001Dr. Okay. Thank you for pro thank you for providing me with an opportunity to share both my entry plan and comprehensive plan timeline with you this evening. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. Does anybody have any questions? We look forward to it. Thank you. Item 7.02. 02 community survey. As I just mentioned, we are launching a community survey after tonight's meeting as the first step of our school division's new comprehensive plan. We are seeking input from all stakeholders and we encourage as many people as possible to complete the survey. It will take just a few minutes of your time. Every comment will be read and noted. We want to know what your highest aspirations are for our students. We want to know what practices you believe should be stopped, what practices should
002be continued, and what practices should be started. The community survey link will be shared through email, posted on our division Facebook page, and posted on our website. Hard copies of the community survey will also be made available at the schoolboard office, the bus maintenance building, and all of our schools. Thank you again in advance for your time and completing the survey. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. Okay. Item 7.03, selection of schoolboard committee members for FY226. We are seeking your selection and approval of schoolboard committee members for the facilities committee, the CTE advisory committee, and the health and safety committee. For the facilities committee, currently Mr. Snotty, Mrs. Bryant, and Mrs. Morris serve on the facilities committee for the CTE advisory committee. Currently, Mr. Richie serves for the health and safety committee.
003Currently, Mrs. Morris and Mrs. Bryant serve. Um, does anyone want to um volunteer for the facilities committee? Yes, I'd like to volunteer for the facility. Okay, Mr. Jamerson. And I will give up my seat if someone else wants to to be on there. Um, but I think three is plenty unless one of you all if you want to give up yours. I'll stay on there. Okay. And Miss Morris wants you still. You still want to co-chair with me? Well, I still want to go to the CTA but so three people will be on the facilities committee. Jamerson, Snotty, and Morris. Okay. And now the CTA advisor committee. Mr. Richie wants to continue to stay on there and Mr. Snotty wants to go on there as well. Now, the health and safety committee, I'm willing to
004give that position up, too. Madam Chair, I volunteer for the health and safety. Okay. and I will stay. Okay. So, Mr. Gregory and Miss Morris for the health and safety committee. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Item 7.04, selection of a schoolboard member for the 2025 2026 Governor's School Board Joint Committee. We are seeking your selection and approval of the school board member who will serve on the 2025 2026 Governor's School Board Joint Committee. Currently, Mr. Goodman serves on this committee and we spoke about that. So, uh I would like to be the the main the delegate and then he could be the alternate. I did want to talk about the Oh, we need a motion. Okay. Madam Chair, I make a motion to approve uh the what you stated with regards to serving on the 2025
0052026 Governor School Board joint committee. Second. Motion's been made and seconded um for the school board member for the 2526 Governor Schoolboard joint committee which was myself and Mr. Goodman for the previous Oh, we need a motion for the other one too. All right. So motion on the 7.03 for for those different committees as well. Madam Chair, let's let's do this one first. Okay. Uh is there any questions on that one? the first the the one that we just did. All those in favor, please raise your hand. All right. Now, we're going to go back to 7.03 and make a motion. Madam chair, I make a motion for the selection of school board committees as presented. Second. Motion's been made and properly second for the selection of schoolboard committee members for the 2526 year for
006the facilities committee, CT advisor, and the health and safety committee. Um, any questions on the motion? All those in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. Motion carries. So, we're up to 7.05 now. Okay. Uh, selection. Uh, item 7.05 05 selection of a delegate and alternate delegate to represent the board at the VSBA delegate assembly session at the 2025 VSBA annual convention in Williamsburg which is November 20th, 2025. We are seeking your selection and approval of a delegate and alternate delegate to represent the school board at the BSBA annual convention. Currently, Mr. Goodman serves as the delegate and Mr. Snotty serves as the alternate delegate. And I think in past practices it was the chairman and the uh vice chair. But whichever way you all got want to do that, I suggest uh Miss Bryant
007be the uh delegate with uh Mr. Snotty as a uh alternate. I move second. A motion's been made and seconded for the VSBA delegate to this assembly to be Miss Bryant as the the delegate and Mr. Snotty as the alternate. All those in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. Motion carries. Item 7.06, recommend approval of the milk beds for 2025 2026. Mr. Mr. Hustler, thank you so much uh for allowing me to speak to you tonight. Also, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to work for Buckingham. It's a great place and I I really appreciate that. Uh that being said, the nutrition department got a procurement review this past school year and we did very well. Two of the recommendations were that we go out for a milk bid and a produce bid.
008So, we built RFPs, took out our crucial products to bid, and we came back with uh with our milk bid um from United Dairy. They won the bid. Um there, just to remind you, we've had a a long run with milk uh as far as trying to from COVID all the way to now. We had to use shelf stable milk for a long time. Very high price. This is almost to precoid levels for prices, which really helps us. So, is this the ones that substitute last year for us? Absolutely. I'm glad. uh because you know they treated us well when no one would come here. So they did this the same group we Yes sir. Same group. So we are seeking your approval this evening of United Dairy as our milk vendor for the 2025
0092026 school year. Madam Chair, I move that we approve the milk bids for 2025 2026 school year. Second. A motion's been made by Mr. Snidy and second by Mrs. uh Morris to approve the milk bids for 2526 as presented. Any questions on the motion? All in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. Motion carries. Thank you. Okay. Item 7.07, recommend approval of the produce bids for 2025 2026. Same thing. Uh during the procurement review, they asked us to go out for a produce bid as well. And we did so using just our crucial items that we would need. Um the same vendor that has been gracious enough to come to us is still they won the bid. So that was that was pretty awesome. So we are seeking your approval this evening of Standard Produce
010as our produce vendor for the 2025 2026 school year. Madam Chair, I approve I recommend move that we approve the produce bids for 2025 2026 school year. A motion's been made and properly second uh by Mr. Snotty and Mr. Gregory to approve the produce bids for 2526 as presented. Any questions on the motion? All those in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. Motion carries. Item 7.08, recommend unrepable kitchen equipment be declared surplus. Yes, we have two items um on the list that were decommissioned from the high school and we would like to surplus those items. they are past their usable life for us. So, we are seeking your approval for unrepairable kitchen equipment to be declared surplus and given to the junior ROC department to be sold for scrap metal and the proceeds be
011given to that program. I move that the unrepairable kitchen equipment be declared surplus and the money's appropriated second spread out. A motion's been made by Mr. Snotty and second by Mrs. Morris to um approve the unrepairable kitchen equipment for declared surplus and given to the JOTC. Any questions on the motion? All those in favor, please raise your hand. Unanimous. Motion carries. Quick question. Yes, sir. How much does it weigh? Good question. Heavy enough to give us a strain. So, I'm saying 400 lb probably for one the double the double oven and probably 350 I would say for the um milk uh refrigerator. So, a little bit less than 100 bucks basically probably. So, yeah, depending on the price of metal. And I would also like to say that JRTC does a great job of helping
012us to clean up around the areas and they they take uh the scrap metal and they do a good job of keeping everything safe and clean. So, thank you. Item 7.09 recommend approval of the 2025 2026 crisis plan. Uh the crisis plan is not made available for public view as a means to ensure the safety and security of all students and staff. Mr. Hessup is available to answer any questions you may have. I do have uh one little correction for you, please, or two, I should say. Okay. Um, on that page five, the phone number for me, um, I need you to change that to my cell phone and and I'll give it out. It's I know. Wendy's going to give it to you. Great. I'll take care of that, Paul. Okay. And also Paul
013Townsen is still on there. I feel like we need to take him off. He's on the same page. I'm sorry. Yes. I'm sorry. Okay. Thank you. Item 7.1. We need a recommendation. Excuse me. Um, what's the board's pleasure on that? I move we approve the uh 2025 2026 crisis plan. Second. A motion's been made by Mr. Snotty and second by Mr. Goodman to approve the 2526 crisis plan as presented. Are there any questions on the motion? All those in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. Motion carries. Thank you so much. Item 7.10, 10 recommend approval of the agent of record vendors for 2025 2026. We are seeking your approval this evening of agent of record vendors for the 2025 2026 school year. Payments to the following vendors may be made prior to the board
014meeting by either the superintendent or the clerk. Payments made will be included with the listing that is approved at the board meeting for information purposes. We provided you with a list of approved agent of record vendors um in board docs. What's the pleasure of the board? I move we approve the agent of record vendors for 2025 2026 school year. Second. A motion's been made by Mr. Snotty and second by Mr. Gregory to approve the agent of record vendors for the 2526 school year. Are there any questions on the motion? All those in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. The motion carries. Item 7.11, recommend approval of the Buckingham County Public Schools 2025 2026 parent student handbook. Um, Mrs. Haynes and Mr. Moore. So, we are seeking your approval this evening of the Buckingham County
015Public Schools 2025 20226 parent student handbook. Um, M. Mrs. Haynes and Mr. Moore will share updated information with you. Mrs. contains will review the information in the handbook that is in red text which indicates updates and changes from last year. There is a section on Chromebooks that has some significant changes and Mr. Moore will review those changes with you. Uh and once again both Mrs. Haynes and Mr. Moore are available to answer any questions you may have. Hi, good evening. So for the non-chromebook sections of the handbook, uh the only changes were we added in um a notation for the yearly required authorizations just noting that in the table of contents. We updated the letter of course for Dr. Rezner for this year. There were some directory changes, you know, names, positions. So we updated
016those. Um geography was an added course as a required course um moving forward for our um high school graduates. So we added that information in there. Um, and then I know previously the adult meal prices change that Mr. Heslip had presented. So, we updated that information in there as well. But then the rest is pretty much the Chromebook information. I'll let Mr. Moore speak on that. Good evening members of the board, Dr. Ezner. So, a lot of this is verbiage changes. Just to kind of reflect this year, the final change from onetoone Chromebook assignments for students to take home. The high school was the last to come on board. We've actually moved the carts at the high school level as well. So, this is a lot of the red ink that reminds me of a
017high school English paper. Just kind of reflects verbiage changes to kind of go from that one to one piece of students having their own Chromebook to, hey, we're classroom sets. So, we just wanted to align the verbiage there so we're accurate across the board. But the biggest change on this piece is on page 90 and 91. So, previously we had an opt out form for parents if they didn't want a Google account. We've changed that to an optin just based on some of Google's different offerings that require some parental consent. And an optin is kind of it always protects the the district a little more than an opt out based on some legal help we've gotten. So, with that, that's one of the biggest changes other than just the verbiage changes to kind of align
018with where we're at this year. And that's that concludes my report. Any questions? Does anyone have any questions? Not on that. On on the uh the handbook itself, uh yes. Um I know we've talked in the past about uh the cell phone policy and that's been amended as far as a separate policy goes, which since this is what everybody looks at as far as the handbook goes and what they use to come to us for information. Yes. I recommend we add some of that verbage on the cell phone use, smartphone use, um, whatever is acceptable for the classroom for them to use added to it. I didn't see that in there. I I'll check again, but I didn't see it, you know, when I did the search for cell, right? Or or phones. It gave
019phone numbers, but I didn't see cellular phone devices, smart smartwatches, and stuff like that for the classroom use. Um, I think that's more in our code of conduct instead of the Well, I'm just looking because, but we want to put that here, too. Well, I'm just asking because, you know, most of us go to the one-stop shop in the handbook for students and parents is where we want to go to look for all of our issues. When we start digging into the individual chapters, we reference it to the policy kind of like what's done in the manual now. So, uh just my recommendation or thought process is having something to that verbiage where the parent like me goes to that as one-stop shopping for figuring out what's going on with cell phones or or even
020AI for that matter. You know, what do we what's our AI policy? Do we we don't have one, I don't think, AI policy. We I presented it last year. We have a Okay. So, certain verbiages to that because like I said, they'll go to the reference material if they know about it like on the on the website, but this is their one-stop shopping for all things questions answered. So, I recommend certain verbiage. It doesn't have to be anything crazy, but I would recommend that verbiage be put in there. Okay. And I can work with some more at it in the technology section since the biggest piece is that teachers are dealing with parents, right? We deal with you guys, but teachers are dealing with parents. When the parents come to the teachers with this information
021and we don't have anything but the policy, they're pulling out the handbook. There's nothing in the handbook that tells a student or tells a parent, right? Just my opinion. And I don't know what the board, you know, sees about that, but just my opinion. When you're looking at all things encompassing in a handbook, right? Might not help hurt to put some of that verbiage in there. Understood. I And I agree. I can add that part in the handbook. Um tricky words like may or could or would, should the should, shall, right? Those words can be skewed. Um one of the examples is uh you know some of the verbiage child may fail for certain things not happening in the classroom. Let's not beat around the bush. If there are certain things happening in the classroom
022that shouldn't be happening, it's not a shall or may. It's a it's a will, right? you know, if they're not there for their for their attendance for 10 days or whatever it is and everybody's been contacted across the board and that classroom expectation is for this. It's not a may fail. If everybody's done what they're supposed to be doing, there's a will fail. I recommend that verbiage be changed for the maze and stuff like that. If it's a questionable thing, I got it. But if it's not a questionable thing, let's not beat around the bush. It should be what it's going to be, and that's a it's a will. So, my recommendation would be maybe we make a committee to go through this wonder at that detail. I don't want to miss something and I
023don't want to misconrue conrue it because I'm not the one. I recommend the teachers. I mean the teachers are the ones that deal with this on a regular basis. They when they look at this they're going no wonder there's a loophole right that's what they're seeing you know and we use that as parents I'd use it if I had issue doesn't say it in the handbook. First thing I would say so okay I recommend probably do that. Okay. So we will form a committee to address that concern. Um, we can copy verbatim policy JFCM, which is the new policy on student cell phone and smart device possession and use and incorporated into the um, student parent handbook verbatim. So that it'll be found within policy as well as that handbook. It'll be also reiterated in
024the um, code of conduct. Exactly. Yeah. There's references in there that we we see at the end. They don't mean anything to most of us, right? Until you looked at them. Yeah, if you have it in there as a one-stop shopping, that's that's the way to go. We will have that ready for you um for the by next by next board meeting. An update. And um one question. Can we just amend the amend it though? I mean, yeah. Yes. We'll make sure that that it's done. Just one question, Madam Chair. Sure. Um, and so I guess I'm to assume as well that um, you know, it's properly vetted from an attorney once we kind of come up with corrections because some of sometimes some of the language is ambiguous because of, you know, some type
025of legal restraint, but of course, we've got an attorney that's going to take a look at it and I can I can make sure that that happens. Yes. I mean, I I think an attorney should take a look at it as well, right? We keep them on the payroll, don't we? Yeah. Well, I think that's part of the most of this is policy. Yes, it is. And what we do is just take it from there and put it into the handbook. So if it's it's already been gone through with on the policy part. So we should be okay. I would say agree. Okay. All right. What's the pleasure of the board for this then? There's no other questions. Yeah. I mean, I move we go ahead and accept the uh the superintendent's recommendation for establishing
026a committee to do the uh the handbook review and then uh accept it for the next board as an agenda item. Second. Motion's been made to uh establish a committee for the student handbook um by Mr. Snotty and second by Mr. Goodman. Are there any other questions on the motion? All those in favor, please raise your hand. Um, that passes. Um, but now what do we need to do for this one? Do we need to table this until the next meeting or do we want to approve it as amended where we add that policy because they're going to need to get this stuff out. It'll have to go home. You know, if we amend it, we're just going to they're going to add that one policy for the cell phones, but it won't will not
027have the shells and the wheels and the It depends if you're talking about publishing it for the school year and if they're doing an internal committee that doesn't involve, you know, us being involved or whatever and they can probably put it out pretty quick, I would imagine, with the review of the policies, making sure certain things at the end of the day, it's a it's a catchall for the parents. So, I would want it to be as accurate going out to the parents as as possible, I would think. Okay. But but you tell me I mean if you can do the internal comm you know committee we can do the internal uh committee work and um vote on vet it through the attorney um vote on it next time and we will be yes we'll
028have it ready for next time and we have we will have the cell phone policy verbatim the new cell phone policy added to the handbook um in time for publication. Yeah only because we had the issues with the governor all that new stuff that happened. So, we've had issue with the AI piece of it as well this past year. I know. So, that's CHAP GPT and some anyway homework. So, what are we doing as far as the handbook though? Because right because the forms will have to go home with the students at the beginning of the school year for parents. We're going to be after the board meeting after the next board meeting. So, if they can do the internal committee and stuff. No, we start school next board meeting before. You're two weeks behind.
029Is it August already? It will be. Yeah. My suggestion again is to add the policy as amended. So that way at least the cell phone policy is in there. The wheels and the shells will not be in there. But we could we can have it amended after that and send out different pages or or whatever we need to do. Yes. I mean Yes. I just know it's kind of like we've discussed before is if you don't have it all in one thing, your amendments are going to be bypassed because it's not in with the original hand. Yeah, but the handbook is online now unless you ask for it to be printed. But so I'm just saying that too so you know you realize that. Yeah, I'm okay with that. You just change you just changed
030it online. I mean, we we we will still have to approve it completely, but but for now, what I'm suggesting is we we add that one policy for the cell phone and that'll be as amended and then the other parts that need to be vetted out can be amended again maybe by the next meeting. But this way they'll have the letter the the paperwork that they need to send out to the students the beginning of the year. We can have that ready. Yeah. When when do we start? August uh teachers go back. Okay. School starts August 26. Yeah, that's right. Yeah. Good lord. Summer go. We need a motion for that. Madam Chair, I make a motion uh as presented. Second as amended. Second. A motion's been made by Mr. Goodman and second by Mr.
031Jamerson to approve the uh parent student handbook as amended. Um any other questions on the motion? All those in favor, please raise your hand. Thank you. Unanimous. Okay. Item 7.12 recommend approval of the 20252026 student code of conduct. Uh we are seeking your approval this evening of the student code of conduct handbook. Mrs. Haynes uh will review the information in the handbook that is in red text which indicates updates and changes from last year. Really the only changes to the code of conduct were the Chromebook information that uh Mr. Moore just shared. We did add the yearly required authorizations form and the authorization to photograph forms to the code of conduct. They weren't in there previously, so those are additions, but they were what have been in our handbook previously as well. So, we added
032those and then updated the Chromebook information that he already shared. Those are the only changes. Well, I have a few questions. Okay. So on page I think it's 17, no 16. Hope I got the right number. BSC13 it says engaging in reckless behavior. And I think the word should be that creates um a risk of injury. Should that should be corrected, I hope. Okay. And then that was just me being a little crazy about stuff. Um, and then page 18 under PD 9 and 10. I'm not quite sure. It's like the same thing. Is it one for a a staff person and one for a child? Because it just states malicious wounding without a weapon and but it doesn't state whether it's for a student or a staff person or whoever. So, Candace, are you
033aware the difference there? Is it one for staff, one for a student for PD9 and 10? Okay. Okay. So, I can I'll add that. Yeah, correct that so we know which one is which. Um, sorry. And then page 28. So, I get there. What did I write down? I was kind of wondering about this part about gender ID. I I didn't quite understand how it was it was for the last sentence under where is it at? I'm trying to find it. Sorry, I may be on the wrong page myself. That's what it is. Um [Music] the page itself not gender expression I think um gender expression may change over time and from day to day and that is not necessarily related to the person's gender identity I'm not quite understanding why well that's not the
034one gender identity is an intim in part of a person's identity and can be the same or different from the sex assigned at birth. I didn't think we had that in error. That's what we've had cuz I didn't touch that at all. That hasn't changed in over two years. All right. Just want to make sure if that's something the last thing I have I'm sorry. This is uh page 37. It's got it's about bullying and it doesn't give me any any what are the consequences. There's nothing in here telling us, you know, yeah, you're going to make it a priority, but I don't see any consequences for bullying at all. So, I'm kind of confused about that. And we do have a policy on bullying. So, you're saying like at the end of the other
035sections it gives you the discipline codes? Well, I would think you it would state it here somewhere, but it's not saying that. So, I was just wondering if it should be here or if it should be somewhere else. Okay. But, you know, it also states that it's going to notify the parents. Is it going to notify the parents of both parties, the victim or the uh aggressor, or is it just the the victim? Because to me, it should be all of them, right? But it doesn't really it's kind of vague there. Okay. And then the consequences I'm just I it doesn't state it what what are the consequences if if someone's bullying are they you know expelled or or what are we doing? So just want to clarify that. Okay. And that could be for
036the next time but I'm we'll make sure that that clarified that section uh looked over. Yep. Okay. Thank you. Would you want as minuteed or what amended? Um, well, we did amend it already, so you can see as amended if you want to. I move we approve the 202526 uh student code of conduct as amended. Sir, a motion's been made by Mr. Snotty and second by Mr. Gregory to approve the 2526 student code of conduct conduct as amended. Are there any other questions on the motion? All those in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. Motion carries. Item 7.13 recommend approval of the Buckingham County Public Schools testing calendar. We are seeking your approval this evening of the testing calendar. Uh Mrs. Haynes um currently serves as our division director of testing or DOT and
037we'll provide a short overview of the testing calendar uh changes that have come from the Virginia Department of Education in terms of testing dates and we'll be available to answer any questions that you may have. Yes. So this calendar mimics for the most part what we've had in the past. The only change is the House Bill 1957 now states that all so testing for grades 7 through 12 should be within the last two weeks of the school year and no earlier. And so we had to adjust our schedule for those tests, but otherwise we we kept our same schedule. Which test? The so test for grades 7 through 12. They can't be administered earlier than two weeks before the last day of school. Plays right into our May meeting conversation. What's the pleasure of the
038board on this one? I move we approve the Buckingham County Public Schools 2025 20226 testing calendar as presented. Second. A motion's been made by Mr. Snotty and second by Mr. Jameson to approve the 2526 testing calendar for the Bucknham County Public Schools. Are there any questions? All those in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. The motion carries. Thank you. Item 7.14, recommend approval of the Buckingham County Public Schools new teacher academy schedule for 2025 2026 school year. Mrs. Branch. So, we are seeking your approval this evening of this uh the new teacher academy and she will provide an overview of this exciting two-day event and is available to answer any questions that you might have. Good evening board, madam chair and community. Um, one of the best parts of my job is getting to
039go out and recruit new teachers besides the fact that it makes me feel older and older and older every year because they look so young. Um, but we have a great group of new teachers this year. So, I'm very excited. New Teacher Academy is going to be July 28th and July 29th. Um on the 28th, it's we're going to do it here at the middle school. Um we're going to start off with a breakfast and then an opening um by Dr. Rezner and then all of our directors and principles will get an opportunity to speak. Um so they get to put some names with faces. Everybody has a different part. Um we've even drugg Mr. Palmer into this. He's going to load them on a bus and take them around the county to show them
040what a great place they've signed up for. Um, so that's always fun. We'll have later in the morning, we'll have someone here talking about um, employee benefits. Um, we will have our director of SPEG giving a presentation. Um, Patrick and his team will be doing a technology talk and they'll be getting all their technology stuff, their laptops, and getting set up for the new school year. Um, then we'll go into lunch. After lunch, I'll review or my team will review uh things such as the employee handbook and the frontline absence management system, teacher evaluations, things that are important to a new teacher that they really need to know um before they get started. Uh later in the afternoon, we'll talk about Power School and hopefully they'll have their laptops, they'll be able to get in,
041they'll be able to, you know, peruse around P school a little bit, see the important things like how to take attendance and maybe how to set up your grade book and things like that that new teachers always need to know. Um at the end of the day, we lift them up with some encouragement and um get ready to send them off into the classroom. Day two is more of a on your own day. It's like, woo, I survived day one and all that stuff they just threw at me and overwhelmed me with and now it's day two. So, they get to go back to their home schools. Um, most principles set up meetings with their mentor teacher and just kind of get acquainted, get their classroom ready and just be in the new environment. So,
042that's um basically what our new teacher academy looks like. Are there any questions? What time frame? What day do y'all cover any of the policies? So that is actually covered on under my section um the employee handbook that will go into some of the policies. One question I got um we need to recommend we have a recommendation. I move we approve the Buckingham County Public Schools new teacher academy schedule for 2025 2026. Second. A motion's been made by Mr. Snotty and second by Mrs. Morris to approve the Buckingham County Public Schools new teacher academy schedule for the 2526 school year as presented. Um, any other questions? All those in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. Motion carries. Item 7.15 recommend approval of the Buckingham County Public Schools back to school teacher work week schedule.
043So, we are seeking your approval this evening of the teacher work week schedule and we are inviting all board members to participate in convocation with us on Wednesday, July 30th, beginning at 8 a.m. at the middle school. We will serve a light breakfast and we'll have some spirit activities planned during convocation. Mrs. Branch uh will be able to provide an overview of some of our plans for teacher work week and some of these are still in progress of of planning. Um, and she's also available to answer any questions that you might have. So, I can't take credit for creating this solid document. This was work that was done by Miss Jansen um before she left. What what we did do though was um make sure that it was sent out to principles to verify because
044if you've been looking at this schedule at all, you can see it starts off with convocation, but it's very tailored to each school. So, it discusses PD that's happening in each school um and times and locations, um lunchons and you know, all the fun stuff that they're going to do. It even goes through like August 1, the orientations at the different schools. Um, but really it it drills into the specific PDS. So, the principles have reviewed their sections. Um, and this is what we've got as of now. There might be some minor tweaks, but I don't anticipate anything major. Um, so this is kind of kind of the survival guide for teachers the first few days and kind of tells them, hey, this is this is all the stuff you got to do and um,
045all the good things we have planned. So, if there's any questions, I'll answer it to the best of my ability. I think it's great you're adding those PDs in there. Get started on the right foot, right, for the rest of the year. We need a motion on this one as well. I make a motion for the approval of the Buckingham County Public Schools back to school teacher work week. Second. A motion's been made by Mr. Gregory and second by Mr. to approve the um Buckingham County P. No, I got the wrong thing. What What are we on? 7.15.15. Oh, okay. doesn't say the back to work school the back to school work week schedule as presented. Are there any questions? All those in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. Motion carries. Sorry. Item 7.16
046recommend approval of the Buckingham County Public Schools 2025 20226 employee handbook. Mrs. branch will review the information in the employee handbook that is in red text which indicates updates and changes from last year. She is available to answer any questions that you may have. Thank you. So the the the major change with the employee handbook was the front cover. It got a major facelift just to kind of uh you know make it look more modern and bring us up to date a little bit. Um you'll notice that names, dates, titles, positions, the common things got changed. um school calendar got changed. Um there was one section under the acceptable computer use policy when I was comparing. So I always compare the employee handbook to our policy manual. There were some bullets that were left out.
047I added those that reference Virginia code. Um so that was a that was a change. Um and then it was a couple more provisions on technology protection measures. um and then monitoring the activities that we're doing online. So, I did add those things. Other than that, there weren't a lot of changes to the employee handbook. Are there any questions on these handbooks? Did the teachers review them at all before they get to us? So, what happens with the handbooks is principles usually go over it in their opening faculty meetings? Okay. They try to hit all the high points, real necessity things, and it's online and every teacher is responsible for reviewing it. Do they normally just send you emails for any recommended changes or um Yes. Anybody that has any changes, anything they want to
048highlight or recommend, they send that to me. Okay. Is there is there a place in there where they have to sign it just like the kids where they sign it saying they read it? Um, I believe yes, the last page they have to sign that they've reviewed everything and that they know our policies. All right. I just wanted to make sure. I mean, I know it's kind of rough to say that, but we cover ourselves. Well, yeah, that's the way we keep copies of all of those, too, right? Yeah. Each school does have copies. Okay. From their employees. What's the pleasure of the board on this one? I move we approve the Buckingham County Public Schools 2025 2026 employee handbook. Second, a motion has been made by Mrs. Morris and second by Mr. Gregory to
049approve the 2526 employee handbook for Buckleam County Public Schools. Are there any other questions? All those in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. Motion carries. Uh item 7.17 recommend approval of the Buckingham County Public Schools 2025 20226 substitute handbook. Uh Mrs. Branch will review the information in the substitute handbook that is in red text which indicates updates and changes from last year. Uh there is quite a bit of red text which indicates there have been some significant changes from last year's substitute handbook. I believe Miss Haynes uh may have assisted her with this work as part of her administrative internship and both of them are available to answer any questions that you might have. Yes. So, Miss Haynes needed a project for her class and she's like, "Hey, can I look at this and
050up, you know, help with updating it?" I like, "Sure, you absolutely can." So, you'll notice your whole book is in red and I will I promise I'm not going to try to stand up here all night. Um, the thing about the handbook is the a lot of the components are the same, but it just looks a little different and things are a little more detailed. So, I'm going to try to hit the high points and if you have additional questions after I do that, please feel free to ask. Um, so in the employment information, the the pay structure is broken down a little more clearly as far as substitute pay rates. It's listed out by degrees and diplomas. Um, it lists the pay range pay ranges. And again, we're just talking about substitutes, so that's
051the only thing we're looking at here. Um, the work hours are clarified a little better. Um, it talks about the unemployment compensation disclaimer, which wasn't there. Was new language added, so it lets anyone know that they can't contest unemployment claims due to lack of work for subs. Um, substitute management. There are more details on frontline um including access instructions, call periods like when they'll be called, um cancellation rules and the impact of school preferences on job availability. Um we expanded the social media policy. Um it was new detailed guidance on employee use of personal and social networking sites associated and associated consequences. Um employees are advised to maintain appropriate boundaries with students on social media and in person. Um, there was a section on confidentiality and student privacy. There was added emphasis on not discussing
052grades, medical conditions, behavior issues, things that are important for a sub to know that, hey, you just don't go out in the grocery store after subbing and and have these conversations. Um, there's clearer rules on discipline and classroom behavior and how to handle these things such as, you know, not having students grade papers or discuss grades. Um and then outlines for discipline methods, what to do if you know if you have a student a problem in your class. Um in daily expectations and logistics, we added um hints for success. There's a new version that includes tips like visiting the school in advance um learning school specific procedures um and prepping for last minute calls. Um substitute teacher report template. So, in the past, if subs need to report to the principal or leave a note
053for the teacher, some of them just wrote it. Um, we've included this year a template to provide feedback, which I thought was a really, really nice addition. Um, because that gives the sub some structure and then gives the teachers something that they can be looking for. Also, um, other updates included listing the district staff and school administrators that are associated with the buildings, their contact info. Um, and now it now includes principles, assistant principles, and updated fax numbers. Um, let's see. In the maintaining boundaries section, there was a new policy that reinforces professionalism and discourages personal relationships and having personal conversations. And then emergency procedures were clarified a little bit more as far as um expectations during lockdown drills, fire evacuations, and the use of the classroom emergency buttons. Um and then also a big
054one, removal from the substitute list. This clarifies for people, look, if you take these sub jobs and you don't show up and we've called you three different times or four different times and you haven't shown up for jobs, you can be removed from the sublist for that school. um you know, use of inappropriate language, any physical contact with students, um failure to manage the classroom effectively. So, just kind of laying things out a little more a little more specific. Um and that's the overall that's why we made the whole thing red because it was just it was so many changes and just formatted a little bit different. Um but I'd be happy to answer any questions that you have about those. So, when do they get these books? When they how many? because it's what
05530 pages almost. I think it it's a lot. So, we um usually when a when a new sub, excuse me, when a new sub comes on board, we go over the book with them and give them a copy of the book. Okay. Um in a new school year situation, we can email something like this because um subs can have email. So, we can email that out or we can we have done mailings before. It's just 30 pages is a lot to mail and I prefer not to try to go that route. Yeah. Okay. I just wanted to make sure that they do get it in time to to know what their part is. Yes, ma'am. I move we approve the Buckingham County Public Schools 2025 2026 substitute handbook. Second. A motion's been made by Mr.
056Snide and second by Mrs. Morris to approve the Buckingham County Public Schools 2526 substitute handbook as presented. Are there any other questions? All those in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. Motion carries. Thank you. Item 7.18, recommend that obsolete high school textbooks be donated to Central Virginia Christian School. Uh Mr. Thally, we are seeking your approval this evening to donate obsolete high school textbooks uh to the school. These books are algebra one math textbooks which no longer align with the approved state math standards and updated instructional resources have been purchased. Mr. a Mr. Tally is available to answer any questions that you might have. I guess only question I have is so this is to align us with the state requirements. So these books are books that have been stored in our basement. Yeah.
057for several years that they have been replaced by either new books or digital versions of um that align us with this with the standards. So it goes to and this has nothing to do with us but it just goes the question we're going to give outdated books to the Christian school to use. Yes. But they want them. They want them. Yeah, they do. Interesting. Been asked. Interesting. I don't have a problem with it. Madam Chair, go ahead. Okay, Madam Chair, I make a motion to approve. Second. A motion's been made by Mr. Goodman and second by Mi Mrs. Morris to um donate the obsolete high school textbooks to Central Virginia Christian School. Any questions on the motion? All those in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. Motion carries. Thank you. Item 7.19 recommend the
058approval of the VSBA code of conduct for schoolboard clerks. What's the pleasure of the board? Madam Chair, I move to u approve the VSBA code of conduct for school boards clerks. Second. A motion's been made by Mrs. Morris and second by Mr. to approve the VSBA or Virginia School Board Association for those that don't know code of conduct for schoolboard clerks as presented. Are there any questions? All those in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. The motion carries. Okay. Item 7.20 Vsba May policy updates. Uh as presented, um second reading and adoption. We are seeking your approval this evening of 41 policy revisions. Um the VSBA has provided in board docs an explanation of revisions which is included in the attachments. A brief explanation is given for each policy revision. Um each revision should
059be examined and then the school board should decide whether to to adopt the revised policies. Some policies require local input before adoption. As with all sample policies provided by the VSBA, each school board should decide whether to use the sample policies as they are written, make changes to them, write local policies themselves or not adopt a policy on the topic. The VSBA copyright and the date the policies are revised appear on all VSBA policies. As an aside note, we will be conducting a comprehensive review of our policy regulations to accompany policies during the school year. Uh we will update you with revisions to our existing regulations as we complete this work. Um there are four policies this evening which require the school division to establish regulations. Mrs. Haynes will be presenting these regulations this evening.
060Policy EBBC opio opioid antagonist. Uh this is a new policy. Uh this policy is created to reflect amendments of Virginia code. It directs us to establish regulations related to the safe storage and supply replacement of opioid antagonists. Mrs. Haynes will review this regulation with you. And so I just want to point out that in JHCD of our current policy, we do have mention of um nlloxxone which is um an opioid antagonist. And we do mention that we have policies for storing them and making sure that we order more when supply becomes lower. and who is monitoring that. Um so we just created additional regulations for spelling out basically how each site will obtain and store and use the antagonist um in those situations. And it does talk about them being in a central area that
061can be accessed by a staff member or the nurse who is trained and and it goes into detail about the training for the nurse or the additional staff members. It also talks about a six-step emergency protocol for calling 911, doing the first spray, support breathing, give a second dose if needed, um transferring the care to EMS, and then filing the incident report. Um I do want to point out that um I have not had one of the nurses review this yet for the detail here. I did model this off of other schools and what they have in place for this. Um but I would like to have a nurse review it who is an expert on that information. But this is modeled after that and we do have a current policy that addresses storing them
062and obtaining them. Are we keeping track of the training provided that you said that was provided by the nurses, approved by the nurses or provided by somebody else? The nurses get the training. Give the training. Get the training. They receive the training. Is it just one person per school? Yes. Okay. Yes. And so it's only the nurse. The nurse. Mhm. But we can have additional people trained. anyone can can provide it in that situation if needed. My recommendation like I get it this is a big issue especially moving forward in today's world but uh it's got in here at least one personnel or employee from each school and division and I I don't like that. I would recommend a minimum of two especially on those bigger schools like you call the high school one school
063but you got two different buildings for crying out loud. Yes. Uh and and and not only that but you're limited to one person the nurse if they're there possibly one other person. So I would, you know, at a minimum two. And so the way I wrote it in here was for the nurse plus at least two additional staff. Okay. Okay. I just see down on the personnel training, at least one employee in every school in the division is authorized. Blah blah blah blah blah. Right. As the minimum and we kind of went above that to try to make sure we were covered. Yeah, that's good. Yeah, it's good stuff. Okay. Uh policy JFCM, which is student cell phone and smart device possession and use. This is a new VSBA policy this year. Uh, this policy
064is created to reflect amendments in addition to the Virginia code. This policy requires the school board to adopt restrictions for cell phone use in each level of the school to include elementary, middle, and high school. And Mrs. Haynes will review this regulation with you. And we are ahead of the game here. Our policy already includes the the policy for that, the consequences, and it's broken down by elementary and secondary level. It's already something you guys have approved, so we already have that in place. Yeah. Yeah. As long as everything lines up with what they're recommending based on policy. Yep. Yes. Okay. All right. Policy JJ A, student athlete extreme heat safety and protection. Once again, this is a new VSBA policy and this policy is created to reflect the addition of Virginia code. Uh, this
065policy requires the school board to adopt procedures for athletic practice and games and also requires the superintendent to establish regulations, procedures, and processes. The Virginia Code section 22.1-271.9 requires the school board to review and update this policy in accordance with the guidelines by annually reviewed and updated by the Virginia Board of Education. Uh Mrs. Haynes will review this regulation with you. In establishing this regulation, Mrs. Haynes did collaborate with Mr. Tally, Mr. Goen, and Mr. Wilkerson. Yes. Um, and so for this, we looked at the regulations that would match with the policy for any athletic program, um, grades 6 through 12 since we have middle school sports as well, including practices, um, strength and conditioning sessions, scrimmages, camps, everything that would fall under that umbrella. Um, we discussed using like a heat index to monitor
066this and and what devices, whether it's, you know, on your phone or different devices that you can use, weather channels, things like that. Um we talked about heat heat acclimization plan for example um in football for day if you need to acclimate days one through two um one practice in a day helmets only for football um and light uniforms. Days three to four you could add shoulder pads but you still the helmets and light uniforms and day five you would have full equipment permitted. So we have it outlined what that would look like. Um we talked about hydration and cooling um training for the coaches and and a heat an emergency action plan if a heat stroke is suspected. Um to of course activate EMS calling 911, a cool first and transport which matches the
067policy here. Um and then we have where we can document the incident that occurred um and that recordkeeping and reporting just to make sure we're we're following up with the incidents. Who who does the monitoring on the what bulb? meeting. So that would be with the coaches. So the coaches it's on like if you go to um weather.com that's what they use. So you could just check that for it. So that's what um coach county as a whole. Well the coaches would Yes. And that would be part of the conversation that we would have with the coaches ahead of time that that's what's expected to look at that. So this is wonderful. By the way, we talked about this what two two meetings ago about that. So heat exhaust and it's a big thing even
068in the military. I mean we we go through classes for this all the time, right? Um, but it's nothing to sneeze at with a one pager. I'm just saying. Uh, web bulb is monitored. Like you can start off at one level and it goes to the next level within an hour. Right. Uh, it was famous for it down at Campbell Jun. You start off at like 80 some degrees, but then the humidity shoots up over 90 and Yeah. we're done. Exactly. You know, but you, you know, these kids are the ones that pay the price and we've seen it with the deaths on TV and stuff like that for for college athletes even. So, um, this is great. This is a great start. Um, training Mhm. Who's getting the training other than the coaches? Who's
069getting the training? So, we do not have an athletic trainer on site employed by the school. So, the only people are the coaches who are there on site during a practice or a game. Um, I know at football games, we do have EMS staff there, but that's during those games. Um, so, Coach Goen and I and Mr. Wilkerson, we had all talked about that and what that would look like. So, we don't have everything outlined. This is, like you said, the start to this um of what we have available to us currently. The only reason I bring it is bring it up. Look where we've been the last few weeks, right? It's been hot. Yes. Humid, nasty, and I know they're doing conditioning right now for football. So, it's one of those things where it's
070great, but they don't have this working right now, right? I mean, might be, but there's no policy. And and the great thing was when we spoke, they were already doing these things. So, they were already following the procedures and and making sure to keep our kids safe. That's their number one priority, of course. Whose whose procedures is this? When I met with Coach Wilkerson and Coach Goen, no. Whose procedures is this? They were already following the things we're talking about here with these regulations. Where are they getting their training from? Oh, I'm not sure. I can't speak to that. I would want to know and capture that because at the end of the day, if somebody haven't, Lord forbid, something happens on our fields, right, in in the middle of 90 plus degree weather and
071we just missed it. We missed it by one degree, two degree, whatever. We got this zones, there's levels, right? But yes, you miss it by a little bit and something happens. If we don't have it accurately captured, then we're all, you know, paying the price for for somebody somebody making a mistake, right? And that's the worst thing in the world. So, we can look into partnering with either Buckingham County Health Department or if there's an online training module provided by the by somewhere u we will look into that and we will expedite training for um our starting with our athletic director and then um work with our coaches as well. And the climatization piece, while that sounds great and everything, just so you know, that doesn't mean a hill beans when you get out of
072a car, there's 60 degrees inside the car and you're gonna have to try and climatize for a couple hours a day. It's it's Yeah, we try to do the best we can, but at the end of the day, you know, you're fighting losing battle in most cases with AC in the vehicles and schools even. Yes. Leaving from school from an AC environment at 70 degrees, you're going out to 90 degree weather. It's it's a huge factor. Yes. In heat related incidents. Know that firsthand. Got it. Thank you. This is wonderful. Yes, it is. Great start. Okay, great. Okay, next policy. Policy LC, charter schools. Uh, this policy has been updated for clarity and consistency with footnotes updated and added. This policy requires the school board to include procedures for any charter school application process. Uh,
073Mrs. Haynes will review our current process for charter school applications with you. Again, this is one of those situations where we were ahead of the game and we already have the procedures outlined here in our uh policy LC-e. We discuss um the step-by-step process for any individual group or organization that would have to follow if they were seeking to open a charter school in our division. Um it says the addendum requires applicants to submit the state charter package plus this local supplement to the superintendent no later than January 1st preceding the desired opening year. uh within an original and three copies and there's a $100 application fee and there are 23 sections to it. There's a template for the petitioners through everything from performance-based goals, curriculum alignment to SOS, um evidence of community support and
074the list goes on. So, we do have that outlined and that's already been approved by you guys previously. We're good with that, I think. Yeah, you said we haven't had to deal with it, so we don't know. Yes. And so I just wanted to uh add add some little bit of information. You know, tomorrow we have our admin council meeting, our first monthly meeting with and that will include directors and principles, myself and Miss DS. And um we will be um sharing all of the updated policies um the information that has been changed within the policy that's that's in red that the updates that they need to understand and and be aware of. and administrators will be asked to sign off that they received this professional development tomorrow and that they received an updated um
075you know version of these policy updates and that they're going to um update their staff as part of their annual PD with faculty meetings at the beginning of the year of what information they need to be aware of. There was one other um policy that we had been told to kind of look at was KGD That's the one about the overdose, the notification about that. Yes. So, um through the regular method of communication used for schoolwide notifications and within 24 hours, um the school principal or principal's designate notifies the parent of each student enrolled in the relevant school of such a school connected student overdose or suspected school connected overdose. Um, the notification must include the information to the extent of what's known at the time of the notification about the the name or identifiable
076features of the controlled substance and whether the confirmed or suspected overdose occurred on school premises during regular school hours or during a school sanctioned activity whether on or off school school prem school premises. Um if any inaccuracy of the initial information uh notification are subsequently discovered, the principal or principal's design shall provide an updated notification to the parent of each student to correct any such inaccuracies. Um, the Buckingham School Board, superintendent, principals, school administrators, and employees will take reasonable steps uh to protect the privacy and dignity of individuals involved in any confirmed or suspected school connected student overdose. And any notification provided in accordance with the policy will ensure sensitivity to the privacy interests of affected individuals and compliance with any laws, rules or regulations relating to disclosure and protection of the students personal, confidential
077or otherwise sensitive information including compliance with the federal um furpa and related. So, we will be, like I said, going over these policy updates with administrators tomorrow during admin counsel um and making sure they understand the about the 24-hour notification, what information needs to be shared during that 24-hour notification, as well as a reminder that if we have any of the initial information incorrect that we need to we need to circle back and notify parents again of any corrections and also to maintain um privacy through FURPA. Thank you. So, this is the one where we're supposed to go ahead and try to approve it, right? Yes. Do we need to do any of the amend amendment stuff that we talked about or just as is? I don't know that anything was amended on that was
078just on the other Roger. We were just providing clarifying information. move we approve the May VSBA policy updates as presented. Second. It's been motioned by Mr. Snotty and second by Mr. Craig Gregory to approve the May BSBA policy updates as presented. Uh any questions on the motion? All those in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. The motion carries. Um, now 8.01 school board member committee updates. I don't believe we've had any. Um, but does anybody have any updates? Well, they had last meeting was a while back for facilities. Yeah, that's already been covered. Are there any other? And like I said, the governor school is going to be meeting on the 23rd of July. Okay. I believe. So I can And you said it's informed with Prince Edward. Yes. So, but I'll get you
079the information. Okay. Good. I plan on attending as well. Okay. Good. Yes, ma'am. All right. Is there any other any other business that we want to discuss? The AC stuff has been on the table for a while. Go ahead. Yes. All right. I'll discuss it then. Um, there's been conversations had about uh our school buses, how many we have. We've seen some Facebook uh stuff from one of our bus drivers published out there uh on on school buses and the lack of AC systems. Um, and I think we've had conversations with Mr. Palmer about it. Uh, Mr. Palmer, are you willing to come up and talk about it? Sure. Sorry. I know he's not feeling good. He's sick. Yeah. Um, at the startup of this school year, we were presently going to have nine buses
080that going to be air conditioned. Uh we we will start up of 27 without air conditioning. That's how we're going to stand at the start of the school this coming year. Sometime this year is kind of a delay in getting your buses made. We we're going to actually get two more buses later on in the year. So that will put us up to 11 with air when they get here and 25 without air once they the new ones get here. How many on the road at any given time, sir? How many are on the road at any given time? All of them on the road. All 27 used. Oh yeah. All of them. That's That's the daily routes. That's That's no spares. Like the extras going back and forth to Shawsville, Richmond, Lynchburg, whatever. Or
081they No, they are vans. Okay. Yeah. What is the age of what year? How how old would a bus be that you would not want to put air conditioning on? Well, that's because it depends on the mileage, I'm sure. Department of Education changed it a few years ago. It used to be when everything was great, the life expectancy of a school bus before you took it off road was 10 years and they stretch they stretched that out to 15 years. So we're going to have some rate that 15 years old. And we used to get four years ago, we got four a year and we got three a year, but with the price of the buses now we're just getting two a year because of the air condition, because of the emissions and all like
082that. The price used to be 90,000 now 130,000. like everything that's gone up tremendously. So, but that is the buses that are on the road right there every day. It's 36. I did cut it a road last year. Used to be 37, but one of my drivers, she retired and I I moved the road around and did away with one last year. So, presently we have nine with air, 27 without air. And the retro kit is you said 10 to 14,000. That is the quote that I have 14,000 per bus and we're right now we're able to get How much do we have have set aside for the budget for new buses? We don't have them on our budget. They are given to us. gave us some the county gracious enough to give us they
083give us 270 a year but that's back when school buses were 90,000 right that's probably been six years ago we would several years ago never got a bus when we had to make a drastic cut and then turned around and um the county has been giving us 270 which but like I say it's been probably five six eight years ago now buses now cost 130 okay and with 130 a piece you left over $10,000 and you could probably put one together retrofit kit if you had four extra grand. You might could. Yeah. But um you know had a little extra money. Well, I think you um the the gas that we got this coming year coming in that's a little bit less. So that would help us possibly maybe. Yeah. Come in got a come
084in like 10 or 15 cent per gallon cheaper than last year. That's going to really help when you get 20,000 gallons. You know, it's going to really help. It's not much, but it is a saving. Where are the the buses? You said the nine that are going out. I assume I would like to assume anyway that you got them on the routes that you need them on as far as needing the AC. What does it matter? Just depends on the driver. Does it depends on the Well, I tell you, it's a lot of things. Depends on. It depends on if somebody works every day, come shows up, work every day, too. Now, I can tell you. Yeah, that's right. You know, but I do try to get, you know, extremely that's what we did the
085first year. The extremely long roads. try to put one and you know that's that's the decision that I try to make and use my best judgment. Sure. Sure. What's the longest route as far as time? The longest road used to be the one that went to Howwoodsville about an hour and a half. Went all to the Houseville Bridge up there next to Bloody Manchester. And that road right there, it was right at See, you're not supposed to transport students over an hour and a half and it was right at it. I know. I used to ride it. Yeah, you wrote it. Yeah, but that was that was the longest. Hey, and we didn't have AC when I rode it. Just saying. But the windows work great. Did they work still on the bus? The window
086still work? I hope so. Okay. I've got a question about um a cost that uh maybe uh folks maybe hadn't considered. Um under the last administration, there was a lot of um emissions rules and green rules passed. And because of that with and I was reading this in um an article because of those rules I guess by the EPA don't know who um the cost of repairing air conditioning whether it's a vehicle or a home air conditioner has um risen astronomically due to the grade of refrigerant you are required to um put inside of a repaired unit, right? And um uh my question is of the buses that we have on the road um working with air conditioning. If any of those air conditioners went out, what would be a ballpark figure? But would it
087take the old refrigerant or would it be you'd have to put in the new required refrigerant? Whatever whatever type refrigerant came in it because they changed refrigerant like in you know they changed whatever came in it you'd have to put back in it. Okay. If it's 134A or or if it's 1 2 3 4 either one or 410A it's three different ones. But whatever they put in originally that's what you going to have to put back in it. Okay. and go to tell you there freon if you buy 134A like most the older cars now it's $10 a can of freon I bought a can of freon all day one two34 was $49 a can right see you're exactly right what you're saying yeah that's a hidden cost um to the air conditioning that I
088don't think um very many folks considered another thing too is like this past year the emissions went up all the different bus manufacturers went up $8,000 for the emission change. That's just emission change. That death fluid and all you got to we've been doing that, but just they trying to get that exhaust down so low in these buses. $8,000 is a tremendous hit per bus air condition is I think when they're new on a bus when you order them at 15,000 when they come at the factory, but they retrofit them for 14. That's that's just what they that's what they charge. Yeah, those the cost of those units for the new buses that get them is going to be more a lot more expensive than what I think people initially thought. And that's the point
089I'm trying to make. Yeah. It's going to be a cost of people are going to say you spent what on an air conditioner for a bus and the reason is because of the laws that have been passed that you have to comply with. And if we want the air conditioned buses, we got to comply with it. I just want to let folks know, you might want want to be prepared for these cost estimates when they come out. And emissions is a federal law, right? Emissions, just like your car, right? Federal law. All right. Thank you, Mr. P. How many buses did we run during the summer school? 14. 14. So I assume nine of those was AC. Some I mean some some of the drivers, they want to drive their own bus, you know. Right.
090Right. without I'll leave it up to them. Sure. Sure. Sure. You know, they know it runs. Yeah. Yeah. They don't drive it every day. Yeah. But I I I'll leave it up to them. Are the athletic buses air conditioned? We have two, ma'am. Two. So, are they included in the bus routes or are they just reserved? No, that's extra. That's that's just activity ball games. And if you got a long field trip or something like that to Richmond or something like that, well, on a hot day, they'll use that. Yeah. But it's two. It is two only two. Well, it's actually three, but one bus is real old. It's probably a nanny some model. It does have air halfway working on it, but the two main buses were the two last two activity buses that
091we purchased. So, they're not used any other time. What does that matter? Are they not? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, they're used. They're used, but if it's a real hot day, we use the two newest buses we have. And you don't usually have no more than two going out. But I think what she was asking is they're never used on a a bus route as far as school. No, you got no lights on it. You don't have no lights to pick up. They don't they don't meet the criteria. You can you can you can federal regulation requires those. You can run a regular speed limit in a white bus. Yeah. That's right. That's a good question. Mr. Braum, how many buses are we supposed to buy every year by law or by Virginia Department of Education?
092Actually, there there is no exact number you've got to buy. There's a lot of other divisions around here I've talked to. They're not getting none. You know, there's no there's no number you have to have. They do recommend by Department of Education a bus gets 15 years old, you start using as a substitute bus instead of a daily route. Yes, sir. Okay. So, there's potential if we correlate with the board of supervisors, the $270,000 that we do get from them for the buses, we can maybe buy one bus and use the other half to fun AC for the other buses. That'll be totally up to somebody other than me. Yes, I wouldn't have a problem with it. Thank you, sir. Any other discussion? How many weeks do we have school? Summer school. Was it two,
093three? It's four. Four. Was it whole month? I don't know. Was it was the whole month of June? Four days. Three or four months. 15 days. 15. So, three weeks then. Do we know of any heat related incidents coming off of buses? But it didn't get hot till the last week. Well, that's what I'm saying. I mean, the hottest months I'm looking at today on average temperature for Buckingham right now, the max average temperature June 85, July 86, August 85. After that, everything's 80 and below. So if we didn't have any major if we don't know of any documented major incidents between June, July and August uh you know to say we want to go out and spend a lot of money on AC systems for essentially a month and a half of school plus
094summer school for for stuff. We all rode the school buses without AC. Uh another thing to consider is heat related incidents come out of AC. Uh, we weren't allowed to run our ACs and our Humvees in the military because as soon as you got out with your gear on for whatever, you'd pass out. You'd pass out. You couldn't you couldn't move. So, we ran them without it. You talking about hot, no window, you hold the window down and they No. Uh-uh. So, one um recommendation might be that I've seen other school divisions do when it is extremely hot and we have a heat advisory uh is to have um small bottles of water available for students to take that have been iced down um available, you know, if they choose. We're helping them stay hydrated
095um on those hot days and that has been successful in other school divisions. I'm just looking at because apparently it's an issue and and I don't know if the bus driver you've spoken with the bus driver or not and that's none of my business. That's you and your personnel. But um the assumption is that we're not taking care of the the the staff nor the kids. And you know, we all had bus drivers that drove us with no AC. I rode the bus hour and a half with no AC. So, I mean, not that I turned out okay, but I'm still alive. Well, we had we had positions that we had to get rid of because we didn't have enough money in the budget. So, what would you recommend? Do you have one? Oh, in
096a perfect world, all of them had air condition. Of course, that's a perfect world. That's right. Uh, actually, I know budget time, stuff like this. I know the county is trying to help us and stuff like that, but it's whatever you can do. I'll deal with whatever whatever come what y'all tell me to do, I'll deal with it and make it work. Okay. I'm gonna have to, but I, you know, I just, it's totally up to the board. Yeah. I mean, none of my cars I buy have are without AC. I'm just saying. Yeah. I mean, but at the end of the day, it I think it's a nice to have. It's a best practices. I just don't think it's a mandatory thing. I don't think it's a necessity. And going forward, Yeah. Right. Going
097forward, we do the best we can with the money and getting the AC's in the systems. But I mean, that's right, the buses. But at the end of the day, I mean, you guys are working outside with no AC, on the buses with no AC, in the garage with no AC, and you ain't moving. There's no air flow with no AC. So, I mean, yeah. I mean, I hear what everybody's, you know, fussing about. It's just it's a it's a hard pill to swallow when you're talking about, you know, you don't have money for XYZ. Luckily, we're working on it. New superintendent. We're working on stuff stuff with as far as budget stuff goes, but at the end of the day right now, I mean, there's we can't get them all there. We can't. All
098we can do is take the money we got and and roll with it. Do the best we can. Um unless anybody else has got something enlighten me about. I I don't know. All right. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Is anything else to come before the board? If not, I declare this meeting adjourned. Thank you.