001successes. And so, uh, we have four winners, um, an individual from each of our schools, and then we also have our division winner. We do this in a really strange way here. Um, so the winner that's selected right now is actually the winner who will, I guess, if you will, reign over the next school year. So, we will declare the the division teacher of the year for 2627. So, that always sounds kind of strange. Someone's like, "Oh, you're getting it wrong. It's for this year." No, because this person will then um kind of preside over that next year as the teacher of the year. They'll speak at convocation. It's kind of a cool process. Um so the first person we want to recognize is Kelsey Marquez. And yep, come join [applause] us. So Kelsey Marquez,
002congratulations. So I'd like to recognize Kelsey Marquez, a Spanish one and two teacher at Nelson County High School and a nominee for the NCPS teacher of the year. In just her second full year at NCHS, Miss Marquez has established herself as an enthusiastic and dedicated educator who truly prioritizes student learning and building a strong school community. [snorts] Her engaging instruction and passion for world languages have led to a measurable increase in enrollment in Spanish courses with more students choosing to continue into upper level classes. Beyond the classroom, Mrs. Marquez has worked to strengthen connections with our heritage Spanish-sp speakaking families, hosting a well-attended Lataria night that celebrated culture and helped build meaningful relationships between home and school. She also serves as the junior class sponsor, successfully organizing last year's senior prom in winter ball for
003students, demonstrating strong leadership, organization, and commitment to creating a posit creating positive experiences for our students. Mrs. Mrs. Marquez's professionalism, collaboration with colleagues, and dedication to student success have already made a meaningful impact in Nelson County High School, and we are grateful for the energy and care she brings to our school community. So, congratulations and thank you for all that you do. Congratulations. So, I'm going to put this in [applause] here. We keep that right here. So, we're gonna >> and I'll let you be able to hold on to that. Congratulations. Thank you. >> All right. Next up, so Mr. Ryan Wells, come join us. [applause] Congratulations. So, Mr. Wells is a music teacher at Tai River Elementary School. And I'd like to recognize Ryan Wells, elementary music teacher at Tai River Elementary School and
004then as a nominee earlier on for the NCPS division teacher of the year. Mr. Wells is an exceptional educator whose passion for music and commitment to students are evident every day. He creates an engaging and inclusive learning environment where students feel encouraged to take creative risks, express themselves through music, and build confidence through his creativity and high expectations. Mr. Wells leads outstanding student performances that highlight both strong instruction and the joy of learning. Events such as school concerts, the holiday singalong, which I actually got to be there for, which was very fun, and the school talent show bring our school community together and strengthen connections with families. Beyond the classroom, Mr. Wells serves as a grade level lead teacher for the specialist team where he models collaboration, leadership, and professionalism while supporting colleagues and contributing
005to schoolwide initiatives. Mr. Wells dedication, creativity, and genuine care for the students make a lasting impact at Ty River Elementary. We are grateful for the energy and inspiration he brings to our students and school community. So, we want to say thank you so much for all that you do. Congratulations. And we're going to make it stand here and get a a lovely picture. All right. >> All right. >> Good. You want you you're good. You don't need one. Okay. All right. CONGRATULATIONS. [applause] Next up, Miss Gretchen Morgan. I know. Everybody's favorite thing. Come up front. Congratulations. [applause] Oh gosh. So, we'd like to recognize Gretchen Morgan as a dedicated educator at Nelson Middle School and a nominee for the NCPS Division Teacher of the Year. Miss Morgan shows up every single day with one goal
006in mind, helping her students succeed. She pours tremendous time, energy, and care into her work because she truly believes in the potential of every child she teaches. Her classroom is a place where students are focused, engaged, and supported built on a strong foundation of respect and trust. Mrs. Morgan has a special gift for connecting with students and making each one of them feel seen, valued, and capable of success. The relationship she builds extend far beyond the classrooms. Former students frequently return to share their accomplishments and invite her to their games, performances, and events. And Mrs. Morgan shows up for them, continuing to support and celebrate their success. Her passion, kindness, and unwavering dedication make a lasting difference for students and help make Nelson Middle School a stronger, more supportive place for everyone. Please join me
007in recognizing teacher of the year nominee Gretchen Morgan. And congratulations and thank you for all that you do. [applause] Congratulations. We're going to we're going to get double pictures. We're going to here and then over there. Ready? Wait. You want to come this way a little bit? There we go. All right. Congratulations. This back in there. All right. Thank you very much. Congratulations. And last but not least for our teacher of the year. Okay. Is Miss Jillian Lineer. [applause] Did you get dressed for the picture that might go on the banner? I'm not really sure. Yeah. So, I I started making these banners and I So, I took a picture and she's like, "Please don't put that on the banner." I was like, "We'll go we'll come back and get a better picture." But it
008was a great picture to begin with. So, I was like, "Well, maybe we will." But u So, yes. So, uh, celebrating Jillian Laneir, she is not only Rockfish River Teacher of the Year, but she is also Nelson County Teacher of the Year. So, yep. [applause] So, tonight we are honored to celebrate an outstanding educator whose dedication, compassion, and leadership truly embody the very best of Nelson County Public Schools. It's my pleasure to recognize Jillian Laneir, third grade teacher at Rockfish River Elementary School, is our division teacher of the year. For 18 years, Julian has proudly served the students and families at Rockfish River Elementary. What draws her teaching to teaching each day is the connection she builds with her students and her deep commitment to helping them believe in themselves and discover their own success.
009Jillian believes that meaningful academic growth begins with meeting students social and emotional needs, creating a classroom environment where every child feels safe, valued, and supported. She has a remarkable ability to connect with students who may struggle academically or behaviorally, blending strong instructional practices with a deep understanding of student needs. While academic progress is important, Jillian measures her greatest success in the confidence, resilience, and sense of belonging she helps instill in her students, qualities that will serve them long after they leave her classroom. Julian's impact also extends well beyond her classroom and she serves as grade level leader, lead innovator, and a member of the instructional leadership team, supporting colleagues, and helping shape initiatives that promote deeper learning and student success. She's also deeply involved in the life of the school, volunteering her time at events
010such as math and literacy nights, school dances, and the beloved Fall Funfest, where she has participated for all 18 years. Her colleagues and families consistently speak about the positive energy and calm leadership she brings to the school community and about the way every child in her classroom feels celebrated and supported. Jillian, your passion for teaching, your dedication to your students, and your commitment to our school community truly make a difference every single day. You are shaping lives and strengthening the future of Nelson County. So, please join me in congratulating our Nelson County Public Schools Division [applause] Teacher of the Year. So, congratulations. We're going to put this back here. We're going to open this up. Oh, and I got I also had another uh we celebrated her um at uh surprise, I guess, gathering assembly
011at Rockfish. And so, I had a different speech. I've included it in here. Um I'll probably um attach it to the agenda later so other people can read it. Sorry. Not sorry. So, but I also wanted you to have that. So, all right. We ready? >> Thank you. All right. CONGRATULATIONS. [applause] >> All right. All right. So, um, some of you are here for other reasons and we will enter into the one Nelson Awards. Um, so, um, February was a funky month in terms of weather and it really impacted some of the people that we were able to bring in for the school board meeting um, to celebrate. So, I do want to recognize our February winners. Um, and the first up of our February winners are our Tiger News group. Where are my Tiger
012News people? Raise your hand. Okay. Okay. Come on up, Marcus. Marcus is one of our Tiger News guys. [applause] >> Okay. Of course, Marcus is gonna be the last when I come on. Okay. Here we go. So, um Marcus, do you want to tell them what Tiger News is? >> Uh, so we like record and there's like weather and sports and then there's joke and birthdays and so we record and then it goes and the people get to watch it. Yeah. The classes. >> Perfect. That's a great explan. Do you have a specific um category that you usually work? >> Yeah. Sports. So, uh Marcus is a member of the Ty uh the Tiger News team. And the Tiger News team has become a valued part of Ty River Elementary School by delivering engaging daily
013broadcasts that keep the school community informed and connected through announcements, student highlights, interviews, awards, and special segments. The team brings energy and tiger pride to each school day. Their dedication, teamwork, and commitment to learning. New broadcasting skills have helped build confidence, strengthen collaboration, and create a positive start for students and staff across the school. All of that kind of combines that portrait of a graduate that we talk about. All those five um competencies all kind of baldled into one. So, we appreciate everything that you do, Marcus. Um so, anybody else from the Tiger team? You're the only one to make it. I know it was last second notice. So, can I get someone to take a picture of this young man? And I'm gonna find all of you maybe tomorrow at school. >> Mr. G,
014Mr. Garrett is here. So, Mr. Garrett, would you like to come up and get a picture as well? >> Yes. >> I'm sorry. I phrased that as a question. [laughter] That came out. It came out wrong. All right. We ready? We're doing Can you get another one for me, please? >> Sorry. >> I thought he was taking Never mind. [laughter] >> Got it. >> Okay, cool. Thank you. Here you go, Marcus. [applause] I am going to name the other individuals that are a part of the Tiger News because, um, I think it's always important to be able to celebrate them and I want to make sure I get them all. So, um, the Tiger News team. And so, Mr. Garrett, I will make sure I'm gonna can I'm gonna make sure you take this back
015with you because you as a school get one. Um, and then each individual, and I will drop these by the students because I want to make sure I get a picture of them. Um, so the other students that are involved in this are Sophie Lerman, Rosales or Letterman Rosales, um, Aiden BS, Ronan Bailey, Ara Raj Banks. Araj Banks. Yep, that was a that was a close one. Jada Martin and Zoe Morris. Those are our other members of our uh Tiger News team. So, we want to say congratulations to our students. [applause] Um in February, um and and for those of you who don't know what the One Nelson Awards are, is a way for us to [snorts] recognize those individuals that ex that exhibit the One Nelson mentality. what that is is going above and
016beyond and recognize that it takes everybody for our students and our staff and our schools to be successful. So these individuals have contributed in one way or another or in multiple ways to be able to support that mentality. So that's where we get uh these awards from. And so I don't know if you guys remember, but we had some snow and ice in January and February. Um yeah, just a little bit. And so one of these individuals, and this is a community member, Thomas Fitzgerald, and he was going to try to be here tonight, and he got held up somewhere. So I I'm sorry he wasn't able to join us. But my image of Thomas is in his little uh what's it called? A slide. >> Skid. Yeah, a skid. Just >> steer >> skid
017steer. I'll get it right. Um not today, but I will get it right someday. um from early early in the morning just barely making a dent into the ice and into the snow and working all day long until you just saw lights going up and down in the parking lot at night and then came back the next day to keep trying to work on it and it was cold it was it you know to say it was miserable at that point in time is probably an understatement and just thinking am I making a difference and it's because of that that we were able to kind of get back probably a little bit sooner sooner than we thought and it was still later than we wanted but sooner than we thought. So, Mr. Fitzgerald demonstrated exceptional
018dedication during the winter storms of January and February, spending countless hours in difficult conditions clearing snow and ice from the parking lots at the high school and the middle school. His persistence and hard work ensured that students and staff could safely return to school. Nelson County Public Schools sincerely appreciates him for his commitment, reliability, and support of our school community. So, we want to say thank you to Thomas and I will make sure I find Thomas and we'll get a picture of him. So, congratulations to Thomas. >> [applause] >> At the um last school board meeting, we were able to recognize all the maintenance custodians and uh transportation workers who also worked very very hard to get us back into school. But one group we weren't able to bring in and recognize um and it's
019still they um do so much around still able to uh struggle to get in for these evening meetings are our school counselors. Last uh February we had school counseling week and so we do have a school counselor that was able to make it with us today. So Michaela Cashera, can you please come up here? [applause] So congratulations. So in recognition of National School Counseling Week, we proudly honor the counselors of Nelson County Public Schools for their unwavering dedication to student success through guidance, advocacy, and compassion. You support the academic, social, and emotional growth of every student you serve, and your commitment to empowering learners in strengthening our school communities makes a lasting difference every day. So we want to say congratulations. We're going to get one of these fantastic pictures. >> [applause] >> Okay. Okay.
020Y Okay. Here you go. Oh, and I have completely You know what? I will deliver the mug. I will deliver the mug to you. I'm so sorry. Um Marcus, I'm going to give you a mug just so you can go back and show it off to all your friends. And what this mug is, it's a one Nelson mug. So, here you go. So, put your hot chocolate in during the snow from today because it was 84 degrees yesterday. >> Yes. >> So, there you go. Oh, yeah. Thank you. Perfect. Yay. Okay. All right. So, got that. Um, just so I make sure that I say their names. Marin Tedbeck is a counselor over at Rockfish River Elementary School. Ricky Perry is our school counselor over at the uh Nelson Middle School. Also, Summer White is
021our ninth or eighth grade ninth grade counselor that goes back and forth between the middle and the high school. Zack Winggate is a high school counselor that we have. And then also, Miss Shemaine Day is a high school counselor that we have. So, they weren't able to make it uh this evening, but we'll make sure that we find them and and give them their awards uh Friday or Tuesday or Monday might be a good day to do it also. So, all right, last but not least, our March. And again, um springtime, believe it or not, we are getting into springtime is a tough time because this is when all of our activities are in full, um swing, and so sometimes people aren't able to make it. But, um we still like to honor our students,
022our community, and our uh certified and classified staff. So, the first one for our March One Nelson winners is Evie Sims. So, Evie, will you join me up here? Congratulations, [applause] Evie. All right, so I'm going to read this and if you want to stand and read it with me, that's great. So Eevee is and and just so you know, this is um we have our uh form that's available through Facebook and our website where people can go on and nominate. So someone thought to think of you and all the you have to offer and then go take the time to fill it out. So that's that's pretty big deal. That's very meaningful and that's a great uh um that's a great reflection on you and what you mean to people. So Eevee is a
023hardworking, motivated, and kind student who takes great pride in her schoolwork. She shows genuine respect for her peers and teachers and is always willing to look out for others. She is curious about the world and eager to learn each day. Eevee seeks opportunities to help her classmates and be supportive friend to everyone. Her positive attitude and strong character make her a joy to teach and a valued member of our school community. So, we want to say congratulations. And we're gonna have this nice lady take our picture. So, if you give us a second, Dad, do you want a picture? >> And then we're gonna [laughter] put her hat on that she >> Oh. Oh, okay. Yep. We're gonna get Yep. Awesome. Congratulations. [applause] Here you go. Here you go. [cheering] >> Here's your certificate. And
024here's that. Perfect. You got it. Okay. Good stuff. All right. >> Thank you. All right. Next up is our community winner. So, Miss Debbie Whitmore Martin, please come up. [applause] I'll come to you. >> I'm coming to you. >> Okay. I'm going back over here. So, you know what they used to do like just a little bit more? Just a little bit more. Yeah. Yep. Um, so Debbie was actually nominated several times and so we had to make sure we were captured all the different nominations and what the the the sentiment that they were providing. So Debbie has dedicated more than half her life. It's amazing. That's 20 years. I'm kidding. You're not supposed to say that out loud. Okay. No, I'm kidding. 44. Holy cow. Okay. Debbie has dedicated more than half her life
025to supporting youth development and athletics in Nelson County. Through her unwavering belief in young people, she has created a safe, positive, and encouraging spaces where youth can grow and thrive. Her warmth, kindness, and genuine care have touched countless lives, often going far beyond her formal role. Debbiey's dedication, compassion, and commitment to this community have helped shaped character, build confidence, and create bright futures for our children of Nelson County. So, we want to say thank you so much for you do. um that's just what is seen that doesn't even cover the stuff that doesn't get seen behind close, you know, everything that you do for all of our students and and really look out for those that maybe um don't have someone looking out for them. So, we want to say thank you very much for
026all that you do. We're going to have this nice lady take our picture. >> Thank you very and and actually Debbie, you were one of the first adopters of the one Nelson stuff. So, I remember you have a picture with all the t-shirts on it. So, we appreciate that support. Yeah, we have a family picture with that and our dog, too. >> And the matching t-shirts. All the matching t-shirts. Yes. So, thank you so much. And you need your mug. >> There you go. Thank you so much. Appreciate you. Thank you. Yes. Thank you. [applause] Next up is Chelsea Stalicker. Um she is our cheerleading coach and also helps out in a lot of different ways. She thought she was going to be able to make it this evening and was not able to do
027so. So, Chelsea has served as the high school cheerleading coach for the past two years and has built a program filled with infectious spirit and pride for all programs at NCHS. Beginning at the NMS cheer coach three years ago, she has continued to support both middle and high school programs while leading JV and varsity cheer squads that have grown significantly in size and enthusiasm. She also has spearheaded the school's first ever competition cheer squad which competed in the regional championship. She's cons she consistently encourages cheerleaders to support other programs across the school community. Chelsea truly embodies the one Nelson spirit through her leadership dedication and commitment to uplifting others. So, we want to say thank you so much to Miss Doniker and I will make sure I find her and provide her circuit. Yep. And
028last but not least for our one Nelson awards is our uh certified staff and this goes to D. Mitchellen Shaver. So, Miss Shaver consistently goes above and beyond to support the students and staff at Tai River Elementary School. She works tirelessly to meet the needs of her own students while also assisting many others across multiple grade levels. Through her leadership, dedication, and willingness to step in wherever needed, from writing IEPs and facilitating meetings to tutoring students and supporting daily school operations, she continually puts students first. The energy, compassion, and commitment she brings to our school community makes a lasting difference. So, I want to say congratulations to D. Shaver. So, thank you. [applause] All right. I believe that brings us to our conclusion of our recognitions. >> That is the best part of reading hallways
029are the recognition. People work so hard every single day and it's it's easy to get caught up in all the things that aren't going well that those recognitions really remind us there's a lot of powerful fantastic stuff being done even the things we don't hear about on day showing [snorts] up being there and being Miss Whitmore is a perfect example of being there for somebody that people don't know. So, um, congratulations to all of those important dates coming up. Um, just a couple things to think about. So, we will we intend to vote, I think, on our budget tonight. So, that will be delivered [clears throat] on March 13th. I'm not sure that we like the idea that Friday the 13th. We're having our budget delivered to the county, but um should be tomorrow that'll
030be delivered. There is an async instructional planning day scheduled for March 16th. Um, fourth grading period begins March 17th. report cards go out March 20th. Then March 23rd, PD day, student holiday and student success night, parent teacher conferences on the 23rd. Um new schoolboard orientation part two, March 27th. So something that some of you all may be involved in. And then don't forget on um the 31st we have our school board governance training. So this is an announcement to the public that we will be at a meeting all five of us in attendance at one time. So offsite for that. And then April 2nd, back at it again, the schoolboard meeting. So note that April 2nd date is a change from the second Thursday because of meetings and schedules. So and spring break. [snorts] So
031we will have our next schoolboard meeting very quickly because we we will miss you if we don't see you soon enough. Um and then instructional planning on April 3rd and start spring break, which I know no one is looking forward to. >> Yeah. Yeah. So any dates? Anything we need to add to that to the important dates to remember from a staff or board perspective? Okay. So, comments from student representatives. Their student representatives are busy doing student stuff. So, this is good. We'll get an update from them hopefully the next meeting. And on to comments from the superintendent flowing right into our monthly pathways for success. >> All right. Hold on one second. We're once again having some technical difficulties. So, we're going to try to make this work. Hold on one second. Oh, wait.
032No, that public comments is after me, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. I might have um hit a button that may have taken your comments away. So, I I apologize for that. All right. So, um I um we'll start right into the uh pathways to success. Um this last month has been heavily involved in terms of paying attention to the legislative um session and seeing any changes changes if any that impact our budget. um analyzing the House, Senate, and Governor budgets to in order to really um inform ours um completed and submitted VC Corp insurance, approved FMLA work, uh filed reimbursement requests, and also continue to uh monitor volunteer um applications. Uh when it comes to instruction assessment, accreditation, instructional team has been finalizing a textbook adoption process, which you'll hear more about later this evening.
033Um what's so great about this is getting the input from a lot of different stakeholders like teachers, instructional coaches, school leaders, community. Um we're preparing also for summer learning programs and kindergarten registration. For those uh individuals who are watching um and have not registered their kindergarteners, we're still able to take those registrations. So we highly encourage you to do that. Um staff completed several key initiatives including Title 9 training, grant updates, MTSS, district fidelity review, and Alexia data analysis um in assessment. Fall testing has concluded winter growth uh testing. Next month we'll recognize our 600 winners from last um spring and this fall um right before we get going on the next um season of so testing. So that's always exciting. Um, finally, students benefited from the Charlottesville book bus distributing free books and career
034readiness efforts continue through apprenticeships partnerships and the selection of Zello as our new career planning platform for pupil personnel. Our recent highlights include successful family fund building night at Rockfish River Elementary, bringing families together through creativity and play. Special education team has been working closely on fifth to sixth grade transition planning for students with IEPs. and the Special Education Advisory Committee, otherwise known as CK, recently reviewed our annual federal funding plan, again, something you will um learn more about later this evening. We also submitted our inclusive schools action plan um to the VOE, and we're excited that our adapted PE students are preparing for the tournament of champions in April, which is that at Louisa again? Um if you have if it's a wonderful event if you want if you can take an hour to
035drive out to Louisa to see that it is something to um behold and see and see our kids participate in for human resources. Uh we recently participated in Title 9 compliance training and that was um all of the sitebased principles and several central office staff um in order to be able to um build up our capacity to be able to address any types of those situations. also represented NC uh NCPS at the UVA educator recruiting fair connecting with students interested in enter um entering the teaching profession. We're also preparing for the 2627 Virginia preschool initiative enrollment process including staff training and VDOE sessions on VPI slot allocations. Additionally, we supported teacher lensure pathways through tuition reimbursement and IT Teach program, completing spring class observations for VPI in the early childhood special ed education classrooms and
036have continued working with the community partners regarding Head Start policy implementation technology. Um, at the high school and the middle school, the fiber network project is moving forward with extreme fiber switches ordered and installation pending. Completion of the vendor uh fiber runs. NCPS has completed competitive bidding for server refresh, transitioning to a hypercon converged, highly available infrastructure. Mike, I have no idea what that means, but I really love that graphic that's up because kind of it it kind of shows you the advantages of um that transition and I appreciate our technology department always thinking of how to to keep us protected and keep us moving forward. Um as a a school board members, you just mentioned like I keep getting these calls or I keep getting these spam emails. That's across the nation. the cyber
037attacks that are taking place and just always staying on top of keeping us um as protected as we can be is important. Our division was recently spotlighted by Extreme Networks for implementing AI powered networking in K12 schools at uh the high school. A new lock and charge Chromebook repair kiosk uh will launch a swapand go system minimizing classroom disruptions. So uh minimizing the time a student is out of the classroom and coming and going to be able to deal with a Chromebook. Finally, our live stream meetings continue to support transparency with recent board meetings receiving over 100 combined views. Um, as well as any event, pretty much any big event that's taking place in the county, it's being streamed for our our families to be able to stay connected. Maintenance, as you see those pictures,
038it never seems to stop with monitoring the inclement weather. Um, we evaluated roads multiple times and to ensure safe uh school operations. Team members also participate in professional learning including water works seminar or webinar on PFAS and water treatment safety. Maintenance continues to attend renovation progress meetings and monitor construction areas to ensure student and staff safety after the sprinkler pipe malfunction at Rockfish River Elementary School. The team worked quickly to restore classrooms. Looking ahead, maintenance is preparing to dewinterize the athletic complex for spring sports and has used warmer days to repair several parking lot lights. Um, transportation have been actively adjusting into changing student transportation needs, and we appreciate our drivers who have stepped up to cover those challenging route um, opportunities. Field trips and athletic travel have in also increased with drivers putting in
039extra hours to transport students across the state. We also received three of our four new school buses that we ordered last um last spring I believe. Um so we've received three of the four um in which we'll start to prepare them for their routes soon. In addition, over 50% of the high school student, staff, and teachers participated in the school climate survey, providing valuable feedback on safety. Finally, we're in uh ensuring our AED equipment across the division is up to date by testing it. School nutrition. Um, in February, Miss Canel attended the Blue Ridge Co-op spring tasting meeting in Harrisonenburg with over 14 vendors and participated in several farm-toschool initiatives, including the Virginia Foods for Virginia kids cohort and planning meeting with the 4P local food hub to increase locally sourced foods in our school.
040We also placed our USDA commodity orders for next year, prioritizing funds from the DoD fresh produce program and [snorts] participated in the VOE training on non- congregate summer feeding. Finally, all schools held a taste test Tuesday where students sampled new scratchmade meals like teriyak teriyak chicken, Oro's kolio, and homemade chicken nuggets with very positive feedback from students. terms of um our breakdown of foods. I want to point out that this is including February numbers where we missed time in February and still um were able to have some um good support of our students to their meals. Um and the last number you see there of our suppers 679. It's because that included uh the mass effort on behalf of our cafeteria and our staff and volunteers to be able to send meals home before the
041first storm. And then um on the extended delay, we were able to have meal pickup uh for parents who had signed up and wanted to and indicated they needed them. Um so we appreciate that a great deal. Last but not least, our community engagement. We continue to be um very focused and cognizant of working to engage our uh families and our community. And as you see here, there's a lot of uh different things going on. Um, I really appreciate, [clears throat] um, coming out of Fischersville, they want to provide a free medical, um, clinic for any Nelson County resident. Um, so it might not be in Nelson County, but it's they're opening it up. Um, that flyer's been on our our Facebook page. We'll we'll it's coming up soon. We'll send it back out. Um,
042hosted a free family fun night, student organized life skills workshop that was held, so put on by one of our students to promote life skills and different things. I think the feedback they got was it was beneficial. They'd like to try to do another one. uh in uh a few weeks, I think. Um is that correct? And we want to make sure we advertise that. Greece the musical was fantastic. And congratulations to our winter athletes on great seasons. Boy, boys basketball made it to the state quarterfinals. Track and field athletes competed really well at states and our cheerleading squad was able to make it to regionals. So, we want to say congratulations. Congratulations to our FFA block and bridal livestock contest participants. Um, our sheriff's office is holding a chili cookoff and touch a truck
043event this weekend, this Saturday, and all proceeds go to benefit Special Olympics. So, indirectly that's going to go benefit some of our students. This will be the second time we've partnered with the sheriff's office to support um a Special Olympics event. If you'll remember back in November, they partnered with us. Um, they carried the torch and lit the flame at the uh feet meet that we had in November. Um, Rockfish is also partnering with high school students in the Wintergreen Nature Foundation to help fifth grade students plant Joe Pie plants. Um, Tai River hosted a winter bingo family community event and the middle school all week long of uh, kindness week did different events and activities to celebrate it and promote it um, from within and outside the school. So, we want to say thank
044you to all of that. Any questions? >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. Do we have any comments from the public about this? >> So, while she's bringing that up, I just want to remind people when you come up to speak to the board. We don't as a board um respond to any comments, but we ask that you do speak within three minutes, state your name, state your address. You have three minutes to speak. It's not personal. When you start getting close to the three minutes, we're like, you got to cut it off because they fuss at me if I don't have you cut it off at three minutes. Um, so the first person >> Good evening members of the board. My name is Deina Deno and I'm a resident of Nelson County and
045if you need my address, I'll give it, but I really don't want everybody to know where I live, >> but it's on Laurel Road. Thank >> you. >> All right. Thank you for the time and effort you have put into developing this year's proposed budget. After reviewing the proposal, I believe it reflects careful and responsible planning. The budget focuses on the real needs of our schools and there's nothing frivolous in it. Each part of the budget supports the students, teachers, and staff who work every day to make our school system successful. For that reason, I encourage all of you to approve the proposed budget. I would also like to address the increase in health insurance costs. Our teachers and school employees show up every day to serve our students and our community. Like many families,
046they are already managing rising cost in their own households. I respectfully asked that the board to ensure that the school system absorbs the health insurance increase rather than passing that cost on to the employees. Taking this step would send a clear message that we value the people who dedicate their careers to educating and supporting our children. When we support our staff, we strengthen our classrooms and our entire school system. Thank you for your time, your service, and your commitment to our schools. Thank you. >> Okay, next up we have Mr. Dollar. [clears throat] >> Good evening. I'm Alan Dollaris at 75 Wild Orchid Lane in Afton. Um I'm a retire retired teacher in my fourth year of VRIP. Um five years will be next year and I'll be out and I'll be just a a
047citizen again and um I don't know how to do that but um been teacher for so long but um I had the pleasure this year of of my assignment in ERIP was to uh work with ESL students at both elementary schools. And I mean, I've seen so many bright, interesting kids in my career, it's hard to top my memories of them, but these guys are bright and dual ling ling language. Talk about training teachers for the future. I want to encourage um you to support them in everything we do because they're teaching their parents how to teach how to speak English at home and in in school teaching their friends to speak Spanish here. and uh it's a it's a great thing for the county. So, I just want to advocate for them and I
048hope I can teach them again next year, but that's that's next year. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. And Miss Becky Allen. >> I'm Becky Allen. I am not a resident of Nelson County, but I am a teacher and I've been teaching for Nelson County Public Schools since 2014. Good evening, members of the school board and any board of supervisors who may be watching. My name is Rebecca Allen and I'm a teacher at Chai River, parent of two NCPS alumni, wife of another NCPS teacher and president of the Nelson County Education Association. I want to share a story of two people. The first is a 20 year 20 plus year veteran teacher in our county. Someone with a professional license, decades of specialized experience, Ty River Teacher of the Year, and the responsibility
049of teaching NCPS students to read while shaping hundreds of lives. The second is my son. He is a proud graduate of this very same school system. He does not have a college degree and he recently stated uh started his first adult job in the private sector. As I sat down to look at the numbers, I realized something staggering. My son in his first entry level role has a total compensation and benefits package that is already greater than mine. A 20 a teacher who has given two decades of their life to our children. This is not a slight against my son's hard work. It is a profound indictment of how we value our educators. When we talk about compensation, we often overlook the take-home reality. Right now, our staff is facing a significant increase in health
050insurance premiums. If the board passes the cost on to employees, you aren't just giving a flat budget. You are giving a pay cut to numerous employees, especially if staff is also not given the 2 and a half% raise. I am here to ask the division to absorb the entire health insurance increase for our hourly and classified staff, bus drivers, custodians, pair professionals who are the backbone of our operations. Higher monthly premiums aren't just a line item. It impacts our grocery bill and our gas money. We are already seeing a critical shortage in these positions. If we continue to erode our take-home pay, we won't just have a morale problem, we will have a functioning school problem. We know that staff retention is the single most important factor in student achievement. When we lose a veteran
051staff member because they can no longer afford to work here, we lose decades of institutional knowledge and the stable relationships that students need to thrive. Current data shows that staff shortages in education lead to larger class sizes and a reliance on long-term substitutes. This directly correlates with lower test scores and higher burnout for the staff who remain. We cannot expect worldclass outcomes while offering basement level support. Excellence is not free and our students deserve more. You have a choice tonight to view staff compensation as a cost to be managed or as an investment to be protected. Our employees shouldn't have to look at a 22-year-old high school graduate's entry-level benefits with envy. We realize that this decision is not solely up to the school board, but you do play a vital role advocating for our
052students and staff. Please protect our staff, absorb the insurance increases, approve the 2 and a half% [clears throat] raise, and show this community that our educators are our highest priority. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. because we do like to give everyone an opportunity to speak in case they didn't get to sign up. Is there anyone else you'd like to have the three minutes? Thank you all very much. We're down to the consent agenda portion of our agenda. Um any questions in regards to the two items on our consent agenda? >> Barring any comments or questions about it, may I have a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented? I move we approve the consent agenda as presented. We have a second. >> All those in favor? I >> I. >>
053Anybody? Anybody oppose? Anyone abstain? Okay. Consent agenda is approved. So the next few items that we have in um items for information are all again meeting minutes from there few past meetings that we've had. So, if you can look through that, if there are any adjustments that need to be made, um, please make those adjust or please reach out to Dr. Hester or Shannon Irvin and reach to um, so let them know. Okay. The other item below that now for information are February 2026 policy updates. So, >> so um Okay, I got my >> Yeah, let me let me do a little bit on policy updates. Remember as new board members that we get a first reading of the policies. So, it's basically go look at the policies, talk about it, and it's the second
054reading if we want to have discussion, if we want to we we generally use the BSBA policies. there are things that we have to modify in them whether it is um procedural things tied to the policy or whether it's we want to change that policy but as rule of thumb the policies have been vetted through VSBA so we know legally they follow the letter of the law for that instance um but I know Dr. Hester is going to speak specifically to what the updates are for February 2026. But just keep that in the back of your mind. We won't necessarily do big discussions, but if there things people either want to talk about, we'll do that next time. >> So February is typically a month where there are quite a few suggested changes. And as
055um what you have on the agenda is red lines. So it will show you what the VSBA policy is and the changes that they're going to make. So, if you take a look at some of your um policies, you'll see like on this page, you'll see literally red lines and it's what they're editing. Um what you'll see um coming up in March is it changed in our policies. So, you'll see the green and the red in our policies of where they've actually been changed. And so, um what we see is at times they'll be very minimal changes. They could be an edit. It could it could be um a a change in an A to an A. It could be any number of things. And you see very minimal changes on on much of these
056or it could be a format change. An example of a format change that you might see is on um schoolboard policy DIA reporting per pupil costs. Um and so you see um formatting changes only, not a change to anything significant. Um it does take a little while to read through these. Um so that's why then when you have questions we're able to discuss it in the March meeting. Um these have been posted on our our website. I will draw attention um to um I I can highlight a couple of these where we see um on electronic participation in schoolboard meetings which is BDD. Um we have to some of these we have to enter in a certain percent or a certain amount. um we already in our current policy um have twice per calendar year
057um in terms of what's already been set. So if you guys go through and think you want to change that, but we already have that set. Um another area that we we see um trying to to find some um on staff weapons in school, which is schoolboard policy GB. um you see some more additions, but you see an addition of footnotes. So, I really encourage you to read through and kind of um look through uh a lot of that. Um I will note that the family and medical leave, which is GCB, is pretty substantive, has some it was a pretty big change. I'll also footnote that by saying um in the uh current legislative they're talking about some paid family sick leave. So this could be adjusted in the next few months depending on what
058takes place. So I would just say um pay attention to the family medical leave. Um pay attention to all of them that that one will have significantly more changes. Um the other one that we see has substantive t changes is um sample policy JFCD which is weapons on school property. Um you see some pretty significant changes. Not significant but they're just adding more um to that policy. um gang related activity or association which is JFCE. It's the next one that has some edits um has some um significant additions to the policy that's being used. um school visitors, schoolboard policy KK does have some um inserts of uh changes but primarily also footnotes and parental rights and responsibilities which is schoolboard policy KP is pretty substantive. Um, I it it kind of highlights the the parental
059rights um in and probably explains it a little bit more in detail, but also adds um on the responsibilities a couple components to the responsibilities piece. So, I would just encourage you to make sure you go read through that. I'm happy to answer any questions that you might have. Um, that's for the VSBA schoolboard policies. We do have an additional um proposed policy by our very own Mr. Kennedy um who is I I printed out a sample um of that proposed policy and put it at your desk and um do you want to talk about it Mr. Kennedy or would you like >> I can give like a >> yeah second on it. Um, basically I had asked a meeting ago about high schoolers playing sport, excuse me, homeschoolers that are in high school playing
060sports in Nelson County, but with some investigation, the Virginia High School League does not allow that. It would disqualify our teams if we made a policy that said that. And so, we're not going to do that. Um, but as far as I can tell, there's no regulation on middle school sports beyond schoolboard policy and the cooperation of the school division. And so I put this together just to hopefully get it so that we can start the process of allowing homeschoolers in the county to be able to play middle school sports. Um and I am definitely open for input or for um red lines if necessary and things like that. >> That's that's Yeah. >> Yeah. And I would say um just on some initial research um reaching out to Vayor which is our insuring agent,
061it does not appear that there would be any conflicts of those individuals um participating. They would be under they would have to have the same insurance a parent of an NCPS parent would have to have. Um so I re I reached out to Ty Gaffford who is the director of VHSL. Um and he ind indicated um uh we don't have any policy regarding middle school participation for homeschool students. Not aware of any divisions where homeschool students can play in middle schools. Um, I did ask I was concerned that um there is some proposed legislation about where you are in 8th grade would determine where you go and I and I wanted to make sure that that didn't if a homeschool student chose to then metriculate to the high school, did that participate? It shouldn't hurt
062anything, but I just wanted to make sure that we didn't miss anything with the new legislation. And it sounds like that is not um something that would be impactful >> um to the homeschool students. Um I do think having some conversations with our current athletic directors would be a good idea. Um I think also maybe having some conversations with um other stakeholders um parents um not only of homeschool students but of um Nelson County public school students. I think there's just questions um at this point in time, not for or against just like tell tell me what we're thinking through here. Um I did ask uh the other superintendent in region five, which there's about 20 um and they um echoed what Ty Gaffford said is the other schools in region five that responded and
063it was it was a significant majority of them do not offer it in middle school. I would say the two reasons if you will of why one they wanted to mirror the expectations of high school and not create any confusion or um false expectations between the middle and the high school. I think also maybe for some of those eighth graders it could create um a a weird dynamic of they may play they can't play on one of the sports at the high school level as an eighth grader but they could for something else and where does that fall? Um, and then I think some of the other superintendents do have some concerns about when those students are not enrolled in their schools, just the dynamics there. Um, whether it's partial, >> I think someone even
064mentioned like, you know, maybe if it was a partial enrollment, but they but as of right now, no one is offering it. That doesn't mean it won't ever be like that. But I did want to be able to give you some background information on that. But I would highly suggest kind of being able to expand that question out. Um PAC looked our schoolboard attorney looked at it um and felt like in terms of a policy it was aligned with laws and so legal backing of it. I think he felt like that was pretty strong. I think before we would go forward we definitely want them to take another look at it because we do typically follow VSBA which means that supportive of that. But I think on first go around he seemed to feel like
065it was well written. you know, kind of address some things from the legal standpoint of it. Um, so >> what's the procedure if we've got, let's say, we have 10 spots on a team, we have 12 kids apply, two homeschooled, 10 school kids, two kids have to get rifted off the team. So how I have it written in here right now is under um section six conditions of participation and B equal treatment home instructed student athletes shall be subject to the same try out processes selection criteria practice requirements and competitive schedules as enrolled student athletes participation is not guaranteed. Selection is at the discretion of coaching staff applying the same standards used for all students. And it does say in there that the students have to have like an active letter of intent for either
066a philosophical or religious exemption with the school board. They can't just be homeschooling road. >> So could we could under that policy then could we could a kid get cut from a teen that is a student at Nelson a sixth seventh eighth grade student for a homeschool student >> if they were outperformed in the tryyout by a homeschool student that's meeting all the criteria. Yeah. So then that kid might miss one of the things we talked about middle school sports is creating this pathway for our high school students. So they may miss that opportunity in >> or maybe that homeschooler will decide that they like their friends that they have in sports and they want to enroll in high school >> be a perfect way. Don't know that but it would be perfect. It could
067be a perfect potential outcome but we don't know. >> I mean and then that's where I think that's a that's something to weigh. >> Yeah. is, you know, are is it going to unfairly disadvantage like current middle schoolers or I mean, who knows how many homeschoolers would even try. >> Right. Right. Right. >> There's 17 current middle schoolers that are homeschooled middle schoolers. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> Like that are dual enrolled or something. They're they're categorized under the stats for Nelson County as homeschooled and they go by grade level and middle school. >> So right now there's like 17 people that have a letter of intent, right, >> that are in the middle school. >> Not saying they'll all try out for sports, but that's the pool. >> And I think there's probably a
068lot more people that if they knew they could play sports, their parents might actually file a letter of intent. Otherwise, they just stay under the radar. >> So possible. So, what I'm trying to understand is this. If we have a rep department, we have um a travel aid that these homeschoolers could play on, what what is the push to get them to play high school or middle school sports? >> Well, I would say for one, for the for the for those families, they think I'm already paying property taxes and I get zero for it. And I know for like knowing a lot of homeschool families, I said, "Hey, what matters to you?" They're like, "Well, if our kids could interact with the student body and play sports with them, that'd be great." And you know,
069that's where >> it's just the fees of the So, I'm just trying to understand. So when we discuss it, so the fees of paying playing with the wreck and maybe, you know, if they can't afford to do the travel team, but just the fees is what's keeping them from going to do play rec soccer. Is that one of the issues? >> I mean, I think that could be an issue. I I don't even know if it's so much of like people that aren't able to do the rec sports as much as it is I think it's something that could enhance both the middle the homeschool community and potentially the middle school community and just that converging of cultures that don't normally interact and sports seems like a pretty lowrisisk place to make that connection especially
070if there's nothing that in the law prohibits us from >> allowing I understand. But I just, you know, we got, you know, for me that's I'm just trying to understand why they don't want to do w rec sports. I mean, if they have decided to do homeschool, >> um, is that that choice? Um, >> I think a lot of them do rec sports. >> Yeah. I was just wondering what the interest is the draw to the schools. And I understand, yeah, we might get a kid or two that want to then join the public school system, which is great, but you know, if they don't, there may be some emotional part that it plays on the kid that the parent is not ready to sign them up from school, but they excelled in the sport
071and they want to now go to public school to continue. And then it's making uh you know the parent may not be ready doesn't feel like the kid should be in high school >> you know playing or whatever but then you have that dynamic then you got a whole another emotional thing going on with the kids you know that they can't then continue to play with these kids. So I'm just looking at it that >> I think those are all good questions for the parents to yeah to address. So I mean it's a deep dive for us >> you know to be the first to do something like this and I want to make sure that they understand they have other avenues other than coming to >> and there are kids there are public school
072middle schoolers who play both middle school sports and rec sports like soccer at the middle school get off the bus go to soccer practice on the rec field. Yeah, it's it's not an either or necessarily. It can be a both and. >> Okay. >> So, and I know like for like families that I know that homeschool, >> it would be an opportunity to say, "Hey, you're paying taxes in the county, you're doing homeschool, well, your kid could play sports and meet all these kids that they live miles from but don't know." And >> so, socialization. >> Yeah. I mean, I think I think for both like both homesooled kids and the and the kids at the middle school to say like, "Oh, I know this kid is homeschooled >> and he's actually kind of cool."
073>> Yeah. [laughter] >> We don't all live and learn the same. And sometimes, >> you know, more than anything, it's it seems like obviously with appropriate buyin from the stakeholders within the school and the athletic department and the coaches that would have to interact with that dynamic. Yeah. The >> community. We represent we represent the people in our districts, not just our community. And and that's where like people in my district like that home school, they really want it. >> Um and they're like, "Oh, we can't do high school sports. That's a bummer." I'm like, "Yeah, that's that's a bigger fish to fry than this question." >> That's a hard >> VHS. I mean, and that's where that's a BHS politics thing. >> You know, I can see it being an issue if a kid
074excels >> and then it's if the family starts like you got it. We got we got our own system. we want you to remain in that system and then you got this kid that really want to continue playing in high school. So I mean like I said I'm just playing that was advocate but it's that could be problems you know both ways if they don't go if we do it if we don't do it. So >> I think it's a topic for I mean thank you Kennedy for bringing this up in a few minutes. >> Well no and and I think that was one of the things that you really talked about when you were running. So, you're following through on something that you said when you were running for office and I think it
075is something to talk about and it's a very new policy and we would if if it's a policy we decided to accept and we need to really vet it out not just with us but you've got a community that you answer to. So, you've got staff that you that we answer to. So, I think it's fair to check with everybody to make sure that number one it's something that we can do and then is it something that our community the people that put us in this position want us to do? I I don't know. >> I'm content with that first reading. >> Good talk for that first. >> I'm content with that for [laughter] >> um you know and we will need to decide as a board if there are vast changes to some of
076these policies. Do we want to look and it's it's painful don't get me wrong. Do we want to go one by one to kind of read off each policy on that second reading or do we want to >> So if you come across a couple of them that you feel like we need more time but these others you can pull some out and say as a group and list out the ones that you want to approve and then maybe push out other um policies that you don't want to approve at that time. So that's also >> just to be clear that's this is what VSBA is putting out as their recommended policy updates for this year. >> Yes. >> And are all of those policies that they have in there already ones that we are
077have currently have adopted in in the form that they're in there? >> Yes. >> So there like I said there are a couple that have where we go in and we pick procedure A, procedure B or the superintendent has to create a procedure then we add that procedure in so to speak. But as a rule of thumb, we we have not I I can't even remember that we have any single policy off of >> correct. I'm I'm not aware of us having any independent one. >> Um we we subscribe to their their policy um services because of the um support and protection that we get from that. They've been >> well and you see in there like this code changed. So you've got to link the policy to this code to that code. So it's
078it's very meticulous in how it has to be written out. I think it um as of right now we may have 52 students that we've tracked that could be middle school of middle school age groups. >> So what's the intent then you the 17 intent? I I was looking I'm not sure where I got that. >> I was like wait but no it was a Nelson was a okay I googled >> homeschool population in Nelson County and that's what I got 52. [laughter] >> The pressure on >> you know a couple families that are 20. Yeah. Yeah. >> Um, okay. So, I I I want to be cognizant of the time. We've got people that probably want to go home before it's midnight. So, um, if we're okay with the policy, the first round of
079policy conversation. Um, yes. Can we move on to the update on capital improvement projects from Mr. Campbell? Come on down. Good evening. Uh I want to get everyone up to date on some on the projects and some other things we have going on in the division. Uh I'll jump right into the renovation uh update. Now, uh the contractors have completed C4 area. Work is underway in the upstairs hallways of the C4 area. And by the way, there's some maps you can follow with and uh see exactly what I'm talking about. Uh with the existing fan coals being replaced as part of this work, new plumbing, HVAC duct work, electrical conduit for lighting, fire alarm cabling, and insulation for the newly installed pipings were were installed. Uh in addition to the classrooms in that C4 area,
080just like the rest of the areas, have been painted. New window blinds were installed. Installation of the new ceiling grid and ceiling tiles [clears throat] is currently in progress in the D5 hallway area. Above ceiling in um inspections were conducted on February the 25th, which will allow the contractor then to start closing, dropping ceiling tile and closing ceiling up. Uh the new dedicated outdoor air system uh three in total units are being commissioned in preparation for being placed into service. Newly installed fan core units are also being tested and balanced. Facilities dynamics engineering is performing commissioning services on the new HVAC equipment as it's being installed and brought into service. Uh the h the hallway paint colors have been selected by the NCHS team and uh the painting of those areas are currently underway. Uh
081the contractor turned back over C4 area back to NCPS uh March the 9th and they have begun work in the remaining classrooms located in C5 and C6 area. Uh despite a significant amount of work scheduled for the upcoming summer, the project remains on track to meet the substantial completion date at the end of July. Uh some other things we've had going on. I'm sure you guys have been updated with the uh the classrooms that were flooded at uh Rockfish. Um on Feb I just I just have a timeline here of how how the events unfolded. Um, on February the 9th, an alarm was received from the fire panel indicating that one of the building's dry sprinkler systems had tripped and charged the system with with water. The dry system in alarm services the attic area
082over top of the classroom sections of the building. When the building was open to start the day, it was discovered that six classrooms had been flooded with water. Maintenance staff immediately responded to the report of the flooding. Upon investigation, a broken valve was identified as the cause of the system activation. Small particles of ice were found in the valve, indicating that the line had frozen. Uh Surfro was contacted and arrived at the building midm morning on February 9th that day. Um Surfro began removing water from the VCT tile floors and carpeted areas to prevent further damage. Because the sheet because the sheetrock walls and installation had become wet, Serpro recommended removing approximately two feet of sheetrock from the bottom of the walls uh in in the affected classrooms. This allowed the wall cavities to properly
083dry and help prevent potential mold issues. The affected classrooms included the Head Start class room uh were located to other areas of the building. Due to program regulations, the Head Start program directors under United Way of Greater Charlottesville made the decision to temporarily discontinue operations until the classrooms were fully repaired. An alternative location, which was suggested by school uh officials, was deemed unsuitable for their classroom due to the lack of restroom facilities in the room. Uh, ServePro continued mitigation work throughout the week and was able to turn the rooms back over to NCPS on February 17th of the following week. So, they had it over a week themselves cleaning up. Um, a decision was made to complete the repairs inhouse in order to better control the timeline. If the work had been competitively bid, the
084process of securing a contract and scheduling the work could have taken several additional weeks. So we our goal was to try to get everyone back in the classrooms, the occupied classrooms as quick as possible. Um on February the 18th, the maintenance department compiled a list of required materials and place the order. Some of the materials, just to give you an idea of what we had to order, was 58 5/8 in fire rated sheetrock. So we had to order all that special material. Uh the materials were delivered on the m to the maintenance building on February 25th. Repairs began on three of the classrooms on February 26th. Members of the maintenance team worked through the weekend in order to complete the work as quickly as possible. Three of the six classrooms, including the Head Start classroom,
085were completed on March the 4th. Furniture was restored in the rooms and the classrooms were prepared to be occupied again starting on the date set by United Way for Monday, March the 9th. And I just have a quick timeline of how it how it all broke down and how we responded. um the additional classroom. >> I I just want to interrupt like we did a tour of the school to take a look at the classrooms that were impacted and walked around to see where what were our options to be able to relocate and then also consider could we take over another room or the trailers over at Tai River um and the communications that we got where they were not suitable um to be able to to um fulfill the standards by uh Head Start.
086So, a lot of different options were considered. We did walk the building. We did try um to find out other options. Briefly relocated those students to a bigger room, but because it didn't have a bathroom um and other um kind of qualifications, we were told to shut down. >> So, I just have a question. If you had a contracted was that ordering the sheetrock, would that if you had a contractor, would that have changed the timeline? So the the whole process we would have had to bid go out the bid for the uh the uh labor. >> Yeah. >> To install everything and that would have been meeting with three contractors setting a timeline and then once we awarded the bid then we would have had to have gotten on their schedule to complete it.
087>> Right. Okay. >> So we made the decision to do it in house. >> Do it in house. >> Okay. >> To to not disrupt the continuity of learning as much as we could. >> Yeah. and we at three of the classrooms um were completed within almost less than a week ready to go back. So, uh the my staff did a tremendous job getting everything back together as quick as possible. >> Yeah. Were we using Surf Pro Charlottesville or Lynxburg? >> Charlottville. >> Charlottesville. Did we have like a like any kind of contract with them for that or just they were they were available? >> They were available that morning. Uh when I got there, we were using the equipment we have on hand and the staff we had on hand. Jody was actually helping
088too. And I realized very quickly that it was we were not making any headway >> and in an effort to save the carpet and the DCT tile for stop for the glue not to release underneath of it. >> Uh made the decision to to call Surf Pro in. So, we figured that was >> Do we have anybody like on staff just cuz I worked in that restoration world for like a decade and do we have anybody on staff that does like drying or like remediation things or we outsource all? >> We outsource that. Yes. >> Yep. And we will continue to work on the additional classrooms as time sees fit to finish everything up in house. We've started it, so we're going to finish it at this point. >> Any other questions? Yeah. >> Um
089I guess one question I had is what's the what's like on deck for the HVAC renovations at Rockfish for this next year that's in in the budget for this year. >> So um what we've done in the past and what we what I've already done this year is secure uh budget figures uh just to to give to you guys. Um there's nothing really on deck as to say as to hopefully one day we can have enough money to be able to replace some of the HVAC equipment over there. >> Okay. But currently like whatever what what's proposed for Rockfish HVAC updates at this point is like proposed. We don't have like a project in like on in flow. >> No, I think we're thinking it's an additional 1.7. We actually just had a brief conversation
090with the county um administrator today where we talked about like >> we haven't even factored in those future CIP in hardcore budget because we know it's coming because it's working on original equipment. Um, but we know that it is something that will have to be done and I think we're anticipating that would be the the cost >> and and it's also in a in their uh CIP planning and also it was cited in the um when they done the facility study so all of it cited in there. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> I I know it was [clears throat] extremely u it was extreme weather and extreme cold. Um was there anything to learn there that could move to the other facilities on how to uh avoid you know >> so the
091the valve that that in question that froze um was we weren't even aware of it. So since then we have gone to the other elementary school to to make sure that there's no hidden valves hidden valves there and they're not. So yeah it was one of those things where all right let's check everything else to make sure that this doesn't happen in the future. Thank you. >> Any other questions for us? >> Tell you guys, thanks man. You go straight from one. >> That's what we do. >> Thank you. Thank you guys. >> Okay. The NCPS special education annual plan. >> Hello. >> Hi. How are you all? >> Good. Um, okay. >> Okay. Um, I'll just start talking >> if you can get I I got bumped out of >> You're good. You're good.
092So, um I'm going to talk about the special education annual plan which is submitted annually to the VDOE by May, early May. Um and there's a process that I'll explain to you that we have to go through. One of them being presenting this information to the school board. Um, so what the annual plan really is is it's an agreement between Nelson County Public Schools and the VDOE on how we're going to be compliant with spending special education funds. Um, and there are certain regulations that and stipulations on how we can and cannot use that money. Um so this is one way that we receive funding on how to support the needs of students with disabilities. So the procedure for it is we uh first we met on Tuesday the special education advisory committee as Dr.
093Hester shared um when we were doing pathways and it's always very exciting to them to hear all about numbers and budget. um we like to talk about children instead, but we they they humor me and listen to my mandatory I'm going to share with you what our annual plan says. Um and then we all I bring it to you all. What Dr. Huster has up is the actual form that will be submitted to the VDOE, the actual application. Um so upon approval we get those funds I in um July for so they'll be released in the summer of 2026. So for the annual plan there are different components and I'm just going to explain what each of the components is. The first one um actually is GEPA which is the general education provisions act and
094that's where we go through certifications and asurances of how we um are ensuring that we are removing barriers for our students and families. And so some of the things that we do are ensuring that we work hard to engage our stakeholders, that we provide translation um in native in in their language um staff training materials. Um, and one of the barriers that's not really unique to Nelson County, it's not unique to Virginia is our ability to really recruit and retain special education teachers. And so in our annual plan, just one more I think Mandy or one more. Yep. Thank you. Um, in our annual plan, we we speak to our recruitment efforts as well about how we work really diligently on doing our best to fill our positions with highly trained teachers. Um, so other
095components we have to we do not have a regional jail in Nelson County. So that's a null and void section of that plan. Um, we also have to site how we spent previous year's funds. And so, as you can see, a great deal of these funds are spent on salary and partial salary and benefits for a great deal of special education staff to include eight special education teaching positions, our behavior support IAS, our behavior specialist, um, an administrative assistant, some of my salary, um, as well as instructional materials and and supplies. We use some uh funds for contracted services such as we contract with AIS for hearing um a teacher who teaches those who have a hearing loss or a needing a hearing disability and also as I cited earlier interpretation services during meetings. Um
096we also are required each year Thank you. We are required each year to spend with local, state, and federal funds just as much, if not more, for students who have disabilities. Um, and that encompasses more than this grant, this application that we're applying for. So, as you can see, we are projecting and and Shannon does her magic of um calculation calculating what we might projecting for this upcoming fiscal year total in special education is 4,38,591.80, 80 which is an increase as we are required to do increase or remain the same of a little over $26,000. Another portion of the plan is um the comprehensive coordinated early intervening services. This comes into play if we were are required to set aside 15% of our annual plan grant uh based on um disproportionality. Whether it's disproportionate for
097identification in a certain disability category, disproportionate for discipline, we do not meet that threshold. So we luckily do not have to set aside 15% of that federal grant award. um proportionate set aside we do this this is all based on uh the snapshot of the December one child count for special education services. The challenge with this um is it does give you that snapshot in ch in time but I mean our special education numbers are always ebbing and flowing based on the results of eligibility meetings that occur throughout the entire year based on students who move in move out of the county. Um but these funds basic what they do is they look at how many students we have in the division who are either parentally placed in a private school and so we have
098students who attend North Branch or um whose children are home homeschooled home instruction. We are required to set aside funds for how we will still continue to support those students. And so the numbers you see broken down here are are based on our December one child count. Um so we have a set aside of $17,74851. For 611 which is ages 3 through 21 and then 619 which is ages 3 through 5. we have to set aside $33847. Um just a summary we of our proposed services for 611 and 619. Really we're not making any changes for um how we would like to use the funds. We want to continue to use the funds for our salaries for materials to evaluate our students um and also to uh pay for contracted services. And so here you
099can see the breakdown. You [clears throat] can see that a great deal of this funding on both 611 which is um 3 through 21 and 619 which is 3 through 5. a great deal of it goes to um salary and benefits, partial salary and benefits for our employees. Um we also have purchase services such as when I mentioned the contracting for services for individuals who require support with hearing um with translation. Some we've also done some contracting services for um adaptive physical education for our classes. So you can see the breakdown total expenditures including that amount that we have to set aside are those two values for 611 477,435 and $14,554. These numbers by the way are given [clears throat] to us by the state. This is also based on our December one count. Um,
100so you can't spend any less, you can't spend any more than what is articulated by the state with these two numbers. So in total when you look at part B of 611 and 619 part B, we are looking to spend with our grant funding for special education $491,989. Um, just some reminders is this grant, this is grant funding. It's federal flow through. It's under strict regulations. I know a lot of times I get a lot of questions from teachers about using it for consumable materials. Um, and this we can't do that. [laughter] Um so um so there is a need as well for local and state funding in order to support the full needs of students who have disabilities. Um and just a reminder as we mentioned earlier with maintenance of effort we um we
101are required through IDA regulations to spend just as much if not more for our students every year. All right. Any questions? >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Thank >> And we'll vote on that and our items for action. >> All right. Mrs. Tote, give us some updates on all the magic you work on vacancies and recruiting. >> Oh, goodness. Absolutely. Hold on one second. We're getting once again getting some. >> It's okay. >> No, I'm clicking right. I don't >> maybe I don't know if it will look like that. >> That's okay. Um, so Crystal Cho, supervisor of human resources. Um, I will be providing some brief updates from HR on our vacancies and our recruiting efforts. So when we talk about our um staff, we categorize them by classified and certified. So I'm
102just going to keep going. So for our current vacancies for classified staff, um we have posted custodian vacancies uh at multiple locations. that has been a challenging position to fill this year um for a variety of reasons and we also always have posted substitutes in all areas and that's for classified and certified staff. So, anticipated vacancies for the 2627 school year for our classified staff. Um, we anticipate to continue to recruit for custodial positions, custodian one, um, and custodian 2. We also anticipate hiring an instructional assistant for the VPI program at Rockfish, part-time and full-time drivers, and that would be bus and car/band drivers. And again, substitutes in all areas. Um, our substitutes in in each area of our school division make a huge difference and a huge impact on um our success. So, we
103prioritize that as well. So with regard to our certified staff, um what you see on this screen is our current vacancies of certified staff, meaning that we are using another plan to fill these vacancies currently. Those positions are a library media specialist position, a speech language pathologist, a family and consumer sciences teacher, and a special education teacher. That doesn't mean that those classrooms are empty. It just means that we are using um in some situations a long-term substitute. Uh Rachel and I have worked together with some contracted employees and on occasion we use our ERIP staff and I'll be talking about ERIP in just a minute. So anticipated vacancies for the 2627 school year for certified staff. Again, some of these are repeats. Library media specialist, speech language pathologist, family and consumer science teacher. We
104also anticipate at least one elementary teacher, uh, a talented and gifted teacher for the school division, a reading specialist for one of the elementary schools, a middle school English teacher, um, a a BPI early classroom teacher at Rockfish, and um, others that still may be contemplating retirement. And that's probably a good time to knock on wood because um we want everyone to stay just a little bit longer. So I mentioned our e-rip program. So we have an early retirement incentive program which allows eligible retirees to work up to if they're again meet the eligibility criteria up to 20 days per year in areas of experience and or expertise. Um, and what they do for us is they support our vacant positions as well as assist with training new staff, um, assisting with mandated testing, providing
105homebound in instruction, and that's just a brief list. Mr. Dollaris mentioned, um, the support he had given to our ESOL program um, as part of his ERIP assignment also. And this is a very big um bonus for or support of our ERIP program is that due to our extended employee absences and employee turnover in key positions, this pro program has proven to be invaluable in helping us maintain our current levels of services and meeting the needs of our school division. So when we have a a teacher who is out on an [snorts] extended leave, we um use we can use our certified ERIP retirees to fill those vacancies. Um that gives us that level of support for for students that those are certified teachers who've been in the classroom in the last in recent years.
106um and they provide whether it's their content area or not, it's their general expect their expertise in working with students and being able to um craft lesson plans and best support our students. So, it's a very valuable program and we appreciate that that has continued over the years to be funded in the budget. So our recruitment strategies um some of the basic ones things like our website postings uh social media posts are very effective. I attend recruiting fairs um throughout the state sometimes out of state and really uh certain colleges and universities may have programs that best support where we think our vacancies are going to be. So, we're very mindful in making the decisions about where our um we spend our recruiting dollars to go to those uh those recruiting fairs. Honestly, word of
107mouth and employee recommendations is a huge part of our recruiting efforts and I have our staff to thank for that. Um often when they list the reason on an application for applying, they will list that it's an employee rec um recommendation. And then um signs on buses parked at key locations. And so we we love to use buses. Scott would agree with that for um currently looking at kindergarten registration, but we will also use banners and post about vacancies that we have. um just trying to to find the people that we need and meet them where they are or where they may visit frequently and if they're going to be driving on 29 then we'll go after that too. So in addition to those types of strategies, we also look at ways to bring people
108on board who may not necessarily have chosen teaching as their their first career. Um, I seek lots of opportunities for grants that will help support our provisionally licensed teachers. Um, this year that has included for early childhood uh, special education teachers. That's a very hard to fill position and being able to reimburse the tuition costs for those individuals who are certified special education teachers but don't meet the criteria that the state has developed for early childhood special education. So being able to do those types of things um that can help with recruiting as well as we um interview candidates who might be interested in adding an endorsement. also the promotion of alternative routes of to lure for example the I teach program that we've talked about in the past which is um a company that
109has contracted through VDOE and is approved so we have our first two I teach teachers in our schools this year um it's a fasttracked program that is proving to be very effective not just in Virginia but across the country and um our two first two candidates are working through coursework. They're provisionally licensed and um they can be finished between 12 and 15 [clears throat and cough] 12 and 15 to 18 months. And then a really big recruiting feature is the competitive salary and benefits that we offer. Those are important tools that attract and retain staff and um invaluable when we're looking at recruiting individuals to come in and join our school division. So just in terms of of what HR challenges are in the current hiring climate, like a lot of uh sector C, we
110are seeing fewer applicants for any and all of our positions. um where we might see 40 applications 10 years ago, we might see five or six now. And that's just simply the nature of, you know, where people are going in their career path, the type of work that they're interested in doing. Um at times the credentiing and background checks can be a a potential barrier for some of our applicants. As time goes on, we're losing our competitive edge in terms of salary and benefits. That's made our division attractive to those who live outside of Nelson County. Um, our existing pay scales don't have don't progress at the same pace as some of the other school divisions in the state, meaning that we may have a a higher starting salary, but within a limited number of
111years, they've moved past us. Um, and then that makes us vulnerable to losing our veteran teachers. So, you know, that that can be a challenge and something that we're always considering. Um, being a school division that's a small school rural school division, we don't have a sufficient supply of licensed teachers to fill our classrooms. So, it does require us to recruit outside of our county lines. Um, and so we do look to neighboring areas. And at the same time, those individuals are looking to see is it worth it for them to commute further um to come to Nelson County. We have a great reputation um but do we also from a financial standpoint, can they make it work? Um due to the smallness of the school division and our large geographical area, whereas some school
112divisions are able to share staff because their schools are located very close to each other. That's a bigger challenge for us when we're thinking about especially in terms of sharing staff at the two elementary schools um when they're they're spaced further apart. Um and just over time we know that there are challenges in being able to offer the the robust academic and extracurricular programs for our students and those things are also a big draw for our staff. um they they come to us in when they're applying and they've got certifications in dual enrollment and they can teach different programs of study, but whether or not we can support that with our limited budget is always a consideration. So that's our current current climate. That said, we are we are busy recruiting. Um we interview often
113as a team. Mr. Bleco joins me, principles join me. Um Rachel Roinger joins me for special education. So we we have a friendly family approach to recruiting, meaning that we want people to we know that they're interviewing us just like we're interviewing them. And so, you know, we have to stand behind what what we say and we take it very seriously. We appreciate your support as we go through the process of budgeting and you're making those decisions because it does very much impact human resources and our recruiting. Any questions? Questions for anybody? >> Thank you. Will you just stay right there? >> Oh, yes. I'm going to Yes. >> I think we are going to do >> the review of the head start status. Esther and Chuck. >> We're having some technology issues. What the
114All right. So, um if you'll remember back, uh I believe it was February 5th, we discussed um our our Head Start program and that we were looking to actually discontinue the participation in it. Um and um I think it's it's um worth kind of backing up a little bit and going back through just some of the background of Head Start and our experiences here. Um, as we discussed, after careful review and discussion, uh, we decided to discontinue participation in the federal head start program beginning with the 2627 school year. And this decision was made after considering program sustainability, administrative capacity, and the best way to support early learning opportunities for Nelson County children. And the communication uh was to be sent out to families by the United Way of Greater Charlottesville on February 5th. But
115as we know recognized that that um United Way was to be the point of communications to our families, particularly through the family advocacy portion, but we recognize that communication did not go out at that time. So we can understand why there's some confusion and we apologize for that. Um so we want to go back through a little bit of the background. Um Nelson County has supported Head Start classrooms at Rockfish and Ty River Elementary and program programmically and historically we have not run those programs. We have housed those programs. They've been operated by MACA or the Monachelloa Area Community Action Agency for years. Um students were not enrolled in NCPS. Staff were not NCPS staff. Um NCPS supported transportation and meals. Um but NCPS was merely housing the program and supporting some services for it.
116Um and uh in January 2024, MACA relinquished the Federal Head Start um grant due to compliance issues. Federal Office of Head Start assigned Community Development Institute. We call it CDI. Um CDI would temporarily uh temporarily operated the program. We knew they were going to be a temporary um service provider, but that can many times mean years, just not uh having a a length of longevity by any means. So in that time, even when CDI took over, there were frequent classroom closures. When MACA um relinquished their responsibility, it closed down for the rest of the year that starting March 31st. Um CDI took over. There's uh there were frequent um classroom closures due to staffing shortages. We do see that even continuing into our Head Start programs. Um, August 2025, uh, Nelson County was informed that
117CDI would no longer operate the program. Um, that kind of came through the rumor mill and we had to request a meeting with CDI to find out the background information, which is when we were told, congratulations, there'll be a transition of of an organization that will run Head Start. It should be seamless. It shouldn't have much of an impact. and has been anything but seamless and there has been pretty significant impact um to uh NCPS. Um United Way of Greater Charlottesville was unofficially awarded the regional grant. Um Nelson County was later added to the proposal. So when United Way uh applied for the grant, I believe it was including Charlottesville and Albamarl. When they won the grant, they added Louisa um Fana and Nelson County to it. So that was a surprise to them as
118well. Um, so the options at that time, so mind you this is the school year has already started. We're well into August. Our options were become a Head Start subreient and manage the program ourselves or decline participation and close the classroom starting October 1st. So we did not want to create any more um issues with the sustainability of this this year to our families. We recognize how important it is to them. So, we decided we were going to work through it this year, see what needed to be done if we wanted to continue this to see what the necessary um expectations, responsibilities, and criteria would be. Um like I said, the school year had already begun. Um we did not want to um put our families into any greater um constraints that they had. Um
119so, we continued the program. So, this required NCPS to assume extensive federal responsibilities. I failed to mention that when this happened, we went through a federal shutdown. Um, almost immediately upon learning of this, we went into a federal shutdown that extended for a great amount of time. during the planning and learning and educating phases of this program. I want to remind you we've never run a Head Start program or at least any time in in recent history learning what it takes having staff members trained and educated on this. We don't have that. Um so this required us to to assume a lot of responsibilities and we had no guidance. Um when we say the federal shutdown, the Head Start program didn't have anybody answering the phones there. We didn't have anybody to ask for guidance.
120um even the United Way was struggling to find guidance um and training on this. So things were kind of put on hold except for we continued to provide those services to those families during that time. So we didn't go into um we didn't freeze the program. We continued those services. It in um the learning of this included compliance, monitoring, reporting, staffing, oversight and governance. Um for in terms of administrative requirements uh this established Head Start policy council um and the uh pretty extensive expectations of what that is and what it requires of this council. Um it requires monthly meetings with a vast array of stakeholders including um parents uh legal council um United Way um central office individuals and our our staff to participate um in these meetings that are monthly. Um just alone to
121get the legal council to be involved would be a substantial undertaking for us let alone um the smaller staff that we have to be able to dedicate every month to these meetings. Um there is extensive documentation that is required. There are the expectations of monthly parent engagement events and advisory meetings. Um to date, so mind you, this didn't start at the very beginning of the year. We had already started school. We've had 22 transition meetings requiring multiple NCPS staff. Um we now have meetings that are taking six hours and they're planning meetings for next year. But for us to get our reimbursement, which we have not gotten yet this year, I forgot to add that we haven't been reimbursed for the services that we've provided all year long from Head Start because of the ongoing
122we've we put in a budget request, but then the ongoing changes and um them putting it through their legal teams to go through and decide what's acceptable and what's not. So, we've had 22 transition meetings. Five of those have taken four hours or more, and there's more to come. So when we talk about the sustainability, we're not necessarily talking about a financial sustainability. We are talking about a human capital sustainability, a capacity um staffing. Um historic and historically we operated um so we have Head Start which serves three-year-olds and four-year-olds and we also have our VPI program or Virginia preschool initiative program which serves four-year-olds. We have a VPI program. Well, up until this year, we had a VPI program in at Rockfish and Tai River. Um, due to the criteria in applications when you
123do dual applications, those students qualifying for Head Start automatically get put into Head Start. So, what happened this year is the federal rules for their dual eligible students, you go into Head Start. We did not have enough students to go into our VPI classroom at Rockfish. Therefore, we had to fold that classroom. We only offered a VPI classroom at Tai River this year. So we see that the Head Start program has had a negative impact on a state-f funded, state-run and successful program in our buildings. Um, so that is something that we are very very concerned about. Why do we want to focus on VPI? Our VPI teachers are licensed teachers. This program is through the uh Virginia Department of Education. Those requirements is that they are licensed individuals. the curriculum is aligned with Virginia
124Early Learning and Development Standards. Um there's probably and and you guys can maybe correct me, but there's probably more of an academic and schoolbased focus on VPI rather than um health, nutrition, and social um wraparound services that may take place at the at the Head Start due to the spe the the different needs that take place in that class. So we do see a more aligned curriculum um that metriculates through um strong kindergarten readiness outcomes that we see from our VPI students, better alignment with the public school system. Um it's important to note that there's potential future expansion of the VPI program to three-year-olds. So then we can assume that and build our program up. Not this would not be the plan for next year, but eyeing the future. Um so the decision came to
125um discontinue participation in the Head Start grant effective the 2520 uh at the end of the 2526 school year. And this decision was based on sustainability, administrative capacity and program alignment where how we are structured and staff in our capacity right now. We're not able to do it to the to the level that we need to without negatively impacting the other programs that we have. And I think that that's important not because of a lack of effort or a lack of trying. Um, we have worked hard to be able to do that. Um, it doesn't reduce our commitment to early childhood education. Our goal is to continue providing highquality preschool opportunities while ensuring that programs we do operate are sustainable, effective, and aligned with the needs of Nelson County students and families. Um, we remain
126committed to working with our families and community and partners to support our youngest learners. Um, I think we currently have um 17 students at each location in the Head Start program. I think the breakdown between four-year-olds and nineyear-old four-year-olds and three-year-olds, that'd be an interesting breakdown, would be nine and eight. So the thought is is our four-year-olds would metriculate metriculate up or progress up to our kindergarten classes with our three-year-olds then moving into the four-year-old aspects of VPI that um and and obviously qualifications and and applications are um a part of that. And so those three-year-old programs in our in our Head Start right now have a wonderful um chance of still being able to be supported where we recognize is maybe families who had two-year-olds becoming three-year-olds. But I think this is something that
127we have to do in order to build for the future. Um that's not saying in the future it may not include Head Start, but right now we have got to take care of this um and do it the right way to support the the programs we we have that we have a greater chance of being successful and sustaining. Um we would encourage uh so I I did kind of outline the number of students that we have. Um, we encourage, you know, all of our four-year-olds in our communities to, you know, be registering for kindergarten. Um, we have kindergarten placement based on districted zones. If you live in the Rockfish Rockfish zone, you'd be districted to be a kindergarten in Rockfish. Same goes for Tide River. Um, as I said, we remain committed. Um, we want
128to focus on sustainable programs. We want to continue working with our families, and our goal is again to ensure every child enters kindergarten ready to succeed. Um we we've noticed kind of a little bit before COVID, but definitely coming out of COVID, the readiness of our kindergarteners and our young learners is um we still have some work to do with that. Um we're noticing some challenges with our young learners in terms of just the preparedness, potty training, um ability to dress, um just being ready for school and having the skills and abilities to do that. So really wanting to to make sure we prepare our students as as soon as possible and as as well as we can. Um, we would say for additional information, particularly for Head Start, families are encouraged to reach out
129to the family advocate for United Way of Greater Charlottesville. They can contact us as well and we can try to support them as best possible. You guys have anything you'd like to add? >> These two individuals have really, I would say, taken the brunt of the time spent in meetings um, and investing. I will say also starting from the first meetings that we had, um, we've never heard the same thing necessarily twice. There's always been something that's been added and some of that's because the United Way is learning about this program as they go. I think it's also important to note that Fluana and Louisa have are not doing a Head Start program. Charlesville has decided not to do this next year. Um they have kind of different plans in the works for their future.
130Chesterfield had decided already not to do it for this year. So there's different sizes of school divisions that are recognizing that this is um a difficult choice to make. um particularly with Head Start being um it it's kind of on the chopping block every year when there federal budget cuts to make. Um but again, this isn't strictly a financial decision. This is more of a program support and capacity decision. Um we want to do what's best for our our our families. Um but we also have to support the programs that we have. Anything? No. Any questions? Um I guess and I don't really need like answer for say just you know trying to understand a little bit better how when you kind of you know if if there we're serving more kids now than we
131can potentially through the VPI program next year sort of what happens when our applicants overwhelm the VPI funding that we have and I heard that's something where we have to like we can fund it independently and then retroactively apply for that funding. I as far as I understand, but I'm just kind of curious cuz, you know, I've had people say like, "Oh, well, I want to be able to send my kid to preschool, but I don't qualify for the the the income requirements." And just figuring out how we serve all county residents in that capacity and not >> So, there's certain criteria that if you do not qualify, there's only a certain percentage that can be in those programs above that. Um, and so adding those preschool programs would then require greater local funding, um,
132more staffing because don't don't forget they have, um, greater, um, standards of, um, supervision, um, so you're hiring another teacher and another aid automatically when you add those classrooms. So, I mean, I think all of us would love to be able to support our young learners. Um, I think it's identifying um, you know, would would we be redirecting our funds to go to preschool and we'd have to take it um, we riff a teacher away from a K through2 program and so those class sizes go up or would we just be getting additional funds? So, I think that conversation is is worth having. I think. >> And is there any precedent? I I think you might have mentioned maybe Alamar or Charlottesville is looking into it, but like just a not a state funded program
133as much as like a county funded preschool program. >> Oh, I know. But I mean, I've gotten I've definitely gotten support from supervisors that I've talked to about just knowing that preschool has to be a priority in the big picture of it all and just trying to navigate that balance between obviously if the head starts just not operationally. >> So, are the board is the board are the board of supervisors saying that they would on top of the budget representing add funding into a preschool? I don't think anybody was talking about that this year, >> but I've like for big picture wise, >> they seem to be pro >> pro school program. Yeah, >> the more hawkish members have had a soft spot for preschool at least. >> Yeah. >> So for VPI, I mean,
134we can request more spots and the standard to qualify for a VPI classroom is less than a head start. um and we can request more spots. But again, I think it it I hardly feel that there's anybody who feels like no, we don't want to help out um our early learners. Um but I think when we start talking about our overall budget and what we're I mean the health and and evaluation of our schools is also K through 12. And so in a market where the standards are getting tougher and tougher, it's kind of moving targets constantly. And with enrollments, we want to raise our enrollments up, but having to focus on supporting um particularly um those grades where we are evaluated in is also super important. So, you know, I think it's it's trying
135to pose a question of choose this or that. Well, we want both. And so we certainly welcome the funding um for both of those. Um but we we [clears throat] have there are certain things that we are evaluated on a yearly basis if not daily in terms of the safety and security of our buildings and the academic environments that we're offering. And so, do we cut back in one area and have greater class sizes where it's harder to give that um instructional attention and safer um environments in terms of behavior? I think those are some of the things that we would really want to look at, but I would say I think all of us want to be able to support those early learners. And I think through the VPI, we can request more slots,
136but it would take us to the point where it may need to be more county um funded, which is tough that, you know, that's it's tough asking for for more and more money from the county when we were we're explicitly um laying out the needs that we have now as well. But I I think we want to be able to support. So, I did hear you say with the current staff that we have, if we went solar with the VPI program that these the current individuals will have to be licensed [clears throat] teachers >> with the VPI in order to teach in the VPI program and and and our our current staff at Head Start has been made aware of the expectation starting in September of that we would expect them to be working on
137their lensure um in order to provide this um there would be opportunities for them if they chose to do that to apply for for positions. >> Okay. And but that was made clear and we're not firing anybody but that was made it's a process. >> Yes. And I I that was communicated like Dr. Hester said since we started the onboarding process for those indiv those staff members um in September. >> Those sta staff members were not our employees. they had to become our employees. And so we had to walk through what that process looks like. Their pay um their their uh pay timelines were different. Um the expectations of Head Start of what we pay um our Head Start teachers is is of a certain expectation. And so when you're working um when you have
138non-licensed individuals working to get paid the same as licensed, it's it becomes very very difficult to balance that. Um but those expectations have been made clear since September. We've talked about like what our plans are are and what opportunities could be. >> So we to be clear, you met with these people one on one, explain to them in the process that they want to switch over to do VPI as the proposed staying with United Way, which is going away. They understand the differences of what they have to do to stay employed with Nelson. >> I have had a conversation with two individuals. I I know that um Miss Chot has had a convers has individuals who are serving as the lead teacher um in those two um capacities at the at the schools and just
139um had conversations about what their current credentials are and what they would look like as far as at the BOE level to be licensed um to work in the school division as a classroom teacher. I mean, that was only fair to be able to have these conversations with those individuals early on. Um, >> that it was un that I'm understanding that those conversations were had and we're not just willy-nilly just getting rid of people. >> No. >> And putting people out of work. >> No, because the way I see it is they're now our employees. So, we want very much to be able to put them in a position to uh work on a pathway towards a a a role that they want to have and be qualified to have. So, we want very much
140to be able to support that. And we've offered like send your resume, send your transcripts in, we'll try to work with you to see how close are you. You may you may be very very close to getting a provisional, you may be close to one thing or another. Um let's try to see where we are. >> Okay. >> Thank you. I would also too just add as far as personnel goes, if you look at majority of other school divisions, big and small, they have folks that are dedicated entirely to early childhood education like a coordinator of early childhood education because it doesn't matter whether you have one classroom or 10, the expectations from the state are the same. And they're putting more and more of an emphasis on early childhood, which is phenomenal. >> But
141not the funding to go with it. >> Well, not the funding, but you know, more and more reporting, more and more meetings, more and more expectations, like I said, which is all great stuff, >> but the funding and the personnel is it's challenging. And like I said, if you look at a lot of the other school divisions, they have someone that's assigned to just handle those programs and observations and meetings and all that other good stuff. >> Yeah. the additional training like the class training and doing those obser the amount of additional time spent I think Crystal spent the last couple days 4 hours in the morning >> every day this week doing observations in the preschool classrooms and so that that's in addition to everything else so I think it's just really understanding what
142the expectations are again want very much to be able to support our early learners I think it's just some decisions have to be made about what we can do at the moment and how can we build towards it? Um, but right now that is a difficult task. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Bleo. Don't go far. >> All right, you're stuck with me. I apologize in advance. While we're pulling this up, I'd like to thank some folks behind me and to my left, Miss Bell, who serves as our math instructional coach. Miss Campbell and Miss Cargill are here this evening as they have been uh very, very helpful and key in our textbook adoption process here that started way back in the fall. So, I'm going to talk to you a little bit about the process,
143give you some quick highlights. So about two years ago, House Bill 2777 uh came out of Richmond and they said that all school divisions are required to have high quality instructional materials otherwise known as HQIM. Uh and that is required in mathematics, science, history, social studies, uh and language arts K12. And those must align with the standards of Virginia or our SOS as well as the Virginia Literacy Act. So about well did I go one slide too far? Did I >> Oh man. Oh, you're controlling this thing. Okay. All right. I'm sorry you went one. Yes. So textbook adoption timeline just to give you an idea. Back in uh 2024, Amplify CKLA was selected and purchased for K5 English language arts. Our teachers are doing an amazing job with CKLA and we're seeing some great
144results out of both of our elementary schools since adopting that series and uh year two is uh even better than last year which was year one. So this year uh we are looking to adopt for mathematics K12 along with English language arts for our secondary, middle school and high school programs. And then next year we will be tasked with history and social science K12 as well as science K12. And we're still waiting on the state uh to provide HQIM text series and materials. and they claim that those lists for history and social science or history and social studies and science should be out uh in April of 2026. So to be continued on those lists. So what we did and the process that we use just so you uh are aware we look through the
145uh HQIM curricula and materials that the state has approved. We we meet with school leaders and instructional coaches to determine what textbooks we would like to review. And then we request samples of those textbooks and materials from vendors. And then teachers meet with our instructional coaches one by one to look through those textbooks and the materials. And they use a rubric to guide their grading of those series. And then we determine the two top vendors. And once those are determined, we schedule meetings with those vendors so that we can get a more depth inlook or look at their uh textbook series and curriculum. Uh once we do that, we have instructional coaches again meet with teachers and come back around to get more feedback and we use rubrics again uh as we select a final
146series uh to select. We gather feedback from school divisions throughout the state as well that are current currently using the HQIM curricula and materials. We also posted surveys on our school website or division website to solicit community feedback. So the textbooks that we reviewed are listed here. I am not going to uh take the time and read each one to you. I'll give you a moment. there. We uh had four K5 mathematics uh at the elementary that we looked at. We had three mathematics 612 that we looked at and then we had an algebra 1 2 and geometry uh books. Those are a little more limited in selections. There aren't as many vendors out there uh for those courses as there are for some of the more general courses. And then moving on, ELA at
147the secondary level, we also looked at uh three there, 612, AP English and language composition and AP literature and composition. We also looked at uh some series for those courses. So uh at this time what we are recommending and you can go ahead up one more please. Thank you. Uh we are recommending that we adopt grade 612 intro to literature uh H Hotton Mifflin Hardcourt uh otherwise known as HMH and the reason why strong standards alignment with integrated literacy andformational texts supports writing vocabulary as well as formative assessment. Print and digital resources enable differentiation for multil lang lingual learners, pardon me, students with disabilities and advanced learners. The vertical progression prepares students for rigorous coursework and AP pathways. Our uh selection that we would like to move forward with with AP English language and composition
148would be the language of composition fourth edition which comes from BFW publishers and uh the reason for that is focus on radical analysis argumentation and synthesis aligned to the college board framework. And then finally, the AP English literature and composition, the Norton Introduction to Literature 15th high school edition provides rich literary selections promoting deep analysis and AP postsecary readiness. Moving on to secondary mathematics, the selection for grade 68 is math space Virginia. And of course, not only grade 6, 8, but end of course algebra 1, geometry, and algebra 2. They are all aligned and consistent instruction across grade 6 through algebra 2. Includes print textbooks and interactive online platform. Trigonometry honors trigonometry 12th edition through Pearson, updated version of the currently used text. So that's already being utilized. This is just an updated uh book
149for that. It offers rigorous scaffolded instruction preparing students for AP pre-calculus and AP calculus AB. And then moving on to mathematics at the elementary level. The selection there is Eureka math and great minds is the publisher of that strong standards alignment with low logical sequential progression of mathematical concepts. Deep conceptual understanding preparing students for middle and high school math. uh instructional continuity through consistent mathematical language and models and then finally teacher support with flexible instruction design requiring minimal modifications. So, our next steps would be we're currently working to obtain quotes from all of those vendors and then my hope is to come to you all in April uh with a request to adopt uh at that meeting and then we would place the orders uh if you give us approval to do so and then
150we would schedule delivery uh for professional learning for teachers prior to the start of next school year. Special thanks to uh all of our teachers that uh took part in the review process as it is time consuming. Uh also a thank you to our tech team who we also deliberated with to make sure that these textbooks and the electronic portion of the books meet all the requirements and safety and cyber security and all that other good stuff. So thank you to all those folks. any questions that you have for me? And I have these wonderful instructional coaches here. Uh if I'm unable to answer anything, >> got a little feedback. Um >> can you round back on the what is it? K5 math. You got buy in from the teachers, but I think there were
151some just some concerns on a couple of things. Just I would round back now that this is the decision you've made and just allay either some standards alignments, all of that. >> Yep. We'll do that. And I will tell you that when it came down to elementary math, it was very close >> with the two section. >> I think there were not the option for the second choices. It may not just sounds like it may not have been as close. So I just >> if you can Yeah. to tell you how to do your job. >> Nope. Nope. Happy to do so. >> Any questions? >> Appreciate it. >> Thank you all very much. >> Wait, do you get to just stay? I just get to continue to stay right here. Absolutely. >> Mr. Blakers,
152>> you'll be tired of hearing me in another minute or so. >> The next one is real easy. I don't have a slideshow or anything special to go with this one. Uh the high school program of studies remains unchanged from last year. Uh school counselors are currently uh working to capture scheduling choices from students for next school year. And um unless you have any questions specifically for the program of studies, it's just anformational item and just to let you know nothing has changed from last year. >> Mr. Walker's probably don't don't change it. Leave it alone. Don't touch it. >> All right. Thank you. >> Any questions in regards to the good summer academy? >> All right. So, planning is already >> Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Guys, we're getting close. Thank you for hanging in there
153with us. We're getting close. >> Didn't bring my joke book. >> We need some dad jokes. [laughter] >> The time is the joke. >> The late in the time. >> Yeah, it's okay. We start >> [laughter] >> Keep moving down. >> [clears throat] >> So you're saying that there's basically soon going to be a list that the state sends you of acceptable curriculums to pick from? >> Yes. So they English ELA come came out when they first said that they wanted all schools and school divisions moving towards HQI and materials and then math came out shortly thereafter. Math grew a little bit more and we are currently waiting for history and social studies as well as science and they're telling us I literally just received an update today that said those should be out come
154April of 2026. So you said it was something that they put in a couple years ago or I guess in like 22 or so like the high quality instructional materials. >> Yes, it was the end of 23 I believe. >> Are uh are those lists subject to any um political sways? >> I don't get into the weeds of that. I I just you know I I know I will tell you the social studies in history. I know there has been a lot of back and forth and conversation about that. >> Um you know it took them a while to finally land on updated standards which are now there. Um so again once they provide the list we'll look through and see what's available. >> And many of these fall under the unfunded mandates you have
155to pick from this and we're not going to give all the money. >> Sure. And I'm sure the ones they put on the list are the most affordable ones, right? >> Well, that's a whole another story. >> Okay. >> All right. So, I am moving on to summer learning. Do you have that readily available or do you just want me to >> Oh, right there. top left. Fantastic. All right. So, summer learning. We are already in the stages of planning. Our uh dates for summer learning this year are June 8th through June 25th, Monday through Thursday. Our program hours will be 8:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. with drop off beginning at 7:50 and dismissal starting to uh let kids out to buses and cars around 1:50. Teachers uh time will be 7:45 to 2:15. Instructional
156assistants will work from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Our elementary summer learning, which is our K5 program, focuses on reading and math remediation. Exploration opportunities in many areas such as the arts, music, physical education, and career exploration happen throughout the program. It's intended for students uh who need additional instructional support in both reading and math. And I would like to say that uh the nature foundation at Wintergreen partners with us for our K5 elementary program and uh they provide funding for some field trips. They also provide funding for teacher uh high school students to come help uh the program as well and they also fund one of our teachers that focuses on STEM. So, a big thank you to the foundation at Wintergreen, nature foundation at Wintergreen, and we're all actually in discussions with them
157as they would like to begin working to support our middle school program as well. So, we're excited about that and conversations have started. >> Thank you. >> Our middle school summer learning program will focus on enrichment and remediation. Exploration opportunities in areas such as art, musical, physical education, and career exploration will happen. Uh it's intended for students who need instructional support in the areas of reading, math, science, history, and the social sciences. And opportunities will uh be afforded for place-based learning as well. So, we try to do a lot of hands-on with all of our summer learning programs. our high school summer learning which focuses on our 9th through 12th graders of course uh provides opportunity to recover high school credits in the four core subject areas. Students may recover up to two credits during
158that 3-week time. It's intended for students uh who need additional instructional support again in reading, math, science, and history and the social sciences. They will also have opportunities for place-based learning and hands-on opportunities. Exploration uh includes the arts, music, physical education, and career exploration along with the 3E framework. We also hope to offer our CTE Academy uh which has activities directly aligned to STEM and CTE programs. Students explore uh the world of CTE and engage in interactive problem solving and project-based activities. Offerings may include cosmetology, technology, and AI, engineering, culinary arts, and or agriculture. And the CT Academy runs the second week of the program, which would be the 15th through the 18th. Now, I will tell you, um, right now, teacher interest in this specific academy has not been as robust as we've had
159in the past because all of summer learning this year is at Tai River Elementary School. Due to the construction, the high school and middle school are off limits. So, it makes CTE a little more challenging when you don't have the shop and you don't have all the other opportunities, the greenhouse and and the things that the high school and middle school offer. So, again, depending on what we can put together, this may or may not happen on that given week, but we're going to do our best to make it happen. >> That would be good. That's an area that we know from a life career point we want kids interested in. So even thinking outside the box just what we might be able to do with different resources >> and we have some ideas. So
160we're we're boots on the ground now starting to talk to folks and see >> that's a good one. >> See what we can do to make make it happen. most recent Chamber of Commerce meeting, I posed questions to those who were there about what are the skills and experiences that you're looking for from you for employees or students coming through. And we got a wide array of answers. But I think one of the things that seemed very interesting is people interested in trying to provide some inter internship opportunities, but maybe some summer rotation or summer kind of exposure to what some of our local businesses have, like whether it's a a winery, but not working in the alcohol portion, but the growth or certain avenues of what it takes. um or any number of businesses
161that what they're looking for in a in a recent graduate, what are they looking for in an employee in general, and what do they have to offer in the various positions that they do. So, I think that that's something that we've we've kind of been brought that up to the chamber and in polling the participating businesses to see and then who would be interested in trying to work with students um to give them opportunities. [clears throat] >> All right. And lastly, our uh Excel Academy uh works with students in grades two through five. Enrichment opportunity that includes teacher prepared theme-based lessons with STEM focus. Three weeks of enrichment opportunities where NCPS students can participate in any of the weeks offered. So, they can do all three, they can do one, or they can do two.
162And it's intended for above level learners, including students who participated in our TAG program. and Miss uh Vicky Maize does a wonderful job uh orchestrating and facilitating and running that portion of our summer learning. >> So that is the overview of our plan for summer learning. Any questions? >> Is the Excel Academy like an invite based thing for students? >> Yes. >> And is that during the same June 8 to 25 period? >> That is correct. Yes. And the other thing that will go along with that is um working with our sheriff's department. They offer cop camp and that'll happen the first week of summer school and the last week of summer school. And uh I've sent an email out to them just earlier this morning letting them know the specifics and all that other
163good stuff. And we basically once they give us a list of students who participate in COV camp, we help with transporting them there uh as well. >> I love that partnership. So, Tai River will be a busy place uh in June. >> Boom. >> Yes. >> Boom. >> All right. Thank you all. >> Thank you very much. >> Okay, guys. Last thing item for information here. We've got Come on down, >> Miss. >> I think I can see [laughter] which one you want to open. Let let's open um the Senate because that is the budget that basically has been redone tonight. So you have a new line item budget. >> Let's see. Um I see HB and HB >> and then look at finals SB30. Yep. Cross over. >> So the we technically have three
164um unofficial budgets to consider as we plan our revenue portion of the budget. We have a house version of the budget. We have senate version of the budget. And we have a governor's budget. Um and I probably neither of the three shall meet. Theoretically the um general assembly should be ending I guess tomorrow or Saturday, >> but chances are they're not going to come to agreement in terms of um a budget to present to the governor. Chances are there's going to be a special session that may uh extend our budget process on into the spring um hopefully before school's out. Um it's [clears throat] not always the case. Uh the Senate budget is a little different from the governor that they projected a 3% uh raise for SOQ positions instead of the 2% that was
165presented in the House and Governor's budget. Um, they also included $8,49 to increase the special education add-on. Um, the additional 38,725 to do the 1% SOQ raise, 15,560 uh to increase the reimbursement rates for a school breakfast. um $103,360 uh dollars for sales tax. I would like to caution the board that sales tax is only given to the board if it is generated. So it's not a number that you can take to the bank and say we're going to get this amount of money. It depends on the economy and the sales and the actual collection. So um don't spend that money yet. Um in addition uh they increased the at risk monies by 44,561. So the total um state revenue under the senate budget was 9,76,423. on the House um bill, they they took a
166slightly different approach and they used as the base um for comparison the fiscal year 26 appropriation. The next number on on their chart was a um reduction in our budget for rebenchmarking and the LCI of 1,16546. So that's money that we received this year that we are not going to receive next year, which we've talked about a lot in terms of what our composite index rose to. Um they had the same 77,450 as the uh governor. They have a one-time flexible uh revenue of $335,526. That is included in our revenue column for next year in total. You do have the ability to carry that over into the following fiscal year. So, you could split that amount in half and avoid a funding cliff. If you use it all in the coming year, when you go
167to present your budget next year, you're going to have to make up that $335,000. So, I would caution you that if we do use it all that we're going to be in the hole to begin with. Um, they also increased the special education add-on of 42,338. So the total estimated distribution under the house budget is 9,24433. So on the synopsis um really the only thing I had to do on the expenditure side was to increase our um salaries by 1% to include that 3% raise. So the Senate budget you'll see is increased from 34,724093 to 34,976942. On the revenue side, you have um you know the different contributions depending on what budget you're using. But again, be mindful that the revenue that I included for the house includes that full one-time flexible payment. If you
168didn't include that payment, you know, you're looking at $2 million to request of the county. My advice, because we don't know which of these budgets would be approved or what combination of these budgets would be approved, would be to give the county the worst case scenario in terms of what would be requested of them until we know exactly what our budget is. Um, and again, we might not know that for weeks and weeks. We did have a visit from the county administrator today to say that there had been a budget work session that their board had had and that they were preliminarily looking at a contribution of the county of $1.6 million. And if that is the case, then we would look be looking at uh reducing our budget. not only the numbers that are
169in the red, but when you look up into the body of the um budget revenue, you'll see how much the state allotted for raises um for SOQ position. So, we would have to take the bottom number and add it to the red shaded number to figure out how much we would have to cut because we're we wouldn't get the money from the state if we don't give the compensation increases to staff. So, not only would we lose, you know, the compensation sub supplements, the house money on the 335 is contingent on the school board giving the 2% raise to staff. So, if you don't certify that you've done that, you don't get that $335,000. Are there any questions that I could address? Or Dr. Hester, would you like to add anything? I mean, I think
170right there is a $1 billion gap between the House and the Senate budget and primarily over the data um the data centers and the tax um structures for that. So, that's really where the battle is taking place for the House but for the general assembly and that's what's slowing things up. Whereas, they think the rebenchmarking money isn't going to change where we see the possible [clears throat] changes could be in the salary raises. um uh sped at risk add-on and things like that. That's where they see the money um could be impacted. Um and so I would have to agree, you know, it's always better what is the worst case scenario so we can be working from. But it it could potentially be as we've talked about, we'll have to go back and figure out
171where where we're going to make those cuts. And that's the collective understanding um and the impact. And I think um you know over the last three and a half years we've done a good job of demonstrating a return on investment. We are trending in the right direction. We are um and and it's a business, right? You have a budget and you need to show that you're getting out of your budget what you're putting in and we have demonstrated that we are trending in the right direction when it comes to our outcomes. Um are we exactly where we want to be? No, we recognize and that's all the more reason that we have um a high, you know, we have a high percentage of sped students that require more supports and needs. We have a higher
172percentage of at risk or economically dev disadvantaged students that require extra supports. Um and so in a an environment where the expectations are still high that you perform, doesn't matter how big or small your system is, the expectations are still the same. And so I think it's important that when you, you know, some people don't like it, but the code says it's a budget of need. This is this is our budget of success. This is what we're saying. This is what we need in order for us to successfully support our students on their pathway to success. 80% of our budget is personnel in in some form or fashion. And these are the very same people that are directly impacting our students. So we are very student centered and student minded but our staff is at
173the heart of it and I think it's understanding when you take care of the people who take care of your kids you you uh provide a better foundation to be successful overall and I think it's really really important to kind of to take that look and when you take a look at this is the 250th anniversary of of the of America and and throughout our nation's history public education has played a critical role and whether it's in shaping our democracy or just strengthening our communities. And this is this is how it's done. You've got to support the people who are in there every single day, the the the people who are in the buildings, the people making decisions. You know, the one thing that we've learned, we have a small, we're not a very big
174staff, central office or even in our schools. Um, and when you take a component out of it, it is felt. And I think Ty River experienced that and Rockfist experienced it when we were playing around with the one assistant principal for both. And once we were able to add that assistant principal back, all of a sudden those supports increased greatly. You take important critical components out of it, those support structures that you a community might not know are there or see all of a sudden are felt by everybody in the building. And so I think that that's why, you know, constantly focusing on who we serve. um you know whether it's I I serve everybody. Um I'm serving to try to support everybody. Um our staff supports our students, our our our division supports our
175community and our families. And I think it's just really really important to stay focused on that. Um and that we are seeing a return on this investment. We are we we do put it our budget is a a financial representation of what our priorities are. And I feel like if you really go through our budget, you can see how they're aligned and what they're aligned to. And we're always willing to answer those questions about what we do. Um, we try to be as transparent as we can be and put these numbers out there and put our, you know, this whole school year, every single school school board meeting, we have put out incredibly valuable and important information. our meetings have been longer because we want to make sure that we're providing all the appropriate information
176to everybody involved so they understand what's going on. And that's important. It's important to know, you know, Mr. Kennedy's talked about, well, we have members in our community who are paying taxes. That's why we do our pathways to success. We try to put on display, this is where your money is going. This is what we're doing. This is what we're trying to do to demonstrate how we feel like we're fiscally responsible and stewards of the money that we are allocated. and this is what we're putting it towards and we try to be very very obvious about it. And I think that's important to know and to have that faith and trust and know that you guys are essential to that and and feel good about what's taking place and and what you're voting on and
177and why. >> I have a question. >> Yes. >> The the number that you have in here um for the health insurance I thought I saw was that like it's like 13 something now. I did not change it from the 15% that was there originally waiting for the board to come up with a decision in terms of what they would like. I would need that decision before tomorrow. Now, >> in terms of >> the I I kind of heard that the I guess I'm I'm interested in kind of like this scale of, you know, where does new HVAC renovations I I'd much rather teachers get a pay raise and not have to have money out of pocket. I just don't know how bad the HVAC is. >> That comes out of a different fund. >>
178Yes. So So there's we have the CIP which Go ahead. This is >> Yeah. We have a a capital improvement budget and a capital improvement plan that maps out what the needed um improvements are over I think he did at least 20 years. So you can see you know at what point do things actually have to happen or should happen >> and we present that to the board under separate cover and they fund it separately from the operating budget. So this is strictly operations. >> Okay. So that won't impact anything we're talking about. That's got to be other monies. >> Any questions for for Christ Shannon? One of the things we've got to do, we don't have to do it tonight, but it means we come back for another meeting prior to April. >> April
1791st is our deadline. Yeah. >> And and so April 1st is our deadline, but you know, we're a big part of the county pie. Um we're I think about 55% or have been. Um and so when we can make this decision and hand I I hand over the budget to Miss McGary. Um so then they have that those numbers that we know we've said this is what we need. So you know obviously in just about a time but like we try to get it to them as soon as we can so we know that we're giving it due time for them to prepare for and they've been incorporating some numbers and I know that in some of these meetings they've talked about 1.6 six. But the sooner we can give what ours is and they
180can go through and really digest it, I I feel like that's the the most um fair thing to do in terms of a partnership. >> So, we will present them a budget based on what our needs are. The county will fund what they feel like they're capable and then we if it's not fully funding what our needs are, then we'll go back and rework the but that doesn't have to be done before April 1st. What has to be done is what do we need as a budget to present to them? >> No. Um so again we will be into ex um contract extension again if we don't get I mean like we've been the last two years. >> Well and that's is that can be as much up to the state. >> Yeah, that's what
181I mean. And and that's what we've been, you know, um, in some of these legislative calls that we've been on is advocate to your local representatives the impact that when they can't come to these decisions, this is the impact that it's having. I, you know, I can't say that this is the local, >> right? >> Our our locality is feeling the impact of this budget not being agreed upon. So, I think we we are trying to advocate. You know, I I I have reached out to our delegates on behalf of a couple different things when it comes to Nelson. We need to figure this out. We need to come to a decision, >> right, >> as a state >> that puts us in limbo trying to get contracts and then, >> you know, and trying
182to do the right things by our employees, but we don't know what that number is. and you know you throwing a cloud up there and you you know hoping it don't rain out of that cloud. So um yeah so we'll be back there again >> sharing it with your contract right >> thoughts. I mean this is an opportunity for us to each share our thoughts on the budget if there any thoughts and kind of where where you would like for us to go with this tonight. I you clarified a lot by just explaining the process and the time how we all you know we >> present it if they if they don't approve it all then we go back and figure out how >> absolutely we're not expect so there there's no expectation that what
183what we do now is what will necessarily I mean we would love in perfect world unicorns rainbows all of that in the perfect world that's what would happen but >> what we are expected to do and and this is me as an individual board member is present to them what our needs are. Okay. >> What what we need to to fund >> Yeah. So I think because we need a motion on this and that's not for now. We do need to have at this point a consensus or decision on where we want to go for that motion. >> And you know to understand that it's a caveat in there. If we don't do we don't do the you know the 3% raises then we don't qualify for this amount of money >> the 2% if
184we don't do the 2% then we don't qualify for the flexible spend yeah that's the house budget the Senate has 3% but they don't have the flexible [snorts] >> okay so you know so there's caveats to >> what we approve and what >> you know what comes back to us so >> we're going to approve a number we'll get a number And then we have to sit down and figure out what has to happen with input from everybody on on the downstream implications of if we don't do this then we can't do this. >> Is there any advantage to possibly waiting on these House and Senate numbers shaking out. >> It'll be beyond it'll be beyond our legal deadline to provide it. Legally we have to have >> So we got to have it in.
185>> We got to have a ask. [clears throat] So if it helps for me to tell you what we have traditionally done would that help >> is we have traditionally taken like >> in this instance we would take the senate budget and present that number as the budget that we are requesting but again you all have to we're a board of five so we have to decide what we want to do >> and that also happens to be the largest number so it gives you >> I mean gives do some legal work. We're not >> sure. >> I mean, I don't think >> I'm new to this. >> Well, you know, six years in and I'm still new to it. Like every year it's a new year. >> It it it is, you know, and
186I God, I say this every year. We spend more time on the budget than I would ever care to because, you know, we don't get to enjoy the good things that come out of the schools with the budgets that that we put in place. You know, we've had so much success outside of sports and club club, you know, clubs, you know, arts and all these things in school that have been >> phenomenal that, you know, students have thrived with the funds that been provided to us, you know, over the years. So, we would just like to make that a little bit more comfortable for everybody, you know, involved cuz it takes time out of, you know, teachers and most of these teachers have families. They're taking time away from their families to do these extracurriculars
187that sometimes they they get paid for, but not as much as they should. So, I'm just saying, like I say, it's the people that help the kids, the kids that thrive from the help that they get. You know, we that's who we're advocating for. We're not advocating for friendships, families, none of we we're advocating for everybody involved. And that's the theme of the one Nelson. We we try to be community oriented in the decisions we make. >> Well said, Mr. Richardson. anything >> uh you know I I you know totally agree choosing the Senate number the House number or the governor's number you know it's fine why not take the larger you know of the three um but the unfortunate thing is you know revenue lost is not because um of reduced need and the
188big problem in this state, okay, is um we have a very inequitable and an unsustainable way that we are currently funding education and it's criminal. They know it's wrong and they refuse to address it. And the reason they don't address it is because if you help one, maybe you hurt another. So, it just keeps kicking the can down the road. And you know, it's it's it's um you know, I I I think the county overall is totally united on this. The supervisors as well, you know, um you know, they're being crippled, too. Uh it's it's, you know, it's symbiotic. I it it is a bad situation. And um I don't know what's going to get them to change, >> but they're researching the JARK study, but that's years. >> I know. >> Yeah. I mean
189that that they are looking into it. We're one of the few states that fund the way that we do, but I think you're right that there's a difference between acknowledging that there's an issue with it and then putting it into action to rectify it. >> Yeah. Well, I I mean they certainly have been, you know, quoting the JARG study for, you know, quite some time. And if you recall from um the training we did with the SBA um you know the JARK um kind of like CFO um you know it it was a question. I may have even asked it. Oh I think I did. [laughter] I think I asked him, you know, um, you know, in looking at, you know, is there any interest in honestly addressing the LCI? And he said, "No, no."
190>> But anyway, I sorry I just got a little heated on that, but it affects it it affects the whole county, >> you know. the supervisors, you know, if we if we got, you know, absolutely everything we were going there asking for, which we we should because it's needed. Just the fact that revenue has been reduced, the need hasn't met changed. Okay, the need's still there, but the amount of money that the county spends [snorts] on funding our school system sets things back. I mean, it all has an effect, you know, uh it has an effect on the infrastructure that we build here, the things that we talk about. How do we turn around, you know, losing students? Yeah. It's a natural it's a national average. You know, it's we know that there's less and
191less, you know, school age children. But, you know, um the things that we all know need to be done in order to attract more people to the county, you know, whether or maybe we don't want that. Some people maybe don't want that, but I I think there's a balance, you know, there, you know, there's a >> they've got their head in the sand. Yeah. And um you know, so it it's it's it's tough, man. Uh it's tough. And what really bothers me is even letters to, you know, our our senator and our delegates and so forth. You know, you get a polite response, but you know, I I don't know. I I'm not as connected, of course, as Dr. perhaps they're into, you know, um the government in in Richmond and so forth. But, you
192know, I haven't heard anyone, you know, pick the ball up uh even about, you know, no fault, you know, uh no one's, you know, one guy, maybe two guys, I don't know how's that gone. Um, Credes did respond or his his aid responded saying, "We will continue to advocate and, you know, we we've tried to articulate the, you know, drop in a bucket that we feel like particularly for four school divisions that a a bill was proposed to to hold harmless for the LCI because we're four school divisions, small school divisions that have experienced a tremendous increase over the last four years. And so I think if you add all of us up it might be $45 million. And in one of these budgets it's talk about $400 million going to here there and everywhere.
193And you're like that that 1.3 or 1.2 that is it's costing us right now is so critical to the wellness of our financial structures in the county compared to the overall state. And I would say that um you know the the problem is is it takes three to four billion dollars to put in the changes in the JAR study all the changes and in that study it does not site the the LCI as being as bad as like we think it is but we know how it impacts us here in the small rural resort areas and so we um delegate lawer has been at the forefront of trying to advocate for this preded has but you said it if you give us then someone doesn't get and maybe our voice isn't you know maybe our
194delegates voices aren't as powerful as some others or maybe you know there's other things in the fix or maybe those data centers are so powerful in driving decision-m or the fear of Medicaid is so powerful in driving all these decisions that they're not going to take the chance you know in my mind for $5 million um for four small school divisions that that could mean everything too and it's just Um, I think sometimes it's not the fight that not fighting the fights that you think you can win, it's fighting the fights that deserve to be fought. Um, and I think that's what I I try to do. Um, and we'll continue to try to do. Um, because if we don't, then they sit back and say, "Well, no one told us. No one told us
195that this was important to them. No one told us the impact it was having." And so, if we don't say it out loud and we don't communicate it out to them, then it it could be said that they didn't know. And that's that's we need to continue to keep doing that. You know, I know um Miss McGary and I have sent some letters. So, I think the county is trying as well. Um it's just tough. It's really tough. >> I've been here a number of years and when I first started, you know, we had a relatively low composite index. It was in the 3s um and has crept up over the years. other than the last bienium and this bienium, there was always a whole harmless that gave you time to react in your budget
196process to the higher number because you know when you find out in November that it's going to go up, you don't have a lot of time to plan and put things in place to be able to adjust to that new reality. So they used to have special hold harmless funds and until recently >> four years ago. >> Yeah. But the last banual was the first time that we didn't hold harmless. [cough] >> Um Stacy I want to give you an o Dr. rush opportunity to speak on the budget >> or just any thoughts that >> um there's too many thoughts I think that I have but yeah I just I can't you know we hear the we hear the conversations about 80% of it is staff and the importance of that staff and there's no
197way to put a dollar amount on that when we think about caring for our kids and and growing our community. So, I you know, I whatever it takes um for us to show the staff that we appreciate them um to reward them for their work, to to um uphold and uplift their professionalism. Um, and it's so difficult for me as a schoolboard member not to be able to say yes to everything because everything should be said yes to of course we should cover healthcare, of course we should do all these things, but we can't. And it's that is that's a very difficult kind of moral dilemma for me as a school board member. Um, but I think what I think what this I know what this board's plan is is to do everything we can
198to use what we're given as well as we can to move our priorities forward, which are staff and preschool and but it's not going to be easy. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Kennedy. >> I'm good. We can It's I'm good. >> Too many things, right? I'm looking forward to seeing when the dust settles after it all what numbers shake out to be. I I'm I'm I'm curious to see how it all goes. >> Mr. Park, >> I'm good. >> So, I think we're at the point where we have to make a decision, pull the plug on like what do we want to send and request as a budget. Um, as an individual board member, my recommendation would be we submit the the Senate budget with a total budget for operational budget for the school board
199of $34,976,942. >> Second. >> Okay. >> I [laughter] can't I mean I can make a motion. [cough] So I think >> need a motion. >> Yeah. Can I at this point um may I have a motion to approve and adopt the Nelson County School Board requested operational budget for the 2627 fiscal year? I move that the Nelson County School Board approve and adopt the Nelson County School Board requested operational budget in the amount of $34,976,942 for the fiscal year 2026 and 2027, which requires a county contribution of 22,74,480. In addition to the 164,935 annually allocated for the school nursing program, this request includes $600,000 to purchase four new buses. [cough and laughter] >> Mr. Richardson, is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Anyone opposed?
200Anyone abstain? >> Yeah. You know what? Let's do a roll call vote on this one just because we feel like this is pretty important. Mr. Richardson on the motion, do you approve? >> Uh yes, I vote I. >> Dr. Rush >> I. >> Mr. Kennedy >> I. >> Mr. Perkins >> I. >> And I'm I as well. Thank you for that reminder. So the budget motion has carried in and your request. So having carried that motion, we're going to have we're going to do a resolution. It resolved that the Nelson County School Board hereby approves and adopts a budget request to the Nelson County Board of Supervisors in the amount of 34,976,942 inclusive of funding to purchase four school buses. This budget requires request requires a county contribution of 22,774,480 in addition to the 164,935
201annually allocated for the school nursing program for fiscal year 2026 2027. The school board respectfully requests that the county board of supervisors appropriate the funds necessary to support the operation of the public schools and the educational programs and services provided to the students. Thank you. Um I do want to say a thank you to um we jumped the gun on that one, but >> get it done while you can. Um do want to thank the count everybody in the county staff and all of that for for your work on that. >> We did jump the gun. >> Yeah, we did. >> Um items for action since we're already in that section. We got a little bit excited getting that that approved. Um, can we get a motion to approve the declaration of surplus property? >>
202What happens to surplus property? >> Yeah, there's an online auction site that is nationwide that folks can go and bid on. >> Cool. That makes sense. I just didn't know what that meant. >> It's called deals. >> Go deals. >> Cool. >> Man, you can't buy stuff on there cuz your school [laughter] watch that. There are people who sit and watching good stuff. >> It's crazy. >> Yeah. Deals. Okay. Um, can I get a motion to declare the surplus property, please? >> I'll have a second. >> Did you make a motion? Okay. >> I make a motion to approve the declaration of surplus property as presented. >> Thank you. Have a second. >> I'll second that. >> All those in favor? >> I oppose. >> Abstain. Okay. Motion passes. So now we need a motion
203to approve the NCPS special education annual plan. >> I move to approve the special education annual plan. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Anyone abstain? NCPS special education annual plan has been approved. Good job on that. >> Yeah. Okay. So we've already done we've already approved the next one. Thanks guys. And then there is an item for action here. Dr. Hester, do you want to provide any perspective on this? >> So, um, you know, we've been talking about like just the fiscal responsible way of approaching how we're structured, how we spend money. One of the things that we would like to do is do um kind of a a study of our organizational structure, particularly at the central office level. Um, you know,
204we anticipate maybe some um changes in in the future that really would require evaluating the positions that we have, the roles, the job descriptions, um the efficiency um and everything that it takes to make sure that we're um organized in an efficient and fiscally responsible manner. And so one of the groups, Berkeley Group, actually the county is very familiar with the Berkeley group as they were the organization that um did the comprehensive plan um has provided I what I believe to be a very comprehensive uh plan to review um as they go through and they look at particularly here reviewing of existing information and they go through and pretty comprehensively go through and look and and that process does take some money and it would be um a $15,000 investment but I think that that's
205something that can go extend out and and actually be a much bigger benefit um to make sure that we're structured in an economically inefficient manner and getting the biggest bang for our buck with the positions that we have that's more sustainable. Um so I I uh I think that that is a a pretty good I I I'm not sure when that if if or when that has been done in the last few years. >> I don't know it's ever been >> Yeah. it it's just something that it would be a good idea to take a look at, you know, as we we we've made adjustments throughout the years because of enrollment. Um the expectations um of what we do stay the same no matter what our enrollment is. It's just who do you have doing
206it and in the amount and in what role they're playing. So that is why that is included in um just because it's an expenditure that was not previously planned for that I would like to to pass by for your approval. questions for Dr. Hester in regards to that or any discussion? >> I think it's a good idea because we've just been going through downsizing by not filling certain spots due to retirements and >> Yeah. >> And um you know the staff here has gotten smaller over the last you know two budgets on this end. So, I think it'll be a good thing to get looked at. So, we if we have to do a total restructuring, we have to, >> you know, have an idea what it looks like. >> Mhm. And >> I think
207what happens is when you downsize, you just start >> disseminating responsibilities until it's kind of like, oh my, you know, oh my gosh, when you really tally up what those responsibilities are, are they in the best bucket of individuals or departments? Um, how are you best doing that? Yeah, >> one of the things we consistently hear, right or wrong, we're too heavy at the central office. There's too much administration, too much. I mean, that's something I think we've consistently heard. So, I think it will be great to have a group that's embedded into the county that's done that they trusted enough to do their comprehensive report to partner with us to do this so that, you know, if we are not structured correctly, then we get that place. And so here's something that we can
208share with other people in the community to say, "Hey, you know what? You're what we know." >> Yeah. Y from a source that the county felt strong enough to partner with from a comprehensive plan standpoint. >> Is the cost of this study in the presented budget. >> This would come out of this year. >> This year's fun. This would the plan would have this be completed by July 1. >> Okay. >> The study >> maybe not the overall changing of everything, but yeah, the study. Yes. Yeah. Yep. >> If there not any other questions? If not, then we can entertain a motion to approve the request for the the organizational structure study. >> I move that the NCPS division leadership and central office organizational structure study be approved. >> Have a second. >> Second that.
209>> All those in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Anyone abstaining? >> Okay. motion is great. Okay. So, because we I got a little ahead of myself earlier. I did not give us an opportunity to do our board comments. We are now way into the meeting for that. But I do want to give you an opportunity to have a board comment if you'd like to since I skipped it because I was so excited about dates. >> Okay. >> Um Mr. Richardson. Well, um I I suppose as we start our well midway through our third month, you know, being active, um some of us, three of us anyway, you know, we're very appreciative of the uh support and leadership uh that we uh do have uh and Mr. Perkins and um Shannon of force and um
210as chair and um you know it's been incredibly challenging but um it's been equally as rewarding. Uh and I you know hey I'm a one Nelson nut too. I mean I love one Nelson. um you know when I see helping young people and the community being involved you know all together that you know that's uh that's meaningful that's joyous so I'm certainly um thrilled to be a part of it and hope I don't slow anyone down >> oh no you were just fine Um you mentioned Caesar the um things that happen in Nelson County schools that we don't hear a lot about. Uh Joe and I both were at the FFA and maybe others but it was a floating thing the FFA um teacher appreciation lunch. It was spectacular. I was so impressed by these
211kids, their poise and their energy and their dedication to what they're doing and their, you know, I would I was in the food line and ask this one precious girl about our projects. Well, we're raising 55 chickens and so and I'm getting the other person next to her is doing the same thing. And we we give them different two different kinds of food and in May we kill them and then we weigh them and we figure Well, perfect. So then I'm eating lunch and she comes in. She says, "Do you want to come down and meet the chickens?" So we go down and we look at all the chickens and they talk. She talks about the program. We see the greenhouse. This just grows and grows. This whole world under the high school exists for
212this career kind of exposure. And yes, Joe, they are learning to process chickens in this class. So that yeah that was she described that whole process and that and then the the musical this weekend as always absolutely spectacular and Nelson County staff deserve so much credit for all the extra work they do. I mean bringing in a trailer tractor trailer full of chickens backing it into the building is kind of above and beyond I think. >> [laughter] >> know, but it's it's a great place to be and I'm really um thrilled to be a part of this board and to be able to help move it all forward. Glad you're here, Mr. >> Um in year one, I I see the great need to really advocate strongly with the county government and the state government
213and how it all trickles down to us. And I I hope there's a heart change for the people that make the appropriation decisions and just being willing to do the thing. And not to say you let go of all accountability, but let's uh let's fund the things that are most important. >> Mr. Perkins, >> I know I talked about all the things that the school does, but I'd be remissed if I didn't u mention the basketball team and the run they went on. Um and um and the track team, >> the individuals that did well on and indoor track and now we're moving to spring sports and um just all the you know things are happening and you know in a couple months we'll be sitting here getting them out of here and starting a
214new year. So um it happens fast. >> It really does. But I I really do appreciate each and every coach and um aid that assisted in the U winter sports season. We we thank you all a lot and um >> Mr. P. >> Yeah, we I think Dr. Hester mentioned it earlier. We talk about to see the investment like you know we put money in we want to see something coming out and so what other school division can say with 1400 students they've got an award-winning an award-winning theater department a state qualifying basketball team state qualifiers for track you know academically an outstanding rating for the high school and all the other schools moving up towards it. So, you know, we're not a huge district, but there are such great things happening that if we
215focus on the things that aren't, then yeah, that's, you know, I I go back to my husband always says one ofoy really covers a whole bunch of awes. But the reality is is that we got a whole lot more attabo than I think we always that are always seen in our community. There are things we can always work on, but there's a lot of great already happening and that investment in the school, the ability that we can have chickens that get what you're the programs. I looked at this when I was looking at the high school program of studies and the things that we offer our kids in this community. It's incredible like what what what the county the school systems been able to do with what we have is just incredible and and there
216is a benefit to that and we see that academically sports theater arts FFA CTE programs. So I, you know, I I would hope, as you said, continue to see the value of the investment you're making. I understand we're part of a bigger picture, but that bigger picture includes putting good citizens into the community. That's great. Okay. Thanks for letting me go back after missing that people. I appreciate it. So we do need to go back into close session. So Mr. Committee, can you Oh, you got your computer down. Has anybody still got their computer up and can do a motion for us to go into close session? I think we're going to need to do personnel. Do we need to include student and legal? >> I was trying. >> Okay. Um, so do we need
217to do all three, Dr. Hester? >> I think so. >> Okay. So, if I can have someone give me a motion to go into close session for all three matters, please. I move that the Nelson County School Board enter into close session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters including employment assignments, appointments, performance, resignations, or retirements as well as the performance of central office employees and professional personnel in accordance with section 2.2-3711A1 of the Code of Virginia. Discussing matters related to student discipline and investigation in accordance with section 2.2-3711A2 of the Code of Virginia. and discussing legal matters related to personnel, student and school boards legal authority requiring the provision of legal advice by the schoolboard council in accordance with section 2.2-3711 A7 of the code of Virginia. >> May I have a second after
218that? >> A second. >> All those in favor say I. >> Anyone opposed? Anyone abstain? We are now in close session. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] [music] >> [music]