School Board Business Meeting: 9-17-25

001Um, Miss [Music] >> Buffalo >> here. >> Inge >> present. >> Pollson >> present. >> Thomas >> and Caligerro >> here. >> Our first agenda item 2.01 for Oops. Sorry. Does Jack have to make the thing? Um, that Tanya's joining us. >> Oh, okay. Cool. Cool. Okay. >> Always know there's no wrong crazy question. So all here to help you. >> Good afternoon, Chair Decalerro, Vice Chair Thomas, Dr. Paul, and members of the school board. Thank you for the opportunity to present an update on the first year of Norfol Public Schools 4x4 hybrid block scheduling implementation. This afternoon, I'll walk you through the first year of our 4x4 hybrid block schedule. We'll review successes, discuss challenges, explain how issues were addressed, reflect on lessons learned, highlight survey feedback, and look ahead to refinements for next

002year. My goal is to provide a balanced update rooted in data and staff voice. One of our big one of our biggest successes was student scheduling. On the very first day of school, every student who had completed a spring registration form had a schedule, and the remaining students were scheduled very quickly. Over the summer, schedulers, counselors, and assistant principles worked tirelessly to prepare a smooth opening. Each schedule was carefully reviewed against transcripts to make sure it aligned with graduation requirements. Another highlight is how this schedule allows students to focus on just four classes instead of balancing seven or even eight at once. Teachers tell us that this shift reduces stress, support stronger relationships, and help students retain what they are learning. Of course, we face challenges. Matching year-long courses within the hybrid model was complex.

003Adjustments had to be made to balance semester and year-long classes and scheduling logistics required more attention than usual. But beyond the logistics, our staff survey and teacher feedback also revealed important instructional challenges. Teachers reported that the fast pace made reteing difficult, absences had a greater impact, and the workload involved in planning and grading for 90-minute blocks was heavy. These are consistent concerns across schools and ones we take very seriously. To address these challenges, our schools collaborated, consistently sharing strategies across high schools. Adjustments were made along the way to ensure equity and access. We hosted senior nights to support families and provided staff with consistent guidance. In addition, our curriculum and instruction team began preparing teachers last spring. During the March Professional Development Day, they offered multiple sessions on how to adapt instruction for a 4x4

004model with an emphasis on engaging students, building relationships, daily planning, staying on top of grading, and communicating effectively with parents. At that same time, curriculum and instruction also released pacing guides tailored for the 4x4 schedule, giving teachers ample time to prepare for courses. This summer, during both August professional development days, teachers were introduced to strategies for using artificial intelligence as a tool, especially at the secondary level to support planning, grading, data analysis, and providing timely feedback to students. They also focused on teacher workload by continuing professional development on pacing and instructional strategies for 90-minute blocks. Some schools added additional study halls or recovery periods to give students extra support while also easing the demand of teachers. All those although these steps show how we respond all together, excuse me. Altogether, these steps show how we

005responded directly to staff concerns and put systems in place to strengthen the instruction under the 4x4 model. um our lessons that were learned. One of the key lessons learned is the importance of continuous communication with families. Families need clear and timely information and keeping those channels open helped ease the transition this year. We also saw how critical strong teamwork was. When school administrators and district level staff collaborated, scheduling issues were resolved quickly and effectively. Finally, we recognize the need for more flexible scheduling options, especially for year-long specialized classes. This feedback will guide our refinements as we plan for year two. We did not do this in isolation. We consulted with districts that have implemented the 4x4 model and they confirmed that they face very similar challenges in their first year. Their experiences reassure us that

006our struggles are not unique and more importantly that year two will be smoother and stronger as we process as the processes settle into place. Looking ahead, all of our high school principles are committed to making this model a success. We will continue refining scheduling practices while keeping our focus on equity, student support, and on-time graduation. Our survey results show that staff experiences are largely positive and we are committed to sustaining multiple avenues for students to earn advanced diplomas. This directly aligns with goal five of the Norfol public school strategic plan which calls for the percentage of Norfol public schools graduates receiving an advanced studies diploma to meet or exceed the state average by the end of the 2627 school year. By refining our scheduling practices and keeping multiple pathways open, we are laying the groundwork

007to meet and exceed that goal. Staff surveys, we received 146 responses representing all high schools. Um, twothirds of the staff gave positive ratings, 32% somewhat positive and 34% very positive. that 66% of our classroom teachers who rated this model positively which is an encouraging result. It is also important to note that 71% of respondents were classroom teachers. So the feedback reflects the experience of those implementing the schedule. When we look more closely at the survey comments, they give us a rich picture of what's working well and where we can grow. On the positive side, teachers consistently highlighted the benefits of daily consistency and the ability to focus on four classes instead of seven or eight. They told us that this structure is helping students retain information, build stronger relationships, and in many cases perform better

008on assessments. Several also noted that this pace mirrors college expectations, giving students a stronger sense of preparedness for what lies ahead. At the same time, staff were candid about the challenges. They mentioned that the fast pace can make reteing difficult and when a student is absent, the impact feels greater. Teachers also expressed that the hybrid format can sometimes be confusing and that balancing semester classes with year-long ones is complex. Additionally, they flagged the increased workload that comes with planning for a 90-minute class. Importantly, the recommendations offered were practical and constructive. teachers considered considered removing to a single schedule model rather than hybrid, adding intervention blocks or study halls and continuing professional development specifically f focused on pacing and instructional strategies for longer blocks. They also pointed to the need for consistent pacing, clear attendance expectations,

009and equitable practices. Overall, the majority of comments align with the positive survey ratings. Teachers see a value in the 4x4 structure and their constructive feedback is helping us make the refinements needed to strengthen the model for year 2 and beyond. Our next steps our next steps are designed to strengthen this model and keep student success at the center. We will maintain open communication with families, continue one-on-one scheduling reviews, and collaborate closely with schedules and administrators for continuous improvement. will also strengthen alignment for year-long courses, expand flexibility in scheduling, and start the enrollment timeline earlier. In addition, we will closely analyze so results, monitor credit attainment and attendance trends, and continue to gather structured feedback from both teachers and students. These steps will ensure that we refine the model thoughtfully, and build on the positive momentum

010from the first year. Um, in closing, the 4x4 hybrid block schedule has bought both successes and challenges this year. What is most important is that we now have clear data, teacher feedback, and lessons learned to guide us. We remain committed to equity and student achievement across Norfol public schools. Thank you, and I welcome your questions. >> Yes, great presentation. And I was checking off my questions cuz as you were presenting, you were answering them. But um as far as the districts around us, are we is everyone on the 4x4? Um actually um Newport News um Okay. Virginia Beach is on a hybrid. Chesapeake is on a 4x4. Portsouth is on a 4x4. Suffuk is also on a 4x4 hybrid. Um the only area, the only um Hampton is also on a 4x4. The only school

011system he around the 757 is Williamsburg and they're not. >> Okay. I was just thinking when kids and we know that kids transfer across um accountability system different districts and so that it be easier now that we're on 4x4 getting our kids transferring in and out. So >> yes ma'am >> yes it is hybrid because we have some 4x4 classes and we have other year-long classes. Um some districts do straight 4x4 but we have a hybrid model. >> How do the districts >> it varies um there is it just depends on the needs in their particular schools. Um I didn't ask specifically for um what these districts do but I can definitely ask but I know that it varies from just previous experience. >> I I can I can answer that to some extent. So

012if they don't do a hybrid, they choose courses, for instance, Chesapeake. Um, some of their AP courses are just offered one semester, but some of the AP courses, in order to take it, you have to take it over the whole year. So it takes two credits to do it. So it actually eliminates an opportunity for a class when you do that, which is why we opted to do the hybrid to give our students as much opportunity as possible. I I do have a question because had been double blocking AP chemistry. Now with the 4x4 we are no no longer double blocking it. It is a year-long course that meets every other day where in the past it met every >> so in the past if there was a double blocked AP chemistry locked with chemistry

013credit and an AP chemistry credit that can still be done where first semester the students would take chemistry second semester they would take AP chemistry >> what I'm saying is that the students who are AP chemistry can earn you up to 10 credits depending on the college so that is not a three credit course and should >> we still follow the college board requirements for AP chemistry So how how time requirements we still follow that and it still rolls to the same amount of credits that a student could have gotten with previous because there's only one AP chemistry course number for the for the through college board. Um, in your uh the slide that said your role, how many responses did you >> 146? >> And 771% I believe were teachers that responded. >> Thank

014you very much. >> Thank you. I'll move on to uh school board goal five. >> The first one. >> Can we just do all This one. >> That the one. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Once I kind of seconds to make sure I got all three of them. Okay. All right. Good evening, Chair Daliro. Um, Vice Chair Thomas, Dr. Poll, and board members. We're going to talk through goal five for um with the schoolboard goals tonight. The goal five is about the advanced diploma that the percentage of students who are graduating with that. So, I'm going to kind of work through this. I'm going to go 5.1, but we got to remember we're going backwards through the cohorts. So, we're kind of talking the long-term goal for the goal five is the 2027 cohort. So we

015do have um some preliminary internal data. Again, we do not have official VDOE data that has been posted publicly. So we have this piece here. They're just not there yet with their report. So the state comparison and things we just can't do yet, but at the next update or or when we do this, we'll be able to update with what the state rate is to give that kind of benchmark. I'm going to start with the 2027. And when I've watched Dr. poll do this in the past. It's really not read the report to you and kind of go through just kind of the hot topics and then go from there if that's still okay. We'll start there and then Mr. Brady's going to jump in with kind of the what's what are the things going

016on to support this goal. Um so for the 2027 cohort that is the benchmark uh we have benchmarked out but one of the things I want to bring your attention to that we looked at this year that has happened this year that has not happened in past cohorts is that we have students who are at a higher rate for enrollment that will help them support them to earn the advanced diploma coming into the year than they left last year. There are multiple reasons that might be, but that actually is a good thing. That's kind of what we've been wanting to happen because we've been wanting to make sure those transcript reviews are thing happening with the students like let's look at their coursework at the end. They might have done something over the summer and

017they're better positioned to earn an advanced diploma. So, um Mr. Brady and I have met to kind of benchmark out from here where we feel this cohort would be at the end of this year. with where the benchmarks are. We do believe it is um a heavy lift, but we think it's a doable lift and that it will get us to the 51.5 that this cohort needs to be at for that long-term goal over the two years that we have. Right. Um Mr. Ry, do you want to talk about um the things going well? We tal I just really quick we talked about with the what's going well is exactly that coming students coming in better positioned to earn an advanced diploma so we're not having to make switches once they're enrolled in coursework. Um

018what's not going well even though they're positioned in a better place there still is we still have some work to do and there's still we we need to get that acceleration going of the students who are in place. Minister Brady's going to talk about for this cohort and it really will take us through the whole thing what we're going to do and what the next steps are. >> Good evening. Um so under uh what we're going to do and next steps all right u for the first time uh we're able to offer pre-AP courses this year in North because of our because of the AP courses that we offer and because of our open doors for AP College Board uh offered us free advanced placement courses. So, our teachers were able to attend uh preap

019training and we've identified honors courses uh in all all four core areas that are now preap courses uh and uh following the college board's rigor and critical thinking uh as a really good, you know, not good but great step at preparing students to go into more advanced uh coursework uh following those preap courses. Um we're also uh still offering the the high quality instructional materials, those resources for our our teachers, the evidence-based interventions. Uh so again, we continue to to focus on strengthening the instruction and the resources in our classes. We've also implemented a 4-year sequencing of social studies in the high schools uh across all five high schools. So students are are on a pathway to take four social studies courses which four courses are required for the advanced studies diploma. Uh so we've

020made that uniform across the across the school division. um the um uh introduction of artificial intelligence uh for our teachers and the training there. In fact, that's going extremely well. Um the data that we've just received, 81% of our teachers are uh active users with AI uh and using it for um lessons, engagement, uh interventions. All right. meeting students needs. Uh and so and you know giving timely feedback to students uh helping with uh grading and scoring uh and so just sharpening and focusing in using that tool uh to support students and and help them. We've also um reviewing uh course sequencing in the sciences, ensuring that our school counselors are fully aware of the prerequisites that need to be taken so that students can access those higher level science courses uh and they have

021those prerequisites uh taken. So making sure that you our counselors during scheduling are very familiar with the pathway that students need to be taking in science in order to access those courses. Um uh and a few things here that we've we've been working on as well. um you know the inquiry based learning projectbased getting students engaged and you know uh involved in the coursework and uh uh making sure that it's challenging and and exciting for them. We're exploring uh right now the use of um having our ESL students receive credit for their native language. And so, uh, in getting credit for their native languages, that's going to open up, uh, some opportunities to take other courses so we can move more of our ESL students into the advanced studies, uh, pathway as well. Um, I

022think we've seen uh results in in more students uh in position at the start of the year than they have been previously or more um uh prepared or on that pathway at the start of this school year than what they ended last year. due to the review of those transcripts, counselors reviewing the work uh that students um need in order to uh earn the advanced studies diploma and then using the 4x4 scheduling to make sure that that we're meeting their needs. Um we're using um we've uh trained our school counselors uh and and other staff as well uh to utilize some of our resources that we've put in place. We have two new tutoring platforms this year. Um so layering that tutoring um we've uh we have a new company for that 24/7 afterchool weekend

023tutoring that homework help uh which is tutor.com and so we've pushed out a lot of information about that so students can access that tutoring but for the first time as well we have a second tutoring platform that can be utilized during the school day and teachers can schedule students for tutoring uh who need the help right there uh immediate u tutoring in the classroom. If a student is having difficulty with some math concepts or science, uh they can have an ondemand tutor right there supporting that student. So providing those supports for students so they'll be successful in these courses that they need to obtain that advanced studies diploma. And then still working with our counselors to continue that focus uh to expand the opportunities. Uh we're using major clarity is the academic and career uh

024planning uh platform that we use. um you know doing this the small group work the scheduling meetings um we're reviewing transcripts uh looking at what students need all right uh Miss McGary found that out of what the current juniors right now right of our current juniors 195 of those juniors are off track for the advanced studies diploma only because of a world language. So we've identified those students. All right. And we have the opportunity now with those juniors to actually get three seme three world language courses in starting in the spring. They have three semesters left. So uh our counselors are are um uh exploring those options and making sure that the students are aware of that. That's the only thing, the world language. All right. And in the past where we wouldn't be able

025to do anything for them really, right? That boat would have sailed. You've only got one course this year and one course the next and you won't make it. But under 4x4, they could take a world language in the spring, fall, and spring. There's 195 current juniors that um >> they don't automatically put >> I No. No, but I think we have a better opportunity now to do that um with the with the 4x4. Um you know, students who have taken a world language in middle school, they can come in and finish the world language requirement their freshman year. Um or or I think we can accelerate that now maybe with freshmen who have come in who haven't. But but there's no automatic scheduling into into uh elective courses like that, >> right? >> It's if

026it's required for advanced studies, why isn't >> I mean anything outside of the four core areas is considered an elect. >> Yeah. Go ahead. Why we're >> am I to assume that the all the the preAP classes four core classes are offered at all the high schools? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> It's a it's an honors course. >> Honors course. Okay. It just has that uh focus of placement introducing those AP requirements. Uh >> uh >> difference. >> Yeah. >> That they move into that course. Um >> back and check each class. >> Most of these start earlier. Um they're they're earlier content courses that preparation in there. We'll we'll uh get you the information on exactly >> for me is I see so you have stated that um sixth graders start having counselors start

027having conversations with sixth graders about their about diploma options. It's interesting for me to see how that changes by time they get to eighth grade about time they get to 10th grade. I mean what that looks like. >> Yes. Yeah, diploma. >> Yeah, >> just to review quickly the 2026 cohort. So, this is our seniors. Um, again, lots of things that were in place prior. So, this is kind of seeing some of the fruit of those labors and then on top of it for that 2027 cohort things are happening as well. Um I will point I do want to point out again beginning of the year this is something we haven't seen before where we have seen movement from the end of the year to the beginning of the year. Um and again that's things

028happen over the summer. It is also things that um kids grades at the end of the school year when we're looking this kind of quarter four we might have some failing things going on but by the time we get out of that those things shift. and maybe when they did um scheduling during the prior school year, they're like, "Okay, you're not doing well in these courses." So, they start to shift, but then again, what's nice to see is they are pulling that back and students are in those courses still and they're working with them to get them those grades up and they're able to keep going forward with the um advanced studies diploma, which is good because we don't get the back. We're not seeing as it's not a huge number, but it's again, we

029got to chip away at it, right? So, we're seeing that starting to show up, which is great. Um this is that cohort going out. They have been kind of a slow increase cohort. Um, but what we traditionally see at the ends of the school year, we wanted, we're hoping with the 4x4s and being able to adjust identifying the students like we have now. We're at the beginning of the year. We have the opportunity at semester 2 with the spring semester to kind of correct some some um trajectories and those kinds of things that we see these big jumps at the end. So, we see five percentage points go up and it's really that spring effort, right? But when it's all year, you don't see it show up until the end of the school year because

030it's slowly working its way out. Now with these 4x4s and with the scheduling, we'll hopefully see those switches midyear and then those points kind of go up and we still go get the big leap, but it'll be over the year and not just this big flip at the end. Um, and that kind of thing. So this is the data for really same kind of ideas. I know same content area things that were talked about talked about here this being a slow grow cohort but we are seeing those moves and really what's the most um hopeful is that beginning of the year piece and what's going well again at this point for this cohort at this point in the year it really was that big shift of pulling those conversations down earlier by the counselors and

031things that Mr. Brady was talking about in transcript reviews. Um, we still got to move. We still want to get that acceleration going, but again, we're seeing the moves in places that we haven't seen it before, which is which is promising. Real quick, this is just kind of a wrap-up of cohort 2025. So, once we do this, we won't be presenting on this cohort because they are graduated now. Um again same preliminary data but looking here we narrowly missed our goal our target for the end of the year for this cohort. So the there was a lot of volatility in this the data here for this cohort which was interesting but again it's these big leaps at the end that we're hoping we'll be able to kind of smooth that out for kid because that's

032a leap for a kid too right they're feeling that. So with what the things that are in place now too to help start smoothing that out but still see the increases. Um we talked about here we do not have the Virginia official data yet to be able to say here's where the state is for us to make that state comparison. Um that information will come out once we get it from the state where what this where the state as a whole is and that kind of thing. So end of year efforts were strong. We talked about that. um we still want to do that but we want to again have a couple times a year that we're able to work through those things for the kids and these kids have graduated. So that is our

0332025 co a quick snapshot of the 2025 cohort. There any questions about 2625 cohorts? Very welcome. >> Can I get a motion to go into closed executive session? >> I make a motion we go into closed executive session. >> Second has brought forth the mo motion and vice chair Thomas has seconded. Any discussion? >> Move that members of the school board of the city of Norfolk go into a close meeting for the purposes which are set out in subsection A of section 2.2-3711 2-3711 of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act as amended for discussion, consideration, or interviews or prospective candidates for employment, assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining, or resignation of specific public officers, appointees, or employees of the school board. Pursuant to subsection 2.2-3711A1 2-3711A1 of the act. The subject covered by this

034exemption is the discussion of persons and personnel actions included for vote on today's personnel report, discussion or consideration of disciplinary and any other matters concerning students in Northfor public schools that would involve the disclosure of information contained in the scholastic record pursuant to subsection 2.2-3711A2 of the act. The subject covered by this exemption is the discussion of students on today's regular student support agenda. And then C, consultation with with legal counsel and briefing by staff members pertaining to actual or probable litigation or regarding specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by council pursuant to subsections 2.2-3711A78 of the act. The subjects covered by this exemption are consultation and briefing in connection with the matter set above in subsections A through B of this motion. >> Buffalo. >> Yes. >> Inge >> I. >>

035Martin >> I. >> Pollson. Hi >> Thomas. like to call the meeting to order and Miss Tanner, please call the role. Oh, >> actually, no. Mr. >> Yeah. Why don't we start with the vote to bring Miss Bazine in today's meeting? Uh, prior to today's meeting, Miss Mazine notified the chair that she would need to participate tonight from a remote location by electronic communication. In order for that to happen, pursuant to Virginia law and schoolboard policy, we need to establish a couple things on the record and then there will be a roll call vote to allow her to so participate in tonight's meeting. I'm going to ask Miss Bazine a couple of questions and after that I'll turn the meeting back over to the chair and the clerk to conduct the roll call vote. Miss

036Bazine, can you hear me? >> Yes, I can. >> Uh, your request today was to attend the meeting from a remote location by electronic communication because of a personal matter. Will you tell us the nature of the personal matter for the minutes? >> Um, a family wedding. >> And where are you actually participating from? >> The Philadelphia airport. >> All right. With that, I'll turn the meeting back over to the chair to conduct the roll call vote to allow Miss Bazine to participate in tonight's meeting. Once the votes concluded, she'll be able to participate and vote just as if she were physically present with us. >> Okay. So, we are going to vote on uh whether or not we agree to let Miss Bassine attend the meeting remotely. Miss Tanner, will you please call the

037role? >> Uh, there should be a motion and a second. >> I am sorry. I move that we allow Miss Tanya Bassine to participate in this meeting. I'll second. >> The motion has been put forth by Dr. Martin and sec seconded by Mr. Ing. Now, Miss Tanner, will you please call >> Buffalo? >> I >> Martin >> I. >> Bson. >> I. >> Thomas. >> I. >> Caligger. >> I now I can. >> Now, Miss Tanner, >> since that motion has passed, would you please call the role for tonight's meeting? >> Yes. Bine >> here. Buffalo >> here. >> Present. >> Martin >> present. >> Pollson >> uh >> present. >> Thomas >> here. >> Ticalro >> here. Did you get did you get that time? Okay. Um now we're moving on to agenda item

0384.03. The pledge of allegiance. We'll have our school board student representative Athena Ash lead us in the pledge. I pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you, Athena. >> Agenda item 4.04. Can I get a motion to adopt the school board business meeting agenda? >> I move that we approve the school board meeting agenda. >> Is there a second? >> Adopt. >> I second. >> Miss Moore Buffalo has put forth the motion and Miss Thomas has seconded. Is there any dis discussion? >> Miss Tanner, please call the role. >> The scene >> I. >> Buffalo. I >> in >> I >> Martin >> I >> Pollson >> I >>

039Thomas >> I >> Delgerero >> I >> agenda item 4.05 superintendence report Dr. poll. >> Thank you. Uh good evening, uh Chair Daliro, Vice Chair Thomas, members of the board, members of the commun community, uh present and on video, as well as our wonderful staff, administrators, teachers. Um I'm proud this week to again present the superintendent report with some um exciting student activities as well as some field dedications and uh an event that honored teachers at ODU last weekend. So, roll the footage, channel 47. Retired NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III stopped by Ruffner School to talk with students about the value of education, even if you don't like school, and the importance of never giving up on your dreams. This special visit, which was made possible thanks to USAA and Junior Achievement of Greater Hampton

040Roads, gave these students the opportunity to hear a wonderful message and have their questions answered personally by RG3. >> I feel inspired that a player that's up level telling us how it feel and like tell us like how to get there and how hard it is. It surprised me that cuz like he said he didn't like school. So when he said he had straight A's and he graduated early, that like really surprised me. >> Felt really great today. I felt like really happy to have a higher up player who's been through quite some things come to my school today. I I get where he came from for the most part, but I still think like school plays a main part in anything, especially like if you want to do anything schoolwise, you have to put

041school and your grades first before you want to do anything. >> The WHO literacy van brought a friend to Southside STEM Academy who read several books to their prek kindergarten students. These young scholars didn't just listen to the stories. They interacted with them as the reader from WHO asked and answered a variety of questions. Following the reading, they got a special tour of the Literacy Dan, which featured PBS characters. The scholars here were so great. They made great observations. They were really um thoughtful about the questions that they asked. They also, you could tell, really enjoyed those books. We hope that they really uh embrace the fact that learning is a lifelong skill and that reading is a lifelong skill. No matter what you do when you grow up, reading is going to be part

042of it. Larchmont Elementary's PTA held the 43rd edition of the run at twilight or rat race on a beautiful Friday evening in September. Approximately 300 students participated in the onemile run through the Larchmont neighborhood while over 200 adults ran a 5K. So, this is a fundraiser for the Larchmont Elementary School PTA. The funds go to fund all kinds of extracurricular activities and help the students and the staff um throughout the throughout the school year. >> Students at Willard Model Elementary spent a Friday raising funds for their school during the Apex fund run. A special course was set up and students ran by grade level during their resource time for approximately 30 minutes. Prior to the event, Apex provided a two-week course designed to promote leadership, character building, and physical fitness. The funds raised will be

043used for an outdoor classroom. Our high school stadiums have a new look and feel. Norview, Booker T. Washington, and Lake Taylor high schools all have new field turf and will have updated running tracks. Dedication ceremonies were held at Booker T and Lake Taylor. This project which started in February is another investment for our students and communities. >> Well, it means a number of things for the district. Number one thing, it means growth. Um it's it's showing our district is is moving forward with obviously facilities, but it's enhancing our athletic programs with these great facilities. So, um it's really about growth um and commitment um from from the school system. the commitment from from the administration at the budget level is tremendous. These fields um all three fields totaled around $5 million and and again this

044just puts us on par with everybody else in the area and across the state. We we have first class facilities now for our student athletes. Old Dominion University celebrated Norfolk Public Schools teachers at the Extra Yard for teachers event during their football game on September 6th. In attendance were interim superintendent Dr. James Pole, school board vice chair Alfreda Thomas, and NPS teacher of the year, Katherine Flanigan. Teachers were invited onto the field to be recognized by the crowd. For complete video stories and more divisionwide information about Norfol public schools, visit the MPS website and check out our YouTube channel, Facebook page, Instagram, NPS newsletter, and our podcast NPS Unplugged. >> Madam Chair, that concludes the report. >> Now we'll move on to agenda item 4.06, citizens comments. Miss Tanner, how many speakers do we have

045for this evening? >> Have 30 speakers. Chairwoman Dealerro. Today's speaker signed up for public comments prior to start of today's business meeting. If you would like to provide public comments, you are required to state the agenda item or items or topic you are addressing prior to providing your public comments at this meeting. When your name is called, please come forward to the speaker's podium. State your name and whether you have a child in Northfor public schools or if you are employed by the district and state again your agenda item or items. One person is to speak at a time. If you are representing a group, state your group's name. You may ask your group members to stand in place to be recognized. Speaking time is limited to three minutes. A timer is set with an

046alarm that will signify the end of your speaking time. Please state your position and any relevant facts. Avoid saying anything that identifies students or personnel information about individual employees. Personnel, disciplinary, and confidential matters may be addressed specifically to the schoolboard via email at schoolboard npsk12.com. Comments should be addressed to the board and not addressed to an individual member. Schoolboard members do not respond to public comments at the time they are written and given. Any written statements or supporting material should be given to the clerk. Chairwoman de Caliggera, our first speaker for today that signed up as Tyrone Williams, followed by Mary Anna White. Tyrone Williams. Okay. >> Overflow. >> Yeah, it might be in the overflow. They shouldn't be. Um, Mariana White. Mariana White because they were told they have the list downstairs to send

047them upstairs. Yeah. All right. Well, we're going to go with the third person and this person is definitely here. Charlotte Smith Warley. Good evening community members of the school board and Dr. Pole. My name is Charlotte Smith Worly. I am a member of the facilities committee. My question is, are you going to consider the other options as well as the revise the flawed option five before you vote tonight? Here are some of the things that I see as flaws. Madison Alternative Center and Open Campus are not elementary schools and therefore fall outside the official charge the school board gave its facilities planning committee and was never discussed. Option five calls for citywide redistricting before identifying the timeline for most of your closures and consolidations. That goes against the recommendation of your consultant. I know this

048because we asked the consultant in May about redistricting. He said you must complete the charge of closing and consolidating your schools before redistricting. not providing suggested dates and timelines for a school's consolidations and closures. Again, in conflict with the scope of the charge and it's kind of cruel to affected communities who deserve to know what is happening and when the rebuilding of Suburban Park and the renovation of SS Point were in the other four options that disappeared. Why? After all the hard work of the facilities committee and community input, this sudden departure into areas never publicly discussed speaks of defiant arrogance, especially when new recommendations affect the east side, never given an opportunity for input. Miss Moore Buffalo, as the east side representative, you can't let this happen. Did you know? Did all of you

049know that a half a million dollars was spent to renovate Eastston just for this Madison program and now you want to close it? Vice Chair Thomas recommended the school board have a special meeting for the purpose of discussing and collaborating on the purpose on the proposed four option. Instead, two members met the administration the day before the meeting, developed their own option five, which suddenly became the final option. How did that happen? Was there a vote that made this the final option or is it a strategic overstep? return to the other options developed within the scope of the charge that you gave the consultants and you and the consultant gave the facilities committee. Do what was recommended by vice chair Thomas come together develop a real collaborative recommendation from all seven board members. Thank you,

050>> Kathy O'Hara. Schoolboard members and Dr. Paul, my name is Kathy O'Hara. I don't have children in Northfor schools. I'm I'm here tonight because I fear approval of option five may result in city council taking fiscal action against the board. After reading a WHRO story released today, I believe council may be dangerously close to using sanctions such as reducing your funding formula and returning the school division to categorical funding. I know firsthand the consequences involved with a return to categorical funding. When I served on the senior leadership team of Virginia Beach schools, city council, angered by us on a particular matter, returned the school system to categorical funding. That action put us in the regrettable position of having to go to city council in a mother mayi kind of way whenever we needed to transfer

051money between categories. It also forced a larger year-end reversion which was ripe for city council picking. In a March resolution, city council made it clear significant closure delays would no longer be tolerated. After addressing early childhood center moves in 2627, option five takes a TBD approach on the timeline for closing other identified schools. The other four options clearly state which schools are slated for closure when. Do you really believe council is going to be comfortable with option five's ambiguity? Another flaw, option five is not grounded in reality because it throws a significant new capital project. City Council's Way, a new alternative education center. Did you even talk to city leaders before proposing such a pie in the sky recommendation? Its timing is abysmal. You are thrusting this project at a city already facing the considerable

052debt that will come from rebuilding Mory High School. It also ignores the fact Norfolk has other important projects it's struggling to fund, like military circle redevelopment and a $2.6 billion flood wall. Option five also recommends the closure of Madison Alternative Center, which recently received a half a million dollar plus renovation, leaving the board open to accusations of wasting money. For credibility sake alone, option 5's architects should have identified another use for that building. Instead, they sent the message NPS can afford to throw away taxpayer money quite cavalerely. The consultants for options are so much more closely aligned with the direction city council issued in March. The children and families of the school system need you to exercise wisdom and common sense. Please don't push city council into a punitive mode. Abandon option five while you

053still can. Barrett Hicks. Good evening. I'm Barrett Hicks. I'm the executive director of the Concerned Citizens Association, Tidewater Connection. Tonight I want to speak to the fact of what we're looking to do over in the 23523 zip code being Berkeley and Campus Dela specifically when we look to the fact of St. Alina. Uh so and I speak to this because of the fact that with so many different options and from what I'm talking to different members or whatnot so many different changes has happened. I'm asking on behalf of the people that you guys not vote tonight, that you actually go back to the table and sit down and make sure that the people that you put in place are are on board with what you're trying to do. But when it comes specific to St.

054Alina, I've heard options about being able to closing it and sending them to ECC. Again, for those that don't know, St. Alena is in Berkeley. ECC is in Campastella. Yeah, we've seen that to happen to where they closed the library in Berkeley and opened one in Campastella, but that that failed to actually provide transportation for those kids. I mean, we've seen I've been around long enough to see St. Alina be one of the best schools in this area. I mean, we talking that's been a while now. But more so, I would hope that you guys start to think about what's in the best interest of children educationally. educationally, not know so so so much about closing buildings. How about making it so that the folks that have left or these vacancies, they're coming back because

055you actually doing the proper education that is needed and required. Come on, folks. We sit around here, we have some of the lowest performing schools. We have 28 elementary schools that were not reading on grade level. That's systemic. That's across our district. That's systemic. It's not just in our marginalized communities, but we know that when it when it rains in one of your communities, it floods and ours. So, the only only part of your proposal that I can see is if you had to close one of them, definitely it should not be Southside. It should not be Saint Alina. St. and Alolina right now is one of only two of the entities that actually belong to the city and the Berkeley community. Is there a long-term plan? Is there something else going on that we

056actually shuttering and shutting down everything in Berkeley? Surely don't start with don't do it to these children. And if you talked about moving them from St. Alina to ECC, again, that's additional cost. That means we got to have some blessings because I'm sure you're not going to have my young children trying to walk across the railroad crossings and all of that stuff to get to school. Not going to happen. Thank you for the time. >> Thank you, David Lodge. My name is David Lodge. I have two children in the school system currently. Um, I'd like to talk about the uh random search procedures. Good evening, members of the bo board. My name is David Lodge. I'm here tonight as a concerned parent. Virginia Code 22.1-279.7 requires that the school board adopt policies for student searches,

057including random searches, and that those policies follow the board of education's guidelines and constitutionally protected protections. The law is clear. Random searches must actually be random, not targeted or discriminatory. Unfortunately, Norolk Public Schools current policy do not explain how randomness is insured. There's no clear pro procedure for how students are selected, how staff avoid discrimination, or even how and when parents are notified. I want to share my personal experience. While my kids were in elementary school, I experienced discrimination as a straight white parent. Information about my children was withheld from me, but freely shared with their mother, who is a Native American. After I raised concerns with the school, never notifi not notified when these searches happened. I'm sorry, I skipped a line. With the school, my children suddenly became subject to more so-called random

058searches. I was never notified when these searches happened to me. That does not feel random. It feels retaliatory and that is a violation of both state law and constitutional protections. I also want to draw from my military service. In the military, we had random drug test and to make sure they were truly random, we used a computer system that selected individuals without any human involvement. That process guaranteed fairness and prevented discrimination. I strongly believe North Public Schools should adopt a similar system of student searches. So tonight, I respectfully ask the board number one, adopt and publish written procedures that guarantee searches are truly random. Two, ensure parents are notified when their children are searched. Train staff to prevent profiling or retaliation. Four, and consider a computerized system like the military uses to ensure fairness. This

059isn't just about compliance with Virginia law. It's about fairness, transparency, and protecting the dignity of our children. Thank you for your time, and I hope you will take action. Thank you, Nina Edi. Nina Egny. Oh, there she is. Good evening. Just one moment. I just want to pull up what I have here that I want to share. Okay, good evening. My name is Nina Etnney and I am a proud product of Norfolk Public Schools. All four of my children are also proud graduates. Now my grandchildren are attending these same schools. Today I have two at PB Young, one at Little Creek Elementary, and one at Norview Middle School. My siblings are also proud graduates and one of them is now working within North public schools giving back the same knowledge and enrichment that he once

060received. The proposed closures will directly disrupt my grandchildren's education. They will not get to finish their schooling in the places they know and love. These schools are not just buildings. They are the heart of our community. They serve as gathering places, polling places, and safe hubs for families. Closing them would disrupt our neighborhoods, weaken community bonds, cost dedicated teachers their jobs, along with the deep relationships they built with students and families over decades. I am especially concerned about the impact on special education programs like CEP. My granddaughter is on the spectrum and she depends on the stability and resources of programs like this. These children deserve consistency, support, and investment, not uncertainty about where they will go or whether their needs will be met. I respectfully ask the board to reconsider or at the very

061least delay these closures until there is a clear detailed plan for our students, families, and teachers. Where will our children go? How will transportation be managed when we already face a shortage of drivers? And what will be done to preserve the strength and unity of our communities? Because if we cannot come to a resolution that benefits everyone, we risk losing families altogether. People will move to cities and districts that better meet their needs. And North will lose not only students, but also teachers, residents, and very families who make up the heart of this community. We are not just asking for answers. We are asking you to stand with us to protect our children's education to honor both the history and the future of Norfolk Public Schools. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Dr. Noel Gabriel.

062[Laughter] I get to work this now. Okay. If you're a Mory parent, would you please stand? Good evening, school board members, and congratulations, Dr. Pole, on being selected as interim superintendent. I'm Noel Gabriel and I have four children in Norfick public schools. Tonight, you are scheduled to vote on a school consolidation plan that has been under discussion for almost 20 years. I will offer some commentary. First, the rebuilding of Mory High School campus requires your full focus and attention. My serves students from across the city. It houses one of the most unique programs in Virginia. It has a long history of excellence not only in academics where it remains fully accredited, but also in athletics and the arts. Mory students and teams have earned championships in football, track, tennis, cheer, field hockey, and swimming. While

063the music programs consistently earn superior ratings, when discussions first began about the future of Mory, the vision always included strong academic facilities, safe, flexible learning spaces, appropriate athletic and music facilities, and preserving the pool. For more than 15 years, parents, students, and community members have asked for the same thing. And as elected representatives, you are responsible to ensure that these responsibilities remain intact. The recent city council vote for my rebuild did not include funding for the pool. to maintain the integrity of the Mory campus design. I ask you to ensure that the financial planning with your decision making of the school consolidations accounts for this need. I'm sure that with the school closings you will acorum. This could occur on the Gent property which is included in the current design. This investment would serve my

064students as well as the entire Norfick community. Next, I want to address Gent. This program is academically strong. It's deeply loved and it's valued by its families. The communication with the stakeholders about the future just has not been adequate and their concern is valid. You need to look at viable options for relocation more than what you have already discussed and I will share that in my letter to you all. Finally, I must emphasize that you cannot rebuild Mory in a peacemeal fashion. Too much has already been compensate um compromised. We are preserving a portion of the building for apartments and my already sits on the smallest footprint of any of the high schools in the city. We lack regulation size athletic fields and you just saw in the video all the great things that happened

065at Booker T Lake Taylor and Norview. If we don't advocate now, we're going to leave our students uh to fall short with what they need. I ask you to advocate unceasingly for the natiatorum. Budget for it appropriately and commit to a full and complete mory campus, not a scaledown version that fails our needs of the students. Relocating Gentry Renaissance. Together, these decisions will fulfill the long-standing promises made to students, staffs, and families. Thank you. Thank you. Miss Albert. >> Oh, school board members and Dr. Paul. My name is Liz Albert. I have no children in Norfol public schools. I serve on the facilities advisory committee and I'm joined here tonight by members of my community. If you could please stand. They are from the River Forest Shores, Wayside Manor, and East Place neighborhoods. Thank you.

066We are here tonight to ask you to return to considering the foreclosure and consolidation options originally presented by your consultant and to abandon option five which is an 11th hour adaptation that is based on an undercurrent of political desires and is not grounded in data research or equity. Included only in option five is a plan to move the Madison and open campus programs and to close Eastn School. This idea has many shortcomings. Number one, Madison Alternative Centers Madison Alternative Cent's relocation is not realistic. It would involve building a brand new wing on Lake Taylor High School. To pull a costly building project out of thin air is not going to fly with a city council already concerned about busting the glass ceiling of its debt service. Two, closing the Madison Alternative Center at Eastston was

067never brought forward by the consultant, chief of operations, city council, or anyone on the facilities committee. This idea came from just two loan loan board members whose motives may be suspect. three NPS's longtime consultant who knows the ins and outs of all the facilities and programs and is paid about $130,000 a year for his advice was never consulted about moving these programs or even option five as a whole. Number four, relocating the Madison Alternative Center would involve a huge waste of taxpayer money. As we've already heard, half a million dollars was spent on renovating the Eastn building for last year's fall opening. Our community believes that Eastston School is a good location for an alternative education program. It is in a quiet area free of the distractions of a large high school campus. It is

068on the bus route and light rail line for open campus students who work and might not be able to ride the school bus. I close by asking the school board to return to more realistic options. For example, option three minus the Gent closure recommendation is realistic and would pass muster with city council. Dire fiscal consequences could occur if the board does not act responsibly in this manner. Option five is the irresponsible route. Do not go there. Thank you, Emily Bosch. name's Emily Bosch. I have two students at the Gent School and I've got some representatives from the Gent School here with us tonight. The goal of the Gent School community is to ensure that the program is respected and given the opportunity to continue to thrive. The ongoing uncertainty regarding the location of the school

069threatens to undermine the reputation and the future enrollment and the focus on athletics as a distraction. Focusing on athletics over academics only reinforces the poor public perception of Norpa public school systems. What are our priorities? When you look at greatschools.org, or which is the easiest way to obtain data about school rankings in Norfolk. The Gent School comes up as the number one school in all of Norfolk. Why can't Gent and Mory High School form a collaborative integrated relationship? All of the students at the Gent School have a pathway to go on to become Mory students. The schools should work together as partners and not competitors. There should not be an adversarial relationship between these two programs. By the time the new facilities are completed, the Mory students will have graduated and our students will become

070the Mory students. We are not at all opposed to the Mory project, but we want to be a partner in the plans for the ongoing plans for both our location and the current facilities. We want to be included in the conversation to ensure that the Gent community can also benefit the from the $220 million investment that is being made at our doorstep. All of Norfick benefits from the Gent K through8 program. And if you need to move us in the future, we'd like to have a task force built that allows the program to move forward with input from families and respect this high achieving program. Thank you, >> Delora. Hale. Heat. I'm Dora Hail. >> Hi. >> Good evening. >> I'm from St. Helina. I've came here to say why I wouldn't like St. Helina

071to close. I've been in St. Helina for 3 years and I'd like to continue learning there. The teachers there are great and they listen to the students. Please don't shut St. Helena down. Thank you. >> Thank you. Amelia Austin. >> Good evening everyone. My my name is Amelia and I attended St. Helena Elementary School. I am currently in the fourth grade. I believe my school should avoid demo because my school is a historical landmark in my community. I feel it is important to keep our school around for many more years to come. Thank you for listening. >> Thank you, >> Vincent Hodes. I'll do the same and stall for time. You'll give me just a second, please. >> Good evening, school board. My name is Vince Hodes. I live at 117 Popular Avenue. I'm a

072resident of Berkeley. I've been asked to come and speak by uh 15 plus residents representing kids uh from St. Helena Elementary and uh some from PB Young. I was at a meeting uh Monday night and spoke to both groups. I have a letter to read uh but I'm now having trouble finding it from the Southside Coalition Education Commission. If I can get a little time for a letter from Miss Sarah Peoples Perry, but I do want to get the asks out which are general. The community clearly wants to keep St. Helena open and you'll hear from more people from Berkeley. With these comments here, you've heard already that we clearly need more time for a bunch of different reasons. St. Helena is look and these residents that I spoke with Monday night are looking more

073for the five-year model that keeps St. Helena open that long at minimum. But there's love there and there's history with that building. Um I have uh spoken again with Miss Sarah Peoples Perry and have comments. Um letter to the Norfolk School Board and City Council regarding the future of St. Helena Elementary School, the ECC and STEM Academy at Campastella. This is dated September 16th. Dear members of of the Norfolk School Board and City Council, we the Southside Coalition Education Committee uh right to express our deep concerns regarding those proposed closings and repurposing of the St. Helena Elementary School located on the south side of Norfolk. Uh this issue has sparked passionate debate throughout our community and we firmly oppose the closure of St. Helena Elementary School. Uh I'll skip ahead and happy to submit a

074com copy. I have comments to give from the residents. ECC is a historic institution and old school that has received numerous awards and accreditations from across the nation has ed educated generations of Southside children, many of whom are now successful adults. In alignment with school board non-negotiable number five, the board must not fulfill its duties without engaging the community and representing the values of those it serves, especially our ESL families. I will forward Miss Sarah uh People's Perry letter to everybody in full. Uh let us stay focused on the mission of Norol Public Schools to be the cornerstone of a proudly diverse community by ensuring that all students maximize their academic potential, develop lifelong learning skills, and become successful contributors to a global society. I'd like to finish with the notes from um the residents.

075um concerns that concentrating students in Southside STEM Academy without historical consideration or cultural competency regarding regarding student populations could increase an already alarming uptick in violence in schools. Safety, vocabulary, and bullying which takes place are a large concern. Residents want segregation of children based on developmental stages. Teacher displacement is a concern. Residents not convinced that services moving with the student protects the learning environment of for students with unique learning needs. Residents agree that redistricting and positively deconentrating poverty effectively should have been taken into consideration. Historical context again, what happens to tax revenue once the school closes? What input will community have on what's replacing the closures? Uh students um have stated plainly to a board member and to Councilman JP Page that she did not want her schools to close at PB Young. discussion involving

076faith-based organizations to put greater scrutiny on things. Three more things, questions on the school closure process answered. Residents were encouraged to come into relation with St. Helena. And then last one, thank you. Residents were reminded that public hearings would be held for individual school closings. These are not my words. They're from residents. Thank you for letting me share. >> Thank you. And the next individual, um, please forgive me if I pronounce your name incorrectly, but you can correct me when you get to the podium. Dr. Doini Smith. >> No harm, no foul is Dr. Dashnne Smith, but it's unique like me. Um, hi, my name is Dr. Dashnney Smith. I am a parent of a student at St. Helena Elementary. my son Benjamin Smith who's going to be speaking after me. I am a Navy

077veteran, so I am an implant into the community, but I'm from the south side of a a projects in Dallas, Texas. So, I am in tune with what it means to be resilient. But I have also seen the impact when we do things without thinking them through, without looking at the children and the families that it impacts. I'm trying not to get emotional, but we have non-traditional families. We have elderly parents and grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. They don't have access. They don't know how to work their email. They can't see out when we send out a cute survey. There has been no real community engagement to get the information to these individuals about the changes that are coming to get from Compastella to get to Compestella Elementary from our neighborhood. That's a 36-inute

078walk. So when decisions are being made and you don't realize that majority of these children as young as prek and kindergarten are walking from their homes in the community to St. Helena Elementary and they will be crossing over railroad tracks, bridges and there are over 52 registered sex offenders in our neighborhood alone. Depending on the time that school starts and when they leave their homes to get there, there will be no adults. There will be you got a couple of crossing guards spread out. There's no busing plan. There's nothing that has been put forth to say how these kids are going to get from their neighborhoods to this school. This school is kind of already understaffed. It is already understaffed and overpop populated. And like I said, a lot of parents don't even understand what's

079going on. We started seeing surveys about closures and consolidations. We say cute words like repurposing. But how do you repurpose a child? How do you repurpose their purpose? How do you look at them and say, "I know I get you ready. I know I got you excited about prek and kindergarten and your first day and your next year and your next year." not say, "Oh, you're going to go somewhere totally new. You might not see your teacher in the hallway that you've bonded with. You know how to take your problems to?" We're going to combine young children, middle school children who have different emotional, intellectual life experiences, and we're going to put them all in one building with what structure to keep them safe. I don't personally want my 9-year-old hanging out with 12 and

08013 year olds. They're not on the safe wavelength. and no one has thought about these simple things. So, I'm asking to please rethink voting on anything until a full impact analysis has been done. What about IEPs, 504 plans? How do those things and those services transfer over to another school that's already probably heavily taxed? The administrators are already stressed out. They're wonderful people, but what do they have to work with? You can make a decision on paper all day long, but when do you put the people in it? Thank you, Benjamin Smith. >> God is my baby. Be nice to him now. >> He was one of my students. My name is Benjamin. I'm a student in St. Helina. I am currently in fourth grade. I don't want my shoe to be cut shut down

081cuz I got to go to walk to school. St. Helena is not that far from my house. I know everybody in there. I know everywhere to get in, everybody to get out. I know the I know the ways to walk home. know the bus stop cuz the bus come pick us up. There's a bus stop nearby. [Music] >> Thank you, Dr. Nathan Golden. Yes. Thank you very much for allowing me to speak. I'm Nathan Golden, a retired physician. Uh my kids all went to school in Norfolk. I'm here to speak on behalf of uh Third Act Virginia, Sierra Club, Environment Virginia, and the League of Conservation Voters in support of a resolution adopting solar uh energy panels to all of our schools here. Uh I don't need to be pedantically instructing everyone on how important

082it is. Multiple agencies have have uh uh clearly established a link uh to climate change to a lot of the problems, especially in this area. Uh but most importantly, I think it's to save money to the district. Um uh several schools in Virginia Beach and in uh Tidewater have adopted solar energy panels and are saving up to $200,000 a year. Most importantly, this is at no cost to the district. Besides the obvious advantages of teaching students the importance of environmental stewardship. Um, one of the other things that I think is really important about a mile and a half from here in Berkeley, the same company that put solar panels on the school at Norfolk Academy, one of the churches has solar panels. Not only are they uh completely free from the grid, but they are

083essentially the uh uh source of energy during an emergency for their entire neighborhood. So, um, resilience is an important factor. So, why now? Why do I feel like it's so important to talk to the board? Uh, I assume we've all heard about the, uh, inflation reduction act. If a project is started by July of 2026, the inflation reduction act will pay for 30% of it. Now, to be very clear, even without this money, over a course of seven to 10 years, this project will completely pay for itself. So, I think it's really important that the school board understand that it's vital that this project be agreed upon and started before uh July of 2026. Last but not least, um I have an invitation to the entire board there. We are sponsoring a uh a panel

084discussion and event at Norfolk Academy October 18th 10:30 in the morning where we will be able to go in much more detail the technology and the financial aspects of uh installing solar panels. Uh so I would implore the board to do the right thing as as fiduciary responsible board members to help save our district. Uh obviously uh we need uh to be good stewards of every dollar. Uh so I hope this is the least controversial thing you'll hear tonight. How we can not only do the right thing but also I think impact favorably on the on the school board's uh finances. Thank you very much >> Abby Fishell. Okay. Um, I am Abby Fishaw. I have three children in Norfick public schools. Um, I am a multi-generational Mory alumni and parent of future commodors. My

085mother played soccer for Mory. Uh she eventually went on to serve for the boosters and run the fruit sale. My brothers played for Mory um sports one was the captain of the baseball team. So my Mory wrote roots go pretty deep. Um however over the last seven years I have also been a part of the Gent school community. I have multiple children who attend and have many years left with children attending at the Gent School. Our school is an exceptional school full of dedicated students, teachers and parents. We have teachers whose tenure extends over 30 years. The open concept classroom experience of our school leads to collaborative education amongst students and teachers and children excel behaviorally, academically at our school. Unfortunately, our school has been the subject of a lot of contention over the last

086few months. Um, and a lot of that seems to come from a school that I feel should be our ally. Gent school has a long-standing Mory Pathways program which ensures our scholars can attend Mory High School. Our middle school students are allowed to participate in Blair athletics which are a direct feeder to Mory athletics. Um as a gent school parent we've I've experienced a lot of worry and uncertainty over what's to come and every time there's an update with any meeting my children are asking will we be torn down? Um, we've basically I feel like as a parent we've conceded that we will lose some of our green space and our playgrounds to my which is fine but it just feels like it's more and more my wants more and more from us. I feel

087like we should work together. I feel like we can utilize their facilities as well and everyone benefit from our school. Um, I do believe they deserve a new building and given the land restrictions within Norfolk, what the plan has been has provided them with at least the same number of athletic facilities. Um, I do not believe we should be putting athletics over education and it doesn't make sense to demolish a thriving school just for the benefit of more athletics. Thank you, >> William Styles. Good evening. Um, I'm William Styles. I was on the facilities committee. I also had two kids who've gone all the way through Norfol public schools from start to finish. Go Commodores. They both swam. So, I'll channel what Dr. Gabriel said. Um, let me talk a little bit about the strategic

088planning process. Um, I've also was on a number of other strategic planning processes over the last decade since my kids started school. Um, this process was um, not my favorite. It started late and the city council truncated it early. We had two meetings. Didn't get any public input during the course of these deliberations. Uh, had no socioeconomic statistate on any of the kids. So, we didn't know race, poverty, academic achievement. Um, we didn't know attendance zones. We had, you know, oversized maps where we picked schools and closed them. We had no idea what the transportation needs were. >> I could go on and on, but um it provided, I think, an update of what these buildings were like and laid on top of some of these earlier strategic plans. You can sort of get a

089glimpse of where we've got to go. And I'm sure as anybody who's been on this committee and Dr. Gabriel knows, it's a direction we've been headed in for a long time and haven't done anything. Um, as annoyed as I was with city council for um, imposing a a deadline on this, at least, you know, there's many times I sat in school cafeterias looking at spreadsheets on public uh, Norfick public school strategic plans and nothing came of it. So, at least something may come of this, but it's a major undertaking. Um, no other school system in the state, I think, has ever tried to close this many schools. Alexandria came close, closing and consolidating five schools a few years ago. Um, it's mandatory uh, statewide. I look at the Weldon Cooper figures on school age population

090in the state and there's only a couple three school systems in the state that are not going to see uh the same or fewer students by the end of the decade. So, it's not a Norfick problem no matter what the sniping and the comments and the online uh post say. It is a statewide problem and all the major systems are going to face it. So, I think it's a major challenge and I think Norfolk uh probably could lead the way and do it right, but um I think it's going to take a little more work. some of the issues have come up here today, but I think you know when I looked at this um you could see where the sort of early steps needed to be and I think meeting the council's mandate for

091action can be done in the 26 school year, but um trying to get some agreement with them of going forward a a mandated schedule maybe in this October 7th meeting uh you're going to have with them to move forward with this on a on an orderly basis. um you you can't close 30% of the elementary schools in this city without looking at attendance zones and I think you're going to have to do it but you got to close those schools. When I was in elementary school about the time I was in elementary school in Norfol you built most of those schools and they're as old and tired as I am. So um you need to take some action and but I think it needs to be taken in an orderly way. Thank you. >> Thank

092you. >> And the last name that I was able to see is Danches or Danches. Dan Keezy. >> Okay, you can say it for me. >> Oh, hi Sarah. Um, school board members, I'm a parent of a current current my student and a Blair student. My children have played multiple sports and I've witnessed firsthand the pride and benefits of being able to participate in a school sports team. It's not about academics and athletics separately. It's about them working together, not putting one in front of the other, but both. I've also experienced the ongoing challenges that Mory students face without access to an on-site field, placing stress on families and creating barriers for Mory athletes that their peers at other schools don't face. With the recent discussions surrounding school closure options, I'm especially concerned with the

093last minute addition of option five. I also want to say to all the Gent parents, this isn't a Gent versus Amorei. We're all one. We all want one Norvick. We want one school system. That's great. However, I feel that um the Gent School is an exceptional school and we want to see it thrive. But it is a lottery school affording it the ability to be located anywhere within our city and be accessible to anyone within our city. I urge you to relocate the Gent School so that Mory students can have a full campus and finally gain access to a home field. Something that three other Norfick high schools already have. You saw the video tonight. It was highlighted. These fields were highlighted in this very video to bring growth to our city and allowing our

094students to thrive and remain competitive. Is my not included in the plan to bring growth to our city? Providing equitable opportunities to all students across Norfolk must remain our top priority. Please make the decision that gives my students the same opportunities as their peers. Precious Hayes. Precious Haze. Going to check in hallway. Okay. >> Good evening. My name is Precious Hayes. Um, I'm going try to be respectful and stay on topic. I'm here for my son. His name is Jakai Brown. He attends Norview High School. A incident occurred on 609 days ago. I never received written documentation of the incident. According to Foyer, it's not on file. Um, I'm trying to stay calm because I'm very passionate about my son. Uh, I don't want to talk about the incident because I don't want to relive

095that. But an investigation was conducted without my consent or awareness. Uh, it was concluded. I requested the results and yesterday in a uh conversation with Dr. Griffin, she informed me that Mr. Dickinson said he doesn't discuss personnel issues and I as a parent 609 days is a long time u for you guys to be unresponsive and unsupportive. If you look at the matter that happened, I'm really being calm. Uh, I'm a retired chief and I know how to project my tone. I know how to adjust my bearings to get my point across. And I'm not trying to come with that kind of aggression, but that's my child. Uh, the policy that was being enforced that school year does not exist. uh a new policy is being implemented at Norview that does not exist. It's a

096pattern of behavior and I'm just trying to address it at the core. Uh I know about policy enforcement because that was my job in the Navy. I did my research. I'm tired of asking for help. I'm trying to lead my son the right way. I was not led the right way as a child. My parents were very aggressive when it came to me. So, I just hope and pray that we could come to some kind of common ground and resolve this and put preventive measures in force so it don't happen again because his safety and well-being are my priority. That's why I'm here. It's a new school year. 609 days is a long damn time. And with all due respect, I'm not trying to be disrespectful. I just need some help. I've been cleaning the

097school ground since January 24th, 2024. In the snow, in the rain, I'm outside. I need that same kind of energy. Thank you, [Applause] Carl P. Good evening, Charity Galler, Dr. Paul, members of the board. My name is Carl P. I don't have any children in a public schools, but I'm a former student. I didn't come here tonight to tell you what schools to close or which specific closure plan you should choose. Instead, I want to speak about the process and share with you a few points that I hope will guide you as you as you move forward. Now, let's be honest. You have not had the time necessary to do this. Well, city council levied a threat against you back in March, and the school division has been in a rush ever since to develop

098a closure plan. That threat to to play with NPS's budget allocation may not affect you directly as board members, but it very much affects teachers, families, and students. It was an effect a threat against entire school communities and against the continued academic growth and success of NPS students. Doing this well means several things. It means transparency. being honest about the real costs for school communities who are being displaced and opening up the conversation about what the next steps are in and redeveloping the land and property of schools that are being closed. It means equity, understanding exactly what burden students and what burden students and uh neighborhoods will face and ensuring those burdens don't fall hardest on the same communities that have historically been asked to sacrifice the most. But it also means authentic community engagement

099that takes as long as it takes. Not just h a handful of meetings with uh facility uh condition index charts, but neighborhood level listening sessions, comprehensive outreach to families, staff, and students, and a process where their voices are that where their voices genuinely shape outcomes. Norolk deserves a plan that is credible, fair, and trusted by school communities. If there is to be a closure plan at all that requires you resist the pressure to rush and instead commit to a way forward that people can believe in even if they disagree with specific decisions. The way you handle this will be remembered for years not only because your decision decisions you make but for whether or not the people of Norolk feel respected, heard, and represented in the process. I urge you to prioritize the quality of

100your work in this and not the quantity of time it takes. Thank you. Next, we have Kathy Broadnax and Kaani Broadax. And I just want to ask you a quick question. Did you want to speak or is the child going to speak too? Both. >> Okay. Awesome. You can lower the sh about her. >> I want to >> This is the young lady from Monday night when um Councilman JP Page, she touched his heart. She said, "Please don't close my school." I'm a little bit taller than she is. Good evening, everyone. My name is Kathy Broadax. I'm a I'm a first generation of St. Helena Elementary School. My daughter's the second generation and then my granddaughter's the third generation. Um, I grew up in Berkeley. So this is part this is my heart is a

101compassion. I'm also the family engagement specialist there and I've been at St. Helena for 25 years. 28 years in the system. I love what I do. I'm very compassionate with my families. I don't sugarcoat anything that goes on with my families. I'm real with them. My office door stays open for parents and the children with their concerns. I see the tears. I see the joy in their faces. But now it's getting ready to change. I love my co-workers, my my partners in education. We couldn't ask for better partners. From First Baptist to New Hope, they have bought washer and dryers. All I had to say if I I need coats for the children. How many do you need, Miss Broadex? And they bring me a check. I feed 60 to 70 families for Thanksgiving every

102year. Every child at St. Helina receive Christmas presents. I have angel trees from WHRO. I have angel trees from First Baptist South. Everyone wants to see St. Helena excel, their children to excel. I want to see them excel. You know, our fifth graders, if we they go across the water, they'll be there to ninth grade. They were they in the past they've been to Blair, but if they go to STEM, they'll be there into ninth grade. And we have an issue with that being being on the same side of the water for that long of time. They don't experience anything outside the neighborhood. So I plead with you, I beg you on behalf of St. Helena, the staff, and we are fully staffed. I want to say that. Please don't repurpose St. Helena. Thank you

103for your time. [Applause] Jakai Brown. >> You can raise that. Good evening. My name is Jakai Brown. I'm a current junior in Northview High School. Um, there was an incident that happened in my freshman year between me and a teacher. The altercation that led to that teacher putting his hands on me. um an investigation was conducted and we have yet to um learned about the results. Uh um I'm assuming a staff from the school board had an interview with me and he had told me that they were going to get back to us. He's going to let his bosses know, but we have yet to find out anything of this discussion. It's been very frustrating going to North View High School when I I feel the animosity from certain staff because me and my mother

104are pressing the issue to find the results of this investigation and it's been really hard to stay motivated. I really came here to ask what what what what way in which we would go about finding the results of this investigation because we have asked multiple people including Dr. Griffin and they have constantly said things but we are still here and we have no answers at all whatsoever. And I'm coming up here to ask what when when can we expect the results of this trial and if we need to go through any procedures to get this information, how would we go about doing that? That's all I have to say and thank you for your time. [Applause] >> Thank you Vicky Greco. Oh, >> good evening. Happy 21st day of school and happy Constitution Day. I'm

105Vicki Manuga Greco. I'm an NPS alum and Lake Taylor High School graduate, parent of three NPS graduates, former special educator, and surrogate parent volunteer for a student with disabilities. I've served on NPS stakeholder uh committees before um for previous administrations over the last dozen years or so, including strategic planning committees, the equity policy task force, special ed, and gifted ed advisory committees, as well as the facilities and educational planning advisory committee about as far back as two different consultant vendors um than the current one. So, as far as school closures and rebuilds, I've been here before and we've been here before as a school community. However, there certainly have been more lessons learned than in 2014 when I and others like Mr. Stalls and the now long-erving board member, Miss Bassine, volunteered many hours away

106from our families and work on the facilities and educational planning committee to come with a comprehensive recommendation about evidence-based strategies for educational programming that fits into facilities, school facilities. I'm grateful to the NPS governance team for taking the time needed to work through this essential process uh for right sizing our school to ensure ultimately the end goal student achievement for all our kids including our students with disabilities and learning differences. Um, we really need to ensure that these facilities that we determine will carry us to the next generations will house programs that focus on the five Cs of Virginia graduates, critical thinking, creative thinking, communication, collaboration, and civic engagement and service. So, I wish the school board well in productively working together because this self-imposed uh mandate by city council was more of a sound

107bite. 10 schools closed in 10 years. It wasn't evidencebased driven or so I hope that when you guys meet with them in a joint meeting in your upcoming joint meeting on October 7th, you really do have a meaningful exchange that's based on data that's based on real real um evidence about impact on neighborhoods, the the health of neighborhoods, the health of students, and the well-being of our city because the schools are truly our our community centers. So whatever feeder patterns you determine, I'm glad that y'all are going to in integrate that into a comprehensive plan. It can't be looked aside. We can't peacemeal strategy. It has to be good. Please, please look at the options, work together, and determine whether we need more time. I'm not talking about continuing to talk about my uh we've

108been talking about it for 10 years. We know some of the key points that need to happen. We don't know essentially if uh we need to close Gent to have uh stadium that we've done well without go Commodores. I'm a Titan, but they've won championships without a stadium. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Brian Win. Brian Win. >> Oh, okay. >> Yes. Um, thank you board for allowing me to speak. My name is Brian Wyn. Um, I am a parent of three U Mory High School students, two graduated and one current senior. And it was kind of funny. Uh, my wife was at some tonight and I picked her up to bring her here and somebody's like, "Why are you going to a school board meeting when your kids's getting ready to leave?" And it's

109because I care. Um, and I care a lot about Mory High School and what happens to it. Um, I'm a business uh owner. Uh, I live in Norol. Um, I'm on boosters with uh with Mory. I give a lot of my time and a lot of my resources to that school. Everything from fixing the parking lot lights that stayed unlit for months uh to washers and dryers that needed to be there to support our sports. So, I've heard a lot of comments about this should be about education, not sports. But unfortunately they go hand in hand. Um you don't have to search very far. Um the National Institute of Health talks about how having a good sports program and athletics only does better for the schools and for the students that are there. As a

110business person, I look at things as who's the enduser, who's the customer, and that's who I'm going to make a decision uh for. And our students are the customers. And I can tell you right now, our Mory High School customers, um, it's it's just kind of an abomination. And when I watched that video, I had something else that I was going to say, but then I watched that video highlighting these three other high schools with these awesome fields. And it almost acted like there wasn't even a Mory High School at all, but there is. And why don't you walk through some of those facilities, spend a day, spend two or three days at Mory and then spend it in those other two three facilities. They're night and day and what our kids have to deal

111with. And yes, we still produce results, but think about what can be done if we have the facilities that are there that are appropriate for our students. I can't even think in a business world where having 20 years of due diligence to make something happen would be appropriate. It is absolutely not appropriate and it would not fly in the business world at all. I ask you all to make this resolution five go away. It came up out of nowhere and um I know that the Gent School is a great school and it has a lot of good stuff going but it has also has the ability to be moved. Mory High School does not. So a couple facts. Mory will not have the same athletic fields as the four other high schools including Graanby. Um

112with Graanby Elementary School closing on the list, Graanby is in line to get their full athletic field. Um Booker T. Washington, Norview, Lake Taylor had upgrades to their facilities and also we saw a great video of some of that. For the past 114 years, Mory has had uh the athletic facility to house its own has not had the athletic facility to house its own field hockey, boys and girls soccer, football, boys and girls track. We need a parent and community support to be vocal via email correspondence to the school board here. and we need it more. Moy is athletic and coaches struggle with transportation, practice times, and sharing facilities. And Moy currently practices field hockey, boys and girls soccer at Powatan with no transportation to get to the field. And we as parents are the

113ones that are getting >> Mr. Wayne, your time is up. >> No, I thank you. >> Sasha Simmons. Thank you. >> Good evening everyone. I came here with a speech wrote, but I'm angry because y'all sitting here and play in our faces. Where is the input when y'all came to PB Young Elementary School and asked for a survey and we told y'all that we did not want our children in Ruffner when y'all tore down Tidewater with a park? And what did y'all do? Y'all still put our children in roughness when we told you not to. Let me tell you something. This city is very much so very racist. I hear so many people talk about how Donald Trump is a white supremist, but you sit here and you hold up these power structures that are

114racist. Schools should not be sitting here battling to stay open. And let's look at the real cause of why the schools are failing. Let's look at the root cause. Is it because we have no qualified teachers and a lot of long-term subs? Why not? Why are we not talking about the real reason why these schools are not performing? Why is it because you care more about the political? Is it because you care more about your title? Is it because you care more about your pockets? >> We should not be doing this. I should not be looking at the screen in 2025 on my phone and y'all talking about black students reading scores in 2025. This city is racist. And then you sit complicit and you uphold it, but you want to point fingers at everybody

115else. It's ridiculous. And I'm tired of y'all playing in my face like that. I'm tired. Do you understand me? I am tired. I had to get my children into three out of district schools because the schools are failing in my community which is all black all black community failing. When I went to Young Terrace that school was thriving and it was all black. I had qualified teachers who taught me how to read. I went to Jay Cox Elementary School during Black History Month. They had Drake on the wall. What about Sir Journal Truth? Why are we not learning about our historical heroes from Norolk? What is wrong with y'all? What is wrong? Stop playing in my face. >> Candace Gabriel, please. It's another Dr. Gabriel. >> Good evening. Um, dear members of the school board,

116I am addressing you this evening as a PA as a parent of past, current, and future Mory High School students and on behalf of Mory High School parents, PTA, Boosters Association, and the Larchmont Edgewater Civic League. If you're members of those, please stand. We are deeply concerned about the vote tonight regarding the relocation of Gent School and how this will impact Mari High School's potential for future athletic fields. Mari has operated, as you've heard this evening, for over 114 years without a full athletics complex for football, field hockey, soccer, track, and lacrosse. Without relocation of Gent School, Mari would remain the only high school in Norphick without its own regulation track, soccer, field hockey, or stadium. Booker T. Washington, Norview, Lake Taylor have all received significant upgrades with their renovations. And Graanby is on track

117for major improvements with the closure of Graanby Elementary. Mari athletes, as you know, have to rely on transportation to off-site facilities that are not within walking distance, ride with each other, get parents to take them, there's no bus, and a lease at ODU's Powatan field in order for them to practice. We urge the school board to vote for a plan that safely, appropriately, and responsibly relocates against school to ensure that Mari High School has the same caliber of athletic facilities as every other Norphick high school. Spending 220 million to rebuild Mari without appropriate upgraded athletic fields is very shortsighted and totally misses the mark. It's like making a really expensive recipe and leaving out one of the key ingredients. A 21st century Mari with an up-to-date building, first rate education plan, and appropriate athletic fields

118is attractive to existing as well as new businesses and families and benefits everyone. This is not Mari versus Gent or academics over athletics. We can have all of it if we creatively and collaboratively and considerately plan how to do this. And we urge you to vote carefully tonight in order to make this happen and make it a realization. Thank you for your consideration. And I believe the name is Jessica Berg. >> Hi everyone. Uh my name is Jessica Jessica Berg. My daughter is a student at Norview High School. Um I have a bit of a subject change for you guys. Just wanted to voice some concerns not regarding the the vote tonight. Uh, I'm asking that the council expedites and makes available policies being written in regard to the use of of ban booster funds

119or other booster accounts. Uh, Norview High School administration has limited the barging ban's use of established booster funds and during a meeting today with administration, I learned that policies are being created in regard regarding the use of the funds and while waiting for them booster funds are restricted causing delays in acquiring uniforms and other miscellaneous needs for the team. It's my understanding that this restriction applies only to the norview marching band boosters account and that all other clubs such as ROC and cheer and baseball are still available for use while waiting for policy. I wish that I could confirm this information, but unfortunately my scheduled follow-up meeting with admin uh and the rest of the band parents was unceremoniously canceled without notice. So, I'm unable to come to you with definitive answers, only what I

120hear from other concerned parents wondering when our children will have winter appropriate uniforms and how we will be providing meals uh during the long competition days ahead. I ask that council expedites, clarifies, and makes readily available to parent volunteers as soon as possible the policies. Uh the session or the season has already started for the children. I would also like to state that I appreciate the council's prompt response in regard to my email about equitable use of the new fields for all student activities. Uh the marching band's ban on the football field was chocked up to a simple miscommunication between staff members at all levels. And after seeing the way that admin handled cancelling concerned parents meetings today, I understand why that happened, but thank you for your help. That's all. Thank you, >> Chairwoman

121D. Caligger. We adjusted the number of speakers and it's 26 speakers that was here this evening. And this concludes our speakers. >> Thank you. >> Agenda item 4.07, approval of the consent agenda. Can I get a motion to adopt the consent agenda? Madam Chair, I make a motion that we accept the consent agenda as is. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Uh, Mr. Inch has put forward the mo motion and Dr. Martin has seconded it. Miss, is there any discussion necessary? >> Miss Tanner, please call the role. >> Bine, >> I. >> Buffalo, >> I. >> Hing, >> I. >> Martin, >> I. >> Pollson, >> I. Thomas >> uh Daliro >> I >> next we have agenda item 6.01 monthly financial report Mr. Anthony Starks Good evening, Madame Chair, superintendent, members of

122the board. State funds, we have received 31.4 million, which is about 12% of our annual state allocation. City funds we have received 27.5 million which is about 16% of the city appropriation. Federal funds to date we've recognized 1.4 million or 26% of our federal allocations. Other local funds we've recorded 182,000 which is about 5% of the budgeted amount. assigned fund balance. Prior year items including PR funding FY25 incumbrances total 24.1 million and these have been fully recognized. Bringing this together, total revenues recognized are 83 million or nearly 18% of the budget. On the spending side, total expended or encumbered is 58.8 million or 12.6 6%. That leaves us with revenues exceeding expenditures by about 24.1 million at this point in the fiscal year. Turning to the budget summary, the board's revised budget for fiscal year

12326 stands at 466 million. Through August, we have two 25.1 million in year-to-ate expenditures, 12.5 million for the month of August, and 46.3 million encumbered. This leaves about 395 million available or 85% of the budget still unspent which is consistent with seasonal patterns at this point in the fiscal year. Want to highlight some negative balances that are in the report. You'll see a few negative available balances. special education, purchase services, capital outlay, internal services, vocational education and training and travel, extracurricular materials and supplies, and nonLEA state programs. On yesterday, I reviewed these budgets again with my budget and accounting senior directors, and we confirmed that these negative balances are a result of the following: unposted transactions, requisition errors, and configuration errors in Munis, our accounting system, not as a result of overspending. More importantly, these

124corrections are being made and all programs remain within their approved budgets. The corrections are being made and you will see the corrective balances in next month's report. More importantly, no program reductions or financial shortfalls are implied by these negatives. This concludes the budget summary. Are there any questions? >> Thank you, >> Madam Chair. >> Sorry, Miss Biz. >> Um, Mr. Skirts, can you do you have um typically based on our revenue sharing formula, we would get an initial estimate by the city in September. Do we have that estimate yet? >> We don't have that estimate. Yes. Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Any other questions? Any other questions from the board? >> All right. Thank you. >> Can I get a motion to adopt the monthly financial report subject to audit? >> I

125move that we approve the monthly financial report subject to audit. >> Second. >> Miss Moore Buffalo has brought forth the motion and Dr. Martin has second it. Is there any discussion? Miss Tanner, please call the role. >> Bine. >> Buffalo. >> I inch. >> Hi. >> Martin. >> Hi. >> Bolson. >> Hi. >> Thomas. >> Hi. >> Caligerro. >> Hi. >> We move on to agenda item 6.02. School closure and consolidation plan. Um, say a few words. Tonight, we are here to make a consequential decision on the future of Norfolk Public Schools. Please know that the board is not taking this decision lightly. We understand the impact that these building closures and consolidations will have on the affected communities. We would also like to recognize and thank the educational planning and facilities committee for their

126hard work these last five months. Um without their without their dedication to this process, we would not be where we are today. What we have is a draft plan that was posted on board docs. It is not option five, but rather a revision that includes dates for clo more specific dates for closures. There are a few things that I would like to point out with this plan. As we are keeping James Monroe Elementary, our goal is to not turn Ruffner into a K8 school. The community has spoken and we've heard you loud and clear. With a consolidation of this size, we'll be able to offer additional student supports across the division where were needed to strengthen academics. I would also like to put forward a potential amendment to this plan to to include a moving

127of the Gent program by the fall of 2027 with the exact location to be determined by the administration no later than spring of 2026 after resoning process is completed. Please know that the relocation of Gent is to let the program expand and go and grow and not based on fields for my rather the academic needs of the program. So is there a motion to adopt the draft plan? All right. At this time, I would I would entertain a motion to table this vote until next month. >> Madame Chair, I would like to delay the vote until um for uh for a special call meeting that we can schedule as soon as possible. >> Okay. >> Is there a second? >> A second. >> I'd like to amend make an amendment to uh Dr. Martin's uh

128proposal and amend that we have the special call meeting on Monday the uh next Monday. >> I will call I will call the special hall meeting and I will check with everyone to make sure that they can be here. >> I'd like to make the amendment to the motion to have it at 6:00 on the 22nd. >> That amendment. It's a a vote on that because it is >> she has to she has to accept the amendment first. >> It has to be approved first before she can accept it. >> No. Oh, are you Sorry, I was looking at my phone. Um, >> Tuesday. >> That would be Monday, right? >> Madame Chair. >> Yes, ma'am. I will not be available on Monday, September 22nd. >> Wednesday. >> However, I do support delaying the vote.

129All right, let's take a step back. We do not have consensus on moving the on having the meeting on the 22nd. I'd like to propose my own amendment that the special call meeting take place on Wednesday the 24th. >> The 24th of what >> of September? >> You're going to be in Charlottesville. >> We leave that evening for Charlottesville. >> That is a problem unless we had it earlier in the day. Thursday, Wednesday, staying the night. >> I'd like to propose that we have the special call meeting at 3 p.m. on the 24th. >> 24th. Okay, >> that works for me. It does not work for the entire board. I if we're going to Charlottesville I that we can't I can't do that because there's a time to travel. >> Right. That's why I was

130trying to leave it up to >> Monday the 29th is what it looks like. >> All right. I propose Monday the 29th. I can do that. >> I can do that. >> Is there at 5:00 pm? >> 5:00 pm. >> I can madam. >> Yes, >> Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> Um, may I suggest that we also try to get Mr. STS to participate along with us so that we could hear some of the um perhaps some of the pro toes and cons of some of the things that we talk about. Um that might be >> we could ask maybe we could have him join us by video. >> All right. So is there anyone who can't do it? Is there anyone who cannot participate on the 29th >> At 5:00 pm on the >>

131for how long? 3 hours. >> As long as it takes. >> Probably not. >> As long as it takes, please. Yep. >> Oh, >> okay. >> All right. So, first we need to vote on a motion to table the vote. Well, >> yes. But do do you ex without Colonel Pollson's amendment or changing Colonel Pollson's amendment to Sat to Monday, September 29th? >> I withdraw the amendment to the motion. >> So, let's back to the original motion on the floor. Um, it it is to to delay the vote on the motion on on the draft consolidation plan um until September 29th or on a different plan that the board works through. >> Miss Tater, will you please call the role? >> The scene. >> I do it. Yeah, Thomas did. >> Miss Bine. >> Oh,

132take the role. She said I Okay. >> I >> Buffalo. >> I >> Martin. >> I >> Pollson. >> Nay. >> Thomas. >> I >> Dalero. >> I. If I may, I'd like to withdraw my option six. As I mentioned to you earlier, I forgot to do that one. So, that option is not on the uh table. It uh a little aggressive, I've been told, but uh it will take too much time and we don't have a lot of time and we need to concentrate on those items that are important when we have time to vote and discuss. So that's the reason I'm withdrawing. >> Thank you. >> And the reason I voted no, I should have explained that. Um I think it's too far in the future. I think we need to do something.

133all all of us said we have uh conflicts and I think as was mentioned once that we should be more available uh when we have these special calls and waiting to to the 29th I don't think is a wise choice. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next we have agenda item 6.03 03. The budget timeline presentation. So, Madame Chair, just uh briefly on the budget timeline. Uh this is we try to present to the board each year in September the general timeline of budget planning um uh through the year and and you see here we have a a couple public hearings this year. Um I know you guys have had a chance to review the timeline. So Mr. Starks is here if you have any questions about the timeline. >> The floor is open for discussion

134of the budget timeline. >> Mr. Starks, would you like to quickly go through it? >> Just a quick comment without going through each data point. will start officially on Monday. We have met with uh Dr. Paul several times to get the uh kickoff started. First Monday starts followed by October the 10th and then you can see the other timelines without mind going through each data points. Um one of the things that we made sure that is embedded in this plan is your strategic plan is is embedded throughout. Are there any questions on the strategic plan kick on the kickoff? >> Colonel, >> when if we as indivi members have input, when is the time frame that we should submit those requests or I'm sorry, not requests, but uh considerations. >> So, uh Colonel Pollson, anytime

135of course. However, this year I do plan on doing uh 2 by twos or one-on- ones with board members prior to bringing the budget to the board as well. >> Okay. Thank you. >> My pleasure. >> All right. No further questions. Thank you. >> Agenda item 7.01. This meeting is adjourned.