September 22, 2025 Jefferson County Board of Education Meeting Regular Session

001Good evening. Welcome to the Jefferson County Board of Education meeting on Monday, September 22nd, 2025. If you please join us for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for it stands. One nation All right. I believe we have some student and staff recognitions this evening. >> Good evening, President Skinner, Dr. Bishop, and members of the board. It's my honor tonight to present our first student recognitions of the 202526 school year. Celebrating our students academic, artistic, and athletic achievements is always a highlight of these meetings. And tonight, we'll begin by recognizing our students who excelled at the 97th annual West Virginia FFA convention this summer. At this statewide competition, students from Charlestown and Harpers middle schools and both high schools earned awards in competitive events, received

002advanced FFA degrees, and were elected to state leadership positions. Plus, Jefferson and Washington high schools were both named among the top FFA chapters in West Virginia. I now invite FFA adviserss Kristen Friend, Charity Marstellar, and Caitlyn Grantham forward to present the individual student achievements, followed by a group photo. And I ask that you please hold your applause until each group of students has been recognized by school. >> Hi, I'm Kristen Friend. I'm the FFA adviser at Charlestown Middle School and I'm here tonight to recognize Annabelle Bethkkey. She was part of our team that won first place in the middle school quiz bowl competition. Um Annabelle's at a volleyball game tonight, so she couldn't be here with us, but I do have uh Ryder Staluper who was also on the first place quiz bowl team. Um,

003Ryder also competed and was our top finisher in the tractor driving contest in our region uh for the Northeast region and then went on to compete at our state competition where he received ninth place overall in the middle school tractor driving competition. I also have with me uh Piper Stalper. She was up there. She was our regional winner in the prepared public speaking contest and she moved on to the state level where she finished uh first place in the uh middle school prepared public speaking. Uh Piper was also one of our regional winners in the tractor driving competition and she placed fourth in the state for middle school tractor driving. So we'd like to congratulate um all the students from Charlestown Middle School. typical teacher. I didn't follow directions at all and hold my applause,

004but I'm excited to recognize our students. Uh the first group I'm going to recognize is from Harper's Fairy Middle School. Uh so Mr. Alexander was unable to attend tonight. Um he's actually having some car problems and actually isn't even in the area right now. Um so I'm going to recognize the students from Harper Ferry Middle School that competed in the conduct of chapter meetings contest. Uh this contest uh basically is how students uh how you run a meeting. So um these middle school students competed in that. Um I will call them up uh by name. Ca Cali, Abigail Daniel, Julie Aphy, Gabriella Hillman, Sophie Sepda, Audrey Milner, and Sadie Ward. So these young ladies uh finished first in our regional contest in the spring. Um, and then they finished fourth, I believe, in the state

005contest and were the highest middle school team. So, this uh contest is actually high schoolers and middle school teams competing against each other. And, um, they finished the highest of all the middle school teams competing. And then, while I'm up here, I'm also going to uh talk about some of our students here at Washington. Um, so this spring, uh, we had a team compete in the land judging and homesite evaluation contest. Um, these four, well, three of them are here tonight. Um, they placed first in both the land judging and homesite evaluation contest at the regional level. Um, and all four of them placed in the top 10 individuals in both both of those contests. Um, these two members include Hunter Brathweight, Shawn Burton, who was a graduate this spring, Colton Daly, and Mason Friend.

006And then I also just wanted to touch on um our national chapter award recognition that both our chapter and Jefferson High School received. Um so we're being recognized at national FFA convention uh for being three star chapters. There's only uh four three star chapters in the state of West Virginia. It's the highest honor that a individual chapter can receive from the National FFA organization. Um, so we're very proud to have both of those chapters here in Jefferson County. Um, and so it's something that both of us are extremely proud of. >> Good evening. I'm going to recognize several students, some of which who are not here. Um, some of them are graduates, so they're away at college. Um, we had two students who received their state FFA degree, which is the ne the third level

007of of degrees that you can earn. The only one that's higher than that is the American degree, which is at the national level. Um, so hopefully they will attain that one day. Um, those members were Garrett Glford and Bryley Bower. Um, we had a fourth place in the state parliamentary procedure team. If you're here, please come down. Team members were Abigail Blue, Morgan Grove, Haley Owens, Grace Aught, Hannah Story, and Jess Toms. We had a student who played in the West Virginia State of Fay Band. His name is Colin Engel. He plays the sacri saxophone. He has aspirations of playing at the National Fay Band, but that requires an audition. So, I hope he makes it one day. That's one of his goals. Um, and also we would like to recognize Grace Odd is not

008here. For those of you who may know her, she was also elected to become a state FFA officer. She represents the central uh region of of our estate association. So, she also was second place in our employment skills. So, um, thank you all for all of your hard work. We appreciate the recognition that you bring to to the county. Stand up and look at the past. Gather around students. Can you speak? up this way. There it is. I think we need to take a minute while the students are leaving the stage as well to say and give applause to Mrs. Marceller and Miss Grantham for the incredible amount of time they put into the program and traveling and you know they are definitely a major part of the reason why the kids have the opportunities

009they do and are as successful as they are. So thank you guys. Right. Next up we have the approval of the minutes. Is there a motion to approve the minutes from the regular board meeting held September 8th, 2025? or I um so move. >> So move. Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Brad. Is there a second? Thank you, Mr. Robson. Any discussion or question? Hearing none. All in favor of the minutes from the regular board meeting held September 8th, 2025, say I. >> I oppose. Thank you. Next up, we have citizens comments. First up is Sarah Brandenburg. And just a reminder, speakers are limited to three minutes and speakers shall not engage in negative or derogatory statements that use names or positions by which persons could be identified. Please wait just one moment to

010let me set the timer. Can you all hear me? >> All right, then. >> Good evening, members of the board. I come before you again to thank you for your time and attention in matters regarding Blige and to urge you to continue to investigate why over a doz a dozen teachers and students uh teachers and staff left the school over the course of one year. A loss that we as parents did not learn of until 4 days before the start of school. More importantly though, tonight I am here to be a voice for the parents who can't be here so desperately who so desperately want better for their kids. For the parents who are here but don't feel comfortable speaking up as I have. For the parents who wanted to be here two weeks ago

011but instead made a choice to be at volunteer training set up by BRE admin for the same time as the board meeting. Training that was required if they wanted to be involved in any school activities on campus. I am here for the parents of the first, third, and fifth grade classes who were assured they would have permanent teachers within the first two weeks of school, but who were just informed after a month of school and written pleased by myself and other parents to the principal for some sort of update that the international teachers may not arrive until at least October. I am here for the parents whose kids are supposed to be getting their federallymandated OT and speech services who were not informed until two weeks into school that we do not have anyone to

012provide those services. I am here for the parents of the kids who are struggling with all of the instability going on in our school but have no school counselor to turn to because that position is still unfilled. And lastly, I am here to be a voice for every parent on the mountain who simply want our kids to be treated as more than just an afterthought. Our children need stability and clarity. And right now, they are getting neither. And I hope that any person who thinks we as parents are trying to bring down the school will hear my words, come speak to me in person, and take a long hard look in the mirror. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Next up is Paul Brandenburg. All right, my voice isn't perfect for microphones, so

013hopefully this will do well enough. It's good to see you all again. Two weeks ago, it was quite nice. Um, I made a new friend, uh, Mr. Jackson. We talked for way too long. Uh, let's see. Um, I got to hear a lot of opinions of many people regarding um, I'm a little bit concerned because the focus seemed to be quite large on that fact and I don't think we got to address any concerns that day specifically. I hope you all understand, and if you don't, I'm hoping that I can help you understand. Um, parents gain trust from being supplied information pertinent to the current problems. That's how we gain trust. Discussion of anything, character, trustworthiness is like describing food to a person who is starving. I mean no offense when I say that though

014I hope it's point poignant enough to clear some things up. We're still looking for answers and that's what we actually need. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Next we have the consent agenda. Lori, >> good evening. Um, I do not have any changes to the personnel information that was presented to you this evening for consideration. >> Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented? >> Thank you, Miss Ogden. Is there a second? Thank you, Miss Pratt. Any discussion or question? >> This same person's listed number four, five, and 12. Just wondering how that works. Is that a mistake or um uh number four and five um are separate actions, but you are correct. I see that number 12 is a duplicate to number five. So, the individual is um uh starting as a

015substitute aid and then um at the same time being able to find a position that's available. >> You're I think you said um they're being hired as an aid until the supervisory position is available. Well, we like I've mentioned before, um all of our service classifications have to start in an a substitute role. Um so with the shortages that we have, we're able to typically hire them as a substitute and a full-time employee all at the same time. >> Um so this person isn't really doing the job in number five, >> correct? No, no, no. Number four. Number four was >> Oh, they're not doing that job, >> right? because we were able to go right to a full-time position as a second grade ECAT. >> Okay. That is that that's how you do it?

016>> Yes. Because before before you would have to start as a substitute in order to start to be able to bid on jobs, but we have shortages. So, you're able to get into a full-time job immediately. But we can't skip the step of being a substitute first. >> So, you're just listing it though, correct? >> They're not really doing it. that it's their first classification they get and then they get hired into a full-time. >> Okay. >> I don't make the rules, just play by them. >> And so you're saying we need to delete number 12 as a dup. >> 12 is a duplicate. So you can remove 12 from it. >> Any other questions or comments? >> Can you um just explain what the position is for 38? >> I'm sorry. What? >> Can

017you just explain the position for number 38? >> 38. Okay. >> All right. 38. As you may be aware and and familiar with of the homebound positions, the extracurriculars that we have in the homebound area, um that is uh uh underneath state code, the ability to provide services for students who need um um supplemental instruction outside of the the classroom. Um we do not have the availability to um support special needs students with the homebound program. And so what Jefferson County has made the decision to do is is to create a program for our students with special needs um that mirrors the homebound um program. Um so since it's an expansion of that and something that Jefferson County is doing to differentiate the the two between homebound and um needs of our special um education

018population, it is the home study special education program. So it's like acting like the homebound program, but this would be particularly for students with special needs. >> So will the person in this role then be certified K12? >> That is the hope that we would have a certified teacher, but if we do not have a certified teacher that's interested, then we would go to our substitute pool. >> And also um how does this person fall under the virtual academy as well or do we address some of these? Yeah, these are students who particularly need somebody to go into the home to support them. >> Do you know how many people we have currently that do homebound for us? >> Who's doing homebound? I don't have those numbers off the top of my head. Um, but

019this one, this per program in particular would obviously be based on student needs. So, we don't have that identified yet. >> Okay. So, this is a position that we have that we do not have student need for it yet. Well, we have a student need. So to know how many we're actually going to, you know, employ or to to provide the extracurricular um opportunity would be dependent upon what is the and you know what ends up being the full participation in the program. >> Okay. And if we find that some of the people who are in traditional homebound but actually qualify better under this, you know, person or this plan, um, will we look at the possibility of them reducing a homebound position or are we looking to just expand in the homebound? Well, my

020understanding is that um that students who need this instructional support are currently not being serviced by homebound. So, this would allow them and give them the opportunity be to be serviced through the home study instructor program. >> Okay. >> It's an extra duty pay. >> It's extra duty. Yeah. So, it's it could be a current person who's on staff who wants to sign up for additional pay to do five hours a week. >> Correct. >> Okay. I appreciate it. Thank you. No worries. >> Um they're paid per student or they're not it's not a salary. It's just per student that they serve. Correct. >> Um yeah. I mean there's additional money. So it's just >> extracurricular >> sure there um the mentors maybe they were in the past but they have them at Jefferson also

021this is just Washington >> list just teachers that on is there another >> the list tonight is just Washington >> yeah we yeah we've been board approving them as they come in so everybody has an opportunity >> is it just the high schools or no >> oh okay >> the last two meetings you have approved uh other mentors >> was in the past. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something I didn't know about. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other questions or comments? >> Um Miss Lauren, I'm sorry. So, the second page that um has school, primary, secondary with um names and the schools, what is that page? Is that mentors or tutors as well. >> Yeah, those are those are the instructional mentors. Um and then the other ones >> for the

022elementary. >> Yeah, those should be >> Medication. Yes, that's >> medication. >> Distribution. >> Yeah, those are the ones that we have um that were presented to us for this board meeting for medication. >> Distribution. >> Thank you. It didn't say that. So, >> yeah, no worries. >> Thank you. Any other questions or comments? >> All right, Miss Ogden, would you be willing to amend your motion to um approve the consent agenda as presented, deleting the duplicate on number 12? >> Yes, ma'am. I amen my motion for that. >> And Miss Bratton, do you agree to that? >> Yes. >> All right. All in favor of the motion to um approve the consent agenda as presented, deleting number 12 as a duplicate, say I. I >> oppose. Thank you, ma'am. All right. >> Thank you.

023Next up, we have um presentations and reports and operations update, the update on the new Shepardtown construction, the update on the Washington High School auxiliary gym, and an attendance update. >> Good evening, everyone. >> Good evening. >> I'll wait the presentation to come up, but um Shephardd's Town Elementary, our new Shepherd's Town is ready to go. Uh, we're awaiting some furniture and some playground equipment, but this will likely be the last update you have until you walk through for a dedication. So, I'm pleased to show you some finishing touches this evening as we move on to other projects. Next slide. Still the bears. They're getting all excited about their new mascot. Continue, please. This is in the library. And behind the library, you'll see a courtyard which is fenced in inside of a larger fenced

024in area for the children. It is nice and large. And so you get a glimpse right here of the library. The next slide shows um the main hall. The main hall still has some building materials and boxes in it, but it is very pretty. It's adj adjacent to the gym. So again, you get that height in there to accommodate the gym area. Next slide. This is another view of the library. You see the circulation desk in the right background of this picture. Continue on the gymnasium. And if you proceed to the next slide, uh the gymnasium hosts the Navy bleachers which are already installed. And here is the logo we spoke about the last meeting on the floor. It's very sharp looking. Continue. Again, we have a broader pan of the library. It's a very

025nice big space. I can't wait to fill it with furniture. This is down uh one of the main halls leading into the cafeteria. The walls in this space, I like the rich uh brown wood floors we've put down, and the walls are lighter in this school. And this is down the related arts wing. Uh we have some display boxes down there. It also has some very nice color integrated with that nice brown LVT flooring which is very nice. All LED lights in this building. Cafeteria in lie of dampening the sound in the cafeteria. I think we've discussed before the little waffles or waves above it uh help keep the noise down. And then the kitchen areas off to the left. The kitchen is built and designed, as we'll see here in a few minutes, just

026like the Ransom kitchen. Continue. And there you see it set up exactly like Ransom. They mimic each other. Continue. That's another uh that's a view of the dishroom. There's the warming the serving line and the warming units behind where the kids will come through. It's from the cook's perspective. on this school. Uh we have an outdoor dining space and we also have an outdoor space uh that is the steam lab like outside the steam room where kids can kind of go in a gated area and experience the outdoors. So those will add additional space for the children to learn and a way for them to get in some good vitamin D. Again, like Ransen, we have the circular um areas and spaces mid hallway kind of breaks up the hallway, but also learning space. And

027I'm not sure if it's well defined in the back, but you have a seating area back there. This school was painted at the request of the school. So, the walls aren't white down the corridors of each um school. We they painted a color that matches the uh color of the walls, fingerprints. They kind of fingerprint proof them. So I thought it was a very good idea suggestion from the staff. Continue. This is outside. Um what's nice about this space, this is part of their play area. And you'll see in the background, and I think I have a picture up closer of this, um each black top area where students can play also has basketball hoops at each end. So that will be a nice feature for them at Shephardd'stown Elementary School. This is one of

028the um related services spaces. So, it's a little bit smaller classroom, but it illustrates the color. And in this particular classroom, uh you can see in the background where you can walk into another classroom back a corridor. So, it makes it good to share some learning in those kinds of spaces. display case which is in the related arts wing which houses art, music, steam. Um that's just where they'll put their they can display artwork, any trophies they may have. There are two of those in each um actually in this space. This is the steam lab. The Washington High School gym continues uh to move right along. It is slated to be completed in early April. You can advance to the next slide. That's something on this campus you may see more of. Again, nice high

029space and basically you're seeing what exists now. They continue to build the walls soon. They will be putting the steel on, uh getting ready to roof it. They want the roof on before bad weather sets in. So, that will be done this fall. But first they will put the concrete on the inside. So those are all the things they're working on in order to be able to start on the inside and uh complete the finished look on the outside and brick it as well. But it's coming along nicely. I think there's one more slide that gives you another perspective and that's looking from the football field side. Now we have a few things in operations to celebrate that I want to highlight. Um, you can advance to the next slide. First, I'll I'll speak to

030the first one, which is safety grants for cameras. Uh, we have received a $30,000 safety grant for cameras, and this will be used uh to replace Blue Ridge campus's ext uh existing cameras. So, that's exciting. Uh, next I'm going to invite Jeff Caesar to the podium because we were one of five schools in West Virginia that have received a grant to map our schools. And he'll talk to you a little bit. This is a requirement from the legislature, West Virginia House Bill 31 3166. So, he'll talk a little bit about that project, the funding we received, and how it's going. and then we'll complete my update with Robbie in attendance. >> Thank you, Joyce. As Joyce mentioned, House Bill 3166 was passed which requires all of our school districts to have digital mapping that integrate

031with our uh our law enforcement CAD systems. Uh so basically uh the days of the old PDF map that we have that we would hand out to say this is these are the layouts of our schools now are going to be upgraded to uh 3D mapping capabilities where as you see of a Google Earth view where we can zoom down on the street and actually see what the street looks like. our operators in our 911 center will be able to push those images to our law enforcement first responders to show exactly where in buildings that we need to be, the views of where our fire extinguishers are, um our u devices for resuscitation or and and uh all our entrances. Um but when that bill was passed, Jefferson County, I commend Joyce and Dr. getting

032on that very early that we sought grant funding to pay for all of this. And we uh the bill we we met with several companies. The company we ultimately met with was and went with was Data Mark. I believe they're out of Pennsylvania. Uh Data Mark offers uh in conjunction with our 911 center. That was the service that they picked as well that they said that would integrate with our 911 system the best. uh data mark came in at a at a cost to do all of our schools of $66,3411. We sought and obtained grant funding from the state and we were one of five counties that received all of our grant funding. So that has been approved. So we are going to have all of that paid. That mapping project uh is to start

033uh very soon. I believe we just finished finalizing the paperwork with with data mark. And when that starts, you may have noticed on all of our buildings, if you go to, we haven't done this building yet, but we're because of the construction, but we're renumbering all of our exterior doors for our first responders. It's a yellow number. If you look on Jefferson High School, your your first entry is door number one. The main entry is always one. As you go clockwise, the very next door you hit is two. The next door you hit is three. And that's going to be consistent all around every single school that we have. And that'll be integrated into this mapping. So, we need to finish that project. We got about four schools left to complete. Uh, but that'll be

034done here probably this week and we'll be ready for the digital mapping to come in. And when that process comes in, they walk the interior of the school with high-speed cameras. They film everything so that they can get those maps and instead of the old print out of a PDF map, we'll be able to print out a very nice map that every school will have to be able to hand out. So, that's the Any questions on the mapping uh project? >> I I don't have a question. I just it's wonderful that you were able to get the grant and the 3D. Um that sounds incredible and I appreciate all your expertise and help. I feel like we're really fortunate to have you. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Welcome. >> Data Mark was on state contract

035or cooperative purchasing agreement. So, it didn't require formal bidding. It was just a matter of meeting with uh with the companies. And then Jeff did a great job and and Joyce did a great job of making sure we coordinated with our local first responders to make sure that we had a product that they could use. So credit's right there. >> And the sheriff's office and the 911 center. There's some of those folks are here tonight. But I will tell you this is going to be a a huge upgrade for our county and for mapping. They're looking to hope to do this in all of our major buildings within our county, but it's starting with schools. We're the first group to do this. Uh 911 has a a vision to try to carry this out amongst

036all our large facilities to be able to give our first responders that that access to our buildings uh mapping to try to save lives. >> Before you go, I know this might be a Joyce question, but maybe you can help. I'm very concerned about Gardener's Lane and the buses um to the new elementary school that the uh tractor trailers are not supposed to use that road, but they do use it um as a speedway to avoid downtown Shephardd's Town and it it it's just a matter of time be before two large vehicles try to make that turn at the same time. And I'm just wondering is there anything being done to widen that road or >> No, that's that would be done through the Department of Highways. Our school sits near Covenant Baptist Church and

037is not near that intersection at all. And we do have turn lanes and did a traffic study so we can get in and out of our school. The buses will not come and go via Gardener's Lane. They will come and go via the Pike. Okay. That's what I was concerned because they do they go right >> on Morgan Grove which >> unless they're routed that way. >> Yeah. I mean they used to go that way, >> right? If if you've got to go back because routes on Gardener's Lane, then previously you could go >> back Gardener's Lane, you'd have to come out Gardener's Lane. But as it stands now, if you're going into Shephardd'stown Elementary, you can just turn and come in that way, but no one will have a need in a bus to

038exit from that road. >> Yeah, that's good to hear. Thank you. >> Questions. >> Thank you very much. We appreciate it. >> Hey everyone, good evening. I'm Robert Brown and I did submit a slide deck if that could be um put up on the screen at this time. I'm happy to come before you this evening to give you an attendance update for Jefferson County Schools for the 2425 school year. If we can go on to the next slide there. Just a few short uh top reasons why attending school all day every school day matters. Um they these uh might seem obvious but they are very important. If just by showing up to school students have higher academic achievement, social and personal development, preparation for life after students leave our school system. And then uh it's

039attendance is also a predictor for outcomes in schools such as students that are uh chronically absent in the primary grades are are at greater risk of not being on grade level for reading by the end of third grade which we know is an important milestone in students with the third grade success act. So the state uses a u metric called chronic absenteeism and that's how schools and the district are u judged or or measured whether we're meeting the attendance metric on the West Virginia balance scorecard. The chronic ab absenteeism metric came into use about three or four years ago and it is a measure that um takes into account 10% or more of absences for unexcused or excused reasons. So if a student has missed at least 10% or more of the available school days

040then they are considered to be chronically absent. It is a fluid metric that students at one point during the school year can be chronically absent. For example, if a student now at the peer at the beginning of the school year misses four or five days because of a an illness, they would be chronically absent. But if day 60, instructional day number 60, and they still haven't missed any more days, they would not be considered chronically absent anymore. One of our jobs in the schools and through the attendance offices is we are constantly helping students and families um explain the definition of chronic absenteeism and how it takes into account both excused and unexcused absences. And as I said previously, it is the metric for how Jefferson County schools and all of our individual schools are

041measured on the West Virginia balance scorecard. And to just give you a quick uh numbers, if you have zero to 5% chronic absenteeism rate for your school or district, then you are exceeding the standard. More than 5% up to 10% is meeting the standard. More than 10% up to 20% chronic absenteeism is partially meeting and over 20% is not meeting the the attendance metric at all. So with that information, we can go on to the next slide and you can see some uh how West how Jefferson County schools were rated. Now West Virginia does give us several different ways to measure chronic absenteeism whether it's by Zoom or by weas or on the super the certified report. The one that I use throughout the school year is Zoom West Virginia employee. You can see it's

042the highest. I always like to prepare for the worst case scenario, I think, and then uh be pleasantly surprised later. Um, and you'll also notice that the balance scorecard number that we finished with last school year at 18.75% of our students came in right pretty much in the middle between the Zoom number and the Weeus number. And that's pretty typical for how that final number comes out. And that the different numbers are due to um the different programs take different things into account. Uh for example, at the end of the year, students if they have an absence because one of our buses didn't run, that's removed from u it does not count against the school or the student. The same is true with out of school suspensions. That is not counted against the school or

043the student. So that's why some of the numbers differ. If we go on to the next slide, you can see our um if we go back one more, I apologize. Yes, thank you. You can see all of our programmatic levels were reduced during the 2425 school year. Our elementary level dropped from 16.45 to 12.67%. Middle schools went from 21.61 to 17.90. That's great. The high school level dropped from 3130 to 25.72. And the one that matters for the entire district is we were at 22.38 as a district in the 20 324 school year. And at the end of the last school year on the balance scorecard, we came in at 18.75. And if you remember those numbers I gave you, that means we're now partially meeting the attendance metric, which is a huge huge deal

044uh for the accountability met metric. So we celebrated that. It's our next slide. We definitely are celebrating the work that all of our schools did to help us lower that number. Strategies that were utilized uh to lower the chronic absenteeism rate. If you go on to the next slide, please. I want to focus on the first couple there, and it's it's all about what schools do. School-based MTSS tier one, two, and three interventions for students and families and school-based attendance teams and attendance initiatives and attendance celebrations, not only for um great attendance, but also for improving attendance as well. we make sure that we're celebrating those students that are improving as well as those that are already meeting the metric. So, our schools have done a lot of great work including a lot of staff

045to um reduce their chronic absenteeism. And then I will also come down to the last bullet point on that um on that slide. Uh last January I worked with both high schools You could see from the the slide earlier that our high schools have the highest rate of chronic absenteeism. That's pretty typical across the state. So, I worked with both high schools. We met weekly. I called it the Jefferson County Schools high school attendance collaborative. We all met weekly uh virtually with staff from both high schools. The truency diversion specialists that serve both high schools, communities and schools staff were a part of that. the attendance um administrators, Mrs. Marcus as the coordinator of high schools also was a part of that every week. And during those meetings, we really um we talked about individ

046not individual student issues but shared issues and solutions, shared ideas for increasing student connectedness to the school, how to communicate and reach out for families. And it was really fruitful and contributed to lowering that rate during last school year. Next up, you can see that the what the West Virginia Department of Education goal is for chronic absenteeism. They have a goal to cut chronic absenteeism in half by 50% uh by this school year 2029. And they are focusing on and encouraging districts to prioritize family engagement and student connectedness to their schools to help with this. Again, the focus is on the students at the school level. Our goals next for this current school year that we're in now, I would really like to see all of our schools have a chronic absenteeism rate under 20%

047at the end of this current school year. A lot of our schools are really close or are already meeting the goal and under 10%. So, I want it to be um a realistic and attainable goal for all schools. And I really think we can get all of our schools under the 20%. So, all all 16 of them are meeting the attendance partially at least partially meeting the attendance goal according to the balance scorecard. And then of course the ultimate goal is for all of our schools to be at 10% or under so that all schools are meeting the attendance goal for chronic absenteeism. Some of the things we're adding on in addition to the things that you saw on the slide a few slides ago for initiatives. Uh we have a district-wide campaign this year

048and thanks to our communications department for putting things out on social media. We have posters in our schools. We have posters in the board office. Dr. Bishop has one in his office. Mrs. White has one in her office as well. Strive for less than five. And that's strive for less than five absences per semester. If students are successful for that, they'll have no more than nine absences for the entire school year. And this will certainly put them on the on track to success in their schools. We're also doing that in conjunction with Berkeley County Schools has the same uh slogan and drive. So we're Mr. Van Meter who's the attendance director for Berkeley County Schools is and I are working very closely and he attends my support meetings that I do with schools and I

049attend some of his that he does and we're have a great working relationship back and forth between us and Berkeley County Schools. Um we are doing like I just said I am doing um individual attendance support meetings with all the schools that did not reach under 20% for their chronic absenteeism rate last school year. So much like what I did for the high schools last year, we are meeting weekly and during these meetings since it's just one school, we're talking about individual students. We're brainstorming interventions who's how we can best serve the families and remove barriers to those students attendance. We're talking about school goals. We're talking about initiatives and celebrations. Uh we every student at the beginning of the school year on the first day of school also received an attendance tracker where um

050that's for family and student joint use where they can track their absences throughout the school year. There's a couple of QR codes on there for the calendar and to submit a note and um that's a useful tool as families so families can keep track of their attendance. I found in my attendance that because student or in my experience last school year because students might miss a day here and and a couple weeks later miss another day. Sometimes families are not aware how much they've added up to over the course of a school year. So, the attendance tracker is a great uh tool so that they can see just how many they have over the course of a school year. If we go on to the next slide, you can see a a couple representations of

051the posters. We had the one in the middle was the Jefferson County Schools poster and then each school did receive a individual poster for their school theme with their logo. That's just the one for TA and Washington High School there. Um, our OLC and JVA did also receive those themed posters as well. The next slide shows what the attendance tracker look the attendance tracker looks like and it is also colorcoded for your first four absences in green and then yellow and then red as you get towards nine absences and 10 absences during the school year. So yes, we did a lot of great things to um lower the chronic absenteeism rate. We in the schools, I really have to uh thank um every all the folks in our schools, our truency diversion specialists who are

052a great addition that we're very lucky to have, Mr. Serena and Mr. Johnson, uh the attendance assistant in the office, uh Miss Buchanan. All of those folks play critical roles in helping our students attend school all day, every day. So, I thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Can Can I ask Can I say something? >> Sure. >> Ask a question. >> I wanted to thank you for a clear and thorough report and um >> yeah, I knew you would do great things in this position. So, um I appreciate all that you've done. I have one question. Um, do they still take the driver's license away from students at the high school? >> No. No, ma'am. >> Yeah. >> When did that end? >> The driver's license is not contingent on school attendance.

053>> What did you say? >> Getting the driver's license or keeping the driver's license is not dependent on school attendance any longer. >> Okay. Was that a state policy? >> It is. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Um, I would just say thanks so much as well for working together with Burg County. I think it's always good when we can collaborate on different things. So, I appreciate the fact that that's happening as well. Um, and then I would just ask, do we have a a program in place right now or any way to do it within our own system that every six weeks or every I guess semester that we have that it spits out the kids that are within that group so that then notices go out to parents. I'm thinking that we have

054that. Is that is that true? >> So, first of all, I I had a little trouble understanding your question just because you're a little far from the mic. Can you repeat that for me? Sorry. >> So, I was trying not to get too loud. >> Do we have a system in place that every semester or every eight weeks or six weeks or whatever when we give that break, uh, does it automatically spit out where we are for each student so we know we can send that parent note home or even an email? Doesn't have to be a piece of paper. >> Yeah. So everything we do and I'm sorry I neglected to to say this but everything we do is based on data. So Zoom West Virginia give every day it's one day behind but

055it it updates both the chronic absenteeism rate year to date and the average daily attendance rate uh year to date every single day. So, and then it also gives us a list of those students every day that are either have no attendance issues, may need attention, and are chronically absent. So, what I do is I break down the uh school year into every 20 days. And then I report out to schools every 20 days what their chronic absenteeism rate is, their average daily attendance, and then they get a report of every student in their school of where they stand, whether it's chronic absentee or needs attention possibly or no attendance issues at all. So they get that every 20 days. >> Okay. And then do you know what they do with it? We did last

056year as an example at the end of the year we were sending targeted messages to families about attendance >> based on the data that Mr. Brown just described. So we have the ability to one get the information and two send targeted messages to those families. >> Yeah. Okay. And I guess that's what I got one of those messages last year um at the but it was at the end of the year but it was for my daughter missing the first day of school and they wanted to change it because clearly she was there at the first day of school and human error happens. That was you know not the point. I was glad to be able to help correct that so we could get a better score because it was not true. Um but also

057thought if I maybe had you know had that a little earlier I might have been able to correct it. So, I wasn't sure how often that might be throughout the years. >> I hear you. Thank you for that. >> We appreciate the work because again, it was helpful. I would never have known that she was. >> And our schools, I know, are not just waiting for me to send in a a report every 20 days, right? So, we're part of the statewide attendance policy. Policy 4110 says that we need to make two-way contact, meaningful contact with families when students reach three cumulative unexcused absences and five unexcused absences. So, they're monitoring that information at the school level um at least weekly and probably more often than >> so the score we have it's cumulative throughout

058the whole year snapshot to get that percentage. Is that what they look at? It's not. Yes. Know it changes as we go along, but the snapshot we are graded on is the entire year. >> Yeah. So the number for chronic absenteeism that we ended up last year with 18.75% of our students were chronically absent was for the entire school year. >> What did you say? Because we is what we put in, correct? We score would be what we add in or how how did you say we and their final score may have been different? >> You know, I I knew I be prepared for that that question, but I really don't know what the exact reasons why they take what's added in or what's not taken out. I know that the Zoom number most works

059for and is closest to what the final number is going to be. And like I said, it I like to prepare and have worst case scenario in front of me and then work down from there and then be more uh surprised when the number comes in even lower than what our data is showing it's going to be. >> Thank you. Yeah. I have another question. I At what point does Jefferson County Schools visit the home um of a child that's absent? >> There's not a specific point. If we've been out of contact with a student and we don't know where they are, then we can and we can't get a hold of anybody. The uh we try multiple ways. emails, we try phone calls, we try um maybe talking if there's a friend or something

060that might know that student to find out what's going on. But if this a student's been out three to five days and we're unsure of their location or what's going on and we haven't been able to reach contact them, we will make a home visit. >> So there's no policy about making mean meaningful face-toface contact. I'm just No, I guess you remember the child that missed about 30 days or more. >> Yeah. >> And that came up at the board to come up with a policy in regard to making meaningful contact, but it didn't really go anywhere. Um, do you feel there's a need for >> um I I don't know if there's a need for a policy, but I do need feel like we need to know make sure our students are safe, of

061course. >> Right. So, um, unless there's a policy, a rule, it's kind of hit or miss. If somebody has time, I mean there has to be a cut off where where there's a decision made to go get eyes on the child. How how does that work in your office? Um the schools monitor that individually and the the schools the secretaries the attendance secretaries or the clerks are the ones that usually know first that this kid has missed three or five days or and we don't have a note. They alert the attendance um administrator or my office and then we start trying to make contact and find out what's going on and as needed we will make a home visit. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Do we still um do we still take

062parents to court for children who have missed an excessive amount of days? Is that still a policy? >> So that's truency, which is different than chronic absenteeism. So I'm tasked with and schools are tasked with monitoring. It's kind of two parallel tracks at the same time. So chronic absenteeism takes into account both the unexcused and excused absences that take place. Truency and taking someone to court only takes into account unexcused absences. Um the state code says that we may take uh family for court action in front of the magistrate once somebody has more than 10 unexcused absences in a school year. That's a last resort for Jefferson County schools. Um it's a big step. Um but and we really work and use implement our MTSS tiers of systems of support to work with families and

063students and then that certainly is a tier three intervention that if it's needed to do >> it sounds like you're doing a great job. So continue. Thank you. >> Thank you. Well, I'll just leave you with one uh last number here. I'm gonna pull out my glasses so I can see. Sorry. So, you might be wondering where we are right now. We've had more than 20 days. In fact, last Friday was last was day 25. So, I did send out a 20-day report for 2425 at after 20 instructional days. Uh, Jefferson County Schools had a chronic absenteeism of 18.61%. this school year, current school year, after 20 instructional days, that number was 13.78%. So, we're down about 5% already this school year. So, fingers crossed and we'll keep working hard. We're not resting on what

064we accomplished last year. So, thank you again, everyone. >> You need to start pulling that report the first week of school because it'll always be zero. >> Say that before me again, please. you need to start pulling that report the first week of school every year because it'll always be zero. >> So, >> not always, but it'll be lower. But thank you everyone. I appreciate the opportunity. Have a good evening. >> Thank you. >> Did you have anything else in the operations update? M >> I don't. I'm just awaiting your next your next um agenda item. I think I'm part of that. >> Okay. Discussion and possible action on the repurposing of the former OLC building. >> Yes. >> Welcome back. >> Thank you so much. >> So, I'm going to welcome to the podium

065Jeff Caesar uh who will explain um how he would like to utilize the former OLC building. And he's brought guests with him that I'd like them to step forward and he'll introduce uh the guests that he has that will surround him as he talks about the request. and um the partnership it involves. >> Thank you, Joyce. Thank you again for taking the time to allow me to speak tonight. Um a few board meetings ago, I was had the privilege to speak in front of you about looking at a five-year plan for the development of our safety department for Jefferson County Schools. Um tonight, we have several individuals with me. You guys know Lieutenant Williams is our our SRO at Jefferson High School representing the sheriff's office as well as Vic Lupus. Got Todd Lutman with

066the Ranson Police Department. John Meeks with the State Police. Chief Kutcher with the Charlestown Police Department. Got Dave Buber who didn't come up supposed to have come up when he was asked to do so. Sit back there. Um spoke to you about that five-year plan in our last the last time I was able to present to you. Uh part of that plan was trying to to bring together and really build a robust safety department for our for our county in preparation for that growth that's coming into our county. Um I apologize. What I'm going to talk about is I get emotional about at times. Um so 15 years ago um I moved actually been 20 years now. I moved to the state of West Virginia. I was an FBI agent in Baltimore, Maryland. and I

067moved out here and the very first friend that I met was at the time was Lieutenant Dave Colbert with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. Um, he was the first friend that I had in the state of West Virginia. The first friend that I made. Those of you that may not know, Dave Colbert's wife is a guidance counselor at Shepardtown Elementary and all his kids went through this district. My wife is a teacher at Driswood Elementary. Both our wives were named Laura. Um, we became very close friends. Our kids are all the same age. Dave had a passion for school safety. Um, and I remember talking to him in his office at length on hours about how our district at the time, and this would have been before anybody's time here, I think on the board,

068how we needed to have a school safety department. Uh, we needed to have a safety director. We needed to try to get our teachers prepared to get us up to that level of that we needed to be at as that DC growth came out into our region and to be prepared for that. Um, in January of 2023, Dave passed away. And, um, I look at the job that I have right now and, uh, I'm doing it, Dave. Like, I'm I'm doing, you hired the first safety director here. Um, that's something Dave and I talked about, centralizing this this program and really building it and making us a model for our region. Um, that's what you see right here. you you see this partnership with our law enforcement people. These aren't these are parents as well.

069They're not just police officers. They're parents. They want to give everything they have to our county. Um, and part of building that, and why I'm here tonight to talk to you, is about um, wanting to really develop this safety department, as we talked about in the five-year plan, and put our resources together, all of our law enforcement partners in our schools coming together in one place where we can mitigate threats as they come in immediately, where we can organize ourselves together, law enforcement and school together in one location. um seeking to maybe repurpose that old the old OLC uh building that we had next door to Wright Denny where we moved the uh students to the old Ransom now in our RI our rise center to repurpose that to be our Jefferson County school safety

070center uh where we can bring our resources together under one roof. Um, in my short time here, I know I haven't even been here a year yet, but one one of my observations is uh that we oftentimes have very difficult meetings that take place in our schools with parents that may be a little upset. They voice some concerns that maybe they probably shouldn't have said over the telephone. I'm coming to the school. I want to talk about this and I'm upset. Um, I Why do we have those meetings at the school? Why Why are they at the school? Why are we bringing them to the board office? Why not bring them to a safe place where we can have a center that we come to and we we mitigate these these instances. Um there's a

071lot of use that we could have for that center places for these folks here with law enforcement databases. You know, law enforcement has databases that they sort of shelter from this the civilian population in the schools. We don't have access to what these folks have access to. But likewise, we as a school system, we have access to information that they don't necessarily have access to. We're not talking about sharing that and just willy-nilly putting them together. But at some place, those two entities have to come together and they have to stand face to face and they have to be able to talk to connect those dots to mitigate the threats that we're facing um in our country that we hope never come here to Jefferson County. I want to see and would ask for uh

072your permission to to rededicate that building to school safety to make it our school safety center where all of these individuals can share that space with us and our schools and our law enforcement partners can come together as one to make us the safest school district um in the country. That's what our goal is. And I think I hit everything and I made it through that without without falling apart. So I'm happy to answer any questions that you might have. Are we talking about the Delaney building? >> Yes, ma'am. Yes. Yes, ma'am. >> Just wanted to make sure because it only has >> It's Yes, ma'am. It does. Yes, ma'am. And it it it needs a little bit of TLC, but but we're willing to put that in uh put that that work in if

073we were given that opportunity. >> And the school resource officers would stay >> so they would they would stay in their assigned facilities. Uh what uh Mr. Caesar's describing though is a place for law enforcement to come together to have some of these conversations. Uh Lieutenant Williams uh will remain at Jefferson. Uh but there would be a place where those difficult conversations as Jeff said where those two lines need to intersect sometimes that's where those conversations would happen. And in the summertime as well, we'd have meetings, trainings, conferences that that we needed to have for safety purposes could all happen in that building. And that would be a it's a nice centralized location. Can also serve, god forbid, we need it at a command post where we have a a a critical incident happen in

074our county schools where we need to come together with schools and law enforcement. A great place to put us all in one under one roof would be this building. Um, >> yes, ma'am. >> I remember asking Dr. Bishop about the possibility of using that building for preschool. I think it was preschool. >> For preschool, >> I think that's what it was. And you said it needed too much work >> for students. We did not feel comfortable having students in there. >> Okay. >> Uh, that's why we >> What kind of work is needed and who will cover the expenses? Who will how often will it be used? >> The school resource officers, >> they have offices already in the schools. >> So, it would be used every day uh throughout the school year as well

075as the summertime. >> By who? >> But well, by myself. Um, if you remember in the in our five-year plan, as we're growing, what I what I would be seeking in the future would be analytical support uh for for our that would be where all we centralize uh proactive use of our camera systems would all be fed into that facility where they'd be proactively reviewed on a daily basis. dispatching of all of our emergency communications, our radio use right now. Uh we're we're really getting building a strong radio use and communications program right now in our district this year that would be dispatched centrally out of that facility where we have uh law enforcement resources as well to be able to assist. Um I think the building would be used uh throughout the year, even

076in the summertime from an Oh, I'm sorry. So, does it need any repairs? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Dr. Bishop, >> it it needs some minor repairs. Primarily, it needs some new painting and things of that nature, but those things can be covered. >> Mr. Caesar has said that he he can wield a paintbrush. Uh, not only that, I think a lot of the uh work that um that we'd like to put into that, I think a lot of the individuals here are are willing to put that elbow grease in themselves um and not not looking to to make a huge expense and if any for the schools. We'd like to to build that for our community and put that back in our >> Do you have a plan like in writing to show what you're

077going to do and how much it'll cost and any plans? Um, I I have I can I can give you some previews to some things, but without your blessing for using the facility, I didn't I didn't want to put together a >> I just need more information. You know, how much is it going to cost the school system extra to give you a big office? That's what it sounds like to me right now, but maybe you can fill me in. Um, we've got a commitment from I'm giving you just an example. Home Depot giving us $5,000 worth of material just donating material to us for this purpose. Um, we have other I can go on with with folks from all these agencies here that are going to put the labor in. >> We're going to

078find ways to try to seek donations and help uh as a community. I'm just trying to understand what your idea is if they already have offices in the schools. >> So, similar to Lowden County, which I talked about in the five-year plan before, Lowden County, Frederick County, Virginia, uh they both have school safety centers. So, all >> they're so much larger than us. They have >> Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. And I and I and I I agree with that. Um, but I also see and as I had mentioned before, I also see that growth that that is coming this way that I I I would think we could talk about that I don't know that we're necessarily prepared for. I I think we want to get ahead of that growth with this plan to be

079prepared from a safety standpoint very similar to those counties are. Uh, would we ever be the size of Lowden County? Probably not in our lifetime. Uh but we're we also need to take those proactive steps I think to get ready for the growth that's coming this way. Um and part of that would be to build a safety department. >> But but what would it look like? >> So it would have uh in in the you'd have a director of of safety. You'd have an in a five-year plan you could have >> I'm hearing more employees. So there'll be an assistant. >> Will you have you have a director >> hiring more people? uh trying not to uh we are already have the approval I think to hire four school safety officers >> and they're going

080to be >> they're going to be stationed in the school in in each of the middle schools and then they'll have their space which we come together where we have our trainings our meetings transportation building to have trainings like everybody else does >> uh we could but we could I don't know if we can build an operation center where we're monitoring proactively monitoring all our TVs, dispatching our radios, and setting all of our school safety. >> What does that mean, monitoring your TVs? Where are these TVs? >> Uh, our camera system, ma'am. So, we we we have uh we're we're building the verata system, which is our our internal security cameras at all of our schools. And unfortunately, and it's the nature of the way security cameras work, most of them are reviewed uh retroactively.

081So, so something happens at a school and then we go back to the cameras. >> So, we have this is where is the money for that? >> Uh, that's already in place and I think every year, Miss White could speak to that, but every year we are improving and continuing to build our security camera system. >> Like, as an example, Miss White just mentioned the $30,000 for the cameras at Blue Ridge, that grant. I mean, that's going to be replaced this year. So, we're consistently and constantly >> No, but I'm um this system. >> So, those cameras come in, they're fed in through our our our current system. We already have I think we're over 50% and I think Miss White could nod to that. I think we're over 50% of our cameras are done.

082We're still about little maybe halfway or close to halfway done with redoing all of our cameras. >> Where are they fed to right now? >> Right now, they're in school. Yeah. individual schools and then we can monitor them remotely through through the internet. Obviously, we can log in and monitor those. >> So, you're saying that you need this building so that somebody's going to sit and monitor these screens all day. >> We would have the cameras up all day. That's how an operation center usually if you go to any of these school operations center the cameras are up which doesn't mean you're going to see everything and stare at the camera all day but you're proactively the cameras are up and are being monitor that's not a single job that's a job that can be

083done in conjunction with uh dispatching uh monitoring training uh keeping track of our drills u bringing all safety matters in under one department. >> Yeah, it sounds like a good idea. It just there's not a lot of details that >> Yes, ma'am. >> Um, >> so this this is an initial conversation. So if if this is something that you have interest in >> and interesting, >> then we can build it out further and bring it to you >> for more serious consideration. uh it is, you know, we're not one of the largest districts in this in this region, but we should be no less safe uh than than another district. So, I think the plan that we're that we're proposing uh makes safety a priority, which it is for us every day, which is why

084we've started uh with Jeff, and then we'll be adding based on the levy, the excess levy, we had four additional SSOs that were approved through that. So, and then along with our two um our SRO and our prevention resource officer at our two high schools, that gives us a great start. And we've already talked about how the new SSOs might even support their feeder schools. So, if you're at Charlestown Middle, you might also have responsibility at Wright Denny and Paige Jackson or Right Denny. Uh if you're at Shephardd'stown Middle, you would also have responsibility at Shephardd'stown Elementary. So there would be support in all of our buildings even though we would only be manned in six of them. >> There's a lot of feedback on your mic. Um I think I got >> most of

085it said reading your lips. Um yeah, it I just personally think it would be helpful to have a better picture like >> even tour one of these facilities to get an idea. I mean, I watched the blind blindsided blind side. >> I don't know if you know that show, but >> so it's incredible what they can do with the computer. So, that would be great if all of our, you know, the hallways and everything were monitored live instead of these old system that um vanishes the films. >> Yes, ma'am. Um, but more of how much money, how much time, how many people, and I just hear more and more staff being hired and um less money for teachers and classrooms. >> Yes, ma'am. I understand. And I think from a hiring standpoint, I I don't

086think we have uh I we did present one posit one hire within that five-year plan that something we have not yet to budget for, which would be analytical support, which would be taking all of that data, somebody that is in that center, connecting the dots, connect uh talking directly with our West Virginia Fusion Center, our FBI national threat operations center, and bringing in national threats, local threats, connecting the dots, receiving that information from our schools uh real time and and trying to to to mitigate threats before they happen. Um that analytical position would be a great position to bring into this district, but that would be the only position that I think we haven't um accounted for in some way uh within the plan. It was in the five-year plan we mentioned about analytical support,

087but um as far as hiring bunches of people, that would be the only position that we'd actually haven't spoken about. >> So from my perspective, um school safety, >> yes, sir, >> safety kids is absolutely paramount. Period. >> Thank you, sir. Um I I was here when you did your brief, your five-year plan. very I was very excited about that. And from my perspective as a board member, I want to make sure I do everything I can to make sure that you're given the tools and the resources to be successful. >> You were hired here to do a job. >> Yes, sir. >> And I want to make sure that you're able to do your job. >> Thank you, sir. >> Period. So, um I think that we should absolutely um look further into this

088um what you're trying what you're trying to do. Um when you were did your briefing, the first thing I thought of was I want to revolutionize I want Jefferson County to revolutionize school safety and I think you're the man to do it. >> Thank you, sir. >> You mentioned WVU or WU West Virginia Fusion Center. >> Yes, sir. I'm a I'm a uh retired uh Navy officer. Um I was in intelligence and I was in communications. I know fusion center out the back of my hand. I know how important it is. I was in charge of a network control center in charge of all of the communications across Iraq. It all had to come to one place for it to be successful. >> I appreciate you. >> So centralizing that type of stuff is I

089think is absolutely fair is absolutely paramount. I appreciate >> personally me Kelvin Epson I want to do what I can uh to support you and I encourage others on the board to now I know there's some details that need to be ironed out for instance data sharing plan you already mentioned that they're just going to >> there's a gap right now but when we get together there's certain uh things that can or cannot be shared from a collaboration perspective I completely completely understand that and I know you understand that as well you would not you would you would not have mentioned that So, um, connecting the dots, writing a framework to make sure that we're able to better understand what you're trying to do, tying that into your five-year plan, and bring it back and

090say, "Hey, this is how it fits into our our five-year plan. This is why we're doing it, and this is how long it's going to take, and here's the types of resources that we need." Um, I will be completely and utterly on board for that. >> Thank you, sir. >> I would just quickly say I 100% would echo what Mr. had said and I as far as I'm concerned, you know, it takes one day, it takes one minute. Um, and I'm so thankful when I travel and talk to other friends and who live in other states. Hey, do you do this with your teachers? Hey, do you have this on your staff? Hey, do you guys offer this? What kind of trainings do you do before school? What kind of trainings are you guys protecting

091your students? Because as a mother, as a father, as a an uncle, an aunt, anything. You know, as you said, most of you guys have children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews in our school. So, I know that you're actively invested in making sure 100% that we have safety. And, you know, I personally been very thankful to have Sergeant Williams. Um, felt very safe with my child at school knowing that, God forbid something happened, I I know that, you know, she would be protected as quickly as possible. Um, so for me, I agree. Uh I think even some of the trainings we've had as board members at the state level some of those um safety protocols have been talked about they've been asking hey what are parents or what are school districts doing we want to get them

092more involved some of the FBI people have come in to the state level and said hey do you want to connect with us here here which I know you are doing as well so um you know I would agree from my perspective um to repurpose that building to be able to be used in that way um to have that place makes, you know, makes total sense to me. Um, how we action on it long term with what our resources are. Um, what's donated and what you needed. Obviously, you know, you'd have to come back, you have to bid that, you'd have to ask for it. Obviously, Miss White, you know, would do that through through the operations piece. But, um, to repurpose it or whatever you needed for that safety piece, uh, again, I would

093feel the same way. I would be completely on board with it and um you know be um we're making a motion to repurpose for that use and the rest of it obviously come back 100% um agree and um I think it's a great idea. You know, we always hear of talk about how far behind West Virginia is. So, I love the fact that we're going to stop talking about it and we're going to be about it. So, I am in agreement with bringing this, you know, to our county and um you know, I totally agree with Mr. Upson. totally think you're doing a great job and this is, you know, something that I'm sure that you've put together from other counties or other places that you've seen this because you're in that um particular field.

094So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> And thank you all as well. >> I want to thank our guests for being here, too. I think this is a collaboration and it's only just begun if we uh give them access to the building. I know Mr. Caesar and I have talked in depth about creating another position, but working to find a grant that would be, you know, we often find grants on the professional side for um his person to sit there and be able to dispatch things. Currently, uh raise your hand in Jefferson County Schools if you're a dispatcher too. Uh my administrative assistant, [Music] >> Lisa, >> yes, Dr. Bishop's administrative assistant. We're currently staffing this um in addition to all the other hats we wear. Jeff's being the main hat, but that's how serious

095we are about safety. We have looked at the building with Mr. Kaitton. While I don't want to see school students in it, and it's not really big enough to house school students, um as we look to the next several years, it would give our safety building, our safety pe people a start. uh we can put together a little cost proposal for you. But what I've heard from um Jeff and from his his team and people with him is that they want to do this without a large cost to the school system. So it would be a lot of donated donated times. I've also seen a need this year for parents. Um, your kids are your most special thing that you have for all of us. And every day we send the best of us we

096have to school. And sometimes when uh your kid gets in a spot, it's emotional for a parent. And it's so emotional at times that principles are calling on Jeff now that Jeff is here. Please assist us with this and please find a spot where we can go. that is a spot where we can all sit down in a quiet place to work it out so that everyone feels safe and that's what we're aiming to do whether big or small and we're Jefferson so we want to be cutting edge about this so that's another reason we've come to you with this idea also our police departments are overtaxed and overworked and I want to thank the men behind me more than they know for the work they do in our community people are troubled more than

097ever. And they're not all fully staffed. None of the departments behind me are staffed. And when they do become staffed, if they need a place while they're SRO is working for the summer, but they say they can collaborate with you, but can we base them in and out of there? I'm happy for the community partnership because I think that's how we work best as a school system. We work when we're good stewards and good community partners. And I know law enforcement, they do anything we ask of them and I can't thank them enough for their dedication and the service they give to our schools. So for me, I think um I support the idea and I'm passionate about it. I'm passionate about safety and if you want us to put together a little plan, we're

098happy to do so. But that's where we're coming from tonight with our request. I would um just like to suggest that you do please put that plan together, but I also um just want to say this is a little off topic, but I would like to try to make sure that we keep that as the Delaney. Um >> we respect that. Yes. As as part of our request, um I don't want to put any cart before the horse. We understand that the name should be a part of the building in some way. Um, and we want to honor law enforcement and we want to honor the Delaney names. So, if we get to that stage, we'll be jumping for joy and we're happy to honor that request. >> Well, I just want to thank you

099very much. I mean, Mrs. White, you're in charge of, you know, facilities and operations and safety, and obviously you support this wholeheartedly. Mr. Caesar, I can't thank you enough for what you have done, are doing, and will continue to do. Um, you really didn't have to bring this this much muscle with you this evening. Um, we will all be watching our speed as we leave the building tonight. Um, but thank you very much for spending your time, you know, being here. We do appreciate that. >> And, you know, as we all feel, safety is number one. I mean, that's one of our board goals. That's one of our superintendent goals. That's that's a life goal. I mean, without safety, you have nothing. And um Jefferson is no more special than any other school system in

100the count in the country when it comes to threats. And you know, we've worked through threats before on I mean, last year we had threats. We have threats. Schools have threats constantly. And we appreciate you working through those threats, finding out if they're credible or not credible, and um you know, determining the actions from that. So, we just appreciate everything that you do and um if you need a place to do it, I'm all for it. >> And I want to make their threads easier to compile and put together and have a place to be because I know before Jeff was on board, not only were doctor and I Bishop and I uh working our entire clock um on threats, but these guys worked through the night. You know, many of them worked through the

101night. Jeff was up 247 until it was resolved. So, anything we can do to help them to get to the bottom of it and support them while they do it, then I think a place to be is reasonable. >> So, am I understanding that we need to um or do we need to put forth a motion that we would repurpose that building so that we can move forward with the um you know, with a schematic of what we want to do with it and how much it may cost and then decide what what we can do and what we can't do. But at least at that point, we would know that that building is repurposed for that. >> That that would be the next logical step. >> All right. Hearing that, is there a motion

102to repurpose the former OLC building to the Jefferson County Safety Facility? >> Is there a second? >> Is that you, Miss Bratton? >> Any further discussion or questions? Hearing none. >> Um, yeah, I do. So, you're not going to get a plan together? >> No, I'm happy to do that. I'm happy to accept a motion and get a plan. >> Why don't you get the plan first and then we decide >> how they however they decide to plan to make the building what they want it to be >> is up to them. That's what they're good at. >> But for me, I brought the motion to the floor that from them and Dr. Bishop. Um, what were you saying? I was just saying that uh regardless of whether you approve it tonight or not, we're

103going to come forward with a plan to to be reviewed. I mean, this this is conceptual in a lot of ways. Right now, we know we how we want to use the facility. We know how it could benefit our schools and the community. Um it's just a matter of how we put the final pieces of that puzzle together. Um, so if the board sees fit to vote tonight to repurpose that to a safety center, we'll still bring a plan forward. >> But what if the board says, "Okay, we'll we'll see the plan and then vote." If that's uh >> that's not the motion. Yeah, >> I know. And >> I I think Miss Joy, I I I I think one way to if this helps um we could use it right now as is just

104just what it is. It needs it needs work. Needs >> I'm just not sure of what >> we could repurpose it as a safety center right now. >> I don't I just don't know exactly what the plan is. Like what are you going to be doing? >> A secure >> I'm sorry. So, a secure meeting space as Miss Miss White discussed um is is one of the main things that we'd like to establish immediately if if possible, a secure a secure conference room that we can have meetings with that are that we're currently having >> conference room. >> So, in other words, like if we have student as well, I know we've had students that need safety protocols even to re-enter, we need to have risk ass. So, I know at this point too, we

105have risk assessment students and when we're trying to re-enter them back into um you know, our school system, we need to be able to have a safe space not in the school buildings where we can have those things, have those meetings, be able to have law enforcement available. Um even that alone, it puts us at risk by not having a safe space to be able to have those things whether we bring them into the buildings or into the board office or anywhere else. So I think even just having a space to do that knowing that we would you know obviously get a comprehensive plan that the sky's is the limit for what we can do um I do think it follows West Virginia protocol as I said before with safety pieces and I definitely understand

106your concern. My motion on the floor is is my motion that we move forward to repurpose the building. Um, we have a second and I totally understand what you're asking for and I absolutely respect that we will get a plan and I I definitely appreciate that you guys know we do. Um, if you say that we have a need for it, I'm going to accept that as that's your job to know what we need. So, um, that's where we'll move forward in my opinion. >> Um, so as I was asking where where do you do that now? uh those meetings that are >> uh difficult. We do them in the schools. >> We usually bring the parent to the school in a conference room. That's just the way it's been done. I don't believe that's

107the safest. I think these individuals here would speak to that as well. That's not the necessarily the safest. >> Why don't we use the board office? >> That's not the safest either. >> What do you mean by safe? Well, we've had parents walk into the board office uh and have to be escorted out by police uh for threatening statements uh to our to our front desk. Uh we don't we don't screen people when they come in. We don't have security at the board office. >> I I thought the the movement was to get students to not um to separate them from the police department. It sounds like you would be >> I I'm referring to parents and that and when you're talking about the board office, I apologize. I'm referring to parents that come to

108have come to the board office multiple times in where we have had to uh they've been difficult situations that where people feel threatened and people that should not feel threatened or even be involved in that situation are being put in that situation. not not at the fault of anybody in this room, but it's the circumstances and that's the way it's worked out when we have a much better uh opportunity or option in bringing them to a secure space that's away from students, staff that aren't involved in it um and children. >> Um Dr. Bishop, so can you tell me this is something that you came up with or >> Yes, we've we've come up with it. This has come out of the task force. Most of the agencies, maybe not all of the people that

109are sitting here, but most of the a or the agencies that are sitting down uh in front of you are all part of the task force that we've put together. And there are some that aren't here this evening. But this safety center concept has come from these discussions. Uh it's been something that Mr. Caesar and Miss White and I have talked about. It is something that I believe that we need to move forward with in order to make our schools as safe as possible. Uh there are several instances per week uh where we could use a secure facility to have meetings and re-entry. >> I don't know about them except I my other question. So do we approve the building plan or is it just they have cart blanch as soon as the votes taken

110tonight? >> We'll bring the plan back for you to take a look at. will explain the plan further and what certain parts of it are supposed to do and why we're proposing that. >> Uh if there's any money associated with it, that's where we might ask for for support. But based on what Mr. Caesar shared this evening, we have people and and companies in this community are willing to donate the materials and supplies to do this. >> So, we don't approve the plan. >> Correct. And I will just say that it it would be nothing that would be unbudgeted that I'd request additional funds for you for >> correct. >> It would >> I didn't hear you. >> This would not be an additional budget request that I don't currently have funds to sustain. Part

111of the plan would come from existing budget. >> Even the repairs. >> Yes. What he's talking about it. They're not major repairs that I would need to to come to you with. >> So, there's a motion on the floor, a second to repurpose the former OLC building to the safety facility. Any last minute discussion or questions? Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I opposed. >> All right. Thank you very much. Appreciate all of you being here. >> Thank you. Next we have board member comments and committee reports. Miss, would you like to start? >> I just would like to congratulate if people did not see it for um the Jefferson High School celebrates the five national merit semi-finalists. So, just congratulations to Jefferson High School seniors Jillian Dillow, Douglas Gillette, um Karen Laughner,

112Scott Leonard, and Sean Veterary um for being the semi- finalist in the 2026 National Scholarship. So, they move forward to the final round. So, they're going to compete as for one of the 6,930 scholarships worth nearly $26 million next spring. So, I know we did have um a National Merit Scholar final finalist last year, I believe, too. And so, um that is a a really big honor. It's a I want to understand a full scholarship. So, the fact that we have that many students is um very exciting for Jackson County Schools. So, congratulations to them uh for sure. and um just been fun to kind of get out to some of the games and football and soccer and enjoy that again this year since I don't have a a dog in the fight as if

113you will. Um so it's just been kind of fun to cheer everybody up and see how they do. >> Thank you, Miss Robson. >> Don't have anything. Miss Bratton. >> Um I would just like to um say congratulations to all the students that we um awarded tonight. Um that F um FFA um program, that FFA conference that they went to, that was something huge for those children. and then um to bring home what they brought home and things that haven't happened before. That was huge. So, congratulations to them all. Thank you, Dr. Joy. >> Yeah. I wanted to thank Dr. Bishop and Tanya Frasier um for their efforts to help our um new teachers from um the other countries that have come here with nothing. Um coming home after teaching our students to empty apartments

114and um so Dr. bishop is um organizing with the help of Tanya to um help them with supplies. So I think that's wonderful. Um and I wanted to wish everyone a happy Rashashana and a meaningful Yan Kapor. That's all. >> Thank you. Dr. Bishop, do you have any superintendent comments? >> I have a few this evening. Uh, first just to follow up on that, a lot of the work with the EPI teachers actually happens out of our HR department. I'm just a one cog in the wheel. So I I want to make sure that that we others have credit for that as well. Um, that's where the contacts made. That's where uh a lot of coordination happens. So um again, I'm just one piece of the puzzle. >> You you only gave me one name.

115operations job fair uh this past Saturday was very successful. Uh we've held some I'll call them off schedule job fairs and we have others planned. Uh it was primarily for op positions in operations, bus drivers, uh cafeteria maintenance. Uh the numbers weren't huge in terms of participation, but the quality was excellent. lots of folks uh that heard about it even from the radio that was there that day and turned around and came back to check in to see what uh we had uh what we were all about and there were lots of promising candidates. Um recent CTE state conference uh we received the pinnacle award as a county which means we were at the top in the top five in the state for pass rates on the CTE technical assessments for 2425 Blue Ridge campus.

116I'll be up there on Wednesday nearly all day from 10:30 through the end of the day talking with staff. We also have an anonymous survey that we sent to our staff members that they can fill out uh to provide us some feedback as well. Last Friday was dedication of Rise uh that was very well attended student participation. The choir from Washington High School did an amazing job. Had an amazing solo from a young lady from here in this building. Um, lots of dignitaries there. It was very, very, uh, well attended and a very nice use of that space. Make sure I have one more. The last one, North Jefferson Elementary, we learned last week, has been identified as a CSI school. Uh, based on performance of students with disabilities, we'll begin our work to address

117those deficiencies and work with the staff there. This is a three-year process. Unfortunately, we've been through it before. My friend Dr. Ever Soul is going to uh be working closely with North Jefferson just as he recently has with Branson specifically to help them address uh some of their um some of the weaknesses that need to be taken care of. So feel really good even though you don't ever want to be identified as a CSI school. I feel great about our our central office leadership that will assist as well as our school-based leadership and our teachers in that building who are who are working hard already this year. So that's all I have for this evening. >> All right. And I believe we have an executive session for personnel. >> Can I >> I'm sorry. Can

118I ask a simple question, please? The cameras that we saw um that the grant covers for Blue Ridge, when are we expecting to want either order them or for them to >> It's also going to require some new cabling. I just signed off on the um POS for those. Uh so it's in the process. I wish I could tell you it was going to be tomorrow, but there's cabling that has to be done as well as the installation of the canvas. So, it's in process. >> Okay. >> All right. So, I believe we have an executive session for personnel per code West Virginia code 6-9-42A to go into executive session and I believe there will be action at the end. Is that correct? >> Yes. >> All right. Is there a motion to go into

119executive session? >> Motion it. >> Thank you, Miss Bratton. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Robson. All in favor of going to executive session say I. >> Opposed. All right. Thank you very much. Stand behind him. I don't know. All right. Is there a motion to return to open session? >> Thank you, Miss Bratton. Is there a second? >> Thank you, Miss Ogden. All in favor of returning to open session, say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Thank you. Is there a motion to support the superintendent's recommendation to terminate Lamar Washington effective September 22nd, 2025? motion. >> Thank you, Miss Bratton. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Dr. Joy. All in favor of supporting the superintendent's recommendation of terminating Lamar Washington effective 922 2025 say I. >> I. >>

120Oppose. >> Thank you very much. >> And 8:38 meeting adjourned. Thank you.