001Call this meeting to order. Please stand now for a brief moment of silence followed by the pledge of allegiance by board member Arnet McW. Thank you. I pledge 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. Agenda item 2.4 is the mission statement. Miss Nick, the mission of the Porsche public school division is to engage all students in learning that will foster academic excellence and responsible citizenship. Thank you so much. Sure. It 2.5 is attendance and madam clerk. Miss Atinson here. Mrs. Boone here. Dr. Cotton present. Mrs. Futrell here. Miss McWain here. Mrs. Cessums here. Miss Shoemake here. Dr. Walker here. Dr. Patillo here. Thank you so much. Agenda item 2.6 is approval
002of the agenda for May of 2025. I entertain a motion at this time for second. Motion made by Miss Futrell. Was it? Yes. Okay. And second by Miss Boon. There any discussion? Seeing none, roll call vote. Madam clerk. All righty. Miss Atinson. Yes. Mrs. Boone. Yes. Dr. Cotton, yes. Miss Futrell, yes. Miss McWain, yes. Mrs. Cessums, yes. Miss Shoemake, yes. Dr. Walker, yes. Dr. Patillo, yes. And it's unanimous. Thank you so much. Agenda item 3.1. I ask that our vice chair will move us into closed meeting at this time. Yes. I move that the board enter into a closed meeting under the provisions of section 2.2-3711 of the code of Virginia for the following purpose. Consideration of personnel matters including the assignment performance and resignation of specific school employees as permitted under subsection 8.1 and
003discussion concerning the performance of the superintendent and the school board as permitted in the subsection A.1. Second. Move for approval. We have a motion. A motion by the vice chair and a second by Miss Boom. Yeah. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, roll call vote. Madam clerk, Miss Atinson, yes. Mrs. Boom, yes. Dr. Cotton, yes. Mrs. Futrell, yes. Mrs. Mcwain, yes. Mrs. Cessims, yes. Miss Shoemake, yes. Dr. Walker, yes. Dr. Patillo, yes. And the v vote is unanimous. Thank you so much. We're going to enter the closed meeting at this time. want to proceed and close meeting. All right, we have a motion. We have a second. Second. Second by Miss Boon. Motion made by the vice chair and a second by Miss Boon. Any discussion? Roll call, madam clerk. All right. Miss Atinson, yes.
004Mrs. Boone, yes. Dr. Cotton, yes. Miss Futrell, yes. Miss Mcwain, yes. Mrs. Cessums, yes. Miss Shoemake, yes. Dr. Walker, yes. Dr. Patillo, yes. The vote is unanimous. All right. Thank you so much. We're now move to agenda item 4.1 is a roll call vote consideration of proposed changes to superintendent's contract. An entertain a motion at this time. Move for approval. Second motion made by Miss Shoe. Second one. Miss Boom. Yes. Is there any discussion? Seeing none. Roll call vote. Madam cler. Miss Atkins. Yes. Excuse me. Mrs. Boom. Yes. Dr. Cotton. Yes, Mrs. Futrell. Yes, Miss McWain. Yes, Mrs. Cessums. Yes, Miss Shoemake. Yes, Dr. Walker. Yes, Dr. Patillo. Yes, the vote is unanimous. Thank you so much. Uh, agenda item 4.2 is proposed 202526 budget update. And I just wanted to uh open this section
005up. Uh, we had our schoolboard liaison meeting uh this week. Uh, as you know, before we were facing a $6 million uh, shortfall that we were asking from the city. Uh, the governor's budget came in and he uh, withheld us a support cap which gave us an additional $3 million uh, to our budget which decreased our need from 6 million to 3.4 million. Um, during our meeting, uh, Dr. Bracie met with the city manager prior to the meeting. Uh, let him know that we had only a $3.4 $4 million shortfall. Uh the city manager stated that they could give us 1.5 million of the 3.4 which would leave us a 1 9 million shortfall uh that we're facing. Uh during the meeting uh it was a very pleasant meeting. Uh we both we agreed on
006some things that we actually worked together on to further the city and the school division. Um but the 1.5 numbers where they are as far as what they can do for us. uh per the city manager for this budget year which is short of 1.9 million. Uh I stated at that time that uh we will we're committed as a board to ensuring that our staff receive their proper step increases uh this year. So we're going to do whatever it takes to make that happen and we will have to find $1.9 million to cut from our current program to make that happen. So uh that's where we are right now with that and so Dr. was given a task uh by the board the last meeting to uh find proposed cuts that could possibly be made
007and he's here to present those uh test tonight as far as what those could possibly be and before he presents Dr. K. Um rewinding back was there a different amount they were speaking of giving at first the city council. So when we but the first uh shortfall was 6 million right and they were willing to give at that time they were trying to meet us halfway with 3 million for that. So they so was that changed because of the like I'm just trying to understand the movement of the goal post. That's that's what I'm trying to understand. Um did they give like some reason how it jumps from the magical number? We're trying to do three, but we're not going to do the full amount. Now that we've been uh given more funds by the
008state that is decreased, I would think that since it's decreased, that would say, "Okay, good. We don't have to do as much as we were asked to give, but we we will do what we said we would try to do." That's kind of a long ways off. But so it wasn't discussed during our liaison meeting as far as how he derived that the 1.5 that was actually uh told the superintendent before that meeting started. So, I'm not sure if he gave you a reason why or No, other than that, you know, they they're trying to find monies um for themselves and that really the only thing that he could find at that time was going to be 1.5 to add to what we already had as our deficit. And and you know I'm asking my
009question because I sat in and miss you stayed in that meeting and so that's that's why it just threw me like huh. All right. So right I mean and I not I want to speak plain but that's what it seems like now you have more. That's why I'm just wondering was that before after because that would have just put us right where we need to be. Yeah. And I guess going into it once we saw that the state well with the the support cap giving us an additional 3 million said well if we getting if we get the additional three because the meeting you were in the discussion was trying to at least meet halfway since halfway would have been 3 million. Right. So, with the 3 million that we received and the 6.7 that
010we needed to close that gap, we thought we would be whole, but we only um he was only able to give us 1.5. I guess maybe they went back looked at some other things in their budget. I don't know. But Well, I get it. But he came back and and just shared that we can do 1.5. So, we knew then that with the 1.5 and the and the 3.3 that we're getting from the from the state as a with the relief of the support cap, that's going to put us at 1.9 deficit. Thank you, uh, Dr. Patillo. Thank you, Dr. U, you all explained it the best that you could, but I left that meeting feeling with feeling that the three would okay, we'll do the three, but let us go back and make sure.
011That's how I left the meeting. So now that we've received that and I get I know everybody can count that it would say that that would put us right where we need to be. So I'm just curious to why. But hey, I I'm not on city council and I'm not in the meetings that some people are in. But that just kind of like wow. We we just we we're really trying to do this for staff. Um I keep hearing the word teachers. trying to do this with staff and um that just that just grieves me. I'm sorry to everybody, but it does. And and and and I will say uh that that meeting is just what the city manager stated that he could find to give us according to him at that time the final
012decision still made uh by city council on their final budget vote. So uh I just want to put that out there. So I say that to say it could change you know uh and it could make us hold with the entire 3 million but that's what I'm giving you an update from what we had at the last leaison meeting but we have to be proactive and how we're going to uh handle this and it's important for our staff to know that we're committed to what we promised. So uh and it's going to hurt to cut make any cuts but we are committed to ensuring that they are treated fairly and they receive their proper step. It's it's been almost eight years nine years. Nine years that's a long time to wait without receiving a step.
013So uh he's the superintendent going to present some possibilities to us and these are just options as a board. we discuss those and figure out what's the best route to take. Uh I'm sure none of them going to be pleasant, but you know, we we'll do what we need to do to make that happen. Miss Shoemake. Um thank you, chair. And this is not the um as they say, be a dead horse. I think what um Dr. Cotton is saying, where did the other 1.5 go? If we were good with the three before, why we're not good. Now, this has nothing to do with Dr. Bracie or the city manager because again, he reports to council. So, he has to do what he has to do um in order to do his job. Um but
014again, the 1.5 could have disappeared out of nowhere. We were okay with the three. Um why are we not okay with the three now? And I think that's what his question like, did we move the 1.5 somewhere else? And if if that's the case, then why if if we were at an agreement because the three before wasn't even enough and we agreed to the three. Now we went back down to 1.5. So I think what Dr. Khan is saying like what happened to the the three? We were going to be straight. We were going to be good. Everything was going to move forward um amicably like everything was set. But now that they found out additional information now they went to him and said probably cut it in half. And I'm this is just assumption
015at this point because again he has to report somebody. Um so I think that's his heartburn cuz that's the same as as my heartburn. We can't come to the table and say okay this is what I got and then when we come back to the table we ain't got it no more. So you know and and that's a heartburn for I I want to say majority of us because if we go down to 1.5 I pray that we don't go down again if we're not going to agree on something and stick to it. So I know Dr. Bracy has to do what he has to do. But I'm hoping with whomever's watching, um, you know, the three was fine. Um, it wasn't enough at first. Now it is. And so we can go back up
016to the three. We wouldn't have to cut or attempt to cut um important um things that we have to do associated with our children. And we we don't even have we shouldn't be even looking at this, but because we're not going to have the funds that we need. We're going to have to cut some things for our babies. And that's heartwrenching. And I'm not I'm not one for games. If you know me, you know I'm not. But we got to stop playing. Like right now, everybody's playing with numbers. You have it. You have it. and we're not asking you for some astronomical amount and and when they talk behind the scene and say we just want to work together, then let's do that. Let's actually do that. Um we're not trying to go against you.
017We don't want the over where you guys are going against us. We just want to work together to get to the goal that we all claim that we want together. So, I'm just saying that to say I get what Dr. time is saying because even if we we're saying this here like you just stated the ultimate decision is with council they can move it again. So then where we're going to be. So if we could just agree to what we initially had and understand that we do not want our babies to be out here without we already have issues with that. So if you claim that you're for education, if you claim that you want the best force with education and our students and our staff, then just do the right thing. Thank you, chair.
018My my last comment in regard to this, once again, thank you for explaining, but I I I see and I understand the city manager's uh duties were to look at the finances like what we call on Mr. Fton. So I don't blame anyone at this time. But I truly understand that that could change and as reiterated we should be reiterated just that it's it's it's that goalpost for me. But thank you for allowing me to share so much when I don't offer but but I just want to reiterate as well that you know uh I agree with with with all of you. I just want to make sure I I keep the uh the plan field fair. When the governor's uh budget was was released, it was the same day that we met. So, I
019can't say that he had an opportunity to share with city council what the new budget numbers were. I know he met with Dr. Bracie before our meeting. Uh so, I can't say that city council has heard what those numbers were at the time or made any decisions on it. the city manager took a look at what he had at the time with his CFO and that's what he gave us according to them at the last meeting uh for that. But as I stated before, city council, they like like just like us, they have the ultimate decision on what they do with the budget and how much we're funded. Um but we need to be proactive with what we're doing to to make sure my main focus is to make sure we have something in place
020so that our staff get what they what they deserve. That that's my main thing. Oh, I'm sorry, sir. me I'll add to that. Okay, let me So the answer to the question is yes, they were aware of um of the support cap because when we came into the meeting that was a discussion. So what does this mean now with where you all are with your with the budget? Okay. So and we had to approximate the amount which was um about 3.3 that was based off the last calculation two that we received. So on the governor's budget now with the with the that's based off the one that the general assembly put in place. But now that the governor has has didn't veto anything with education, we have to wait for a new calculation tool to
021come out to actually know how much will it be. Will it still be the 3.3 or could it be we're hoping it could be a little bit more? And I want to put that out there because I don't want people that's viewing to say, "Hey, you all said 3.3 and then once the calculation tool comes out, which we don't know, it's not hadn't been released yet and it ends up being 3.9 or 4.2 that I don't want don't want to think that we can't count. We're estimating that based off the last calculation we received in February. So if it ends up more, you'll know why because we just got this calculation, too. And then we know what the numbers are. So if that's moving, it's fluid. I want the public and everyone to know why.
022So we won't know until we get there to see what the numbers will mean to us. Hey, the more we get, the better off we'll be. And with this presentation that I share, we don't have to look at as many options for you all to consider. Thank you. And and so this presentation will be based off where we are right now as of today. And as of today, we're about 1 uh nine million dollars shortfall as of today. Miss one. Oh, pass. You good? Okay. Thank you. Anyone else before Dr. Borie gives his presentation? All right. So, Dr. Patillo, you you teed it off pretty well. So, so what I want to do is basically just looking at four different options and all of these can be intertwined. You know, we can pull from each
023and I think you all have the sheets. Yes, sir. So, you have the you have the the total list. So, we can put it together any kind of way when you're when you're looking at it, but this is just examples. So if you look at the first option here to get to the 1.9 that that that was stated. So you have Starbase that's 850,000 and mobile classrooms at Victory is 300,000. And I guess you said well what is that for? If you don't if Starbase is not there we don't need the mobile classrooms because the students can now use the the space that Starbase has and those mobiles can be uh moved away. Dual language immersion. So that's actually based on what we have in this current year's budget as well as proposed to expand
024for next year's budget for dual language emergence. So kindergarten now, first grade next year, but if we have to cut all of that will will come out. Uh then we have communities in school which we make um we we pay to be in into our schools. you know, of course they have grants, but we pay into it to expand the number of services that we see we receive throughout the division. So, in looking at these four options here, that brings us over a little over $2 million, which would satisfy um what we need. this option here really will not I guess you could say affect our uh main instructional focuses storebased is a supplement and then of course the mobile units we know dual language emer that's an initiative that we're that we have in
025place I think it's a great one but is it necessary it's not is it needed I I I would say so so what what would happen our current teachers teachers that we have now that are in the kindergarten DLI. They're certified kindergarten teachers. So, they'll just be placed in in in the regular classroom with kindergarten classroom and committees in school. Like I said, that's just what we pay into to expand our program, our program. Option two, you're looking at um really this is New Directions and Starbase. New Directions, as you can imagine, is a bigger operation. So that's 1.3. Of course, Star Bases to 850, which will get us to 2.2 million. I mean, I don't have to explain to you what new new directions is. That's all alternative placement. Go ahead. Sir, one question.
026If if that was the case, what what would what would be the al alternative for uh students for what would be we had anything alternative for me at all? Well, no. We wouldn't have anywhere where they could go to be in person. Correct. I guess options that we would we could look at is seeing if we could place some of them on some of our virtual um instructional pieces. Um also we could see what could be done at a separate location, you know, in in the school to get them out of the main get them out of the, you know, the the mainstream. So, not something that that we would want. Yeah. But that's the that's the only that would be the only option. Um I'mma back up to come right here with the star
027base no longer if you cut star base the 300,000 for the mobile classroom. Would that be added to this model? Number two model is number two option. Yeah, the mobile that would have to go anyway. So that would be 2.5, right? Okay. All right. Right. You're right. That they they travel together. Yeah. Okay. Yes. And and to piggyback on that, the mobile classrooms. I thought we actually purchased those. So is that for the the teachers that 300,000? Cuz I thought we purchased the mobile classroom. Lease. We leased it. Mhm. Oh, I thought we purchased it. No, lease. Mr. So, if we did option two, we're at a a larger risk of actually losing some students that we could actually save by them going to New Direction Center because when we're talking about possibility of virtual
028and all that stuff, we we possibly going to lose some kids. I can't, you know what I'm saying? I can't see them all being prone to virtual learning. Okay. Yes, ma'am. I just want to put that out in that. And then yeah then the other piece they're at home they're they're in the community you know will they be disciplined enough to log in right right you and to piggyback off that how many students are actually in new directions question about 110 110 average it fluctuates sure it's a big adjust option Right. So we got adult and and and also in in that building we also have adult ed uh in Clark and also uh we got transportation department is there uh sped is over there operations. Yeah. So oh it's not just building it's not
029just the the student you got several offices over there as well. And so it'll affect will it affect our staff or will we relocate them? How would Yes, the staff that would that's there would be placed into some of our vacant positions. Okay. And I believe uh Wow. Also for so for Starbase, how many how much how many personnel is that? It's uh eight. Eight. Eight. um and we need and one um administrative assistant and so I guess those positions would be rolled into the ESL exactly positions that we need. So we're mandated by the state to have more ESL positions. We don't have enough. So I guess we would just roll Yeah. any personnel to cover those uh slots. I guess how it work. The current teachers will be placed back into the in
030the classroom. So what that would do with those I guess you could say those slots we're required to have 10 additional uh ESL teachers. So pretty much what you're doing you're moving it moving it from starbased personnel into what the state's requiring that we need to do with the ESL teacher student ratio. So we're taking something that we're providing um as an option or a supplement to something that's required. I guess that's the best way to look at it. It's betrayal. But then also when we're looking at option one and two, we're looking at cutting some of the biggest programs that keep our children competitive compared to other cities. You sir, I'm sorry. Anybody? All right. So, here's option three, security and alternative education. So, what we also did, we we took a look at
031um what we had proposed for the upcoming budget, the taking the 13 part-time security officers to full-time. The amount that we budgeted for that was 439,000. So that's something that we could potentially pause on and just keep the part-time instead of making them full-time to give each elementary school two full-time security office SSOs. So that was an option. Then also we were we were adding three additional security officers to our middle school. They have two. We wanted each school to have three. But as a result of this, we said, "Well, let's just keep them at two and that'll that'll save us another 187,000." And then of course with the new directions again um at the bottom, which would bring us to 1.9. So many different ways we were looking at, you know, this year's proposed
032budget versus what we already have in our current budget to try to see which items we can move to get to that magic number. Yeah. So next, so then option four, not popular at all, but all of them are just options. Uh this is extracurricular and instructional programs. Starbase, the mobile classrooms, uh communities in school, middle school sports, um athletic and after after school activity security. Of course, everybody knows middle schoolers, we're not required to to have middle school athletics, but I think it's important. Very much. Absolutely. Yes. Yes. Have to have that. Yes. Dr. K, I'm sorry. Yeah. Um, I agree. Thank you, uh, Miss Between and, uh, thank you, um, Dr. Brace, excuse me. Um, but that sports component is important. Um, just a little history on that. When we had more high
033schools, only two high schools that had eighth grade that allowed students to play JB sports, they had to get a zone waiver if the team was full. And I did that knowing I wanted to go to Norcom, but I would test where score in. And it also gives them the opportunity, you're exports person yourself, um the opportunity to play on that that in that vein or that level, which potentially brings scholarships. So having that I feel is very essential. But I made a comment. Like I said, I I feel your pain. This is this is heart-wrenching. So that carries me back to before that uh we spent quite some time on you know and I just thought of something that whole I remember the term I can't I I don't have a short memory that
034whole term guard rail and you did say half so I think with the half thing I think that is the guard rail being set up which is a movie on the go but we got to do what we got to do but I did want to say with that and remind us that our junior high uh our middle school one of our middle school middle schools won uh championships. They won the championships. So, uh being so of a young program, they progressed early and that's rough taking that from the students who look forward to playing as well coming from the sixth grade to the seventh and Yeah. So, um Yeah, you're right. They want football and basketball. Yeah. Yeah. The girls. Yeah. So, we we're dealing with potential uh Finny Smiths. [Music] Okay, that's that's
035all I got. Y'all got it. All right. So, that those were just four scenarios that we put together. If you take a look at the the list, the items for consideration, you can plug them up, you know, any different way. You know, I could have done 10 15 more of these different scenarios, but this was just an example just so you could see exactly what we're looking at when we're trying to to put some pieces together. But of course ultimately whatever it is that's considered it would definitely have your approval uh with it for us to even consider this. You know I know um the city is going to vote on their budget on the 13th Tuesday. So that that's next um that's next Tuesday. I I have a question, Dr. Bryson. Um, that security
036piece is nagging at me. There was a reason why we wanted to move to fulltime for 13 and the three full-time middle school security officers. Um, so can you just elaborate on that a little bit because I want people to understand that's not a small feat right there to get rid of our security officers. We need coverage at all times and if we're missing any coverage at a school, we have a an issue, a serious issue. So, if you don't mind Sure. I mean, I will. Now, Dr. Simmons gave me this um this because you know security falls under him. So basically you know what what he was saying is that right now at the elementary schools we have one full-time SSO and that's the those are our officers you know no weapons and one
037part-time that's there for 4 hours. So what what happens during the course of the day if something is going on in one of the classrooms and that person needs to get down to the hallway to one of the classrooms to see what's going on if it's not within that 4hour period of that part time and then the main entrance is is not covered by anyone. So we were concerned about that. So we thought if we could have that person for a full day, we know that the front door will always be covered and then when someone goes to make their rounds because we encourage them to make rounds that you will have someone that will still be there to man the front door right there at the office. So but without that we we make
038ourselves vulnerable and will not be as secure as we would like. And that's something that, you know, they observe through their walkthroughs um with the sheriff's department. And when they make these recommendations to us, you know, we try to come back and try to put some of those pieces into place if we can and and the elementary school, they share the SRO, right with the middle school. Some schools share, some have their own permanent um SRO. And I just want to say that when you have a part-time security position, normally they're gone by time dismissal happens and if you know we've had weapons enter the school by adults and by parents is normally at pickup time. And so it makes me nervous not to have enough security in our elementary schools. And most of the
039things that are happening now in the country and in the state, they're not happening all the time at high schools. They're happening in elementary schools. And I just want to make sure we keep that in mind how important that is. U Miss Trail was next I believe. Well, first thank you Dr. Bracie for just digging deep and finding something um out of nothing. Really creating something out of nothing. I think it's a shame that we're sitting here having to discuss this. Um, as many of my colleagues have already said, um, it's it's really a disgrace that this city has the audacity to have a state of the city with marketing videos, blankets, drop the mic moments, and yet instill we put our schools at risk. It is a safety concern. Every single one of these
040options is a safety concern. and for anybody to run on um safety and and you know worry about the police and our communities being safe. Communities are not safe if we have children who are not educated properly and who don't have programs that are going to make them competitive in the world. And so I think that that's something um those who are watching need to really understand that. Um those who are making these decisions really need to lean in and understand that because you can't have a great city without great schools. And that's just period. It's no way possible. That's all I got for right now. Right. And Dr. Brace has provided a full list of uh the possible programmatic cuts also uh that you have. And I'm going to ask that we upload this
041uh presentation into board docs and that has also been presented uh sometime tonight, tomorrow uh so that uh board members can also pull it back up and that the public can see it if needed. Be able to discuss it. I like them to have access to that as well. Absolutely. All right. Uh you have any more any questions at all? I I just want to ask um Dr. Braayson, I hate to keep asking you, but um for those who are watching, do you mind just identifying some of the communities and schools that we're at risk of cutting so that people can understand what we're about to what our choices are that we're going to have to give up something. Um if you don't mind. Okay. Now, Dr. White will pull that, you know, he he
042would have that. But I think what it is, what we would end up having to do is of the sites that we have and the locations that they are, there may be one or two that we may have to to cut because of the additional funding that we provide for the for the staff. Okay. Now, Dr. What you have the you have the you have the exact locations the schools yes I'm pulling them off please it's yeah it's Douglas Park and this is off the top of my head uh Brighton norm at risk middle gradock elementary at risk and uh we were looking to move to into the church center it was total total something that we truly need. It's a needs budget. You know what I'm saying? It was a needs budget from the
043beginning, right? Just uh so you see for the other u uh possible recommendations with elementary, summer school, uh performing arts, field trips, uh port town magic, and also the mindfulness program is also this is possible uh mindfulness and mental health possible. This is great. So, I I'll ask uh that you all continue to uh look at that uh come up with your suggestions and ideas and uh possibilities and strategies for that and uh be prepared to uh discuss those at our next meeting or you could email your suggestions as well uh to Dr. Gracie as well and he'll let me know that you have any other questions or comments in reference to this. I um I think board member she may say that beat the dead horse but um the yeah the more I look
044at the list um and I just think about all of the things that we all um are so proactive with DLI you know what all these things that bring um so much to our city to make our students competitive to be able to compete um and the part that continues to ring in my head um as um because I work for um the government, one of the things that the people that enter have to do is take a literacy test and that test is based on a third grade English level. So when I think of that that people adults fail it and I think about being in this role and we are considering cutting vital pieces that help our students to thrive. I think it is as to even have to even look at this
045when we know all of the things that we're putting at risk. and some people on council um who say they are pro um education. I'm hopeful that when they have their meeting, they come back and realize the damage that this will do. Um the impact that this will have on our students is none of these scenarios and then we look at the list. None of this is going to be something that is going to be something that will continue to attract people here. Correct. Like that's also something else to consider. Families, this is a big military area. Families coming here, like these are things people consider to be because you want to put your children in a space that they can compete in a room with anybody. And if we take these things, we going
046we're going to lose more than what we've lost. This is it's heartbreaking to say the least. And I want us to continue to also I know I know this is not uh uh a desirable outcome, but I also want us to know that we're doing this because of our commitment. Again, I want to restate that. Absolutely. Our commitment to retain quality staff and also to recruit staff. And we can't go another we can't go another fiscal year not giving step increases to staff. We we can't survive another year not doing that. we're losing too many teachers and too much staff to other school divisions for some a few thousand dollars and we need to make sure people are being treated fairly on the appropriate step. So we don't want to do anything like this but
047uh we're committed to doing that. So, and as I stated in our leazison meeting that, you know, it it wasn't a haggle session. It wasn't uh bunch of negotiations, you know, it wasn't going back and forth. We actually uh we worked on some some some ideas that we're going to work on together, you know, to to move the city forward in the school division as well. But this was their number. And if that's what they said they can give us, then we're going to do what we have to do on our end to make sure we get our staff what they need. So, that's why we're in this place. And I know it's not a good place, but you know, we have to do what we need to do to make sure we make that
048happen. So, and again, this can always change. Um, that's right. We can get additional we can get additional funds from the governor governor's budget. The calculation tool changes, not that much, but it'll give us a little more. And again, city council has the ultimate decision, and if they can find funds from somewhere else to make it happen, that could possibly happen, too. So, uh, I'm keeping that open mind as well. uh uh when it comes to that. So uh but to m this over, put some things together in your mind and be prepared to share out at our next meeting. Vice Chair. Thank you, Chair. Uh Dr. Bracie, I just want to highlight uh one possible cut athletic after school activity transportation. Does that include that's middle and high school, correct? Yes. And that is
049all sports, correct? Yes. Okay. Um, I just wanted to highlight that to the public that's watching. Um, think of the possible impact. Um, whether your students play sports, the bake team, um, the clubs, not having transportation. Um, I think in our city, um, and I had this conversation with the city manager, I don't think he feel like transportation is a barrier in our city. Um, however, it is. Um I can I can say over 50% of our families do not have uh transportation. Um they're not able to transport their children to and from after school practice. And um with without that transportation a lot of these students would not be participating in any athletic opportunities. Um so I mean to piggyback on that you you cut transportation you literally street turn cutting water cutting water
050off. Um, now these these kids are look looked at as the savior for their households with so much money they're making um once they go to college participating in sports. So you're literally cutting off that that financial freedom of a family by cutting off transportation. So I just want to go on record and say transportation is a huge barrier in our city. Thank you. Um to uh vice chair's point, I think I think um not trying to rationalize, but I think sometime people lose sight of when they did have to when they did have grade school children. Um so that's something I never want to forget being a grade school child, having some who were and having one that is that they can't drive and some of the parents don't have the means to drive.
051And then also the work schedule. Some of you have tried to come from some meeting or something you had going on another city and trying to get through the tunnel to to get to your child. Literally today I had a last minute call from my wife to go get my son at 4:30. That's why I walked in at 5:15. That's correct. So So we we have to keep that in mind uh beyond the staff. But work works great or works for the parents as well. Yeah. um as a school district or division, whatever you want to call it, we're still serving the community that lives here. I I wanted to I wanted to reiterate what vice chair said. I'm done. I'm frustrated. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. Thank Thank you again, Dr. Thank you, Dr.
052Bracy, and also Mr. staff and of course your your team executive team as well for putting uh some of these items before us and we'll take these into consideration. Um moving on to agenda item uh 4.3 is the employee transaction report. I enterain a motion at this time for approval. Motion made by vice chair, second by Miss Petrell. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, roll call vote. Madam clerk, Miss Atkinson. Yes, Mrs. Boone. Yes, Dr. Cotton. Yes, Mrs. Futrell. Yes, Mrs. Mcwain. Yes, Mrs. Cessum. Yes, Miss Shoemake. Yes, Dr. Walker. Yes, Dr. Patillo. Yes. The vote is unanimous. Thank you so much. Agenda item 4.4, consideration of utilization of tips contract. Uh, I entertain a motion at this time. Move for approval. Oh, second. I'm sorry. Motion made by your act and second by Miss
053Shoe. Is there any discussion? This just um this is to basically extend it for that another year. Yeah, this is the uh uh the contract to extend for our bus camera system. Okay, understood. Sure. So, um, if we're renewing the contract, I just I just have a question because I know initially we had several defective uh cam cameras and maybe Dr. Brady, I see Dr. Sennis, but I'll yield to you. Um, how are they going to, if we're renewing this, deal with defective cameras? That's that's not working. Cameras that's lagging cameras that's not even operating on on the buses. You address that, please. So, Mr. King is currently working with us the company in terms of on a daily basis to get all of those things correct in terms of so this is going to
054be an upgrade to the existing system his team is working through that even as we speak right now is actually coming out bus by bus to make sure that all of those issues get I guess can we can we have something I don't know at the school board retreat because it has been an ongoing issue and and I personally thought it was fixed and you know and it's still some cameras that are not working. So So for the public that's watching, can you explain like the camera process whether it's real time delayed time how it just operates if an incident was to happen on the bus? So in real time once the bus start the camera starts to record. So the camera records from the time the driver starts the bus runs his route in
055terms of the camera should be recorded. So any incidents that occur on the bus, there are several cameras positioned on the bus to where if there's an incident that occurs, the staff and even the principal if they ask for that video, we can go back and pull that video. in terms of which helps us in situations where we have situations where we need to view uh camera footage. You are correct in some cases the there are some malfunctions that we need to work through but but for the most part that's how the system operates in real time. Okay. And and just for the record is in color. Um pe people have asked is the camera in color? It is in color. Correct. And let me and um as far as I I'll yield I I
056was asked um was it was the cameras in color and um the malfunction was not due to cyber security or hacking on tips part was it? No a cyber security issue. Okay. All right. Thank you. And and um and Dr. racing his cheeks. We will we'll uh have them present uh that the retreat. I made a note. You got You got it. Okay. Thank you so much. Thank you. Uh J Oh, we need a vote. Vote. I'm sorry, madam cler. Miss Atinson, yes. Mrs. Boon, yes. Dr. Cotton, yes. Miss Futrell, yes. Mrs. Futrell, excuse me. Mrs. Mcwain, yes. U Mrs. Cessums. Yes. Miss you. Mate, yes. Dr. Walker, yes. Dr. Cillo, sorry. Thank you so much. Agenda item 4.5. Uh, consideration of utilization of Equila's contract. This is for carpet cleaning services. Um, I entertain
057a motion at this time. Move for approval. Second. Uh motion made by vice chair. Yes. Second by believe you make and I I just want to say for discussion this uh is actually their carpet cleaning devices not actual people going in to do the service. So I did ask about that to make sure we were considering local vendors as well for actual service projects. So this actually for uh actually machinery. All right. Uh any more discussion? Madam clerk. All right. Miss Atinson, yes. Mrs. Boone, yes. Dr. Cotton, yes. Mrs. Futrell, yes. Miss McWain, yes. Mrs. Cessums, yes. Miss Shoemake, yes. Dr. Walker, yes. Dr. Patillo, yes. And the vote is unanimous. Thank you. Item 4.6, consideration utilization of the vast cup contract. This is similar to what we did at uh Church Elementary earlier this
058year where they had to go in and uh do some deep cleaning and uh restoration services there. We have a couple more schools that would need the same thing to clean out uh air vents and things of that sort. So uh that's the purpose of that contract and I entertain a motion at this time. Move for approval. Second. Motion made by Miss Futrell. Second by Miss Boon. Is there any discussion vice chair? And and just this is for like mold or same type of thing. Okay. Gotcha. Have seen sir pro. Okay. Thank you. Any other discussion? Roll call matter. All righty. Miss Atkins. Yes. Mrs. Boom. Yes. Dr. Cotton. Yes. Mrs. Futrell. Yes. Miss McWain. Yes. Mrs. Cessums. Yes. Miss Shoemake. Yes. Dr. Walker. Yes. Dr. Patillo. Yes. The vote is unanimous. Thank you so
059much. Agenda item 4.7 consideration utilization of the allied states region 19 contract. This is for uh data immigration. So pretty much all of our u assessment scores and things that so will be combined into one database that is functional with uh power school as well. So that's the purpose of this contract. Move for approve. Second chair. Motion vice chair. Second. I miss trail. Is there any discussion? She got somewhere to go. Roll call. Madam clerk. Miss Atinson. Yes. Mrs. Boone. Yes. Dr. Cotton. Yes. Mrs. Futrell, yes. Miss McWain, yes. Mrs. Cessums, yes. Miss Shoemake, Dr. Walker, yes. Dr. Patillo, yes. And the vote is unanimous. Thank you. Then item 4.8 is agenda review for May 22nd. Of course, uh you can review that if you have any addition to that. Uh please send the email
060or give a call. Agenda item 4.9 is subcommittee reports. Do we have any reports at this time? Yes sir. I did have one actually that I think um is worthy to speak on here as well as when we go to the dis because it is just big news and I honestly if it's okay with Dr. Gracie would like for Miss Jackson to speak about um we had a HR committee meeting um and there are so many great things that that she is um doing right now. her and her team um because of course it's no I in team but um she and her team is doing a a whole lot of great amazing things in our city um with our schools um with recruiting staff but the biggest thing that I would love for you
061to just speak boldly I mean stand up and drop the mic cuz this is definitely worthy of that but the numbers the vacancies that we had when you came in and where we are right now it's just absolutely so creating this robust recruitment Um in January we had 160 openings. Today we have 89 and that is a direct result of uh social media marketing um utilizing those platforms doing on-site job fairs. We actually have uh onsite Thursday so candidates can just come to this building and just come and apply. Yeah. And that is again access to job opportunities that might be of interest to them. But we're gonna continue on this track because it never stops. Yeah. So, we're gonna continue to recruit. Again, big business. Thank Dr. Jackson for that. Her team, but also
062u team is the right word. Absolutely. She mentioned uh social media platforms, communication as Lawrence Department, uh you know, uh technology plays a role in that. Uh Dr. White, not Dr. Dere, they make sure they have staff that there to cover those on-site job, you know. So, it's it's really a team effort. Dr. Simmons, they set up those job fairs at schools and locations. Uh it's just um that's why I love Portsouth. We're a community. We shine, you know, and and like Lawrence uh team promotes, we shine brighter when we're together, right? So, um just just thank you for the hard work you're doing. And uh that's why y'all y'all get paid the big bucks for for doing this good stuff, you know. So, no. Um but thank you for that. Sure. vice chair. And
063to piggyback on what chair said, Miss Jackson, he said we are a community and also HR is out in the community at games, uh, events. Um, I was I was shocked. I went to event. I was like, oh, HR here, too. Okay. You know, got some nice merch. But like you said, we are community and you all are out in the community as well recruiting. So, great job on that as well. Excellent. Thank you. Any other reports or comments? Um, Miss Sessions and I had the um curriculum instruction meeting with Dr. Dere and her team just to highlight some of the ones. Elementary um they're having a great summer LEAP program which is um for students that go to summer school. So then after summer school they're able to um have a place to go
064from 1 to 4. Um and then that's 250 slots that are available for the summer school. So that's um awesome. for secondary. Of course, we had CTE dining day and um a few of us went that um helped to celebrate those students. That was an excellent one. And then also um special ed had their own drive-thru today for their teachers and I went out there and I supported that and I gave extra books to those um teachers um that were there. She had a very good turnout. Miss Battle Hardy and then also the office of school and teacher quality. They have a partnership with NSU and the teacher residency and um they select um six candidates to be interviewed and then we get to keep three of those candidates in that teacher residency program. So
065you have anything to add to what I have. All right, Miss Wayne. Okay. Um, I went to a few events, but let me say, um, one that really knocked me off my feet because I not only was I military, I played the saxophone. So, I went to see, um, the church and high school band ensemble um, this week with Mr. Nash. And when I, you know, I sat there, I was like, Lord, I'm going have to sit through this, you know. But those kids were excellent. I'm just telling you how I felt. I was like, at first I was like, "No, I don't know." I thought I was listening to professionals. Okay. I only noted one mistake and that's because someone came in too soon. But other than that, it was perfection. And so, um,
066and that's what we need to, you know, make sure we support, not just our sports, but also, you know, the arts and all that. And so, um, I was sitting there. Now, another thing we went to, I was at the track meet, me and the vice chair, but um can we make sure they understand those the little cards that we have situation from the uh Virginia High School League because I'm like I don't want to keep having to explain why I don't have to pay to get in these events. I'm going to be everywhere. Same thing that happened at Q happened to her at church. I would just like you all of the public to know this has been an issue. I don't care whether they're familiar with me or not, they need to understand
067that those cards allows us to get in. And if you try to go to Ches, they going to ignore you. Everybody, but I'm talking about Porsches. We was in Portsouth. So if nobody but No, I don't care if you know my face. If I have that card and my ID, right, let's let's do, you know, do something. Let it direct. I promise they we'll get that straight. Thank you, Dr. Bruce. I appreciate it. Take a picture of all the appropriate cards. They have it. They have it. But but that one isn't up there. It's on the one that matter. I'm sorry. The VS Yeah, that one is. It's like the VHSL, whatever that one is up there, but not the one that we'll make sure cuz I'mma be there with my church clothes on. I'm
068telling you right now. Yeah, we'll get closed. All right, that's all. Thank you, Mr. Ch. I'll wait. You have something? Oh, just real quick. Um, I just want to say thank you to um every staff member and all of your hard work. Yeah. Um, it does not go unnoticed. Um, and and real quick for me, although I'm not big on politics, I'm very non nonsense. I look at myself as a public servant. The more that I I stay on school board and and the longer I stay as an elected official, I understand how some of those who came before us um end up um responding in a certain way. When I first got elected, I used to, and I'm going just be honest with you, when I first got elected, I used to look at
069uh Dr. Whitaker and be like, "Oh my gosh, he is so angry." And although I didn't agree to everything that he he used to say and advocate for, I understand. The longer you stay in politics, you understand that there's a lot of BS. Um there's a lot of fluff that's unnecessary instead of just doing what needs to be done. I hope everyone who's watching understands that what's being provided to you and what's going to happen from our elected officials is is what is not what's being said. What you see is what you're going to get. Please don't allow people to tell you one thing and show you another. And I'm saying this because it is an election year just like next year is an election year. You have a lot of good people who are
070elected and you have a lot who um portray to be good. Please make sure that you do your due diligence and know who's that advocating for education. Then you should be able to see that. You should be able to see that in their voting. You should be able to see that in their participation. You should be able to see that in their passion. I never want to come across as somebody that's like angry, although I really don't care how people feel about me. Um, and for this particular board, because I believe in our chair, I will always do what's best to make sure that he has some consistency and some peace within his own board. However, when it comes to people providing misinformation outside of this board, that makes me angry. I don't play games.
071I don't say one thing and do another. Some people do, and that's your business. But at the end of the day, we were elected to do the job that we're supposed to do. And that's just not one community. That's not one demographic. That is everybody. And so for everybody who's out there watching, please make sure that you pay attention to not just us, to not just council, but everybody who's elected and make sure that what you see is actually what's happening when they're speaking. Okay. Thank you all. Thank you. Uh I will just add a few uh I got to come behind all that but I uh no I uh I do want to ask a couple a couple of points from my operations uh meeting and I also see you all this reporting but
072some important things you all probably have been uh asking about um in our liaison meeting we also talked about uh CIP projects and the lag in them and the delay and most of our CIP projects. Uh it was a great discussion. Uh our council leaison were were in an agreement that uh something needs to change as far as how these CIP projects are um are prioritized and how they actually worked on. So a meeting was set up uh with Dr. Bracie u and the city manager and all those uh Dr. Simmons, other uh engineering officials. Uh so for the pay center which we've been we broke ground almost a year ago. Uh for the pay center um I believe all the hurdles have now been uh removed. Okay. Uh and corrected and so sometime next
073week they should be signing the official uh contract with the developer and he will start work right after that. So uh within the next two to three weeks we should see work happening um at the pay center for that. Um, after the contract is signed, that's when they have their pre-construction meeting with Dr. Simmons and his staff and the construction crew and engineering, and we should see a lot of things starting to progress uh with the PAC at that time. So, um I'm not going to give a timeline when it's going to be finished, but they're going to start working uh pretty soon. and we just see some things happening uh when it comes to the pay center uh with ICO norm and the football field track uh athletic fields upgrades. Uh those will be
074starting soon. Uh there was a concern about uh the football season not having home games because of the renovations being done, but they're going to start working on that this summer and they're going to work around the football season um in other parts of the field. And then when football season's over, they'll flip and jump on that and let everyone else play their sports in the other uh parts of the field. So, am I correct with that? Okay. So, uh uh that's going to begin this summer as well. So, that'll start happening. Um as far as that's concerned, uh Dr. Simmons and his crew, they finished our uh our food summer food service bus, the grilled cheese. So, uh it's completely finished now. And so uh uh I have an idea something we can plan
075and do to to jump on the bus and uh and not just see it but also utilize it. So I'll be uh giving Dr. Simmons to work on a date for that and so we can see when we all can actually uh hop up there and tour the the grilled cheese bus uh for that. Um lighting projects at Churchill High School uh is underway for that. Also planning uh the summer paint schedule we have one every year. The three schools this year are going to be Brighton, uh, Water View, and Norm for the inside paint jobs this year. Uh, all always dependent upon funds, but that's what we're looking at uh, so far for the paint schedule uh, for that. Outside of that, uh, new lighting at Churchland is happening outside uh, near the fields
076and upgrades to the robotics classroom at Churchland have begun as well. So, uh, most of us have been in that, uh, that area. Pretty wide open space, but definitely needed some upgrades. So, that so that's being say it lightly. Uh, that's, uh, being done now as well. Um, uh, and I believe that was all we had. I'll send the rest of it to you, uh, through that. also with uh Dean's Department for Technology. Uh we received a $752,000 grant uh this year that's going to help us uh improve our our uh Wi-Fi infrastructure for the entire school division and uh also help increase our security to defend us against those threats that uh vice chair mentioned earlier uh and keep us safe from uh cyber threats as well. So I'm thankful for Dean for staying
077on top of that. Uh we we we haven't been been pray to that as of yet. So, uh, that's because I think him and his team, they're diligent and make sure that we stay secure as possible. So, that's that that's that part of the school division you don't see, right? Know that's happening behind the scenes that are working very hard and I'm thankful for them uh for all they do as well on a daily basis. Um, and I believe that was all I had went over our finance information. We've been talking about that all night. Um, Dr. Walker, did you have something that you wanted to add? You don't? Okay, good. Uh, vice chair. Um, chair, I just since you mentioned the uh grilled cheese bus, I just I know the um I think his
078name was Jim or John that's over uh food services. Is it Jim James? You talking about to Is it Torres? What's his name? Jimmy John. Okay, this man so many names. Mr. Rick and Jimmy Johnson. Mr. Rick. Okay. Okay, gotcha. I know he was uh supposed to come back and redo his presentation to bring to the board the cost of if we were to contract food service. So, Miss Cheeks, can we also put that uh on our retreat agenda and as as a main item, we want to finally go and get that uh that presented in full good and and basically with that let's bring forth um Dr. Simmons will tell you crew the the cost uh what options will possibly be uh maybe the difference and uh the options between what we have now
079what they could possibly bring and also the comparison and cost as well and so we can make an informed decision. That's pretty much what you're looking for. Right. Right. And and possibly like if if not all do like a pilot school test as well and Mr. Rick what's what's his first name? It's not James. It's James. Okay. Okay. Oh, okay. Okay. Okay. You said Jim. I said Jim. James. Luke. Matthew. Go ahead. We'll do the James. I was going to give you a scription next. All right. My lord. You have anything else? Uh, for the good of the Lord. All right. All hearts and minds are clear. Thank y'all for coming this evening. You have a great call to foundation. We about to meet.