001Good evening. Welcome to our September 8th, 2025 regular business meeting. Um earlier this evening, we met in close session. And so, um we welcome you here tonight for the open session. And we'll begin right now with a moment of silence if you'd like to join us. Thank you. At this time, we will stand for the pledge of allegiance. The next thing we have this evening is a presentation um by Lauren Brunk from Woodman Life who will pres um be presenting to make a special presentation and donation of an American flag to the Rockingham County Public Schools for display at central office building and we invite you to come to the front here by Mr. Shifflet and courtesy of Cayla Bailey our school security officer who keeps a good eye on all the flags around the
002county um with Woodman Life in Dayton. I have with me my manager this evening. We just wanted to give you a little presentation, tell you a little bit about what we do and specifically the ways that we are able to help the community and kids and everyone that lives here. So, >> is that my cue? >> That's your queue. >> Good evening. My name is Steve Bishop and I'm honored to be here. Thank you so much for your time. We We were told we had 45 minutes. Is that not quite but 40? Um, no. We want to respect your time certainly. Um, have have you heard of Woodman of the World? Woodman Life. Very good. That that saves a lot of time right there. You >> Oh, super. Yeah, we'll just wave when you go
003behind us. Um, we've been around since 1890 and we are a notfor-profit fraternal uh benefit society. So, what that means is we're memberbased. I mean, excuse me, we're community based, but we're memberowned. And one of the ways that we try to stay relevant in the community is to partner with other organizations. We like to partner with school systems, uh, you know, first responders, you know, other civic organizations, things like that. And that's part of the the flag program that we have, uh, which also includes flag polls. If you have a need, uh, for a new flag pole, which some aha, >> Mr. Sh. >> Yeah. Um, so you know, patriotism is a big part of of who we are, what we do, but we also, one of our mottos is you never stood so tall
004as when you stoop to help a child. And so they have a special place in our hearts. And um, that's why we would like to partner more with the schools. And there are a number of things that we do. you know, there are programs that are already outlined, uh, but, uh, we're not afraid to be creative. If there's another need, how can we stay relative if we don't understand what the need is, right? And so, uh, we rely upon you all and others in our community to to help us with that because what we feel is relevant may not be. Um, so I'm going to let Kirby tell you a few things um that we already have in place. >> And I did bring a few pieces of literature just so that you can look
005over and keep for yourselves as well. Um, our fraternal pieces are very near and dear to my heart. My father was a first responder. Mr. Shifflet knows I can't say no to any board, can I, sir? I'm on the technology board. I'm on the PTO board. All the things. But South River last year, I was very excited to be able to take our portable planetarium to South River and every student in the school got to go to this planetarium, have about a 30-minute presentation, got to learn on their level. The teachers are able to pick what's current to them and on that school grade. Um, so that's something that I want you guys to know. Any school can participate, just let us know. Um, right now starting next Monday, the America is contest. There's a
006quick video contest. You can win up to $2,500 for your school. Um, there's not a whole lot of participants. So, the chances of winning are actually quite high. We had two winners last year, I believe, for Virginia. So, brought you a couple um pieces of information on that. And then we also have this flyer here that tells you a little bit more about what we do as far as we have a giant 30 by 60 flag. It's called celebrating red, white, and blue. You can have for any of your sports events, things like that to really show the patriotism within the community. We do um teacher appreciation days. We have I've personally given out safe bus driver awards and um partnered with some of our SRO to give them a community partnership award as well.
007So, there's lots of things that we can do. We really try to keep the community close. Um I grew up here. Um, it's been in my blood. My dad's a first responder, mom's first responder. So, >> we want to make sure that you guys have all the resources necessary to reach out so that we can help. I know next month we're going to be partnering with the Rockingham Academy to do a nice little presentation for them to help out with their food pantry. So, just many different things that we can do to help you guys and to stay relevant in the community. Our local chapter has um each quarter uh they plan an event and one may be a hunger event, one may be tied to the to the schools and when you look at
008this year you'll see uh the a school supplies drive. Um that that's one of our we we call that common bond. So that that's one of them that we do for the quarter. Uh the teacher appreciation events uh can be fun. you know, we can come and and set up our uh grills and and grill out some hamburgers and hot dogs on on like on a teacher work day or something, you know, so you can swing by and say hi and we can say thank you because that that's what it's about. It's just a big thank you uh for what you do uh and that sort of thing. Um the uh American History Awards u that's a tradition that we've done. Um, and I'm I'm not sure what grade level you concentrate on American history
009right now, but um we would be honored to to be given uh some names of uh recipients that you think would be uh deserving of of that type of award. And and we're happy to talk with you uh oneonone uh in more detail. And I know time is short this evening uh so we're trying to give you a highlight reel here, but I I didn't want to uh to miss anything. Um, you know, this the Star Lab is a big attraction as as she was pointing out. Um, the uh I want to talk about that celebrating red, white, blue, the 30 by 60 uh American flag. Uh it's been a hit all across the state as far as you know halftimes and football games and uh we were at Salem Red Sox in in Salem,
010Virginia this past weekend with it. It was a a first responder night and we've done military nights and things like that, too. So, um, let your imagination run wild. >> So, um, any questions for us? >> Please be in touch >> and maybe a flag pole. >> Yeah. How does that flag pole thing work? Can we do it retroactively? Like if we put up the flag pole already? Is there >> you I'm sorry. I'm not sure. I'm follow You want to You want us to to help pay for the flag pole that's already been installed >> that we just installed like a month ago. >> We don't do anything retroactive, do we? >> No, we don't. I'm so sorry. >> Darn it. Should have had this two months ago. >> We should have had this
011conversation sooner. I'm sorry. >> But we know for future use. Absolutely. Absolutely. And we also, it's not only the American flag, but we if you need a Virginia state flag, we have those as well. >> Yes, we do. And then specialty sizes, if you need it, you know, we we keep most of the the most commonly used sizes in on hand at the chapter, but if you need something that's a different size. So, yeah. >> So, the 30 by 60 one, do you have that in house or is that kind of floats around? >> 60. We don't let go of those too often. Yeah. >> Well, no, but like if we wanted it for a football game, how what's our lead time on that? Um the lead time >> I think about a week. Okay,
012cool. Yeah, it's not >> Well, if you're trying to schedule it though, let us know because we we only have two of those >> and we we're using them throughout throughout the state. So, the sooner the better on that. >> Can Can I taking a lot of notes here. Yeah, we we would be happy to have >> and let Dr. know how to get in touch with him. So, you guys need Thank you so much and thank you for all that you do. Means a lot. >> Have a great evening. Thank you so much. Okay. Um, the next thing on our list tonight are public comments, which we do not have any, and so we'll close those. We have a consent agenda tonight. For those of you that are not familiar with the consent agenda,
013these are um items that we would ordinarily make uh four motions for. And if we anticipate that there will be um unanimous approval of these, we stick it on the consent agenda and make one motion to approve it all in one go. And um board members do have the option to um request an item to be pulled off of the consent agenda um for any reason. And um so at this time we're ready to have a motion to approve the consent agenda if someone wants to offer one. >> I move to approve the consent agenda as presented. Thank you, Miss Burggoyne. Do we have a second? >> Second. Thank you, Miss Lure. Any questions or comments? Hearing none. All those in favor of approving the consent agenda, please signify by saying yes. Yes. All those
014opposed say no. Motion passes 5. We have several action items tonight, so we're just going to jump right in. Um, I believe me get my notes here. Mr. Steve Reid is coming up to present on declaration of surplus property. >> Chair Horse, Dr. Sheffley, members of the board. It's that wonderful time of year again. Rockingham County surplus items. Uh we've uh you have an attached list of surplus furniture and equipment uh that we would like to offer for sale on online auctions beginning on Thursday, September 18th, closing that first auction closing on Sunday, September 21, and every week thereafter until all items are offered for sale. I recommend the school board of county declare these items as surplus and then offer them for public auction. Chair Hurst and board members, I recommend the school board
015declare the list of items as surplus property for the online public auction as presented by Steve Reid, director of maintenance. >> Thank you, Mr. Reid and Dr. Shifflet. Board members, do we have a motion to follow? >> Thank you, Mr. Cross. Do we have a second? >> Second. Thank you, Miss Lure. Any questions or comments? >> That's pretty cool stuff on there. always high quality, top-notch >> record players. >> Yeah. >> And only one bus. >> Yeah. The the buses this year, uh, they they've kept a lot of them in service. >> And is that a good thing? >> Chris says, "Yes, >> it's because of our top-notch maintenance department and >> bus garage." Yes. That's keeping those running for us. So, we appreciate that. So, thank you for that. But you only have one
016opportunity to buy a bus this year. I guess you better get in. Bid bid soon and bid often, right? On all of these wonderful treasures. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> I'm sorry, I lost my place. We have a motion. We have a second. And now we're ready for a vote. All those in favor of declaring the list of items as surplus property for online public auction, then please say yes. >> Yes. All those opposed say no. Motion passes 5-0. Thank you, Mr. Reed. >> Dr. Shifflet, you've got the next several, so I won't introduce you every time. We'll just let you roll. >> First one is capital improvement plan representative and chair um Chair Hurst and board members. I recommend approving Justin Moyers, our chief operations and finance officer as the capital improvement plan
017representative for Rockingham County Public Schools. >> Thank you, Dr. Shifflet. Board members, do we have a motion? >> Thank you, Mr. Cross. Second. Thank you, Miss Burggoyne. Any questions or comments? Just to be clear, this is the county's committee on capital improvement plan. >> That is correct. >> And so Justin will be our representative to the county. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Anything further? All those in favor to approve Justin Moyers as our capital improvement plan representative, please say yes. >> Yes. All those opposed say no. Motion passes. 5-0. >> Chair Hursten, board members, >> excuse me, I'm sorry. Chair Hen, board members, I recommend approval of the revised 2025 schoolboard meeting schedule as presented. Uh you'll notice we changed the meeting location for our second meeting in October. uh this space is
018used uh for um early voting and so it's a little bit problematic to you know move things and relocate so it's just better for us to go to another location on that day. >> Thank you Dr. Shifflet. Board members do we have a motion to approve the revision? Thank you, Mr. Cross. Do we have a second? >> Second. Thank you, Miss Burggoyne. Any questions or comments? >> Hearing none. All those in favor say yes. >> Yes. All those opposed say no. >> Motion passes. 5-0. Chair Hurst and board members, upon review by the content review committee in accordance with RCPS policy IABB, I recommend retaining rage by Jackie Morris Kesler as the book does not contain sexually explicit content as that term is defined in RCPS policy IABA. >> Thank you, Dr. Shifflet. Board members,
019do we have a motion to follow? >> So moved. >> Do we have a second? hearing none. This motion fails. >> I move to remove the book Rage by Jackie Morris Kesler as this book does contain sexual content as defined in RCPS policy IABA. >> Thank you, Miss Cave. Mr. Cross has got the second. Any questions or comments from board members? I would just add um for the public that sexual content can be found in several different instances on page 39, 40, and 75. >> Anything further? All those in favor of removing rage, please signify by saying yes. >> Yes. >> All those opposed? >> No. >> Motion passes 41. Chair Hurst and board members, upon review by the content review committee in accordance with RCPS policy IABB, I recommend retaining out of darkness uh
020by Ashley Perez as a book is deemed a literacy classic. Literary classic because it's transcendent literary value as defined in schoolboard policy I AB. >> Thank you Dr. Shifflet. Ward members, do we have a motion? I move to remove the book Out of Darkness by Ashley Perez as this book does contain sexual content as defined in RCPS policy I I ABA. >> Thank you Miss Cave. Thank you Mr. Cross for the second. Any questions or comments? I would just add for the public that sexual content can be found all throughout this book. Starting on page 32 and continuing into page 33, 6768, 146 to 147, 152, 159, 171, 196, 210, 220 through 221, 233, and 380. Anything further? All those in favor to remove, is that what the motion is to remove? Out of darkness,
021please signify by saying yes. >> Yes. >> All those opposed? >> No. >> Motion passes 41. Chair Hurst and board members upon review by the content review committee in accordance with RCBS policy IABB. I recommend retaining Go Ask Alice by anonymous as the book is deemed a lit literary classic because of its transcendent literary value as defined in schoolboard policy IAB. >> Thank you, Dr. Shiplet. Board members, do we have a motion? I move to remove the book Go Ask Alice by Anonymous because it does contain sexually explicit content as defined in RCPS policy IBA. >> Thank you, Miss Cave. And for the second, Mr. Cross, any questions or comments? I would just add for public knowledge that sexual content can be found in this book on pages 782 41 60 61 636 67 108
022to 109 111 to 113 126 to 127 131 to 132 179 to 180 and 196 to 197. Anything else? Okay. All those in favor to remove Go Ask Alice, please say yes. Yes. >> All those opposed? >> No. >> Motion passes 41. >> All right. Chair Hen, board members, upon review by the content review committee in accordance with RCPS policy IABB. I recommend retaining The Bluest Eye by Tony Morrison as the book is deemed a literary classic because of its transcendent literary value as defined in schoolboard policy IAB. Thank you, Dr. Shifflet. Do we hear a motion? >> I move to remove the book The Bluest Eye by Tony Morrison as this book does contain sexual content as defined in RCPS policy IABA. >> Thank you, Miss Cave and Mr. Cross again with the second.
023Any questions or comments? Uh for public knowledge, sexual content can be found in this book on page 942, 50, 52- 57, 71, 84 to 85, 87, 99, 129 to 131, 138, 139, 147 to 149, 161 to 163, 166, 178 to 179, and 181. Anything further? All those in favor of removing the book removing the book the blest eye, please say yes. Yes. All those opposed? >> No. >> Motion passes 41. >> Chair Hurst and board members upon review by the content review committee in accordance with RCPS policy IB. I recommend retaining Beloved by Tony Morrison. As the book is deemed a literary classic because of its transcendent literary value as defined in schoolboard policy IAB. >> Thank you, Dr. Shifflet. Do we have a motion? So moved. Thank you, Miss Lord. Do we have a
024second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Miss Burggoyne. All those in favor or I'm sorry, any discussion. All those in favor of retaining Beloved, please say yes. Yes. >> All those opposed say no. Motion passes 5-0. Chair Hen, board members, upon review of the content review committee in accordance with RCPS policy IABB, I recommend retaining slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vongut Van Go. As the book is deemed a literary classic because of its transcendent lary value as defined in the schoolboard policy IAB. >> Thank you, Dr. Shifflet. Do we have a motion to follow? I move to retain the book Slaughterhouse 5 as this book does not contain sexual content as defined in RCPS policy IABA. >> Thank you, Miss Cave. Second to Miss Burcoin. Any questions or comments? >> All those in favor of retaining slaughterhouse
0255, please say yes. Yes. All those opposed say no. Motion passes 5-0. That brings us to the end of our action items for tonight. We have just a couple of information items, all three of which are coming to us or brought to us by Dr. Shifflet. >> First up is an enrollment update. Chair Hurst and board members, I just wanted to take a moment to um provide an update on our current enrollment as of today, September the 8th, 2025. Um total enrollment 11,671 students. uh in Rockingham County public schools that's prek uh 12 plus we have our grad program numbers in there this includes some day placement students um and just comparison so in June when the school year concluded we had um we're we're we've increased enrollment by 46 46 students and then compared
026to last year at this time we're about 17 uh more students than we previously had. So, just kind of give you a glimpse of where we are. And as earlier tonight, you approved Justin to serve on the Rockham County uh government's um capital improvement plan. So, it's going to be part of our work, our role in that is to be looking at our current enrollment numbers. Um where do we have capacity? Uh where we may have to maybe either look about doing additions like we're doing at Pleasant Valley Elementary School. Currently, that project is underway. Um, and and do we need to to to reshuffle students? Uh, what comes next in our five-year plan for Rockingham County Public Schools and part of the bigger plan. So, hopefully at our next meeting in September, I'll be
027having uh some proposals I'll bring before you to begin having conversations around. Okay. Any questions about that? What's the change in enrollment from last year to this year? >> So last school year at this time were 17 more I believe and then at the from June we were uh 46 >> 46 more. >> Okay. >> And if you notice in the enrollment um the K5 numbers were down a little bit. So, uh, we'll have to see how that changes. September 30th will probably give us a better idea of where we are in terms of enrollment. >> Okay. Is there a date that is like our official date for ADMs and that kind of thing? What is that date? >> Okay. So, March 15th is our the one that they base all the numbers on. >>
028Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay. The next agenda item I believe is we brought back before you for information um policy administering medicines to students and I know there were some questions uh that we had and this is for information only not action. Uh we did reach out to uh legal counsel and he provided some of um advice for us and things to consider. Um we're not obligated to um enact the policy, but understanding if we do not then students would be without that medication. So, I think um I know I've been a recipient on some um email communications from parents and folks who are advocating for it, but I also understand there may be some concerns. So, uh I just wanted to really bring it back before you tonight. So, there's an opportunity for
029some dialogue and you know, if there's more questions, if you want me to get more information for you before uh we make a final decision, I would like to bring it back at the next meeting for action if we could. Board members, do you have any changes that you'd like to see or are we um feeling like we're ready to move this to action as is? >> I I mean, I had a lot of questions about it last time, but I do think it's ready um to move based on the information from legal counsel. Um my concern was with the um and we've talked extensively um or I've talked to you all extensively about this but um the line that says to self-administer but I do see you know from legal counsel has said that
030any school employee um can assist as long as they've received training um and it's administered within accordance with the written order or protocol used by the prescriber and authorized by a parent. So, do we have that training? You know, how many kids are utilizing this? Um what does that training look like? Is that something a classroom teacher can say, "Yeah, I I will administer this." Um how do we go about that if needed? Who's the expert here? >> I'll follow. >> Okay. Well, we'll develop a plan and determine who would be the best staff members to uh receive the training and what that training would would look like and how we approach it. >> And maybe their classroom teacher says, "Sure, this kid's with me most of the day." You know, I think about in
031a small school like my kids at Lynville, it's pretty easy to find the nurse and have them run to the classroom, but in a larger school may not be so easy. They may be taking care of another student. Then um if I'm not saying our teachers have to, but if they want to and are willing to be trained, I would love for that. So um I think that covers what my concerns were. Anyone else? >> Um any idea what kind of number we're looking at? Would this affecting the students like how many students we have that would be carrying? >> Mr. Cross, that's a great question. I do not know the answer to that. We could probably maybe try to explore with our nurse facilitator to get a sense. I think we received about a
032half a dozen emails from parents who indicated it would impact their child, but I but I don't know what the actual number would be. >> Okay. >> It's a good question. We can find out. >> Did you have a question? >> I was just going to make sure that we're putting we're not we're not saying pull this up for vote tonight, >> but I I would like at least one more meeting to be able to to look at some things and review and make a few more contacts before voting on it, but I don't see any problem with voting on it at the next meeting. >> Okay, Miss Cape, anything from you? >> Okay. Okay, we'll um have that ready for action on the September 22nd meeting. >> And the last thing I think I
033have for you is for information is a regular meeting schedule for 2026. And you can see the the two meetings in October will be at school. Uh I believe the county office is closed for Columbus Day. So we would not have access and then obviously not wanting to be involved with the early election. So we would put those off and I think we're not we only have one meeting in August. So we're trying to stay away from the Rockingham County Fair. Any other nuances to this calendar? Okay. >> So, this is this is information. We're not not voting. So, if you have >> concerns or questions or suggestions for tweaks, let Caitlyn and I know and we can see what changes may need to be made. Kaitlyn, did you have an opportunity to to look
034and see if any of these fall on uh like days off from school or anything like that? >> I usually do that. >> And typically our um like teacher work days or they're usually Friday on this upcoming calendar, aren't they? So, okay. I'll I'll just make sure I review that before. Thank you. Thanks for all your work on it. It's not an easy calendar to make. >> Yeah. >> Uh the only thing I would ask for the board to maybe consider is we've got two Junes, two Julies, and one August. Just one May, but that June meeting like um our clerk just explained kind of that June 1st is kind of following the Memorial Day weekend. Um, so I guess my question is, do we feel like we need to have all of these summer
035meetings? Do we want to pull one of the July meetings off and only come back in if we get called in for personnel? >> Miss Laura doesn't love this idea >> because we always try to take time take meetings off in the summer and then we wind up calling a special meeting. >> So just don't don't >> just don't even plan on it. That's what I was going to say. I felt like we needed an extra meeting this summer for personnel and I don't know what month that was because it was we had a lot of meetings this summer. Um, in the past there's there's usually been some kind of workshop work session thing in July. So, I mean like you maybe want to consider instead of July 20, please know, but July 27th could
036be a work session, full day board retreat meeting instead of a but that's more meeting just so you know, but it's often done. My my only concern with scaling back summer meetings is we we need to meet for personnel so we can get that approved and keep folks moving forward. That's you know now that doesn't have to be you know full-fledged you know meeting. We could have just a personnel call we and we and you guys have been great with meeting those accommodations when we've needed it. But uh that's something that we have to take care of in the summer and then occasionally we have some student matters we have to revisit in the summer as well. So, um, we just, >> okay, >> that sometimes takes up some pieces, but I understand trying to
037protect summer vacation. >> I understand. >> To be clear, my feelings are not hurt by I just ask a question. And, uh, if I'm wrong, that's okay, too. >> All valid points. Anything else on the calendar? Okay, we're moving right along tonight. This brings us to superintendent updates and comments. >> Uh yes, thank you, Chair Hurst. I would say it has been a great start to the school year. I have visited all but six schools and I'm hoping to make those visits uh this week. And also, as I mentioned at our previous meeting, I'm looking forward to our community conversations on Wednesday morning at 9:00 at Freedom Farms. Um we're going to meet with business uh partners and community le leaders and you know part of that meeting is to reassure uh our community that
038we are committed to MTC and also to give our stakeholders an opportunity uh to to share their ideas about what future programming should look like at MTC. So um that's all. >> Thank you Dr. Shifflets. That brings us to our final area of business uh which is school board highlights, questions, and comments. And Mr. Cross, we'll start with you tonight. >> Thank you. Um, board members, I have brought this up um a while back and I'd like to bring it back up again, but I I feel like it we need to go back and look at our supple supplementary um um materials policy that we have that we made up in early 2024. And there are a couple things we needed to look at on there. And I talked about possibly trying to meet over
039the summertime when we got busy doing that, but I think we need to look at that soon sooner than later. But there are quite a bit of sequels of the books that we've removed over the last year uh as a board that are still on the library shelves. And so, you know, in our policy, it doesn't mention what happens to those sequels or those books. And so I think that I've had parents reach out to me that have talked to me and brought that fact up that that the sequels of these books, I've spoken with librarians that talked about it as well, that they're just as bad as the books in which we've removed uh that are still on the library shelves. And so I think there are quite a few um policy changes to
040the policy itself that we may want to look at and adopt. I know that other school divisions when they adopted uh their uh book policy that they they had revisions to it over the next couple of years until they kind of got it where they thought they needed it at. So, I know that, you know, looking at the sequels of the books is one thing. Um, one of the biggest things I've heard of is is being able to uh for a parent to anonymously challenge a book. Um, that's been an issue. There's quite a few parents I've spoken with that are that are afraid to challenge a book because they're afraid they're going to be um cancelled by cancel culture uh by running foyas and their names being out there on social media. And I'd
041like to find a way for parents to be able to challenge a book without feeling uh like they're going to be thrown out there and be shamed over challenging a book that they feel that might be inappropriate. So I think that's another thing that we need to look at possibly adding to our policy. And then also age appropriateness uh in our policy as well is is um there's one of the books I can I can think of that we took out that we put back in to an elementary school that really talked about um sexual content in there that um wasn't relevant for elementary age K through five. And so um maybe on a middle school level that book was probably appropriate but not on the elementary level. But then also there are books in
042our middle school that um that maybe not appropriate for middle school but maybe high school. So I think that there's a couple things we need to look at and to add to our policy. Look at our policy and see what needs to be added to um to make it better than what it is. So that's all I have for tonight. >> Miss Burggoyne, >> I don't have anything, but I do have a question on that. Um what Mr. Cross brought up. So if a parent contacted one of us and said, "Hey, I I think that this sequel or whatever, you know, maybe would fall under the same um you know, sexually explicit content um and for a book that was already removed, would we then we would have to recommend that they follow the procedure
043for removal? Right. Right. >> Yes. So for books that are deemed has having sexually explicit content, it would be removed. Excuse me. And the content review committee would review that book. Any other objectionable material would then go it would start at the school level and be reviewed there at the school level. And then if they can't, you know, reach a a solution, then it would move and progress. um up sort of a chain to have a a district-wide level, you know, meeting. >> So, there's basically we've had this conversation. It's like there's kind of like two different pots or two different ways to think about challenging materials. One is sexually explicit. Another is is everything else. And maybe what Mr. Ross is alluding to maybe we should just everything should just be just funneled in
044one direction and not have kind of two different you know means of addressing you know content in books >> and it's not good enough to just say hey Mr. across. I found this book. Would you guys take a look at it? It would have to go through the full process. Um, okay. >> Right. And that's one of the things I found out from parents is there's quite a few books that they would like to see challenged, but they're afraid to challenge the book >> and comfortable talking to you about it. >> Right. And I but I get that though because of the backlash you get out on social media that when people run foyas and your names out there that they just at that point they're like, you know, I just want to get my
045kid through and I don't even want to worry about it. So, um I think it's something that we need to look at and at least find a way for them to challenge it without being blasted all over social media. Okay, Miss Cave, you're next. Um, isn't there, just to ask questions as well, isn't there a part in this policy, and I was actually trying to look up all the specifics in those policies today, incidentally, and um, board docs was down, so we couldn't get in there. Um, but isn't there a part in the policy that talks about if a librarian or a teacher, I guess this really would apply to librarians, that if they know that there's a book in their library that contains sexual content, which they probably would by now because some of
046them that we removed have the sequels that you all are talking about. Um, so they have to know, but there was a process for librarians that if they knew it was in there, but they wanted to challenge it to stay that they could. >> It would have to go back through the committee. Correct. >> Right. It would come from say the librarian or you know the teacher or whatever. I pulled it up. >> I'm sorry. >> I pulled up the policy. It's the deselection. Well, I don't know that. Well, this is what the policy says. Deselection of sexually explicit content if teachers or librarians are aware of any supplementary material regardless of format that is currently in their library inventory or school inventory um and that contains sexually explicit content. The teacher or librarian will
047submit the supplementary material to the content review committee consistent with schoolboard policy IABB and follow the procedures listed in that policy. >> Have we had anyone do that? Any librarians or teachers, Dr. Shifflet, do that? >> No. And that was that was a conversation I had with a librarian um while we were making this policy that she told me that after the policy came about, we started some of these books started going out that it was going to be a task for her and she was willing to do it and and it was okay because she agreed with with our standard when it come to it. But she said, "Hey, a lot of these books that you've already pulled out, they have sequels to it that are just as bad as what the books y'all
048are reading right now." So, um I just think that process needs like to be gone over and done. >> Can I Am I good to move with mine now? Are we good there? Y'all don't have anything more I don't have any more to say about books. Okay. Um Dr. for shiplet. I had several things I just questions and comments that I had tonight, but um I changed my mind on the way here. So perhaps we can get together um in the upcoming week and talk. But um I actually thought I was going to come here today and talk about the Washington Commander win yesterday. And um I thought about I thought about Dr. Alifer and how we used to he would come in and um we would banter back and forth about what they did
049wrong, what they did right and um last season was a good season but lots of seasons they were losing. And anyways, I was thinking about him yesterday as they were winning and I remember that we weren't going to be able to come in today and talk about those things. So I I missed it and so I just um shout out to Dr. Oliver. I hope you got to watch the game yesterday enjoying your retirement. Um, but I thought I was going to talk about that a little bit today and I had some some offshoots from those thoughts, but um, I'm driving here today and I changed my mind about what I was going to talk about. Um, sorry. Um, yesterday we learned I'm really sorry. I'll get through it. Um, we learned of just great
050tragedy in our Elton community. Um, great loss in our baseball family. I would ask that you guys um would keep the Locer family in your prayers. But um I was hearing of this loss and later in the evening um I learned about a um prayer and remembrance gathering that they were going to do this evening. And my first thought as a board member was I'm not going to be able to go to that because I need to be here at the board meeting. Um, we had a closed matter started at five o'clock today and then our regular open meeting at seven and my first thought goes to I'm not going to be there because I have to be at the board meeting. And I thought about it longer and longer um throughout the evening um
051about where I really truly needed to be and um and really was going through my mind just because of the climate right now. Um I just thought I can't miss a meeting. I read earlier in the week where someone said that mission trips are okay to miss meetings for. like that's okay. Um, but anniversaries and birthdays are not okay because they're just not okay. And I and I was thinking because those I whether I'm with you or not with you on a particular matter like I take people's words and their thoughts into account and I thought you know is this person right that those things are okay to miss for but celebrations of life and love like birthdays and anniversaries they're not okay. And then I I got to thinking, well, is a celebration of
052life in the event of death? Like, is that an okay thing to miss a meeting for? And I just got to thinking like, who who really gets to decide that? Like, who gets to draw that line on what is okay and what is not? And I love my community. I work very hard at this job. And in the end, um, I decided not to be here for the close matter that started at 5:00 today and to be in Elton with my community, with my family and my friends. And I believe that I served my community by being there this evening instead of here in the closed matter. And I actually thought I was going to be late for this open meeting and I was not. I was here on time, but I just would implore
053this board to come out of this season and maybe even this community with to come out of this season with clean hands and a pure heart and remembering those things that are most precious. Um, Pastor David Bell said a beautiful prayer there tonight and he mentioned the scripture that talks about beautiful in the sight of the Lord is the death of one of his saints. But tonight did not feel very precious to me. And this season that we are in does not feel very precious to me. But I wanted to say that I I saw community come together this evening and I saw Riverbend staff there. Wanted to thank them for being there because not not all of them live in the Elkton community. You know, they serve there and they teach there and all
054those things, but they don't live there. So, and I'm sure there were Elton Elementary and other schools. I just I didn't see them. But, um I just wanted to thank the staff at Rockham County Public Schools for being there. And I would just um I would just um ask this board to um come out of this season with me with with exactly what I said tonight, which is just clean hands and a pure heart. And um that's all I have to say about that. Thank you, >> Miss Ller. >> Thank you. And thank you for your words, Miss Cave. It really both of our communities have experienced unbelievable tragedies yet so close together and it really gives us pause and an opportunity to think about what's really precious to us. So, please take this this
055moment to think about what mean what things matter to you all and um what's really important in this world and happiness and kindness are important to me. Um and yeah, I'm I'm glad you were able to to be there and find some time to be here tonight. But thank you and I'm so sorry for your loss and I'm sorry for the loss of the Elton community. This is truly tragic. Um, I was able to go to the um Shannondoa Valley Regional Special Ed Committee this morning. Um, and we had a a good meeting, excuse me. Um, and we we talked about Oh gosh, I had it pulled up. Um, we talked about the the various needs of our um special ed departments. Uh and uh so the the special ed um Shendo Valley regional program
056is it come it's comprised of multiple counties and cities within our region uh that help that band together to provide special ed services um including staffing for behavioral analysis, occupational therapists, physical therapists and sign language uh interpreters uh as well as many other services that they provide. Uh and we we had some really good discussions and talked about those things. Uh looked at the budgets for that and how that those budgets what Rockingham's part of that budget is. Uh and it was a really good meeting. But one of the things that I took out of that meeting was that so of the person that runs this entire program currently works part-time for the program and then works part-time for Augusta County. Um, and we are every meeting that I've been to uh on this committee,
057we've talked about how she's part-time and she's spread really thin. So, moving forward, we're going to investigate making her more than just 0.5%. And we're looking at at those options and and they're going to bring that to us at our next meeting. So, I am looking forward to exploring that a little bit more to just get more support services for our county and our special ed department. But, that's the main thing I worked on this past week. Uh, I will be leaving town on September 11th. I know there's some great um activities planned for September 11th. Um, but I will not be able to partake in them. I I think some of our board members have some plans to do some fun uh some interesting activities. I am going to Springfield, Massachusetts. We just approved
058the field trip. I'm chaperoning uh FFA members to Springfield, Massachusetts at Big E. They'll be competing in the regional program there. So, I would like I would urge all of you all to send thoughts and prayers for our traveling students and and as they I I can't even begin to tell you how many different contests and who the kids are, but I know it's multiple kids from Rockingham County will be traveling to compete regionally. So, best of luck to them. And that is all I have tonight. Thank you, Miss Laura. Um to close out tonight, um I want to share something in regards to the books since we're we've kind of talked about that and this is something that's kind of been weighing heavy on me for about 18 months really. Um tonight's votes on
059the books, um I believe that's the last of the books that closes out everything. Um and I will just say that in the last 18 months I have learned a lot. um we don't get a chance to do over, but we do get opportunities to do better. And um in hindsight, I think that the process we used up front um in removing 57 books right out of out of the gate was a hasty decision. Now, I don't hear me say I don't um regret that we took steps to review the content of um certain books. That's that's a difficult and an important responsibility for our board. But I think the fact that about half of them have since been returned after committee review um demonstrates that we we put the cart before the horse maybe
060is what that is how that saying goes. Um and we I think we should have taken more time at the beginning to listen to our librarians and teachers and try to work more collaboratively. Um instead the actions that we took um gave the impression that we were a threat to education and that is something that has been heartbreaking for me and something that I I didn't I don't want to be remembered for being a threat to education. Um, so in the future, I think, you know, we see this play out with like our field trip policy, um, spending more time meeting with teachers, um, who have concerns, hearing what they're saying, working collaboratively to come up with solutions that, um, work for everyone. Um, I I just hope that we can approach any changes that
061we want to see, um, in policy. I I a A BB. I don't know all the letters. I don't have those memorized. But I hope that we can approach future decisions like that with um a great deal more care. And moving forward, we um we have further dialogue um and and really take some time to have conversations and deep consideration before making big decisions like this. um because this is something that has um very much impacted our community. And again, I I want to be clear, I don't regret that we took steps to review the content. I just wish we would have rolled it out in a different way. And I'm hoping that in the future that we can um new new leaf, new page um in how we approach things like this. And um
062so if there is nothing further for tonight um that does wrap things up for us. No, we have a closed session. I'm okay. >> I'm I'm warming up to it, Miss Lure. We we Miss Lure has been traveling. You should hear about how many hours she's been in the car. She's she's ready to roll. Um but we do have reason to um return to a closed meeting and um we do need a board member to um make that motion. >> Well, I mean if that's here hearing none, I move the board enter into a closed meeting under Virginia code session 2.2-3711A1 2-3711A1 for the purpose of discussing discussing and considering personnel matters including assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salary, disciplining or resignation of specific employees. The subject matter is a performance review and evaluation of
063the superintend of the division superintendent. >> Thank you, Miss Lord. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Miss Burggoyne. Any questions or comments? All those in favor, please say yes. Yes. All those opposed, say no. Motion passes 5-0. Thank you all for coming out tonight. We are now in close session.