001[Music] Hey, hey, hey. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] We've made it. 12 grade school years completed. If I'm going to be completely honest, it's hard to believe we've come so far. Today's ceremony represents the impact each graduate had at Nelson County. These experience alongside Nelson County's teachers is a once in a-lifetime experience. High school has been hard. We've been given thousands of entirely new obstacles. We have spectacularly triumphed over them. It is nothing if not hard work and persistence that has lit the fuse to the class of 2025 success. Believe in yourself that you are somebody. If you look up the nail definition of somebody, you will find a person of importance. Never place blame on anyone for your failure. When things get tough, stand tall. Continue to work towards greatness
002so one day everybody will say, "You know what? They were somebody." With our caps on our heads and our dreams in our hearts, we're finally ready to step out into the world and chase our future. [Music] And now, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, I do hereby declare you graduates of Nelson County High School. Please turn your tassels. Congratulations, class of 2025. Follow your horizon. Follow your heart. Chasing the unknown. Forever it may take us. Forever it may. Chasing the unknown. Follow the horizon. Follow your heart. Chasing the unknown. [Music] Oh, [Music] that heat. [Music] to the agenda. I will entertain a motion to approve it. >> I move we approve the agenda as presented. >> A second. >> All in favor? >> I >> um
003we may adopt the roll call vote as well this time if you don't mind. Um, >> you like to adopt a roll call vote for the um approval of the agenda or moving forward? >> Yeah, let's just do it moving forward since the agenda is not that big of a deal. >> Okay. All right. Um, >> I mean, it's all a big deal. Excuse me. >> Roll call vote. Miss Turner G >> on the agenda. >> Yeah. >> Uh, yes. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. >> Uh, Mr. Perkins. >> Yes. >> Miss Pal. >> Yes. and Miss Claire. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> God, >> I think that's important to do that. >> Full disclosure, this is my first time as clerk, so >> far. >> Yeah. I would like to
004welcome the clerk, >> got my my old lady, >> the new clerk. So, um, also, uh, I should have done this while we were standing, but I I would like to, um, add a moment of silence for a couple of our, uh, staff members who have passed away recently. We've got Warren Martin who was a bus driver for us and um Mac Mazize who was a custodian at the middle school and uh unfortunately they have passed and if we could do a moment of silence thank Thank you very much. I don't know how long my moment should be. Um, okay. The next part of the uh agenda is our one Nelson Awards. >> All right. All right. So for those of you who are new uh the one Nestlin awards uh is basically a way
005of recognizing individuals not only um students community members but uh two um categories of staff that would be our classified staff and our certified staff. And basically what it does is it shows to recognize all those individuals that um go above and beyond and adapt that mentality of we do everything we can because it takes all of us to support our students in being successful. So that's what this uh portion of the meeting does. And traditionally what I've tried to do in the August meeting, particularly as it comes to the students um is in the August meeting, we recognize the um Nelson County High School class of the previous graduating class. So it would be the Nelson County High School graduating class of 2025. And we'd like to say congratulations to the Nelson County High
006School class of 2025. We are proud of all of your accomplishments and wish you the best on the next part of your journey. #1 Nelson. So, we just want to say thank you very much. Best of luck. Um, our individuals, our kids are going off in a lot of different um, ventures and a lot of different opportunities and we just wish them the best of luck. So, congratulations to our seniors and Mr. Walker, I'll make sure you get this as well. Well, you can come on up and accept it. And you might as well you might as well stay up here for the next one as well. So, we're going to look at this nice lady who is drawing short straw. Yep. Thank you. Nope. Stay up here. All right. So, our next category um
007is going to I'm I'm kind of jumping up a little bit. We're going to recognize our staff. And like I said, we typically separate it into our classified staff um which is various um groups of individuals like uh administrative assistants, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, um instructional aids. um this year um I don't know if you know this but we are going through uh the high school renovation and so that is a pretty comprehensive undertaking and it it started at at about spring break last year and it really went into full force this summer and as we started up for the school year. Um but that's also on top of the the uh roofing project that we had last year. So, I would just like to say the Nelson County High School staff have truly represented
008the one Nelson mentality as they have remained dedicated to their students, families, community, and each other as they navigate working through the high school renovation. School renovations are never easy and they can be disruptive to the normal flow of school life. These goss embrace their work as they did during the roofing project two years ago and stay committed to doing what they do best, and that's serving our NCHS students. Thank you for all that you do as we work to make the building a better environment for all. So, we want to say thank you and congratulations to your staff and you for all your hard work that you've been doing um and working and collaborating with everyone. So, I know that that is a lot um to uh to take on and we just appreciate
009your efforts with that. So, congratulations. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you, sir. All right. And so the other category that we would like to recognize is community members. So these are various community members that go out above and beyond to support our schools, our students, the whole environment. And so recently um I'm going to call up uh Mr. Woody Greenberg and Janette um excuse me, Kende to uh who are representing the Nelson County Historical Society. You can come on up and I think you're gonna stand over here. Does that make it easier for you? Yeah. Okay. So go ahead and Yep. You can come over here. Um, so Miss Kai and Miss Dedins worked with our summer learning students and teachers on behalf of the Nelson County Historical Society to design wonderful learning opportunities.
010The theme of the experience was our Nelson, our community. Rooted in history, growing through industry, thriving in agriculture, forging careers for the future histo uh future historical connections, these local historians and longtime residents shared stories and insights about Nelson's past. students created a time capsule to preserve their experiences, document the present, and provide a snapshot of life in Nelson County for future generations. We appreciate the willingness of these individuals and the historical society to support our students and demonstrate the one Nelson mentality. So, thank you so much for being able one to join us this evening, but contributing back to the future generations that we hope really remain here um and give back to the future generations beyond that. So, thank you so much. We're going to take a picture with this nice lady. Oh,
011you know what? I should probably like share that out that way. Welcome back to school. We like to give um these mugs out as well as a token of our appreciation. So, we're going to give I got three of them. So, we have one that has one Nelson on it. I'm going to keep it in this protective packaging to keep it from me so I don't break it. But here is a mug and I will get you the other two. Hold on. Hold on one second. Okay. >> And thank you for this. >> Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you so much. Oh, wait. Here's the other. Thank you. Well, thank you very much. That was exciting. Um, now we'll roll in board members. And if it's all right with you, Miss Turner Child, we can start
012with you. >> Sure. Just thank you to all of the administrators, teachers, and everyone. It's been a great start to the school year so far, and looking forward to a good year. >> Thank you, Mr. Cheap. >> Uh, I want to echo that. Um just really glad to see the kids are back in school and um it sounds like the uh first couple of days of school have been have been really good. Um people are right people are getting where they need to be and and thriving and um and just look forward to more continued success. >> Thank you, Mr. Perkins. I'd like to echo what has already been said and also I had the opportunity to go out to um to visit the schools during the um sign up fee night and do was
013able to go to Tai and to the high school and middle school and just to see everybody doing what they were supposed to be doing. It looked like it ran smoothly and it was good to see the parents and the kids out and kids look somewhat excited about being there. The parents look really excited about being there because they were getting ready to kids again. But um it was good to get out and and be in be in the schools to watch that happen again. So, and thank you to all the administrators, teachers, and new staff. And hopefully things will continue to be good like the first two days. Um, as they all said, I mean, it sounds like it's been a great start to the year. Thank you all, parents, kids, staff, everybody across
014the spectrum. Thank you. It's been been a great start. the opportunity to join for convocation and that was a good time. I loved seeing the the schools that together the hype you all brought for that. Um that was a really good story. I'm sorry I missed the family feud game that um and then thanks our community members for being here. It's no surprise that we've got a former teacher and somebody who's still stuck into the schools all the time with Miss Penny. We don't ever let her go. And then Mr. Greenberg who's been so active in the community for many years. Thank you guys for your contribution. Um, >> and good luck. Have a great year everybody. >> Thank you very much. Um, I want to also say thank you to everybody. Same. Um, I
015know that uh, you know, it's fraught with peril, but went smoothly this so far, so that's good. Um, convocation was so much fun. I was so like beside myself with excitement. So, um, and it just felt like, I mean, everybody was just so energized that I knew that the that the, you know, beginning of the year was was going to be great. So, um, and I I know the rest of the year will go just as well. Um um I did also want to mention to you guys that u I went to the um I don't even remember what the VSBA event was called, but I did have this Q&A which I've mentioned to you many times about um >> uh the legal questions and answers. So I think it's very interesting um information and
016that I hope you guys will look at. And I think that's all I wanted to say. All right. Next, we've got Oh, important dates. So, the on the list of important dates are um sorry, I can't see them from there. So, um we've got uh the green and gold golf tournament. Is it still time to sign up for that if you haven't already? >> No. >> Sponsors. We'll take sponsors. >> Okay. Sponsors. >> So, you can pay and not go, which is what I would appreciate that. Nobody wants to play golf with me, even Papey. So, Labor Day also, woohoo, uh National Grandparents Day, Patriots Day, which I didn't know what it was, but it's uh 911. Um so, uh and then our next school board meeting, I will also mention for the first time
017and not probably the last time is that some of us will be going to the VSBA conference in November. Um, so just so everybody knows that maybe more than one of us would be attending that. So that would be technically us meeting. So So yeah, that's that. All right. Um, now we have comments from our superintendent team. All right, let's see. Let me get my stuff together here. >> I'm clicking. >> I got the clicker. >> Okay, as usual, I will apologize to you all. You don't have the best view, so I apologize. All right, so I have the uh fun part. Um we do have um a couple opening uh superintendent comments. had we, as you guys have stated, we'd have a great start to the school year. Um, having students return to us
018is a very fulfilling feeling. Uh, we have missed them all summer long, and this is what we plan for, and this is what we get ready for. So, when we bring them back into our buildings, there is a much higher energy. Um, that first week of school um can be very exhausting. I've already talked to some teachers, administrators, parents, and kids. And even though it's only the third day of school, it it really is there's a lot of emotion involved, which gets you jazzed up, but it's also a lot. you're getting back into um some habits and and getting on some schedules. Um we have a a new cell phone policy as many of you will remember through the legislative season. Um the uh off and away during belltoell was put into code and legislation
019and so we have been um off and away all day. Students are allowed to have their phone in their backpacks. We don't make them put it in a locker or a separate bag. So they do have it on them but just not on their person. Um anecdotically talking to some teachers they felt like it's going well. Um I think you know cautiously optimistic on how we adjust to that but the kids have gone have done very well with it. Um I think the feeling is when they come back from lunch they're a little calmer and they they get back into the swing of class a whole lot faster from transitions. um from a parent um whose student is typically more reserved, feeling like this is a wonderful opportunity to to encourage those conversations at lunch
020and being involved and not just maybe um kind of separating and looking at their phone. So, uh we have high hopes for that and uh we'll continue to support that piece of legislation. Um weapons detectors, we started the phase in process last year with our weapons detectors at each of our locations. We're taking another step forward um at ticketed athletic events and other large gatherings. Um we'll hear more about it from Mr. Mullins later this evening. And to accompany that, you all received gifts. Our uh staff received a clear bag gift. Um we will have a clear bag policy in order to assist the safety and security at these large events. Um, again, as a reminder, the uh Zero Eyes AI software that is integrated into our security cameras is full go at all of
021our locations. Um, it is working. We get those little um, thus far we've only had maybe um, a handful of alerts and they've all been of a non-threatening nature. So, we get those indicators which is really cool. um it zeros in on that box and um so so far it's it's working as it should be and uh it's a an excellent um strong layer of security for us. And then as always, we encourage that partnership um with schools and home and whether it's attendance all day every day or checking your students belongings, whether it's their backpacks, their jackets, their cars, their rooms, making sure that um we have that strong partnership and it keeps everyone safe. Um check your Stanley Cups. Um some things sometimes things find their ways into their Stanley Cups. Sometimes they
022find their ways into backpacks and jackets and it the creativity knows no bounds. So just that partnership is super helpful to us. All right. Um as far as the pathways to success, you know, I said I have this but there we go. Um for the administration, uh there was um the working to procure the epiens u making sure that each one of our buildings has the epipens and albuterols at the start of school. Um working with school nurses one to provide the services. We added a nurse this summer to our summer learning. So, we had one at at the two major locations. Um, and that's to be able to provide uh more of the services for for our students needs. Um, summertime, late summer and early fall is a big time for reports um from
023all of our different departments. And so, there's been a lot of times working through the the activity fund audits um closing out, you know, FY25 financials with 45day acrruels. We are we have gone with a new um uh voluntary health benefits company. So going through open enrollment which for the health insurance ends tomorrow. So we've gone through that process. Uh we did have a foyer request and then also working on the esser survey the DOE. Um those funds have come to a close and just closing out all of those reports. That middle picture that you see there, those are our Smith award winners and something that you know Miss Irvin will rarely take credit for. He really works as that facilitator and collaborator with um Mr. Layman who works for the community foundation at Central
024Blige to honor the Smith family who contributed a great deal of money um to educators and and each of these individuals who won for Nelson County Public Schools was peer nominated and peer recognized and winning not only just being recognized but $1,000. that goes a long way for a lot of our individuals and it's one of my favorite parts of convocation to be able to see they don't know they're winning this so they kind of find out along with everyone else and you can see that emotion kind of really creep up on them when they start listening to the descriptions um when they realize hey that's me I do that uh and they realize that's peer like that isn't handpicked by anybody else your peers recognize you so I I appreciate that continued commitment of
025being able to keep um this tradition alive and being able to work through that um in terms of instruction assessment A lot takes place in the summertime to get ready for the rest of the school year. We hear, "Oh, you guys are off in the summer, right?" Actually, when it comes to central office and administr administrators, they actually are fully go fully engaged and entrenched in preparing for the next school year. One of which was through summer learning. U we'll hear a little bit more about that information later on um this evening from Mr. Bleco. We also hosted a summer teacher academy um peer-led. We did have a couple outside speakers come in and provide some professional development learning, but we had a lot of our own providing that based off of what our staff
026said, "Hey, I'm really interested in learning more about this. I'd like more support in these areas." So, aligning um that peer uh professional development with the needs is is particularly great. We welcomed our new staff, our new teacher for orientation on July 30th through August 1st. We welcomed back all of our teachers back on August 4th. We also um had uh divisionwide professional development all throughout that week leading up to convocation day on that Friday. Um again um Mr. or Dr. Garzabinsky is um chin deep into all the different reports that he has to send off to the states and finalizing our so scores. He'll share more about our end of year so uh data um but all the different master schedule reports when when we have to call in and say hey did you
027turn in your attendance or hey did you click this button? are you making sure that the master schedule is set? It's there's a reason we send all of that information to the state. It is highly um evaluated and tracked. So, I appreciate all the effort on doing that. It seems to happen all at the same time and it's very very stressful. Things like our student behavior data. Um we also had our power school rollover which we need all of that to go smoothly to make sure all of our student information is in where it needs to be. pupil personnel. We look at um uh Miss Reinger and her team um really matching staff with student needs when it comes to special education and working to effectively deliver special education services. Finalizing um different data reports
028uh particularly for sped to the state um providing professional development opportunities not only for sped teachers but for gened teachers. A lot of times as a general education teacher, I might not always really fully understand how I can utilize special education teachers, how I can serve my my students, all of my students better by using um sped uh strategies. So, we appreciate being able to bring that professional learning to everyone. Um she really worked very hard um to maintain and hold on to kid kids care. So, those individuals from the community that provide meals for a lot of our students on the weekend. Um, Miss Reinger worked really, really hard um to make sure that we were able to continue that. Um, so I appreciate that as well as the community members continuing that on
029um professional development again on data analysis and um creating those partnerships with JMU um to support our kids, human resources, um continuing to recruit, uh interview and hire for staff vacancies. We don't have very many vacancies, but we do have a few. Um so if anybody knows a sped teacher out there, we are looking at um Rockfish and the high school. So anybody out there listening, please um reach out to us. And our human resources, Miss Chot and her team were really really um indepth in working through the new teacher orientation and trying to provide um using those three days to acclimate our new staff to Nelson, getting them the technology that they need by working with Mr. Cargill and his team getting all that human resources paperwork set up so they're not stressing over
030that and then getting them kind of that that first level professional development on some things that they'll hear again in more depth when all the teachers come back. Um also uh provided a lot of the recognitions for our staff during convocation whether it was um new staff, staff transfers, promotions, uh years of service and teacher of the year. So a lot of of work to support that. um substitute uh teacher workshop took place this last week where we had a really good turnout to be able to to fill those gaps when we have teachers or staff members that are absent and to have individuals be able to step up and and help out. Um and then just um processing onboarding uh paperwork for hires, new hires, technology. Um this is a collaborative effort when we
031get the school year going. So all these different departments whether it's sped, technology, human resources, instruction and data, they work together in order to get this going from teacher summer teacher academy to new teacher orientation. Um supporting back to school week working with HR to continue onboarding. Um not all of our new staff join us at the very beginning of the school year. Sometimes it is throughout the year and just working together to onboard them. We um work really hard to distribute our Chromebooks out to our students. We had a really late delivery of some of the Chromebooks. So, Mr. Cargill and his team stayed um and dedicated themselves to making sure those Chromebooks were ready and prepped to be able to distribute to our students, particularly high school students. Um we had some individuals
032from central office and -p um kick in and be able to help out. So, thank you to uh Miss Cho, Miss Pontton, and Miss Irvin be able to help with the distribution in looking for ways to find more opportunities to secure our our systems by using uh secure school cyber security programs to train teachers. Also looking in and helping with the security grant applications um on behalf of the technology side with cameras and also Mr. Cargill um worked with Cobalt Films to create um the graduation video. Um, I did, um, that bottom right picture that you see, there is a link attached to it. So, when you get a chance, if you click on it, you'll be able to see the video, but I'm sure at the end of this meeting, he'll probably find a
033way to to to um to play that video. It's a really cool video to celebrate our our uh seniors from last year, our graduates from last year. Maintenance. Um, those upper uh left two pictures, those are our new um recess and outdoor playground equipment. Um, Mr. Campbell worked with uh, Miss Reinger to have two new ADA accessible pieces of playground equipment um, installed. Um, so I appreciate that effort and I, you know, Miss Reinger shared that she was leaving the other day and just the screams and the yelling of joy of the and looking back and seeing it was the kids and all of the kids being able to play with that equipment and really enjoying it. So, that's a pretty cool uh, definitely a feel-good story when it comes to some of the things
034that we do. Um, this is in addition to all the other summer maintenance projects that get tak taken care of and on all five of our sites. And I say five of our sites because there was a lot of collaboration with maintenance to help with transportation um build up where they park a lot of the buses over at the shop by using some of the excess of the millings from the roads to be able to build up that area. So using all of our resources to really kind of turn it back in and not using it as waste. And so I appreciate that thoughtfulness. Um, obviously a lot of energy being put towards the high school renovation project. Um, it it knock on wood, I hate to say things out loud sometimes, it's going well
035on time, on budget, but that doesn't mean everything is perfect and not without some hiccups. And so, a great deal of time has been spent working with the various contractors. Um, and I appreciate their willingness to jump on a zoom call if we need to or face to face or whatever uh to make sure that we continue moving forward with this um coordinating with Grossban. We talked about in the greenhouse one of the screens has been broken. So, the delivery I think took place this year or this week um to deliver the screen and was installed >> yesterday. >> Yeah, yesterday was installed yesterday. So, that's another uh thing off the list to be able to give our students a better environment when they work in that greenhouse. And then last but not least is
036just working with principles to interview and fill uh custodial positions. Transportation. Um we continue to see increased numbers of individuals passing our buses after they've been stopped. Um not only just stopped, but with the lights blinking, the stop sign out. Um they continue to pass. So uh really appreciate um ABC13 coming out and and doing a a segment with uh Mr. Ashley to really serve as more of an educational aspect of understanding this is what you're looking for. If a bus is stopped, just don't pass it. Like it's not worth it. And the amount of time that you think you're going to save is not a whole lot. And we're all in a hurry. We all get impatient, but just that's a child's life. Um that's a family, that's a community, that's an entire school
037division that gets impacted. It's not a small thing. Nonetheless to mention the person who um tries to pass, that impacts their life as well. So, I appreciate the willingness to to kind of get that word out to promote the safety. Um, been working on routes. Um, I think we saw particularly this year there was a whole bunch of late sign up uh for registrations and bus registrations which makes it really difficult for uh transportation to route it. We are 470 square miles. That's a lot. Um, it's not always kids who live side by side right next to each other. They're spread out. Uh, but they worked really hard to to be ready and prepared for the first day of school. And um Mr. Ashley gives maintenance um and the construction contractors um and the mechanics
038for coordinating the millings from the parking lots to go uh bolster where our buses are parked so they don't have to park in the mud so it sinks and it gets harder to pull them out. So we appreciate that. Um and also able to um Mr. Ashley and his crew were able to attend some professional development opportunities whether it was for transportation or safety by going to the uh uh school safety and security conference in out in Hampton. school nutrition um served students breakfast and lunch at both sites at the middle well middle middle school for summer learning in Tai River. But not only did they serve face-to-face breakfast and lunch, they also provide what we call non- congregate, meaning when they go home, they sent them home with meals as well. Um all managers
039and I what I love about each one of our departments is they continue to promote their own growth in in their professional world by seeking out opportunities to become better. So, they attended a culinary training program in Fluana. Uh, we continue to uh um hire for the part-time jobs. We're able to fill that. Um, three full-time nutrition workers at the high school and middle school participating cooking class like we mentioned in training through the VDOE school nutrition program. They work very very hard to promote local purchases and trying as best they can to do things from scratch. Not always easy. It takes more staff. It it can be difficult and it can be uh more expensive. but they uh awarded uh Krooks Produce out of Lynchburg for the fresh produce. What I really like about
040Krooks is they are very focused on going local. Um so continue to get back to our local um produce providers and and I I really do appreciate that. Also conducted the start of the year mandatory training for their staff and continue to make them themselves available for all of our students. So as you see here, our our meals for this summer student breakfast meals on site were 1,283. lunch, 1858. And I mentioned to you the non- congregate, meaning not face tof face with us, not collected together. Um, so we're serving quite a bit of our students over throughout the summer. So, I appreciate that willingness to do that. Community engagement takes place not only during the school year, but in the summer. Um, the culminating factor of band camp was the parent night. You see
041that in the upper lefthand corner where the kids got to play um, some of the new sets from um, oh, I just went blank there for a second. the greatest show on earth. Um, so it was a really nice evening. All of our openhouse events that brought our parents and our students back in right before the start of school, our announcements about the beginning of the school year, and then also working through ne uh the Blue Ridge uh medical center for the Nelson Community Health Fair that provided wonderful opportunities for our students to get free physicals and vaccinations before the start of the school year. Um and as been mentioned, the um green and gold golf tournament partnering um looking at the different teams, people from all over Nelson County, um graduates, you know, alumni,
042business partners, a whole bunch of people um just really working hard to be a part of that. So, I appreciate that. Um all county convocation day, um I when we stood up here and we um recognized our teachers of the year, I had stated like, "Hey, there's something they will be getting something else." They were awarded these big vinyl signs that they can hang up in the schools um to be able to recognize them at at convocation. Taylor Ramsay did a phenomenal very creative idea um for her uh convocation speech where she had a a dinner a family dinner set where she kind of enacted out a little bit of a um a scene there with her own family and just really valuing the role of the educators and the family within that. So appreciated
043that. Um, Miss Claire uh welcomed us back um to the school year. So, we appreciate that. Um, Mr. Reid did um also speak and he attended. We appreciate that support. And then we also had um family feud. So, we tried to do something a little bit different this year by incorporating um all of our different departments in that game. Um and the spirit by having everybody sit together certainly helped. And it never hurts that when you open it, it's the band who opens and our color guard and our cheerleaders. And this year we had our elementary color guard that also performed which was adorable. So that was a wonderful kickoff to the to bringing all of our staff back. And then the first day of school, um that's kind of what we get excited for
044and seeing all the the faces coming back and even the high school kids. Um sometimes it's hard for them to hide um that they're a little excited to come back and be around their friends. And we really it's it was a cool day being in the buildings and just appreciate everybody uh working hard to get ready for a great school year. >> Okay. Any questions? >> No. >> Okay. >> Student rep would you like to say anything at all? I know it's kind of early to be able to report, but do you have a good summer? >> Uh yes, I did. Uh, thank you for all the opportunities I got to work with the football team and other opportunities I got to live through. But, um, regarding the school year, I feel like it's been
045a a pretty good start. I feel like from what I've seen and, uh, students as well as teachers are on the phone policy. So, I props to them and yeah, I hopefully we move forward like that and hopefully everything's going well. >> Awesome. Thank you so much. Really appreciate it. Um and now we have comments from the public if there none. There none. Okay. Awesome. We can keep on rolling my um consent agenda. Anybody have any questions about any of that content? We have the meeting minutes, the second reading from May. We got registers from June and July and the financial report for June. You all good? >> I will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. I make a motion be approved the consent agenda. >> I'll second. >> All in favor? You
046going to do the roll call? >> I would love to do the roll. >> I so happy. >> Mr. >> I, >> Mr. Chief, >> I >> Mr. Perkins. Miss I >> I >> feel like this is something new we learned in >> Yes. >> Now that was I don't know where I learned that one but we don't have to keep going if you don't want to do it but I think it's probably clear when we have important votes to do them out. So >> consent agenda passes 5. Oh, I need to take it off. >> Okay, now we have items for information. Um, that would be the first reading of the June meeting, June 12th meeting, first reading of the June 27th meeting. Um, and then we have an afterchool program update. I'm guessing
047this is from Dr. >> We have Miss No, we have Miss Peters and uh Mr. Edwards from MAC here to provide an update. So, please stand there. >> Great for us. So yeah, >> would you like for me to stand with you or else you stand here awkwardly? >> Are you going to stand here with the >> Good evening everybody. Uh my name is John Edwards. I'm the interim executive director for the uh Montichello Community Action Agency based in Charlottesville. And of course, we've been around also known as MACA. Generally, people don't know what what MACA stands for, so that's why I went ahead and said it. Um I'm the interim executive director. I've been there since uh 1st of February and uh trying to get the agency back uh whole footed and such uh
048to move forward with all of its programs uh to really look at how we provide services in our uh four fivecount area. Uh one of the things that um that's important to you of course is the afterchool program uh which we've been operating now I guess couple of years or so maybe this is our third year maybe going into it. Um and we were unsuccessful in starting the program the first day of school which was two days ago three days ago uh two days ago on the 12th. Um but we do have a plan for how we're going to move forward and I wanted to just kind of give you this update and u first of all I want to thank the administration certainly uh Dr. Hester uh Shannon over here the principles of Ty
049River uh as well as um uh Rockfish uh elementary schools. So, we plan to start the program and I want to give you four high points and then I'm going to ask our uh director to come up and talk more specifically about what we're done. Her name is Jean Jean Peters and we're really glad to have her expertise on staff. Uh she's been with us now for two months almost >> almost two months and she's really made her impact felt within the organization in terms of how we build out our child um after school programs uh that we're going to do here and of course uh larger programs that we're going to do in Charlottesville. Uh so first of all um we've submitted our application to the uh Virginia Department of Education uh which is
050really the first step in toward really getting licensed uh to operate an after school program. Um it was held up a little bit uh primarily because we had to provide some references from members of our board of directors, the officers, as well as um some people on our board who was from Alaska. They're on our board but live here now. Uh and of course Jean uh who hails from Minnesota. So that kind of slowed down the process uh for us being able to operate and start the program on day one of the school school year. Um but I'm happy to say that we have all of that in now and it's already been submitted to the Virginia Department of Education. So we should be able to get this done rather quickly. But I don't want
051to actually at this point give out specific dates because I don't know. What we do know is that on Tuesday uh we'll have uh the Department of Education's um I guess auditor, inspector or some someone of that elk coming to both schools uh to really take a look at the rooms in which we will be operating the program. So that's really a step in the right direction. Uh very positive one and I'm sure we'll be able you know to to pass that um um with flying flying colors. So right now in terms of the students uh we have 22 students uh that have submitted applications. They're at various phases of completion right now. Um there are 18 at Rockfish and six at Tai River. Uh so and we were uh we have a goal to
052have 22 students and so we're close to that right now. 24 students and we're close to that right now with having 22. Um the the last thing I'd mention to you is um our staff. Um and so we're recruiting staff. We have some already um uh hired uh and and ready to go. And at this point, it really depends on how quickly the Department of Education will be able to move through the licensing process. We've submitted everything that we need to submit to them. So, they have everything. Uh again, the only hold up on that at this point was getting the information from um on Jean from Minnesota and we were able to that came in yesterday. So with that um you know we're moving ahead you know with that we intend to operate the
053program uh we intend to learn lessons from mistakes uh in our organization and we're committed to this relationship and this partnership that we enjoy uh and we look forward to having this relationship with you for many years to come. So, I'm going to ask Jean to come up and kind of give uh a little bit more details about the specificity of things. She knows it much better than I. That's her background. Um and then if there are any questions, we'll take those. Okay. Thank you. >> Good evening. I have a very loud voice, so I'm going to stand kind of back here. Um I wanted to introduce myself. As John said, my name is Jean Peters and I'm the new uh director of children's programming at MACA. And as John said, we uh were not
054able to open on the first day of school. And I do sincerely apologize um to all of you and certainly to the stress that it has caused um many of you. That was not our intention. What I will say is that um I believe we are completely on track to not only open a program, but to really open a program that's going to attract more kids and to show the parents that we're going to be consistent, we're going to be reliable, and we're going to have really good programming. So, this is just our start. And um we will keep everyone posted. I uh personally called all the parents on Friday to let them know. I will be sending an email out tomorrow um without an actual date but to let them know they'll need to
055find alternate child care next week. Um and I will continue to keep them in the loop as best I can. And that's all I have to say. Any questions? >> Appreciative. I know that's a really it's a needed resource for this community right in child care and our families have many of them have to travel outside the community. So, we're appreciative of that partnership and really appreciative there's going to be consistency and continuity in the program moving forward. Um, especially because I think you'll see >> numbers change. Yes. >> I think when there's trust when that trust is built back up, I think you're going to see >> Well, and it's it's really telling because quite frankly, a lot of our families right now are kindergarteners. >> Um, so we really have to rebuild the
056trust with everyone else. And the way we're going to do that is we're going to show up. We're going to run a strong program. Um and hopefully we'll they'll re rearn their trust and um the program will continue to grow. We would really like a robust program. Six kids is hard to have a robust program. So um we're going >> is there a max cap on that for or >> I it would only be dependent on on room size, but we could go up to 30 or 35 easily with the with the two staff depending on on the kids and and which school we were at. >> But we'll keep you posted. >> Yeah. just thank you again for what you're doing and more importantly for following up with the families. I know there's been
057a lot of anxiousness just trying to figure out daytoday what to do with their children. So that followup goes a long way. So thank you for doing that. >> You're very welcome. I um you all have a great community. We got to go to the uh open houses and it was an absolute joy to see the staff and the and the families. So, um, we we appreciate the opportunity to work with all of you. >> Appreciate. >> Thank you. >> And this has been, um, it it's been a a labor of love. Um, it hasn't been easy. And I appreciate the willingness to continue to fight to, find ways to make this happen. Um, because there were times where like it's not, it's just not. And then there are other times you get late. And
058then it's just um the persistency, persistency, being persistent um and just kind of trying your all to get it done for our kids and our families. And we appreciate that. >> Thank you very much. >> And we thank you for your cooperation and working with us. It I know it was tough on your end, uh tough on our end, but as potential partners and partners, you know, we're going to work this out together and we're going to have a successful program. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. And I am going to leave. So, I just want to say I'm not trying to be rude. I have another commitment. >> Okay, you do. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you so much. >> Um, okay. Next, we have Mr. Les Gamble. >> The favorite
059part. >> Hello. We've had a busy summer. I tried to compact this as much as I can so I'm not standing up here for the next hour talking. >> We're going to give you five minutes and then just >> just boot me out. >> Yeah, that'll work. >> I did try to put a lot of pictures and that help a lot too. So, um so I'll start off with where I feel like we ended in May discussing this water cooled chiller. Uh we still have some issues >> without that conversation, >> right? One of these years we will. Um so we're still experiencing issues with it. Um, I do know that there's carrier um, engineers that are on this as well trying to figure this out. It did run for about roughly 40 hours two
060weeks ago and it tripped out on that Saturday morning and which sent everyone into a mad dash to try to get a temporary chiller in place to start up on Monday morning before the teachers arrived for school. Um, so there there was a lot of emails going back and forth over this. Um I I would like to recognize Southern Air and MB contractors for what they did for us over that weekend. Um Southern Air brought a crew in and they was able you got a to a temporary chiller you have to have attach water lines to the to the your existing system. They come in on Sunday morning and by that afternoon they had our valves welded in place and ready to go for the chiller that arrived Monday morning. and um they were we
061were able to get that up and running. So I I do want to acknowledge those two companies for helping us do that. Um so as we progressed after we've got the chiller up and running, Honeywell was to go in and they're doing the automation side of all the controllers uh installing those. That's their portion of the project. Um when we fired finally got the chill up and running and we started running the units realized they installed 51 uh fan coil units in the CTE wing. This all this is all related to just the CTE wing and the front offices there. Um 21 of those were not communicating. So that sent everybody back into another scramble trying to figure out what was going on. Um when school started up, we still had 10 uh when we
062started Tuesday morning, we still had 10 uh fan core units that were not still communicating. Um I I can say after the progress meeting today uh with the renovation crew, um all but two are now communicating, running, communicating like they're supposed to, and they've been tested by another company. So we the two that are remaining are in the large common area that connects where the library is from the CTE wing. Um they will they will be tested and started up um once the ceiling gets installed Monday for that area. So then that CTE wing as far as as far as the fan units will be operating as they should. Um, we will still stay on top of Honeywell to ensure that whatever needs to happen to this chiller that we have, it needs to function.
063And I've I've asked this afternoon for a detailed I sent an email this this afternoon asking for a detailed um breakdown of how they plan to do this before. My fear is once the cooling season's over with, they will come pick up the temporary chiller that's sitting on, you'll see a picture later on that is sitting on a large flat bed down next to the IT loading dock. Um, they'll send it back and then we're we're still having this conversation next cooling season. So, I I fear I I I'm hoping that I know hope's not a strategy, but I hope that that happens that they are able to fix these issues before we shut the chiller down for the um eating season. Two the the things that are working because of the temporary chiller, not
064because of the big giant guy. Okay. >> Right. Okay. >> In one specific area, not the whole entire school. >> Right. It just we're just talking about the CTE. >> Right. But the big chiller still doesn't work. It's a little temporary guy that's working the other pieces. Okay. That's why I just wanted to make sure I understood that. >> Is that a communication thing with the motherboard or is that just >> so my camera? >> Yeah. So originally I I do I do feel that it's internal. It's something it's it's a communication piece internal of this um of this unit. Um it like I said it ran they they they found they did find some faulty wiring from the factory. They addressed that and they thought that they fixed the the oil migration. I know
065we talked about this before. They thought they fixed that issue. Um it unfortunately happened again. So, they did not fix that issue, but they started when they started off uh the these new chillers come with multiple uh programming in them. And they started off like at 31 if I'm not mistaken or 32 program 31 or 32 or something. And we're now at like 70 or 80. So, they they've there there's multiple I don't feel like they have found the right programming that fits this chiller. This chiller is designed to to fluctuate up and down for um for the demand of the build for the building demand. And this chiller is actually capable of actually operating at 10% capacity. So, and that's roughly 17 tons, which by accident you would need roughly that to run 10%
066on that large area anyway. Um, so the chiller is capable of of um of dialing down, if you will, to to minimal set points and standards. Um, so again, I we're we're we're staying on top of Honeywell Carrier. I know that Carrier I was involved with a conversation where they were taking screenshots and recording information and sending to their engineers to figure out what was going what's going on with this. So do we feel like that this is mostly a manufacturing issue with Honeywell? >> Uh so I feel like it's a manufacturing with carrier. >> Yes. Carrier. Um >> and I think the one thing to point out is like we do have the temporary tiller but we still need to fix this other problem. And what he said is we don't need to go
067in the cooling season but we also don't need to like >> peace meal trying to figure out or you know trying to do baby fixes to some things and then this is an ongoing issue. So whereas I might not be around in 25 years, you all might not be around in 25 years, but I don't want the other people sitting in the room having to still continue to have the same conversation about the same problem. And so that's what we're trying to figure out like is this a bad unit or are there just some things that need to be diagnosed and and addressed. And so that's what we're going to >> and that's exactly why I was asking that because going back into the contract, it's going to say it's new condition, you know, and
068if we have to do patches and whatever. >> Oh, absolutely. Right. you know, then I'm hoping we at least are going to get some uh pretty liberal consideration on the warranty. >> Yeah. Right. I agree. And and and at the end of the day, it's and and I remind Honeywell of this too is I didn't contract Carrier or we didn't contract carrier. We contracted Honeywell. >> So I'm speaking to you as Honeywell to expect you to fix this problem. Whether it be on the I do feel like it's a it's a internal carrier design programming issue is what I think it is. >> So How how much longer does this contract we have well run? >> Uh 2027 that >> let me So that's a ser full service contract. It's 2027. >> Um so yeah
069we've uh we we've been reaching out and just starting to have conversations with other companies now. >> Is that a bid process? Is that >> obviously like any other business type of things there's always the inner workings of it and so it's a service contract and funny how some people don't service things that they didn't put in or they weren't a part of and so you have to navigate that a little bit so these individual organizations and companies that we're talking to are fully aware of that and are used to dealing with those situations and so we're very specific about you know I think it's at least three groups that we know right now um that we've begun conversations I mean, it sounds like you're doing everything you do. We're we're fighting on our end.
070>> Um the uh elevator at the high school um at uh TKE installed it. Uh we've had a partial inspection so far. All the mechanical issues have been inspected and approved. Uh right now there's been a communication issue with the telephone. Um, so I've I actually had a communications contractor come out. Uh, they diagnosed it was a bad communication box that it was ordered this morning and should be in my office in the morning. It was overnighted and the technicians are scheduled to come out tomorrow afternoon to install it. And then we will then follow up with TKE to schedule the remaining uh, inspection for the communications piece of it. And that that will be up and back into service at that point. Uh, renovation. That was it for phase one. We're winding phase one
071down if we can ever get this chiller straight. So, um phase two, um the front office, uh lobby area and the CT wing, CTE wing are they're in their final stages of being completed. Um we've got some ceiling tile that are left to put up in um like the commons area and stuff and those two remaining fan core units. And then once that's done, then they've actually started moving on to the next part. Anyway, so um they're winding that up. So we're we're close to having that. They took a big chunk this summer um in the effort of trying to get as much as they can can do this summer. So they're it's not as intrusive next summer. So um that that was the original plan from MB and so far we're on time, we're
072on schedule and um they're actually we've added some um PCOS along the way such as like the painting of the classrooms, uh the new ceiling grid and tile. Um so just to get as much cosmetics as we can done can do during this period of time too. So um the uh the con the contractors like the end of as Mandy said uh mentioned earlier we we started back in spring with the with the renovation during that period of time and they just transitioned back Monday to this. They're they're going to be working a second shift that's 3:30 to 12:30 to 1:00 a.m. Um that's going to be Monday through Thursday. Um, so they they've transitioned back to that. So the thinking is they go in once school's out, they can start their work and then
073they they'll clean up whatever they need to clean up, wrap up, and then they're out of there by the next by the next morning. >> When there are things that we need to bring them in, I say emergency, but like we need this fixed right now. they have been very amendable to coming in and bringing in like if it's a service tech or someone individual like with the with the uh issues with the um AC bringing someone in all day long. Um so not just waiting until the evening like when something needed to be addressed right away. I want to say the VAV I can't tell you what VAV stands for but the other problem with the chiller issues. Um and so they'll bring people in but it's not as intrusive. It's not like they're
074banging and clanging and and welding things right next to a classroom. That the the more um invasive type of work is happening in the evenings. >> Yeah. So, as we progress through this school year, I thought I would explain how we we've set up this this scheduling. Um they they will be given uh Kevin will evaluate rooms, make some changes and adjustments to to move to classrooms to other locations of the building. Um and we give them a set of classrooms to work on. They'll renovate during that period of time. Electrical, plumbing, new ceilings, um HVAC, uh fan coil units are going through the the the remaining of the uh school as well. Uh all new uh we are installing new DOAZ fresh air units to bring fresh air into the entire building. Um so
075those two of those have been already placed and there's pictures later you can see of those. Um so and then the way that works is they they have roughly four weeks to to renovate those set of classrooms that are given to them. Um as it stands now they are on the the uh the the furthest furthest end of the library wing. We call it the west wing the first floor there. Um and they will work uh they've got uh four or five classrooms there and they're actually down in the lower level and the the alpha wing too as well. Um they have all of those with the exception of one classroom down there. Um we was able to give them more rooms than originally thought Kevin was able to work his magic and give more
076rooms. The thought process is you know more we can give them the quicker they can get in and get out then we can get this done in a timely fashion. So, uh, once those rooms, they they will give us about two week notice. Kevin will have a couple weeks notice to be able to notify the teachers of the transition. Um, the staff can have time to to to move the the classrooms around before they move to the next set of classrooms, if you will, and that's how that will progress through the rest of the uh through the renovation. The upstairs is scheduled, they they just shared with us a schedule yesterday. The upstairs is actually scheduled to start in December. So uh once they get uh the renovate the um the demo is actually started
077in alpha Monday night. So the alpha wing. So they that should four to five weeks and we should be looking at moving some more classrooms around. So um and there's a map there that can show you they they've broken them down into sections. Um it's just a quick reference. So when we if I accidentally say D section instead of alpha, you'll have a reference there of of how the the contractors have broken the school down in the process of this renovation. Um I do want to talk about the front entrance road. Um that was some um rather um surprising issues there. Um so the the parking lots went went well. They were able to go in and they they ground the asphalt down. They put new asphalt. It's parking lots look great. The road, the
078front entrance road looks great now, too. Um, however, when they started removing the asphalt, they found that um kind of like the track when we had that issue with the track, the the soil compaction, the exact same thing happened. So, uh, a third party inspector inspector that we've hired for on our behalf, uh, they developed a plan to, um, to to fix it. And then those pictures there show you um the plan was to dig down 2 feet and remove the soil. And then they then they laid then they applied a cloth a material cloth down on then they applied that then they put crusher run and they packed that and they rolled that down on top to to pack this to to make a firm surface. The other option was to um to do
079like we did the track the grain in and inject the concrete but they didn't know because of the time restraint we was trying to get everything done. So you know finding parking spots for for teachers was one thing but finding a place to do something to do with the buses was another. So this was the the effective uh route that um that the commission agent come up with the inspector rather sorry. And um it it I think we've got a better product now than we've had for a long time. >> Now, was the substandard tool just in that one area or was it up on the hill also? >> It was just in that one area. They they found two two spots. Um I say surprising. It doesn't Shannon and I had this conversation about
080a week ago. We were both present when the patch happened the last time and we were doubtful then that it was going to hold up and sure enough here we are 10 years later doing the same thing 5 years 10 years something like >> um so that I do think we have a better product at this point that was able to remove the soft soil and and pack um the ground for the firm surface >> well is it >> it's not too far Yeah, the old well was actually over it's actually in the where the cones are. >> It's actually right behind that. We still utilize that well for the uh football irrigation. >> Let's see. And then uh I just I I showed some pictures of of the renovation as we went through. um
081those uh that area right there where the wood framing is, that's where another one of the fresh air doz um that's going to be kind of tied into the where the um we call it the propane tank farm, but where the propane tanks are. Um and then you can see where they've they've they've put se grass and straw down, but that's where they dug down around the building to um to to waterproof put the new waterproofing in. Um they did find some so they did find some of the uh material there from the old material to to contain as best. So we had to bring them in to abate that and stuff. So we're chipping away of removing as much of that as we can out of the school. >> But I think it's also
082great like all these things that we've identified as things that on the capital improvement and and things that kind of reveal themselves through the process are are getting checked off through this through this project. And then some of the pictures show um because once the ceilings go up um nobody will see the fancy plumbing that's been done up up above the ceiling. So I figured I would share. So that one unit is Mandy scroll up uh the other way the other direction. There you go. That unit on the left there that is one of the the the dozair units. There's two sitting on that roof there. And then the other one will be installed where that uh wooden material was. Yep. um that that manhole there along with the one at the top that has
083been setting with caution bumpers around it for about a year and a half, two years. All of those have been repaired. So, we are uh >> that also is or is it just >> that was a that was erosion around the the piping. So, that piping goes in the down in the ground there and it just it washed out around it. So, they had to pull the manhole, replace uh put gravel down and pack everything back down. >> Yeah. Um, again, like I said, some of the the piping I wanted to show you guys um the um the the new air handler downstairs and connect which connected to that water cool chiller. Um but yeah, if you want if you got any questions on any of the pictures and and towards the end, I did
084take a picture of what the hallway looks like with the CT wing once it's uh once it we had the new ceilings, the wall. I'm >> trying to make people sick. I'm trying I'm getting there. Yeah, it was nice to see the new LED lights in them. >> Yeah, they I've heard a lot of compliments about those and so far they they stall dimmer switches in them too so they can dim lights down. >> Oh, nice. >> Heard some comments positive comments about that as well. >> You're ticking me. >> That driveway. >> There we go. And that's what the CT hall looks like now. And it's amazing that the tile the I mean just tiling it up and then the lights and the the ceilings just >> it's like a >> it looks more
085than what took place. >> And then our awesome custodial crew come in and shine the floors up. So >> that and I I would like to uh mention them as well because they come in this past weekend and done all that. >> So yeah, Gordon and his crew do a fabulous job. So yes, >> and then the Rockfish crew also come over to help this past weekend as well. >> So it's a team effort. >> Well done. Well done. >> Thank you. Any questions? >> Thank you for all of your work. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Really amazing >> to you, Kevin, too, for your efforts in this whole project. >> Yeah. >> Project. >> Yeah. >> I'm just glad we're getting some of it done. >> Oh, yeah. It looks great. Kevin's like,
086"Get it done." >> Yeah. >> Now, Mr. Balco. >> All right. Good evening, members of the board. >> Welcome. >> June was busy with summer learning as we served 279 students uh total in our summer learning programs. 28 Nelson County High School students were engaged in an intensive summer learning program. All students attended for the purpose of either earning verified credits toward graduation by completing course content and or passing the Virginia Standards of Learning Assessment. The high school summer program offered students instruction in language arts, math, science, history, and economics, and personal finance. Our middle school program served 29 students in grades six through eight. Students received remediation through project-based learning in language arts and mathematics. Students also received instruction and information from the Nelson County Historical Society and they also visited the Oakland Museum
087as part of this place-based learning. Students completed a time capsule activity as a culminating project. We would like to thank the Nelson County Historical Society for their partnership with our middle school program. We had 109 kindergarten through fifth grade students attend the elementary program at Tai River. The elementary scholars and remediation and booster program. They participated in engaging daily lessons that included reading and mathematics. Students participated in either an assembly or a field trip each week. Our Excel Academy was the summer enrichment opportunity. 74 students in grades 2 through 5th participated in the summer enrichment options at Nelson Middle School. Excel Academy offered a menu of topics for students to choose from for three consecutive weeks. Special thanks to the Wintergreen Nature Foundation and Kathy Driscoll for supporting our Excel Academy program. Our career academy
088served our middle and high school students. 33 students participated in the career academy. Each academy served as an introduction to the high school CTE programs through STEM related activities and projectbased activities. The program was free for students and included student choice and CTE areas of interest. Special thanks to both Tai River and Nelson Middle School for hosting all of our summer learning programs along with transportation, food service, maintenance, and our custodians for all of their support. And also a big thanks goes out to our teachers, instructional assistants, and administrators who also supported summer learning. Any questions related to summer learning? I know that's a quick overview. Great. >> I know the middle school was hopping. I know Tai River was hopping. They were busy places, but students uh had a lot of fun and staff
089did a wonder, wonderful job supportive. So, thank you. >> Very good. Thank you. >> Thank you. All righty. Uh now we have Dr. Yarzinski giving us an update on the SOS. All right. >> Welcome back. >> Welcome to you. >> Thank you. >> This is not an overview of the new accreditation. We are still awaiting preliminary data from the state, but I find it prudent to at least give you a brief rundown of how we did finish off with state assessments last year. So, some so statistics, Nelson County administered 2,772 so tests across 24 tested areas. Um, this number also includes the 474 retake retests or expedited retests. Uh, and I will note expedited retakes have been uh very impactful. They're optional for students grades three through eight. Um, but they give the students who
090are failing by a small margin at 375 to 399 a second opportunity to demonstrate some mastery. Um, and we capitalized 28 out of 48 expedited retakes at TAI, 48 out of 86 at the middle school and 12 out of 35 at Rockfish. And I'll add that the high school earned an additional 55 passes through both expedited and general retakes at the high school. So we are sensitive to the amount and the number of tests that students take. So we proceed with those very deliberately with parent communication. Um but again in the best interest to let students demonstrate what they know. Uh overall results include out of those 2700 plus test 1,755 passes 300 pass advance and 24 perfect scores of 600. And all three of those numbers are a slight trend upward of what we
091demonstrated last year. And speaking of upward trends, I like this slide. So outcomes by school level, all four schools in the county demonstrated an improvement in their overall pass rates. Middle school at 4 and a.5%, Ty River by around 3%, Rockfish by almost 2%, and the high school by around 1%. Um, and I'm not going to discount the 1% because when you already have a pretty high pass rate, incremental change is difficult to get. So, kudos to all schools and their improvement. Digging a little bit deeper. We're not going to get too granular. Um, and I like to compare data as well. So, I don't have statewide results to give us a state ranking, but I do have finalized CIP data. And that's our comprehensive instructional program. It's a consortium, kind of like a big
092PLC that we're a part of. 74 divisions across the state are in it. So, relative to all 74 divisions, Nelson County ranked seventh overall in improvement. So, we improved better than 64 of the other schools or counties uh in the CIP. And we were first overall in our improvement in percentile ranking within the CIP. We improved from the 61st percentile to the 80th percentile. So, it's good to be in the upper quartile. I hit the wrong number. Areas of greatest improvement. I just narrowed it down to three at each school. High school demonstrated the most improvement in earth science, biology, and EOCC reading. The middle school, math seven, reading seven, and math 8. Rockfish, math five, science five, and reading five. A fifth grade sweep. And Ty River, reading four, math four, and math five.
093um we see reading up there a lot. So we dug into that a little bit and within the CIP we analyzed what highquality instructional programs have been implemented as part of the Virginia Literacy Act schools were required to uh pick an approved curriculum. We picked CK CKLA and across the uh CIP CK CKLA demonstrated the second highest growth from last year's reading results. Second highest only by a margin of around 1%. So, in short, we picked a good instructional program for our uh KA reading program. 10 teachers across the county exceeded a 90% pass rate within their content areas. Hats off to them. Five at the high school, three at the middle school, two at Ty River. We're going to bring this all together hopefully next month. We might have to push it back depending
094on when preliminary accreditation is available. But we will take the so scores into those first two bullets. Both the mastery index which is going to give us our state rankings for um math reading and science. Um our growth measures which are difficult to identify this year. It's being calculated by a third party called VVAS. um L progress, how well our uh English language learners do in progressing from the WEDA assessment of the spring of 24 to the spring of 25. Our chronic absenteeism, which is a proxy for engagement. We look at our fouryear on-time graduation rate, which I exercise that I'll show share that this year, and 3E outcomes, which were just finalized at the last month's state board uh meeting. Um and we will take all of this data. We'll identify our strengths and
095we will definitely work to mitigate our weaknesses. So areas that we deemed uh needing improvement or just not performing to the level that we anticipate they should. We will be incorporating those into our division pathways for success and even at a more granular level each school's comprehensive school improvement plan. Our SIT teams have been asking for data. We're already looking at how to develop primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions for certain demographic groups and certain students. Um, and then demographic subgroups would also be included in both the CSIPs and our pathways to success. And the last slide, since I said I would do it, uh, the on-time graduation rate will be calculated at 92.8%. So this is not just kudos to the high school. This is definitely kudos to all four schools, all the teachers because
096as this cohort proceeded through uh the education system in Nelson County, they're impacted by everybody, teachers, parents, community members. So this is a celebration and again this is a slight improvement from the 2024 on time graduation rate. So lot to celebrate. If you have any questions on so results or you need me to go a little more detail, happy to do so. standing. >> Thank you. >> Good job. Thank you. >> All right. Now, we have Mr. Mullins. >> I know. He knew when his time was. >> I was ready. I pounced. >> Uh I was going to check and see. Do you want to come stand awkwardly beside me? >> You don't have to. I'm just kidding. >> You can. You can. It wasn't a challenge, but Yeah. It's perfect. It's what I need.
097Yeah. Um I when Dr. Hester and I talked about this last week, this is awkward. Uh last week, um it it made me it reminded me, you know, this is my seventh year on the job and and I haven't done this in a while, but I started off, you know, we had the track job going on and then we had COVID shutdown and I was presenting before the board trying to get our kids back return to play every month for about six months. So, it's been a long wait, but I'm happy to be back, you know. So, uh, you know, and and I decided that when I came back, it would be a nice light topic like safety and security at ticketed athletic events, you know, something that, you know, ease myself back in. Um,
098but though we'll start with the clear bags and uh clear bag policy, it's something that's been in place at a lot of school divisions for many as uh I think Pennsylvania County was the first in our district and they it's probably going on 10 years at their schools. So, we're a little behind the game. Um, their issue was fasttracked because they actually had an incident with a weapon at a game. So, but we are moving to the clear bags. Um, and we, you know, Dr. Hester um bought all the and I assume you guys had something to do with that too with the gifts, but the uh the clear bags for all the the faculty at at the school. So, they're going to be prepared. We've been talking to our parents at the parent meetings
099about clear bags. We've also ordered, I think, 200 at the high school to sell. Um uh so we've got plenty of supply and some of our folks probably already have clear bags because they've had to take them or adjust to carrying something smaller when they go to other games. But the key is it's got to be see-through. Um you know, we have to be able to see what's in there. And if we can't, we will search the clear bag. Um the the one exception is a clutch. That might have been a term that I didn't know until about two weeks ago when we started talking about, but it's 4 and 1/2 in by 6 and 12 in. You know, essentially uh you know, it's kind of like a wallet that u you can keep money
100and things in. But we'll have a box on the table outside and if it can fit in the box. Does somebody have an example of a clutch they want to show? Okay. Um but we'll have a box on the table that if it fits in the box, you can take it inside. Um the one exception that we'll have is um anything that's for medical purposes. Uh diaper bags, things like that. We will reserve the right to search those um because we've heard stories in other school divisions where people did carry weapons in in a diaper bag. Uh so we will search those. Um and the athletes coming in um their bags, their equipment bags, things like that. Uh we won't search those. Uh they'll go in. we're we're kind of trusting our partners that we're
101playing the games with to uh to take care of their their own there. Uh but we certainly can do that if we need to. Uh but right now at most school divisions that we've talked to, game personnel um officials, coaches, players from other teams, uh they come in with their bags. They'll still enter through the same area that everybody else does. we're and that and we'll get into that in a second. But the uh so clear bags are they're here to Nelson County. Uh and you know, like I said, we we might be I don't know if Campbell County has them right now in our district, but I know Pennsylvania and Appamatics County do and the all the Lynchberg area schools, the Simol district, they have them. So, it's Albamar has clear bag policy and
102many of them are using the weapons detectors as well. So, we're we're just kind of joining the game. Uh, and we actually have a Dogwood district meeting on Monday. So, I'll share the information with all uh the school ads in the Dogwood district. Uh, kind of our policy and ask them to share it out to their people. Uh, and we're also um we've ordered more sandwich boards for um just clear bag policy and also pointing people in the right direction of games because we are changing our entrances some just to consolidate things and make it a little easier to do these kind of things. So, we've got sandwich boards ordered and we've got uh some retractable uh do not enter >> stansions. You can put them in the wall less. We've got them coming. You
103install them in the wall and they'll pull across a hallway and you can block off hallways and things like that. So, um and then we won't have to worry about the stansions. Now, there will be some areas where we do have stansions, but hopefully we can um install them in the wall and pull across and keep folks out of certain areas just to streamline things a little bit and make it a little uh easier for folks to understand because it is there are going to be some changes. Any questions about clear bags before we move to the uh the next view? You want >> the entry? >> Yeah. I didn't see. Oh, >> are you sure? Am I sure now that you say it like that? >> Yeah, I thought I shared it with you.
104Uh, the entry and hardening. Okay, >> hold on one second. Well, now I got to go to this one. >> I'll tell a few jokes while we're waiting. I've been working on my material. >> I'm really glad to see >> I think it's a step in the right direction. you know, it's 2025 and you Our thought process through this whole thing was when you go to a UVA game, when you go to a, you know, if you go watch the Commanders play in Washington or you go to a pro game or whatever, you know, you've got the clear bag, you're going through the metal detectors, you know, all those things. Um, so, um, I think it's definitely a step in the right direction. It's going to require more manpower and more work on our parts,
105but if it's at the end result is safety uh for right there it is parking and entry. Okay. >> Yep. Sorry. >> It's like family feud all over again. >> Yeah. Um >> and of course I've got the governor head throughout this, you know, build the brand anytime I I can. But um so we're in terms of parking and entry changes, extracurricular events, and we've already had our football parent meeting and our uh >> how do I turn it on? >> Slide it down. >> Oh, that was easy. All right. So, at our football parent meeting, our volleyball parent meeting, uh we talked about the changes that we're going to have to how we come in. uh probably had more information at the volleyball meeting than we did the football meeting. Football meeting was about
106it's going on two weeks ago now or maybe exactly two weeks ago. Um so there's some pretty big changes just because and I'll talk to you the the process that we went through with this is Mr. Bleo is a middle school principal. Mr. Parsley is a middle school athletic director. Mr. Walker it's a high school principal and myself and Jennifer Campbell, she's been an administrative intern. she was in on the meeting, too. And we sat down and kind of probably a couple hours we hammered things out and uh just kind of came to a consensus on what we thought would be the best to keep our kids safe and and do what's best for the community. So, indoor athletic events, we're really going to look at indoor athletic events and then we and then indoor
107fine art events and then outdoor athletic events. So the big thing is um and I'm just going to talk through I don't I'm not going to read to you u but the big change here is the entrance for our indoor athletic events is going to be the main entrance to the middle school. Uh and we are going to encourage folks to use uh the primary parking for the indoor athletic events will be middle school the middle school parking lot. Overflow will be the secondary parking lot. Um, and the reason for this is the the biggest reason is that um in the middle school entry area, the the weapons detectors are already set up. They're there all day long. Don't have to move them, bring them back out. And that's one reason. The ease is is
108one reason. But we also have six security cameras. Am I saying that right, Mr. Blego? six security cameras in the middle school foyer versus three in the middle entrance. So, we've just got more if something does happen, we've got more uh ways to look at it. Plus, uh going down to the classrooms, going into the library, going into the office, it can all be locked up and shut down and nobody can go. So, if something happens, it's controlled to that area. So, that's going to be new for our folks. But again, we're I hope to share all this publicly tomorrow and our first scrimmages are next week. The first games are after that. So, we're hoping to get the information out um tomorrow. Now, this will require typically for a a volleyball or a basketball
109game. We've had one ticket seller, myself, and another admin there at games. With the weapons detectors, we're going to have we're going to need two more uh folks to help us. And that'll, you know, we've already talked to our teachers about increased duties and things like that. So, uh, but essentially for indoor athletic events, which are volleyball and basketball, we will open the doors at 4:30. The middle entrance will be locked. The high school entrance will be locked. And this year, we've we're playing all of our fall events, and we're hoping to get all our winter events in the middle school. We're going to play all games, high school and middle school, in the middle school gym. You know, uh, we talked about it with Mr. Blego and Mr. Parsley and Miss Collins, I'm sure
110we'll talk about it with you, too. Um, but it's just it it's a better venue. Um, and it's it's cleaner, it's nicer, it's just, you know, it's newer. You know, the kids enjoy playing in there. And honestly, our uh the fans behave better. I don't know if they behave better or we just don't hear them as much. And that you get everybody in that little gym and folks get crazy. Uh, but in the bigger gym, it just seems to that things work out better there. So, uh, but we'll open the the gates there at 4:30. Um, and then we'll shut it down 30 minutes after the schedule, uh, start of the varsity game. We'll shut down ticket sales. And we started doing this last year and we didn't get any complaints and we didn't really
111communicate it, but we locked the entry doors after we stopped selling tickets. And we I figured we'd have people going out to open doors for folks and people calling and we never had a single issue, no complaints. It worked out beautifully and then we didn't have to worry about, you know, people going out into the parking lot and then doing something they shouldn't and then come back in and then we have to deal with them. So that's something we started last year, but we're going to communicate it this year that if you leave and it's 30 minutes after the start, which typically it'll be 7:30. You know, varsity, volleyball, basketball usually start around 7:00. So 7:30. So the duty for our our people will last from 4:30 to 7:30. It'll be a 3-hour duty. Um,
112and we'll sell tickets. This is kind of the the hallway from the middle school uh main foyer down to the cafeteria. We're going to sell tickets uh right there at that side entrance. So, everybody's going to go into the middle school gym in the side entrance now. Um so, we'll sell tickets there. That will require uh another uh teacher personnel to be there to sell tickets, which that's traditionally what we've done. It will just be in a different spot. And we'll close off that back hallway. We've got the doors already, but we're going to put up uh some of those do not enter. And it'll probably just be black. I like that better than do not enter, but you know, we'll uh we're going to get those soon. Um, but folks will enter through the
113U side entrance uh there. And shout out to Mr. Bleco for these awesome door wraps. They look fantastic. They're all over the middle school entryway and the middle school gym. So, they look great. Um, so folks will enter from there and then the visitor side will go over to the far side and the home side will be here that we'll still sell concession and everything out in the uh cafeteria and have our bathrooms there, you know, just like we always have. We'll just have that door that we have typically been coming in. We'll have it roped off so people won't just go out that way. Now, at the end of the night, we'll open that one up. We'll open up the middle school entrance up so folks can go out both ways, but we'll have
114one entrance and two exits. And we're also back to this slide, part of our pregame announcements will be we'll talk about exit strategies in the event of a fire alarm or some other emergency. Uh last year we had a fire alarm during a girls basketball game and a chorus concert and you know, everybody was trying to so we're going to make announcements for that and everybody got out safely and but they all wanted to come back in. And I'm like when the alarm went off and I'm like it's off but we don't know that the what's on fire, what's not on fire. Luckily Les was there for the the chorus concert. So it worked out pretty well. So that's kind of the plan for indoor u athletic events. Do you have any questions on that
115before we Okay. Um now the fine arts we're going to um and and we need to include some of our fine arts people in this too. So, I'm just, you know, this is probably more of a work in progress than the the athletic ones, but the indoor, we're going to use the middle entrance as the main entrance for fine arts because it's closer to the auditorium and u the still the middle school really either parking lot. You guys know it's kind of equidistant from that middle entrance, but the middle entrance will be used. And we have extra uh weapons detectors that we're going to utilize in that area. And we've also got some that we'll utilize outdoors as well. >> And I think that to to say that that was the thought process when we
116first started ordering the weapons detectors is that they were going to be at each of these ingress sites. And so we ordered enough to be able to have them at the the primary entrance ways to the to the schools, but also the middle entrance and also to have sets back to be used outside. And then um you know you're moving them back and forth, something may happen. So we have that backup. So that they have six. The middle school I think has six or five. So there's enough to be able to cover all of these and in the the normal process and the outside, >> right? We're not going to have to buy any new weapons detectors to do this. We've already got them. Um so that's going to be the the plan for indoor
117and and ticket sales usually for indoor fine arts events are inside the cafeteria. So folks will go through their weapons detectors and then they'll go over to where they buy their tickets or a lot of those events they do pre-sale tickets. So um any questions about fine arts? >> Are these things are this going to be the same kind of thing for banquetss and end of the year kind of like things that are smaller? Well, I think right now we're talking ticketed events, but we >> I think some of the elementary schools have been using it for events and I think even the high schools. So, we we've already been integrating it. It's just communicating with families like, hey, when you come for this, it's >> you can anticipate >> and and Mr. Walker and
118I have talked about using it for all the like chorus concerts, band concerts, you know, essentially everything that we do. Um >> Mhm. >> time there's like the community coming into the school and any kind of >> Yep. >> one. Okay. Just curious. >> Um so and we you know for now we think uh two uh we'll need two people there to work this. Now I know Miss Driver comes to mind immediately because uh you know she does a spring musical and she'll do shows for one act play and theater festival and things like that. Uh, and she typically has folks who have traditionally sold tickets and done things. They might not even work for the school division anymore, but they worked here for a time and they're just loyal to her. So, um, we
119we but we do need to talk to her and Mr. Kersner and, uh, Mr. Meeks especially about those kind of events. Um, now this one outdoor athletic events just because of you guys know the nature of our outdoor facility. there's not uh kind of a one way in one way out nature. Uh I will put a plug in for that in a second. Less and I talked about some solutions, but uh um for the outdoor athletic events, we're now we've got a curveball thrown at us a little bit just like all of us at the high school and then maintenance and everything with the the construction project renovation. Um, so you know, Friday nights, Thursday nights, JV games, anytime we're doing it, you know, I'm just thinking football right now because that's where we're facing
120in the fall, but in the springtime when we've got baseball, softball, soccer, you know, all that going on, um, and all the equipment's out there in the storage, you know, we're losing some parking spots. And so, um, we're we're looking at, um, what we want to do is we're area seven there, which is where we've traditionally parked our officials. We've had some handicap parking. We've had some sponsor parking. The only folks who are going to park there are the officials and EMS. So, we're eliminating the folks going up in there. Um, primary parking for outdoor athletic events will be number one. uh down in the main the big parking lot in front of the high school. Um and then the faculty lot, parking lot three, you can tell when this picture was taken, there's no
121uh construction equipment in that back parking lot. So, it's been a while. But, uh, number three there is we're going to use that as kind of that's going to be our handicap accessible parking, our game personnel, our our, uh, sponsors, and we're going to have folks work in the entrance to that parking lot. Uh, and it'll basically you'll need a pass to come and park in there. Um, and that that'll clean things up up in the stadium area and it'll also provide some park and we'll have so having said that and this is where really we get to talking in more personnel that we need. You know, typically we get two ticket sellers and we've got usually six to eight folks who are working around the stadium during a game on a this talking varsity
122football Friday night. Um, now what we'll be looking for, you can see they're parking lot duty. We'll have two people manning the entrance to the parking lot and we'll have placards and signs, you know, pass only parking and we're going to communicate it with the the folks that we play so that they know and and that's not going to be new. It's going to be a new reason cuz the last two years we've been doing the tailgates and we haven't opened that lot until 6:30 anyway. So, uh, and we will reopen the lot at 7:30. 30 minutes after kickoff, we'll open that lot up and if there's any spots and people want to come park, we're we're fine with that. So that parking lot duty for our teachers will be from we usually don't start
123selling tickets until about so it'll be 5:30 to 7:30 is really what we'll be looking for there. 2-hour duty. Um and then the handicap accessible spectator parking number four, you can see the access road and I've got a picture of it. That's the entrance there. And we're going to get some new signage that reflects what we're going to do there as well. Uh but we'll need two folks there. Um and this is the access road from Drumheller to the stadium. Uh and the our some of our Nelson County's finest will be, you know, they work the games every Friday night anyway. And we're going to talk to them about working springtime games as well. But they're going to park there and only the only um buses and EMS officials will be able to come down
124that road. Nobody else will will come. It'll be closed to uh everybody except EMS and officials and team buses. So, um and then this is where you can see the sign there in the the storage building, kind of the entrance to the stadium. We're going to have our weapons detector set up here and we'll funnel all our spectators through that area. Um, and then they'll go through their cuz we don't want them to buy a ticket and then go through the weapons detectors and then we have to, you know, potentially refund money to somebody who's angry because they have to leave. We'll just make them angry before they pay us. Uh, so we'll funnel all our spectators through that area, have a couple of different stations set up for uh, weapons detectors, and we'll need
125two folks to work there. Plus, we'll have some admin work in that, too. Um, and then our ticket station will be kind of close to where we've done it over the last five or six years. It'll be across this road right here, which we've done that at times. We've also done it in front of the ticket booth. So, that's not going to be much different. But, people will come through, they'll go through the weapons detectors, they'll go buy their tickets, and then they'll either go to the visitor side or the home side like they've traditionally done. So, we'll need two ticket sellers for varsity football, one for all others, and then we'll have our typical personnel station around the stadium. So, for a varsity Friday nights, we're going to need 12 to 13 folks to
126work the games. Now, it won't be you won't have to stay for the whole game, you know, uh they I hope they do, you know, that's that's our goal when they work is help us out is stay for the games. Um, and then clear bag policy that um, so outdoor there's some changes, but I think it'll clean things up and I think it'll make it uh, a better experience for folks. Um, are there any questions about the outdoor ticketed events? >> Yeah. Um, so when we do the we have we'll have our personnel running the weapons detection system. Will there be law enforcement on hand? >> They will be close by. >> Close by. Yeah. We usually uh traditionally we get two to three for every home uh football game and then on homecoming we
127usually have all four of our SRO's worked at last year. Uh so yeah, there will and they always we usually have two down by the money, >> right? >> You know, which is right by the weapons uh detector. So there will be um and the administrators will be there. That'll be a heavily populated area, especially as things are, you know, the heaviest traffic times. You know, if it slows down some, we'll we'll disperse maybe some of our admin or some of our people to other spots in the stadium. >> So, for indoor sports, will that be the same process where at the weapons detector, we'll also have a law enforcement officer there for indoor? >> We haven't done that as much, but that doesn't mean we can. Now, basketball, we usually have some, but volleyball,
128we haven't. But we, you know, it's >> there's an admin on duty. >> I just I'm I'm thinking through this like if you've got somebody from an outside community, not not one of our people, but a visiting team person who comes, knocks off the weapons detector, >> are people going to be the person to approach that and say, "What you got? You got to, you know, I just I want you all protected." >> Right. Right. and and um that's we have traditionally had um our deputies for the the either the where we have the most folks coming to the games or where it could be the most volatile. Um you know typically um volleyball is pretty mildmannered for the most part. uh you know, fans sit on opposite sides and the teams are on opposite
129sides and um so we haven't had folks and and part of that I mean you know it comes down to dollars and cents. I'm not saying that we won't now because we're obviously going to need more but it's you know that's a pretty big chunk of change. Um >> understandable. >> Yeah. Uh >> $50 an hour. >> Yeah, it's $50 an hour. >> Yeah. Understand that. So I'm not saying it's a >> no is like if we've had so in the past when we've had parents or fans uncooperative we call >> and they're there pretty quickly and if I usually know I will say that in instances where I anticipate something I'll call them up and say hey would you be would you be able to come by and make your presence known and maybe
130watch the game with me a little bit and uh you know and that usually helps to calm things down but I understand where you're coming from. >> I just want you all and that's >> well and and if you're going to if we're going to ask people we don't know to walk through that >> you don't know who you're dealing with. You know our local people. >> Yeah. >> Then I just you know >> and at any larger venue that's that's what you have. I mean they they're not involved but they're always present. >> Right. >> I understand the cost but what's the other cost? >> Right. Yeah. Yeah. And and I will say that there are there's clear bag is pretty widespread. Weapons detectors is not at athletic events, but there are some I
131think Lynchburg City Schools uses them. Uh Alamar County Schools, Louisa definitely uses them. Um so it's becoming more widespread. So I I'll I'll reach out to those folks again. I think Appamatics might do it. I'm not sure. Appamatics does. And uh Randolph Henry who play football Charlotte County. I know they do. Um, so but while while I'm here, while I have your attention, uh, >> well, I have a question, too. >> Okay, go ahead. Um my question is have you taken any have you thought about dropping off people and because you know I'm not necessarily handicapped but >> or I don't have a disability but maybe I don't want to walk from 1 to >> six and so I'm going to have my old man drop me off and then so then I can imagine
132there are a lot of grandmas who are in the same boat you know and they're going to get dropped off and then do you have some you know you're going to have all this kind of turning around in Well, thought about that. >> What we can do is like >> unless you were handicapped before this was happening. Like you wouldn't like when we were having our community tailgates, you couldn't just be like, "I don't feel like walking. Drop me off here." >> So for a year, a good solid year, probably two years, unless you were handicapped being driven up into there, you weren't just getting dropped off. >> And and we will, I forgot, I think I forgot to mention this. One of our duty sessions will be the golf cart. >> Okay. >> Driving
133folks up into the stadium. Yeah. I told everybody when I presented at the factory I thought that would be the most popular one. Sarah won't ride with me, but most people will. >> I wouldn't do it either. >> For the indoor, you're still keeping that handicap parking at the top. >> We are. Yeah. All that will still be there. That's the same. >> Yeah. So, >> I'm just I just was saying >> go ahead. >> The ticket booth is that stationary or can >> it can be moved. The issue we've ran and that was what I was going to touch on. Uh um right now if you're in the ticket booth, >> which you see it pretty good right there. >> You're kind of >> you're facing the stadium, >> right? So what we get
134if we sell tickets from there is people will just walk right up the hill and we miss out on a lot of ticket sales. So we've moved to selling outside. We do go in sometimes if it's cold or rainy, but a lot of times we'll bring tents out. And uh but what I would what I would suggest just to get that one way in, one way out is some fencing down that hill with a gate across the road that connects all the way to the corner of the building. And we can have a couple of gates. And I know Les and I have talked about this, you know, that's also fire lane, so we couldn't keep it locked all the time, right? >> But on a game night, a gate we could open and close
135if there was situation and we could have a couple of walkth through gates and maybe a pass gate and a ticket gate. Then we could move the ticket booth over there. And >> yeah, I was thinking since it was I know it's we're trying to clean up what's on top of the hill, but >> you know, if you did the weapons detection at the at that point and then just funnel everybody up the hill and then they could pay it, >> right? And we go ahead. I'm sorry. And I was just a thought because that's a, you know, everybody's flowing up that way anyway. >> And then that way you could set your weapons detection down at the bottom. >> Mhm. >> And then that allows as people are paying it kind of keeps >>
136keeps it going because you can still lose like you say if somebody just walks up Drum Miller and then just >> turn and go up the hill. You can still lose a couple. But >> Mhm. >> I'm just just thinking >> I don't know if that'll back up drum propeller traffic though. Will >> No, I'm just saying if you took the ticket >> and put it on the inside of the gate, >> right? >> And then have your weapons down at the bottom >> and then that that flow still you they've been checked. Now they're, you know, proceeding to get the ticket and then they're >> and we actually talked about that uh when we were meeting about it and the the only hesitation I had is that um and it's not really hesitation because
137the way our stadium is laid out um we have the long walk, our home fans have the long walk. Most places you go, the home fans have the short walk, right? Um, so if we do it that way and uh none of this is etched in stone, if we do it that way, the visiting fans will have to usher them up the hill and then they'll have to go all the way around >> to the visitor bleachers. >> You still got, you know, I know just you cut the steps out then, but you still have they can turn >> But we try to keep them outside the fence. >> Gotcha. I >> just cuz during the game especially, you never know when one might >> Yeah. do something crazy. So, we try to keep them
138outside the fenced area. >> Yeah. Just >> Yeah. >> So, and it's a lot. I know it's change. Um and you know, uh but we tried to do it collaborative effort between both schools to come up with a solution. >> Charlottesville, Flavana, Albamaro, Louisa all do um weapons detectors. >> Um Amherst does clear bag, not the weapons. Green does clear bag, no weapons detectors. Rockingham doesn't do either one of them. Nor does Augusta. >> Yeah. So, >> so we're surrounded by people doing >> I'm sure after the first game you're going to, you know, you guys feel >> we can tweak and scrimmages and there's other things. >> Our plan is to set it up for the scrimmage even though it's not a ticketed event and share the information so that can kind of be
139a a dry run for us and you know a dry run for our folks and the folks coming for the game and that'll be a because we've got two teams coming for the scrimmage. We've got James River and Buffalo Gap, so that'll be twice the opposing fans. Now, they don't usually show up for a scrimmage like they do a real game, but still that'll be a I think that'll be a good >> uh test run for us to see, you know, if we do need to tweak where we're putting our weapons detectors or where where we're selling tickets or where we're setting our folks up, you know. Um so, and we're going to have them set up for the volleyball on next Thursday. That's our first home scrimmage. Uh, our volleyball team is actually in
140Stanton scrimmaging tonight. So, that's our first scrimmage of the year. Um, so it's it's here. So, any other questions you guys have for me? >> Thank you. >> I know the coordination of this. I mean, I cannot imagine all the many people involved and it's nice to hear the plan um wellought out and I just appreciate all the hard work. Um, the only thing, and I'm sure you will do this, um, our principal Walker has been amazing sending out messages as the school year started because this is so new for so many families. I would ramp that up as we get toward the first couple of games until people get used to it. Um, inevitably I can imagine someone having the pocket knife on their side and just it's something they carry all the time
141and they just coming straight for work going straight into. So I know you will do this but it's so helpful to to educate them along the way because it is new. >> But thank you. >> Thank you. And the uh I'm we're hoping to blast it tomorrow and then you know again throughout the week cuz we do have we've got home scrimmage next Friday and then we've got two home football games after that. So the next three weeks we're going to be >> right there >> putting our plan to the test. >> Yeah. Oh, that would be great if the paper wanted to say something. >> You should write us press release. >> The steps coming up from the big parking lot. >> Mhm. um might put a sign of these things are not prohibited.
142>> You know, if they don't have clear bags that if you have a pocket >> Gotcha. That way they can go back to their car, put it back in their car. Yeah. >> Not as long a walk. >> That's a good idea. >> Not as long a walk for them to do that >> cuz I've been at a >> Yeah, I've been there and been like I either have thrown my pocketk knife away or, you know, hoof it back. >> Yeah. >> Whatever how long far it was, you know, to put it back in the truck. So, yeah, I've definitely been there. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, as soon as you can notify people that it's not allowed, >> right, >> then the less conflict will probably >> Yeah, I think you're right. Yeah. The more
143the more signage and the more we share the information, the less >> issues we're going to have your PowerPoint to the >> I can share. Yeah, absolutely. >> And then she can use that. >> Well, and it'll be website, you know, posting it everywhere. We'll share it on social media and uh you know we'll do the all calls with Mr. Walker and uh we'll we'll blast it out there. >> Love it. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you. >> Pretty exciting. >> Okay, we're on to items for action. um the approval of the policy updates the May 2025. So this is the >> second reading of these. Um does anybody have any questions about any of them? >> All right. No. >> Um it's quite a few. Um there were a couple new things as
144opposed to just revisions. Uh um the opio opioid antagonist >> um is a policy created to reflect the different amendments that came through this last um legislative season. Um, we also had advanced accelerated mathematics which I will say is still under a lot of conversation at the state level and among a lot of superintendent but as of right now it is a part um of the code u and so therefore the policies um but that continues to be advocated state level. um student cell phone and smart device possession and use um new in the code um along that goes with all the different guidelines or the um the uh eliminations of where you can or where you can. So we'll provide those guidelines as a as a um it's a requirement but it won't be
145we're it's what's included in our um handbooks and our code of conducts. So, um, a regulation that we need to provide what the restrictions are. Um, we already have that through our code of conduct, so that won't be too difficult. Uh, we also have JJ A, which is student athlete extreme heat safety and protection. Um, working through um guidelines that we provide for um the different levels of heat. Oh, >> okay. And um then notification of school connected student overdose which is KGD that's new any there's very specific definitions of what school connected means what overdose means and the different products that would be involved in overdose. So um something like Tylenol would not be connected to that but something like a schedule 2 um drug would be included in that. And so very very
146specific. I know there were some concerns on superintendent that in small divisions, if we're communicating out to all family all all student families involved in that school, if there's an overdose, well, in smaller schools, it may not be that difficult to figure out who that is. But this is a little bit more um they're trying to make it a little cleaner, but at the end of the day, they still believe that the families deserve to know that there was something directly connected to the school school event in a class. Um, so not just if something took place outside of school, it has to be a direct connection to a school or school activity. And those are all for the um the new additions to that second reading or it's not new to the second reading,
147but those were new to that grouping of um updates. And once we enact these, they'll like the copies that we have will be have all of the our names in them and they'll be very specific to Nelson County. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. So, is there any reason that we any questions or anything that would you guys are ready to vote on this, right? >> Yes. Okay. All right, then. Let's go. Uh, I will entertain a motion to approve the BSBA May 2025 policy updates. >> I move that we approve the BSBA May 2025 policy updates as presented. >> All in favor? >> I just roll down the >> Iay. Okay, unanimous. Um now we have a couple of religious exemption from cons compulsory attendance. Um so um >> are those the same ones
148that only have >> no when you do a religious exemption you do you only apply one time and it is it it um it carries over. It is not the same it doesn't have to be done annually. Um yeah, it does not have to be done annually. The criteria to um on the followrough follow-up of it is not the same, >> right? >> So they they do not provide like proof of progress. Whereas homeschool notifies us every year, notice of intent. I think tomorrow is the last day is the final day for um homeschool notice of intent and then they also provide us um proof of progress um at the end of the school year throughout the summer. >> Right. Right. which better. Um, okay. So, no questions or anything like that. I will entertain
149um a motion for a religious exemption for student one. I move we uh approve the religious exemption uh from compulsory attendance according to section 22.1254 B1 of the code of Virginia for student one. >> I have a second. >> I'll second. >> All in favor? I >> I will entertain a motion for student 2. >> I move we approve the religious exemption from compulsory attendance according to section 22.1-254 B1 of the code of Virginia for student two. >> Second. Anyone? Anyone? I >> did you are you is that a second? >> Yeah. >> Oh, >> who who uh who moved? >> Um >> I moved. >> George moved and Shannon seconded. >> And all in favor? >> I. Okay. Thank you very much. Now we need a we have a request to declare used textbook
150surplus. I'll make a motion to declare a surplus and approve the sale or donation of used obsolete textbooks. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I think we're good on that one. All right. Now, we want to adopt new textbooks, which I checked out, by the way. They seem pretty cool >> and free online. >> Yeah, free online. And >> I move that we approve the adoption of two new textbooks to be used in virtual Virginia and or PBCC. >> I'll second. >> All in favor? >> I I'm sorry. >> That's okay. >> I start saying nay after a while because >> um Okay, now we have some out of state. All right, let's um overnight and out of state field trip from high school FFA. >> I move that we approve the overnight out
151of state field trip request for NCHS FFA to the 2025 Xarbon livestock judging contest September 26 to 29th Grand Island, Nebraska. Second. >> All in favor? I >> I trying to harmonize this. Um, okay. Now, we have an overnight out of state field trip request from the high school and the middle school FFA. You guys can read it. >> Is that a BRVGS? >> This is the BRVGS one. >> Oh, no. I thought we did. Oh, I'm sorry. I cross that one out. Okay. This is the BRVGS one. It's just out of state. I move we approve the out of state field trip request for uh BRBGS National Cathedral and Smithsonian Natural History Museum on October 6, 2025 2025 in Washington DC. >> She seconded. >> Yeah. Uh, all in favor? >> I >> Okay,
152now we do the out overnight out of state field trip request for the middle school and high school FFA. I move we approve the overnight out of state field trip request for the NCHS and Nelson Middle School FFA 225 National 2025 National Convention and Expo October 20th through November 11th, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. >> I'll second. >> All in favor? >> Oh, hold on. Hold on. >> Oh, wait a minute. >> Should be October 29th to November 1st. All right, I'll get it. >> All right. Um, I move around. >> Okay. >> My apologies. >> I approve I move that we approve the overnight and out of state field trip request for Nelson County High School, Nelson County Middle School FFA 2025 National Convention and Expo on October 29th through November 1st, 2025 in Indianapolis,
153Indiana. >> Second. Second. All right. Well, that was a long trip and now it's shorter. >> Any all in favor? >> I We're mixing it up a little bit. >> Three week goes. >> All right. Now, we got the overnight field trip for again the FFA. They go everywhere. >> I'll make a motion to approve the overnight field trip request for Nelson County High School, Nelson Middle School, FFA State Block and Bridal Contest in Blackburg, Virginia. >> Second. >> February 19th to February 21st, 2026. >> I guess they have to raise money for that or something. >> Second. I >> I We're all in favor. >> Um now we need to look at our meeting dates for February and April because there's spring break happens for the second Thursday and there's something else that's happening
154in the >> Yeah. So we have um we wanted to make sure that work sessions Hold on. Getting there. We wanted to make sure that um work sessions were um visible and um recognize the dates that we were we were planning. So the dates specifically I want to make sure that we recognize January 22nd as a budget work session. um February 5th um due to conflicts and conferences as opposed to what's the the 12th February 12th that would be a change of the regular meetings. Um then um a work session for February 19th and then the other change that would vary from the second Thursday of um the month would be April 2nd because the original schedule would be during spring break. So this also spaces out from a regular meeting to a work session
155two weeks as opposed to like a one week or three weeks. It spaces it out a little bit more evenly. It bumps up since that's budget season. It gives us more opportunities if need be to schedule joint meetings. Um being able to really have those conversations about um what's taking place with the budget. I think uh I think it's a great idea and when I looked at the calendar I think it makes a lot more sense to do it that way. So thank you for for thinking about that. So >> I also added the VSBA conference >> um to acknowledge that um we are excited when our schoolboard members are able to attend um the V the VSBA because there's a lot of great things to learn from that and it's possible that we have
156more than three of our members attend that and as such would qualify as a public meeting. So, >> right, >> people would know where we are. >> Yeah, that's it. All right. So, can we um do we need to vote to change make those changes in the date then? Okay, then I will entertain a motion. >> The dates January 22nd says 2025. >> Oh, yeah, it does. How about that? I'll make that change. >> All right. Then you can just say you would >> It's on It's the same for February 19th. So what when we make the motion is adding the the work session for January 22nd, 2026. >> Yes. >> February 5th for 2026. February 19th for 2026. Numbers are hard. And then April 2nd, 2026. >> That's a big motion. >> So February
1575th, February 19th amend. >> Okay. All right. Yeah, I move we amend the Nelson County School Board regular meeting calendar dates for 2025 2026 uh to include uh budget work session on January 2020 22 22nd 2026 February 5th 2026 would be the regular meeting. February 19th, 2026 would be another budget work session and then uh moving uh the regular meeting to April 2nd, 2026 for April. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I awesome. All right, we are done with our items for action and Oh, sorry. We got one more. We got to go into close session. I already checked it. I move that we go into close session for the purpose of personnel matters of employment, assignments, appointments, performance, resignation, or retirements in accordance with section 2.2-3711A1 of the code of Virginia. >> Second.
158>> All in favor? >> I We are now in close session. I'm sorry, I forgot about that part. Do you [Music] We've made it. 12 grade school years completed. If I'm going to be completely honest, it's hard to believe we've come so far. Today's ceremony represents the impact each graduate had at Nelson County. These experience alongside Nelson County's teachers is a once in a-lifetime experience. High school has been hard. We've been given thousands of entirely new obstacles. We have spectacularly triumphed over them. It is nothing if not hard work and persistence that has lit the fuse to the class of 2025 success. Believe in yourself that you are somebody. If you look up the nail definition of somebody, you will find a person of importance. Never place blame on anyone for your failure. When things
159get tough, stand tall. Continue to work towards greatness so one day everybody will say, "You know what? They were somebody." With our caps on our heads and our dreams in our hearts, we're finally ready to step out into the world and chase our future. And now, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, I do hereby declare you graduates of Nelson County High School. Please turn your tassels. Congratulations, class of 2025. Follow the horizon. Follow your heart. Chasing the unknown. Forever it may take us. Wherever it may lead, chasing me. Follow the horizon. Follow your heartbeat. Chasing the chasing me. [Music] Oh. Oh, hey. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]