our dedicated staff that
038hold true to our students, our school division's core values of being child- centered, compassionate, committed, collaborative, and conscientious, as well as dedicating their hard work, time, and efforts to make FCPS the best that it can be. I endlessly pledge to support our staff in our comprehensive efforts to protect and serve every student that enters our school buildings. I greatly appreciate the comm community support even during these challenging moments and humbly humbly request that all students, parents, and staff members continue to report to us any concerns that they may have. And with that, I do hope that everyone has a extremely restful and enjoyable winter holiday break with friends, family to recharge and get ready for another outstanding last half of the year. We're looking forward to what our students and staff can accomplish and all
039the great things that I know this exceptional school division can contribute. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And that is all I have. There is no unfinished business tonight, so we will move on to the new business at hand. First, we will have the personnel committee report by Mr. Bell. Thank you, Mr. Chair. A meeting of the personnel committee of the Frederick County School Board was held on December 1st, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 4:35 p.m. and a copy of the minutes has been provided to each board member. During the meeting, Ms. Campbell gave a staffing update which included professional vacancies FY26, teacher vacancies by content FY26, teacher vacancies by content FY25 versus FY26, support staff vacancies FY26, support staff vacancies FY25 versus FY26, professional vacancies filled as of 11:21 2025, and the years
040of experience of new teachers. Mr. West gave a recruitment and retention update which included celebrations of recruitment efforts and recruiting plans. Miss Campbell reviewed the benefits and incentives survey and gave a human capital management system update. The meeting adjourned at 5:02 p.m. Additional details regarding the information covered at the committee meeting are included in the minutes provided to board members. Are there any questions from board members about information shared at the personnel committee meeting held on December 1st hearing? None. We do have one motion I believe coming out. I move the board approve the minutes from the personnel committee meeting held on December 1st, 2025. >> Second. Motion has been made and properly seconded. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion
041carries. >> Next. Go ahead. >> I'm sorry. Next, we have the instruction committee report with Mr. Bell as well. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. A meeting of the instruction committee of the Frederick County School Board was held on December 1st, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 5:31 p.m. and a copy of the minutes has been provided to each board member. During the meeting, Dr. Hummer reviewed the agenda. Mr. Bishop discussed the CTE pathways and partnerships as well as different programs of studies. Mr. Strong shared information regarding the secondary transition planning and Ms. Kaufman reviewed the restraint and seclusion policy. Mr. Thompson discussed the draft calendar review for SF FY2627 and school year 2728 and Ms. Knight and Dr. Hummer reviewed the school board student representative. The meeting adjourned at 6:23 p.m. Additional details
042regarding the information covered at the committee meeting are included in the minutes provided to board members. Are there any questions from board members about the information shared at the instruction committee meeting held on December 1st? All right. Hearing none, there are a few motions coming out of that committee meeting. Number one, I move the board approve the request to add the courses of aerospace technologies 1 and aerospace technologies 2 to the program of studies for the 202627 school year. >> Second. >> Nope. >> Motion has been made and >> properly seconded. Is there any discussion? >> Mr. Chair, just a comment. Um, coming from a student at Shrando High School that that I was 25 years ago that used to um, shall I say dismiss early on my own accord to go take flying lessons.
043I'd like to think of it as producing my own CTE pathway. Um, it is very very awesome to see these courses being added. So, thank you Mr. Bell for all your work on that. Um, to all the staff, Dr. Hummer, thank you. I know there was a lot of work behind the scenes to make sure that we had the funding, make sure we had everything in place. So, thank you so much for that from from a former SHS student that would have loved to have had access to these 25 years ago. Thank you. >> Uh, Mr. Chair, >> Mr. >> While I wasn't a pilot, um, I had a great career in aviation. Um, but I had to do it the hard way. I had to go through the Marine Corps first. Uh, learned my
044trade uh, there. It was a it was a great career. Took me around the world. Um, took me all over the United States. Um it's a great pathway and instead of having to join the military to do it, we can do that right here at home uh in Frederick County now. So I'm I'm glad to see our CTE courses expanding and offering more than just the typical um not saying anything bad about any other courses, but the standard course you see at any other um school. You know, we're above and beyond the tip of the spear leading the way here. So, thank you again, uh, Mr. Bell, the committee, um, and all the staff for your hard work. >> Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed?
045Passes. >> Second. Excuse me. I move the board approve the request to combine the courses of nurse aid one and nurse aid 2 for the program of studies for the 2627 school year. Second. >> Motion has been made, properly seconded. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Any oppose? Motion carries. >> Next. I move the board approve draft one for school year 2026 27 and draft one for school year 2728 as presented. This is the calendar. Second. >> Motion has been made and properly seconded. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries. >> And fourth. I'm especially proud to make this motion. I move the board appoint Mr. Gavin Flynn as
046student representative to the Frederick County School Board and appoint Miss Isabella Collageman as the alternate student representative to the Frederick County School Board to serve from January 1st, 2026 to December 31st, 2026. >> Second. >> Motion has been made and properly seconded. Is there any discussion? >> Mr. Chair, >> Mr. Well, >> um I just want to say thank you very much to Gavin and Isabella for stepping up and wanting to be a part of this crazy process and hopefully that uh in the future that you will be continually involved in whatever community that you land in because it's important to have people like yourselves to make these hard decisions that are made and to be in these thankless jobs as Dr. Hummer put it um because without it our country doesn't work. So, thank
047you so very much for doing this. >> And Mr. Chair, I have I have a request. Both Gavin and Isabella are in the audience today. Would you all mind standing up just so that we can everyone can see you and give you a round of applause. >> Thank you. Congratulations. >> Any further discussion? >> Uh Mr. Chair, I just want to say um I've seen both of these uh young students, young adults at our board meetings. It's not like they're just trying to get a feather in their cap to add something on to college. Gavin's uh been here. He's uh come up to to the dasis a couple times and had discussions with us. Isabelle, I see you out there in in the audience all the time. Um I was like, who is this who
048is this woman? Is she a reporter out here? You know who? Uh but it was uh it's it's good to see young folks stepping up in the communities and uh taking part in your own education, create your own conditions. So thank you >> indeed. And if I might add, it speaks volumes about your character, your sense of citizenship, your sense of selfworth, and you are an example to your peers. So I I thank you for stepping up. So with that said, all those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. Any opposed? Passes. >> All right, Mr. Chair, before the last motion, we have prepared their bios. So, we would like for them to come up and hear them speak. We'll speak more about you guys and then if you want to address the
049board if that's okay, Mr. Chair. All right, Miss Elcowski. >> Because we shared those. >> Oh, >> why don't you keep going and we'll find those. Go ahead. >> Okay. So, the last sorry, >> the last motion I have is I move the board approve the minutes from the instruction committee meeting held on December 1st, 2025. >> Second. >> Motion has been made. Has been properly seconded. Is there any discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Moving on, we have the buildings and grounds committee report. Mr. Atkins. Um, Mr. Chair, I thought we had the student conduct and support before, but I'm happy to go. >> It's not Oh, I did skip that. I do apologize. Let me back up then. Uh, student conduct
050and support committee report. Dr. Erskinton, I do apologize. >> No worries. Thank you, Mr. chair. A meeting of the student conduct and support committee of the Frederick County School Board was held on December the 8th, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 4:36, and a copy of the minutes has been provided to each board member. During the meeting, Mrs. Jordan gave general updates to the code of student conduct, discussed portable uh communication devices, reviewed the dress code. She also shared a bus conduct update, and discussed bullying, vaping, and next steps. The meeting adjourned at 6:19 p.m. Additional details regarding the information covered uh at the committee meeting are included in the minutes provided to board members. Are there any questions from board members about the information shared at the student conduct and support committee
051meeting held December 8th? Mr. Chairman, uh there are at least 17 motions coming out of committee and this could take up to an hour for me to re I'm just kidding. Uh there's just one um uh >> remember that part. >> I move the board I move that the board approve the minutes from the student conduct and support committee meeting held December 8th. Second >> motion has been made and has been properly seconded. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. >> Are we still searching now, >> Mr. Chair? >> Thank you. Okay, we are pleased to share that our inaugural student representatives have been selected. Student representative for the school board, Mr. Gavin Flynn is a junior at Shirando High School. He
052is heavily involved in Future Business Leaders of America, maintains a 4.0 GPA, and runs on the varsity track team. He has qualified for the national leadership conference for FBLA twice, served as a Shannondoa re regional officer for three years, and was elected to a state officer position this year. He has also served as an Hoby ambassador. Gavin has many local awards, including two Shirando Warrior Pride Awards and the business student of the year award. Gavin would like to thank his mom and dad, Amber and John Flynn, for supporting him and all of his extracurriculars and pushing him to achieve more. His FBLA adviser, Miss Sheets and Ms. Woodward for helping him learn to lead. And his teachers who helped him with his application, Miss Hamrich and Miss Roberts. Gavin Flynn is determined to foster an
053environment where every student's voice is valued and he hopes to help bring meaningful changes to the Frederick County public schools that will benefit all. Congratulations. >> Thank you so much. I'm gracious to have this opportunity from the board to help represent students. I would like to thank everyone who helped support me through the way. Like I mentioned, my mom, my dad, everyone who helped me write my application, and my FBA adviserss who truly taught me how to become a leader. I'm just truly excited to help represent students in Frederick County and try to make a measurable impact. >> That's fantastic. Thank you. >> Dad, did you want to come up and get a picture while he was still up here? You kind of deserve it. Come on. Mom, >> I'm so sorry. It's okay. It's
054okay. Android freak out when they have their hand in an Apple. The alternate student representative for the school board, Miss Isabella Collegeman, a junior at Milbrook High School. She is currently enrolled in the certified nursing assistant program through Dal J. Howard. A >> yay and plans to continue her studies next year in the patient care technician course. Committed to preparing for a future in health care, Isabella has taken meaningful steps toward her career by applying to summer enrichment opportunities, including the health and medical exploration program offered through Laurel Ridge and Valley Health. With a strong academic interest in neurossychology, Isabella is driven by a passion for understanding and supporting the well-being of others. Outside of the classroom, she devotes her time to dance and actively contributes to her school community through the National Honor Society
055and peer tutoring. Isabella extends her heartfelt grat gratitude to her parents for their unwavering support and to the many teachers who have helped her nurture her confidence throughout her educational journey. In her role as alternate representative, she hopes to champion the voices of all Frederick County Public School students and looks forward to working with the team to make a meaningful and positive impact on the student experience. Congratulations. Um, I'd like to thank the board for this opportunity to students for to help speak up for everyone. I'd like to thank my nursing teachers who are here. I didn't know they were going to come and support. And I'd like to extend my thanks to my mom who is here supporting me tonight. And I really look forward to working with all of you so that all
056students can be heard throughout Frederick County Public Schools. Thank you so much. Next is the buildings and grounds committee report with Mr. Atkins. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. A meeting of the building and grounds committee of Frederick County Public Schools was held on December 8th, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 5:38 p.m. and a copy of the minutes has been provided to each board member. During the meeting, uh Mr. Katan uh discussed the uh CAP projects update and the uh facility SWAT analysis. Mr. Shepard shared the CIP projects uh update. the fourth high school planning and design update and the Middletown Elementary School in Jordan Springs elementary school expansion. Uh Miss Anderson discussed the contract award for uh casework and milwork, the task order architecture and engineering services contract and the
057contract award for the Jameswood Middle School fire alarm replacement. The meeting adjourned at 6:13 p.m. Additional details regarding the committee meeting were included in the minutes provided to board members. Do board members have any questions about what was covered at the building and grounds committee meeting held on December 8th? All right. Hearing none, there are several motions. All right, Mr. Chair. First, I move that the board approve the contract award to Neielson Builders, Inc. for the Jordan Springs Elementary School expansion project in the amount of 12 million 93,429. >> Second. >> Motion has been made and has been properly seconded. Is there any discussion hearing? None. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? That motion carries. Mr. Chair. Next, I move the board approve the contract award to Diversified
058Education Systems, Inc. for Jordan Springs Elementary uh mil ah Jordan Springs Elementary mil work and casework in the amount of uh $265,215. >> Second. >> Motion has been made and properly seconded. Is there any discussion? >> Uh Mr. Chair, I just want to go back and look at something real quick before we vote on that. I'm good. I just want to make sure my minutes added up. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> That motion carries. >> All right. Next, Mr. Mr. Chair, I move that the board approve the contract award to Alpha Corporation for Task Order Architecture and Engineering Services in the amount not to exceed $350,000 for a single project and for the total amount not to exceed $10
059million in a contract term. >> Second. >> Motion has been made and has been properly seconded. Is there any discussion hearing? None. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries. >> Mr. Chair, next I move that the board approve the contract award to Patriot Fire and Security LLC for the Jameswood Middle School Fire Alarm Replacement in the amount of $347,330. >> Second. >> Motion has been made and properly seconded. Is there any discussion? hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. >> All right, Mr. Chair. Lastly, I move that the board approve the minutes from the building and grounds committee meeting held on December 8th, 2025. >> Second. >> Motion has been made and has been properly seconded. Is
060there any discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Next is the finance committee report by Ms. Klene. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. A meeting of the finance committee of the Frederick County School Board was held on December 11th, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 4:41 p.m. and a copy of the minutes has been provided to each board member. During the meeting, Mrs. Cybert reviewed the fall internal audit results and Mrs. Anderson gave a fiscal year 2026 financial update and discussed the local composite index LCI changes. Mrs. Knight and Mrs. Unhawk, did I get that correct? Mrs. Unhawk. Okay, excellent. Mrs. Unhawk uh shared the staffing standards changes and Mrs. Swagger reviewed the contract award for the Lexia Core 5 reading and Lexia Power
061up literacy. The meeting adjourned at 5:22 p.m. Additional details regarding the information covered at the finance committee meeting are included in the minutes provided to board members. Are there any questions from board members about the information shared at the finance committee meeting held on December 11th, 2025? All right, seeing none, we do have a few motions coming out of that meeting. I move the board approve the staffing standard ration changes as presented. >> Second. >> Motion has been made and properly seconded. Is there any discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. >> Second motion. I move the board approve the contract award to Lexia Learning in the amount of $355,356.25. Second. >> Motion has been made and properly seconded. Is there any discussion?
062Hearing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> Any opposed? >> That motion carries. >> And finally, Mr. Chair, I move the board approve the minutes from the FIN finance committee meeting held on December 11th, 2025. >> Second. Motion has been made and properly seconded. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed. Next on the agenda is board member comments. And I know there's no board members that have any comments tonight, is there? >> Mr. Chair, Mr. Bell. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, first, uh, thank you very much for, um, well, I guess I'll start I'll start at the bottom of my list. Um, Dr. Erskin, Mr. Atkins, Miss Martin, it has been it is it has been my extreme pleasure
063to work to have worked with you on this board uh these past two years. Um I've learned a great deal from each and every one of you. And again, while we may not have always agreed, uh we have always respected one another's opinions and you've listened to mine and I've listened to yours and I truly appreciate that. Um so, thank you so very much. Um, I've enjoyed getting to know each of you even more so on a personal level and I will miss all three of you. Um, and hopefully we can remain in touch with one another. So, thank you very very much. And, uh, I'd also like to, and I know he's in the audience, call out Blaine Dunn. Um, Mr. Dunn has served Redbud District for a number of years as the uh
064board of supervisor and this is he's also uh finished his term this year and I'd like to thank him for his service um for also u answering questions that I may have had making me think a little bit deeper on certain things and always questioning the numbers. Um I truly appreciate that. I re I've really enjoyed working with him the few times that we've had an opportunity to and the discussions that we had. Uh so thank you uh Mr. Dunn. Um then I'll go back up to the top um from the citizen comments. Um Mr. Gibson and Miss Lasco um from the Willie Walters Club, the wrestling club, the nonprofit that spoke about their tournament being uh cancelled. Um, while I can't change what happened in the past, I can only say that I am
065I am truly sorry that this tournament was cancelled and you weren't able to fulfill your fundraising goal with what you had hoped to do. Um, as for uh the reasons behind it, that's certainly something that uh our board can discuss and we can discuss with Dr. Hummer and perhaps figure out um a better way if there is a better way. There's always an opportunity to make things better. So, Mr. Gibson um and Miss Lazco um I am sorry and I am sorry for the the to the children who uh were not able to fulfill uh their wrestling abilities on that day. Um I hope that there is a way that we can help in the future if if at all. Um, Miss Rager, uh, thank you for your comments. Um, I certainly agree. I I
066wish it were as easy as, uh, doing what we already do. Um, I know that all of us are confounded by what's happened. Um, and we certainly are trying to figure out a better way forward so that we can prevent this from happening again because there's no excuse for it. I have my own personal opinion on what should happen to people who do this, but I shant. >> But shepherd. >> Um, and then uh I'd also actually like to back up and uh go back to uh the the folks on the board. One of the uh one of the things that I've always fought for since I came onto the to the board is the C and that's providing breakfast and lunch for no charge to our students in all of our schools and I
067fought tooth and nail for it. Um, and it's something that is near and dear to my heart. And I have to say that, you know, with a new board coming on, I don't know where they stand on it, but I can honestly say that with the members of our old of this current board, we were positioned to add this to our budget and to move forward and pass it on to the board of supervisors with a majority agreeing to move it forward. And that's progress in my opinion. Now, not everyone agreed on this board and there may not be everyone in the community that agrees, but I believe wholeheartedly that it's the right thing to do, especially in the times that we find ourselves in. So, with that, I thank you, Mr. Chair, and I'm
068finished for the evening. >> Minister Atkins, you already know it. Um, I'd like to thank the folks of uh Shauny District for electing me to this position. Um, it's been a wild ride. Um, you know, mostly my doing. Um, with with some hiccups along the road, but bumpy roads um are challenging roads and you only get get better uh every day. Um, I want to say thank you to uh Mr. North uh Miss Dodie back there and Mr. Grassmuck uh for taking the time to run for Shaunie district. Um you don't see too many folks that that want to step up and actually get into this. Um it's it was described earlier as a thankless job. There's a lot of things in this job. Um, you get to you get to work with families that
069are having an issue with their student, um, having an issue with the school and you get to help be part of the solution. You get to help resolve all that um, to the best of your ability. Sometimes it doesn't work out. Um, but a lot of times we can come to a common ground and do what's best for that student. And um, to me that's that's been the best part about being on this board. Um, to the staff, thank you. Um there's there's been some uh times where I've had to lean on you guys and you guys have uh really stepped up to answer questions. Um to my superheroes um Amy, Nina, and Catherine always keeping me straight. Get it out of the way. All right. Um, I really appreciate everything you guys have done.
070Um, you know, keeping me on time places, letting me know at the last minute, hey, where are you? Um, I'll scramble to get there. Um, uh, you know, to my fellow board members, uh, there's been there's been times where people say that we fight up here. I don't see it. Um, we might have arguments. Um, I know Daryl and I argued about C. Um, but it it's those kind of arguments. What kind of a boring world would it be if we all agreed? um having those arguments is is critical, you know, up here on those board on this board so you can actually think through the problems. Um it's it's just been great. Um learning from every one of you guys. Um different challenges, a lot of different personalities. Even when you think you agree
071with somebody, nobody agrees fully. Um and you know, it's all about making the best argument to present your case. Um, Dr. Hummer, man, I hope this friendship keeps going on. Um, been a hell of a mentor. Um, we've got a lot lot done in the uh past four years. Who who ever excuse me, who ever thought I'd make it through a meeting without coughing, but um, who ever thought we'd get this fourth high school going? You know what a relief to the pressures in the classroom that the teachers face every day to our students who can get a quality education because not that they don't already get it but you know being packed in one room with 30 students teachers got to try to manage that. Now these kids can get more one-on-one attention. Um,
072you know, look how far the CTE program has gotten in these in this past four years. Um, the the folks over at Dow J, hats off to y'all. Every day just crushing it. Um, I can say this since it's my last day on the board. Um, >> pro. Yeah, till the 31st. Um, but that's got to be my favorite school of all. Um the kids over there, they're just passionate about everything they do. Um not not discounting uh the other three high schools, but it's Dow J is just something special. Um well, I'm done. >> Mr. Chair, may I? Um, so I do want to say something that you know um about the exiting board members and you know what a lot of the public doesn't get to see is that like there are great
073attributes up here and and not not exactly what you hear. And while I may not agree with you know everything um Mr. Mr. Miles. Um, the educators talk really positively about you. When I go into the schools, they're like, "You're present." And you have a conversation with Mile, he's Miles, he looks you in the eye and he's listening and he's receptive to what you're saying and listens. And I think that's a really important attribute. Um, it'd be easy to say a lot of other things. Um, and Dr. Erskin, I love the way you talk about your children and your wife. I hope my husband talks about me like that when I'm not around. Um, and I was privileged enough to have a great conversation with your mother. So, um, I I just I think that
074says a lot. And Miss Linda, I'm really fond of of how you always talk about your children and your grandchildren and your puppies. And um, Miss Linda notices everything everything. Um, and she's she's quite funny, too. So, um I'm I'm going to miss um having you all on the board. I do want to address um the gentleman and um mother that were here with uh Willie Walters wrestling program. I'm familiar with the program because my brother-in-law used to wrestle and came up through the Willie Walters program. So, I understand um the prep for tournaments as a parent um doing club. There's a lot that goes into preparing for a tournament weekend, but also the athletes of a of a wrestling program. They're fasting. Um they are they are pu pushing their bodies to the limit
075to get prepared for these tournaments. And I hear what you say about accountability. Um the gentleman's left now, but um yeah, I personally will take that as an action item to review the policies and procedures that go into place um to make those determinations because I think that our community and the children that we serve um with the use of these uh facilities um deserve at least, you know, us reviewing that. Um and I agree with Miss Rager. Um, we always need to start, you know, continue talking about, you know, the flaws that are happening in our schools and and I I we we can all do better and especially with the communication that goes out to families and to the students so that we can, you know, get the messaging out what's okay and
076what's not okay and and I think there's work to be done there, too. So, um, thank you for letting me speak, >> Mr. Chair. I may. So to Miles, to Linda, and to Brian, um Miles and Linda, I'll start with you two first. Uh you two kept me out of the weeds during my first few months um sitting at this deis. So thank you both so much for uh educating me about what it is like to be up here because you think you have one idea of how it goes and then you actually sit here and you have this view and all the lights are on you and it is a whole different ballgame. So many thanks to you both for helping keep me in line and helping me out in that way. And Dr.
077Erskin, I have learned so much about I've learned so much about education in general, just in the seats, but then having your knowledge and and dare I say exterior knowledge from FCPS, always having that outside knowledge looking in and being able to give perspective and helping me understand things much better. I just value that so much. And I know we see each other occasionally outside of this arena, too. I hope that continues. And that same for you, Miles, and same for you, Linda. Please don't lose touch. Um, I gained so much just I've grew so so much from all three of you pouring into me. So, thank you for that. Um, on to the citizen comments. I I just wish I could say I could copy exactly what has already been said, but I'll just
078recap. Uh, to Mr. Gibson and to Miss Miss Lazco, I I agree and I'm I'm a little bit perplexed as to why it was canceled the way it was. Um, I do think that is an area for improvement. That is something that this board member would also like to look into and see if there is something we can do, especially when it involves a nonprofit that is not directly associated with FCPS that is essentially renting facilities from us for a fee. Uh, I definitely would like to look into that further and see if there's something that we can do to help um better that process. Um, to Mrs. Rager, I agree with you 100%. I am I'm gobsmacked at why we have people in this world that behave the way they do. And I wish
079and if if anyone knows of any kind of HR screen that can detect that type of detestable behavior before we hire it, um I am all ears. Uh just humans are flawed and uh I I just I agree with you 100%. So um thank you for coming and speaking. Um and to Mr. done. Again, thank you. US history is a passion point for for me. Um I have I'm pleased to report that our so scores are increasing in that area. Um I have not had an opportunity to take the test that you sent us. I'm very curious to see how I would do. I'd like to think I'd score fairly well as I am a hobbyist historian. Um but we'll see. I'll keep you posted. And thank you again for your service to this community
080as well. So that's all I have, Mr. Chair. Thank you. Go ahead. >> Yeah. Go ahead. H well, I would like to thank Stonewall District for giving me the opportunity to sit in this seat because I've learned an tremendous amount of things about our community and our schools. Brought me up to date. I was born and raised here in Frederick County. Uh graduated from Jameswood. that kind of will always be James Wood to me and not middle school. And I would like to thank the people that that I've been working with up here because like I will reiterate what they said. Um we don't always agree on everything, but we get along. You know, we're we're we we've come close to one another and we trust one another. And it's not sometimes what it seems
081that you are listening to or looking at through YouTube. I would like to also thank uh Dr. Hummer. He is um he's always there. He's a workaholic. He's he's right Johnny on the spot and he's always pleasant which amazes me. And I would like to also thank Nina. She is a star, a jewel. She does so many things behind the scene that you just can't even imagine. And again, she's always busy and she's always pleasant. And I just love her for that. Thank you. And I hope the next person that sits here will do even better than I've tried to do. And and I hope that the constituents out there in Stonewall will reach out to whoever that is. I can't who who got the >> Joe Moran. Mr. Moran. >> Mr. Moran. I hope
082they'll they'll reach out to him and reach out in a positive way and not just with complaints. >> Uh reach out and and make suggestions because I've said it numerous times sitting here. We need for the community to make suggestions to give us an an opportunity to hear what you think you need. and you may not always get what you're wanting, but at least we'll have a good idea of what you feel you need and we can put it on the drawing board and talk about it and see what we can do. So again, um I'd like to thank everybody up here and and all my constituents in Stonewall and have a very very merry and God blessed new year. >> Uh Mr. Chair, I'm going to do something I have not done since I've
083been up here, which is read prepared remarks. Um, the final weeks of 2025 are also my last few weeks on the Frederick County School Board, uh, representing the people, the Red Bud District. In less than two years, we worked as a local team to make lasting improvements to the school system that we love and value, the school system that I grew up and am proud to say I graduated from, the Superior High School, Sharando. As my term draws to a close and a new and energetic energetic member-elect stands ready to take my place, I thought it was a perfect time for us to account for exactly what we, not me on my own, but what we have accomplished in this past two years. Let me make you a list. We have a new strategic plan
084that has hard academic targets and accountability. We have a fourth high school approval, funding, design, and bid out for construction. We returned nearly a million dollars to the taxpayers of Frederick County. We've made major expansions to Middletown and Jordan Springs. We've put in weapons detection systems and ballistic glass in our schools. Um we have on multiple occasions put in place teacher and staff raises as well as teacher and staff bonuses. We have successfully removed cell phones from the classrooms. Thank the Lord. new employee health clinic with Valley Health. We've negotiated reform on identification of and access to sexually explicit library material. We have um put in place reforms of public meetings and social media to maintain public decency and decorum. We've reorganized the central office here and moved employees back where we need them into
085school buildings. We've undergone a modernization of our HR and data systems. the addition of girls sports and middle school sports with more on the way, increased staffing in critical shortage areas, and finally reestablished trust and cooperation with the board of supervisors. There are a lot of problems we didn't resolve. Uh, our teachers and our staff still need guaranteed policy protection against false and junk complaints. Our middle schools are bursting from over capacity. Vaping and illegal drugs are still too prevalent in our schools. We're in need of major special education policy reform to protect our staff and our students from other violent students. And our bus drivers and our blueco collar workers here in the county need to be paid to stay. I was appointed to this job and then elected to this job because I
086would rather make a difference than appoint. I'm going to continue supporting the community's kids and their sports and their arts and our teachers and our staff and their daily hard work. Um, I'm going to continue showing up to u to concerts and sports and hiding on the side with a ball cap on so nobody recognizes my haido. And I like it that way because I can get in and clap and then get out. Um, if there's ever an opportunity for elected public service again in the future and I think I can make a difference, I might answer that call. But I'm a student of history and I know that victory comes from the crucible of loss. In the meantime, I'm leaving satisfied and humbled. Um, I hope that you will support Mr. Proek as he
087comes in to represent the people people of Redbud. You are in good hands. You have a kind and decent man coming to represent you. I think he is going to work hard for the people he's representing. Um, give him a chance. Um, give him some grace as with all of the new members uh on the board. Uh, to a couple of people. First of all, um I've seen a lot of superintendent. I can um think of a lot um ever since I was a really little kid. This George Hummer is the best thing that has happened to this school system. And I know he doesn't like it when we publicly brag on him, but this is my last chance to do it. So, um we have never had such a professional and impactful superintendent in
088this school system. He wasn't a good old boy. He wasn't what was left. Um, he's who Mr. Atkins and Miss Martin hired for a very specific purpose. And boy oh boy has he done it. He has raised the caliber of this school system. Um, and I'm really proud of what he's done. I can also tell you, and I've never called him by his first name before, but I will just this once. I swear George would give a kid or a parent the shirt off his own back. I have never heard him not do something for a kid or for a family. You know, he'll show up to a sporting event and he'll just be like, "Oh, hey, how are you? and the person has no idea they're talking to the superintendent and he's just there
089like cheering on the kids like or or heckling the singers during our little thing before the board meeting this evening. Um he is a kid at heart. Um and I think that's why he has he has been good for us. So Dr. Hummer, thank you um for everything that you've done for me. I think the world of you. Um, Chairman Sturdivan, you are uh you are as kind and honest as the day is long. And I had my tear ducts removed years ago, so I can't actually cry, but um I'm going to miss the heck out of you. Um I look at you like a father figure and um not just because of, you know, being slightly older than me. um >> and older than your mother age. >> Your love of history, um your
090love of public service and the way that you show up for these kids, I I wish I could have been half the school board member that you are and um Mrs. Klene. So, aside from my wife, Diana Klein is the smartest woman I've ever met. Um when Ellen uh announced that she was leaving, taking another position, the first person I reached out to was Mrs. Klein. we just knew each other cuz our kids were in school. I was like, "Hey, tell me about this schoolboard thing." Like what what is this really like? Like could I make a difference? Could I do something? Um she was as she was candid like here's what it is, here's what it isn't. Um and every single step of the way she is there tolerating my whispers when we're in
091the middle of business and she and I are whispering and exchanging ideas. Um, I not going to miss you because I'll still get to see you, but I am going to miss sitting beside you. Um, because I think that you made this board classy um, every time you were on it, and I appreciate you for that. And finally, in case anybody's been wondering for the past two years, I swear to you, this is not an adult beverage. I every week come up here with a bottle of carbonated water. That's all it is. We've been waiting two years to tell you the story. It's not as exciting as it looks. Um, I'm going to miss you guys. I love the heck out of Frederick County Public Schools. And thank you. I guess that leaves me, huh?
092First to those uh leaving. I I met Linda at the second Wake Up Winchester. How many ever years ago that was? Very gracious and and and spoke to me at length. She had no idea who I was. I'm sure she was like, "Who the heck is this moron?" She's probably still saying who that cuz it's Uh Miles, first time I met you was when I came in here and made my comments known about the mask policy. And I remember we came out, there was a group of us stood out here and protested and you were the only board member that came out and stood with the citizens. And I always respected you for that. And and I'm going to tell you there there and this isn't a bragging thing, but until you really have sat
093in public office and been elected to public office, I I don't think you can really appreciate all that goes with it. I mean, you can see the stupidity that comes along with it and and and the good things that come along with it, but you can't really grasp the totality of it and what it can do to you mentally and physically and all that. And I'm not complaining, don't get me wrong, but I have always admired your ability to take a hit and pick up a bat and come out swinging. I I I it has amazed me. There have been days when I just like didn't want to get out of bed anymore and didn't want to do it anymore. And then I think about you sitting here and you never gave up. You never
094batted an eyelash and you kind of been a hero. I ain't never told you that cuz I didn't want to just get a swelled head or nothing. But >> thanks. >> Um Brian, you've been a decent uh person to me. I I got to tell you when you got up here to to apply, I leaned over and asked Diana. And I said, "Is this guy even old enough to do this?" Then he told me that I was older than your mother and that made me feel so much better. >> Just like, >> um, yeah, I I hate change and I know change is inevitable. I just hate change and and I'll miss you guys and uh I know that things are the way they are for a reason and and I look forward to new
095things and brighter things, but I also hate to see uh things come to an end. I still look over there at Frank and still get a little weepy eyed. So with that, I wish you all nothing but the best and please stay in touch. As far and Mr. Dunn, I I I don't wish to forget you either, sir. Um he welcomed me in his home and we sat 3 hours and talked at your kitchen table. I'm him and his lovely wife. Just decent as me to me has always been decent. has always been the first person on the board of supervisors to reach out to me. Him and John Juel have been fantastic to me. Decent human beings and and smart man. I've learned a lot from him. Um I wish I knew half of
096what he knew about finance. I'm telling you, you you've been an excellent supervisor and I thank you for all the years of service and and you've left you've left a lasting mark and a lasting impression. So, I appreciate everything you've done. As far as citizen comments, um, in regards to the snow thing, this is going to be hard, so excuse me. I the last couple weeks we've had, you know, we called school and I I read the the social media comments and people were ticked because we called school. One person, how soft can you people get? And I don't normally respond, but I responded to that comment. And I and I I did not know that this wrestling match was going on this past weekend. And when the superintendent tells me they're going to close
097the schools or they're going to keep the schools open, I know that they're out at 2 3:00 in the morning riding the roads. I get up four o'clock in the morning and ride. I mean, I'm I'm sending him pictures of Back Mountain Road, so I I I know what they do. This is my friend Ricky Bril was one of my officers at the jail and he was a sheriff's deputy. It's hard to believe it's been 16 years ago, just the other week, the one day that Frederick County didn't close the schools and the roads were icy. and he was driving his two daughters to school and ended up skdding into a bus and he died in the car accident and his do one daughter in the back she was injured but his other daughter was
098in the front seat and she died as well and I still remember going to that funeral and seeing those two in a casket and when people complain about making the decision as to whether to close or not. Why are we closed? Why are we open? I will always air on the side of caution because I never want to see another friend of mine and his child. I believe she was eight at the time. I never want to see another child in a casket because Frederick County didn't take the time to heir on the side of taking a couple hours to let the roads be better. So, I I'm sorry that people lost money and I'm sorry that it happened, but this is why I approve what he did. I never want to see anybody go
099through this again. and even 16 years. I loved that guy. He was a decent human being. And and that's why so when people cry and whine, as long as I'm on this board and I have anything to say about it, I'm going to heir on the side of safety and the side of caution to keep our students safe. And I understand that some people are going to be impacted in a negative way. And for that, I'm truly sorry. But this is why I will air on the side of caution because I lost a friend. His wife lost a husband and a daughter. So that and I apologize for getting emotional, but that's why. and and uh as far as some of the things that got brought up tonight about certain situations. A and I'm not
100trying to be a jackass here, but ain't nobody talking about the books. We haven't talked about the books for a while. We haven't banned a book. We haven't done anything with a book. No book has been banned. No book has been removed. I'm tired of hearing that. I I really am tired and sick and tired of hearing it. Move on from that. It's the last thing I'm going to say about the friaking books in regards to again social media talking about we're not properly investigating these people. We're not properly hiring people. We are doing the best background checks that we can do and they have this thing called vector training for all employees. I personally have taken the vector training for employees. I've taken the the training against grooming, against uh uh uh having relationships
101with students, the proper parameters. I've taken it and it is very good training. Unfortunately, after 36 years of corrections, there are idiots in this world who could care less what the law says. I'm not excusing anything. We don't sweep anything under the rug. We haven't hit a thing. We can't say things for for legal reasons. I'm sorry about that. I'd love to scream to the rooftops what I know, but I can't for legal reasons. >> Whatever. >> But I can assure you from this podium as a law enforcement officer for 36 years, nothing disturbs me more than a damn pedophile. And if we if I if I find out some employee harms a child, harms another employee, and I don't care. I didn't run this by them, so they're probably grasping their chest right now,
102getting ready to go. Oh my god, here he goes. If I'm here on this board and I have anything to say about it, I hope they get locked up for faking ever. But I assure the citizens of Frederick County that we are doing due diligence in training. I I I don't And after the last incident, you can ask him. I told him to do more training and he did do more training. Training is being done and it's damn good training. And if you don't believe me, I'm sure I'll be I'm sure they'll be glad to show it to you. I've taken it. Backgrounds are being done. You We run criminal histories on these people. I I I don't know what else more we're supposed to do. But if some scumbag wants to break the law,
103I can tell you after working in a jail for 36 years, if they want to break a law, the law is not going to stop them. I know how many I can't tell you how many times I saw an officer at the jail have relationships with an inmate. Even though they knew it was a felony, they still did. It didn't make me happy. It wasn't fun to be ridiculed. Oh, look at what's going on over there at the jail. But it happened. I'm not excusing anything, but I can tell you from the bottom of my chunky tune of heart that if I'm on this board and somebody does something breaks the law, I will do everything I can to have them arrested, incarcerated, and I hope they never see the light of day ever faking
104again. Amen. By the grace of God, that's all I got to say. Thank you all for being here. Sorry, but that's the way it is. >> Can I have a motion, please? Thank Mr. Mr. Chair. >> Announcement. Sorry, guys. >> Oh. Oh, what is the announce? Oh, yeah. I'm sorry I didn't turn the page. Turn the page. Um, next school board meeting will uh our next school board meeting will be the organizational meeting held on January 6, 2026. Gosh, that sounds ugly to say 2026. Uh, do I have a motion? >> Mr. Chair, >> Mr. Atkins, >> make a motion to adjurnn. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Motion's been made, properly second. Any discussion? >> Merry Christmas. >> Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Boom.
105Done.