001Good afternoon everyone. Welcome back. So good to see your smiling faces all over the room. It's It's good to be back. So we're ready to get started with our first meeting for 202526. And >> madam chair, I move that we reconvene in open session and adopt certification of closed session. >> Second. >> It has been moved and second that we reconvene to open session adjourn certification at close session. Whereas the Denwy County School Board has convened a closed session on this date pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. And whereas paragraph 2.2- 2-3712 of the code of Virginia requires a certification by the school board that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia law. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the
002Denwitty County School Board hereby certifies that to the best of each member's knowledge, only such business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed, or considered by the school board. Dr. Elaine J. Pearson, District 1. I certify >> Dwayne G. Walker, District 2. >> I certify. >> Barbara T. Pitman, District Three. >> I certify. >> Mary M. Benjamin, District 4. >> I certify. >> Madame Chair, all members certify. >> Thank you. I ask you now if you um will join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. >> Madame Chair, I move that we approve the amend
003um >> approve the agenda. >> Okay. Are there any are there any amendments? >> Amendments. Madam Secretary. >> No, ma'am. >> I'd move that we approve the agenda adopted for tonight. >> I second. >> It has been moved and second that we adopt the agenda as presented. All those in favor? >> I. >> None. No. Nays. It's accepted. Close session report. Approve. Personnel approval. >> Madam chair, I move that we approve the personnel list as presented. >> Second. It has been moved and second that we accept the personnel list. All those in favor? >> I I The list is approved. Dr. Weston. >> Yes. Um I'd like to reintroduce a couple of familiar faces to you this evening. Um um as they're sitting in new roles for the upcoming school year. First I would like
004to introduce to you um Miss Kimberly Bailey. Can you stand please? Miss Bailey Bailey is the new the new um principal at Den Woody High School. Um Mrs. Bailey comes to us. She had an associates degree from Richard Bland and she has a bachelor's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and her master's degree is from Central Michigan um University. Um she has served both as a special ed teacher um and then for about seven years she was a an assistant principal. Um, and she left us for a moment when she had a lapse in judgment and went to a neighboring school district. Um, and we were able to get her to come back home um to serve here because this is where this is where she's supposed to be. Um, and now she is the new
005principal um at the Denwiny High School. Um, I should tell you that she graduated in class of 90 1997. Um, and you know, I firmly believe she does indeed believe Navy. Um, there's nobody that is a bigger cheerleader for Denim Woodwy High School than than Miss Bailey. So, we're so happy that you're serving in this capacity. Congratulations. >> The other family? >> Yes. We Oh, you have your family with you this evening. We have two roles of family in this. Yes. >> Would like to graduate. My son, my sister, 1992 graduate, >> my brother-in-law, 1995 graduate, graduate, my father, >> my niece, >> Wow. by proxy. She really is though. >> My brother is a 2008 graduate. >> Absolutely. Well, thank you so much. That's awesome. >> Thank you for saying yes. We're so happy.
006Another familiar face for you. Um, Mr. Robbie GS. Um, if you could stand up, please, sir. Um, Mr. Robbie GS is the new director of student, he likes to say student support services because, um, he wants to make sure that that's the main emphasis in his work. Um, and Mr. Garn, um, he has his bachelor of arts. He was an English teacher. Um, and then he has a master's of art and that he received from Virginia Tech. We'll try not to hold that against you. although this is Virginia Tech country around here. Um and he um served as an assist he was an English teacher first and foremost um at several different districts and in Reicho and Chesterfield and Birdie County I believe. Um and then he also served in Louisa as an assistant principal
007before we were able to lure him over here. Um and he worked here for us as an assistant principal. and for the past six years he's served at the helm of Denwitty High School and has done an amazing job in that role. Um so much so this is what happens when you do a great job. Um here come more responsibilities for you. So now he's taken on the role of um the director. Um Mr. Garn comes to us with a number of accolades. Um he was when he was a teacher he was the new teacher of the year for Henriiko Public Schools. um he's part of the who's who among all the teachers and I think all the teachers in the world um as far as I'm concerned anyway. Um and so he has quite
008an impressive background and we're just so happy that he's agreed to to take on this new role because he's going to do amazing things in this capacity with our young people and has already hit the ground running. So congratulations to you Mr. Garn. I will say too that Mr. Garn is working on his doctorate. So he will he will um very very soon and be Dr. Garn and um and so thank you so much and congratulations to you. >> I feel like we should introduce Dr. Walker because she is your family part of your family, right? We always say pastor and first lady is what I I call him pastor and first lady usually. So yes, so thank you so much Miss Benjamin. >> Okay, thank you Dr. Wesson and congratulations to the both of
009you. Um Approval of student matters. >> Uh, Madame Chair, I uh move that we honor the parent request and release from compulsory attendance student number 08/25-1 for religious reasons. >> Second. It has been moved and second that students number eight uh where you start at 252 that >> that's 25-1 25-1. >> Mhm. >> Be remove be accept the parents request for release from school attendance based on religious exemption. All of those in favor use the usual sign. >> I >> So the motion is >> Oh, okay. All those in favor use I right. >> Yeah, we did. I >> Yes. >> Next word. >> All right, Madam Chair, I also make a motion that we honor the parent request and release from compulsory attendance student number 0825-8. >> Second. >> Is that right, Miss Ramy?
010Is that eight? Okay, >> it has been moved and second that student number 08/25-8 be um accept the parents request and release student from compulsory school attendance based on religious exemption. All those in favor use the usual sign. >> I the motion is accepted. Um, next. >> Madam Chair, I move that we honor the parents request to release from uh compulsory attendance students recla. [Music] It has been moved and second that students number recla-4 that we honor the parents request and release the student from the students from compulsory school attendance based on religious exemption. All those in favor use the usual sign. >> I >> Okay, it's accepted. The next one. >> Madam Chair, I move that we honor the parents request to release from compulsory school attendance students number recla and reel-825-7. >> Second.
011It has been moved and second that we honor the parents request and release students compulsory school attendance based on religious exemption. All those in favor use the usual sign. >> I the motion is carried. That's that's it. >> Okay. Recognition. >> Now we got expenditure reports. I missed expenditure expenditures report. >> Madam chair, I move that we approve the expenditure reports that have been presented tonight. Second. >> It has been moved and second that we accept the expenditures report as as given. Um we'll do a roll call on the motion. >> Ela >> I Walker. >> I [Music] >> Madam Chair, I move that we approve the minutes from June 10th, 2025 and June 24th, 2025. >> Second. >> It has been moved and second that we approve the minutes from June 10th, 2025 and
012June 24th, 2025. Chair, I Madam Secretary, I request a roll call vote on this motion. >> Yes. On June 10th, 2025, abstain for June 24th, 2025 as I was not present. >> Yes, for both. All the members have voted and it is um passed. That it that's it. Recognitions. >> Yes, ma'am. Going to um bring to you this evening about what um smart work's been happening over the summer with our workbased learning students. >> Good afternoon, members of the board. Excellent. >> There we go. There you go. Good afternoon, members of the board and Dr. Weston. Um I'm just here today to introduce to you Janette Nicholas. She is the workforce development manager um here with Dwey County and she was overseeing the summer workbased learning program and she can give you all the highlights
013and I believe we have two student workers here today to also give you a presentation on how well their summer went. >> Good afternoon, >> Madam Chair, members of the board and Dr. Weston. Thank you so much for this opportunity. Um, this is the first time. Hopefully, this will be something we can continue to do moving forward. So, I am newly appointed to my position. I say new because I just made it to my year mark in June, but our summer workbased learning program is something that we do annually. It usually runs from June through the end of July. And we thank the school because you guys have a number of people who participate. And special thanks goes to Miss Clary who was making sure that we found placements for our students. So, this year
014we had Dewey Elementary to participate. We had the schoolboard office. We had nutrition department, high school and the middle school. We had 31 students that participated in the program and all 31 completed it. They all completed the fir the full eight weeks. They have a option to do either four or eight, but they all continued throughout the whole program. And they also completed the program by participating in um um one of our activities, which was a reality store. And it um for some of our students, it gave them a little insight on what parents go through in regards to making decisions on how much they pay. And some of the students that I have standing to my left were um very funny about determining whether or not they would get an Android or an iPhone
015if they had to pay for it out of their own pocket. So I think that the activity definitely did what it was supposed to do. But I would like to yield now for those two students to give you a presentation of their experience during the program. So we have Miss Lauren Williams as stated and we also have Miss Kimari Rainey and they will tell you where they were placed and what that experience was like. Hello. >> My name is Lauren Williams. >> Do I need to click? Okay, >> you just tell me when to >> Okay. I go to Dy High School and I am a rising 10th grader. I am in FBLA, SDA, DECA, Pearls, Rack, and Geraldc. In the future, I would like to attend college at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State
016University and become an entrepreneur when I come out. >> My placement I was placed with Dim Lady Public Schools nutrition department. A school nutrition department plays a vital role in providing healthy nutritious meals to students. Their responsibilities include meal planning, food preparation, nutritional education, compliance and regulation, budget management, community community engagement, special dietary needs and feedback and improvement with the nutrition department. I did so many different projects and saw so many different sides of dimwitty. My first project was making a potato bar for a meeting that was held at the schoolboard office. The day before, we went out and did shopping and prepare for the event. I noticed that this department deals with a lot of math and measurements. The day of, I helped season the food and prepare the setup. My next project was
017the kindergarten countdown. This was my first time serving to children and adults. I did the beautiful setup as you can see in the picture and this was one of my favorite projects. My last project was engaging with the community. I made bags full of food and the staff and I went to hand them out to families in need. This was also a pickup where you could come to the school and get the bags loaded up into your car. We ended up serving 37,011 meals over the summer. This had to be my favorite out of them all. My takeaway. Working with the nutrition department at my school taught me the importance of balancing health, efficiency, and community needs when it comes to providing meals. I learned how much planning and teamwork go into creating menus that
018meet nutritional guidelines while still appealing to the students. I gained a better understanding of food safety, proportional control, and how dietary restrictions are accommodated to ensure every student has access to healthy options. Most importantly, I saw how the department plays a key role in fostering a positive school environment by promoting wellness and making healthy eating both accessible and enjoyable. These are my references. My supervisor, Maryanne Elder, my teacher, Kimberly Rosel, and one of the SWBL participants, Kaiser Robinson. Thank you. [Applause] >> Good afternoon everybody. >> Good afternoon. My name is Kima Rainey. I attend to Denwy High School and I am 16 years old and a rising junior for the 2025 2026 school year. I am involved with DECA, EPLA, and Sage. And in the future, I would love to attend Georgia Tech and pursue
019my dream career in programming mechanics. A little bit about my placement. During the summer, I worked for Dewy County Public Schools technology department. My role there was a IT technician. My job was to make sure computers were in the working condition and were ready for use. I also had the opportunity to attend onboarding meetings every Wednesday. These meetings were acquired to help new employees as teachers with their computers, accounts, and work badges. These pictures show a little bit of what I was doing while I was working. So, while you're there, you're just working on computers for all Denim Woody public schools and making sure everything is up to good use and that they're ready for the school year. These are my references, Dice Gwyn, my boss, that I have been working with for three years.
020and Kimberly Rosselle and Lauren Williams. Thank you so much. [Applause] Thank you young ladies for pre making your presentation this um this afternoon and I believe you really did learn something. Yes. So we'll be coming back to you for some things because I need some answers. So I appreciate all of those uh all of your references also. We're going to move on. board matters. >> Um, yes ma'am, Miss Benjamin, we have a field trip. I believe Archie's gonna come forward. >> Good afternoon. How's everybody? >> Afternoon. >> Uh, the field trip today is for the National FFA Convention. It's being held in Indianapolis, Indiana. Uh, it is routinely held there. The dates we're looking for going is October 28th through November 1st. Uh, all three FFA advisers will be on the uh, trip there. They
021get to uh you know compete with the at the national level, participate in career shows, various agricultural companies and colleges and they also attend the agricultural tour on the national days of service while on the trip. Uh substitutes going to be required for four days for all three FFA adviserss. The cost of the students is approximately $900. That includes the flight, the hotel, the food. Um students will be responsible for all work missed and they be required to obtain as much of their work as possible to take with them uh so they do not fall behind. Study times will be established by the adviserss while there. Uh trip will allow many cultural and personal experiences for those attending. Students will be conducting various uh fundraisers to offset their trip expenditure. Are they flying? >> Yes,
022they'll fly. >> Yeah, that's why it's on this trip so they could or on this board meeting so they could get going looking at flights, figuring out exactly when, where, and how much. >> Are there any >> how many people are going? uh three adviserss and looking at 12 to 18 depending on who one is allowed to go and two you know it's the higher ranking officers and the higher ranking members of the FFA. >> Madame chair I move that we approve the DY high school national FFA convention field trip second. >> It has been moved and second that we approve the the FFA field trip. All of those in favor use the usual sign. >> I >> the eyes have it and it's approved and thank you. >> Thank you. Welcome back. >> Mr.
023Walter's going to come and um talk to you all about the crisis management plan. >> Good evening. Each year we come we come before y'all um in accordance with the code of Virginia um you can read there 22.1279.8 that requires that the school board uh looks at um and approves the um crisis guide prior to uh Dr. Weston signing her certification of that guide. Um I did send this out to you in advance. Um there is some person there's some people's personal information in there. So let's not um >> Yeah. Okay. Um that has personal cell phones and things like that in the event of an emergency. But um I did get some feedback from the board. I did correct those things. We had some uh a couple corrections we needed to make with all
024the personnel changes and everything. Um, but I'm just before you uh today to ask that you um if you have any questions first of all and then ask that you approve this crisis guide. >> Do we just a question um do we each year is it part of our preschool training to to review this with the staff each time? >> Um the what what the way it works is this the the school guide is in correlation with this guide. Um this is a division level guide. So the the principles all turn it into me. I over look over them and make sure they have the required information. Um and then they review their their school guide with their staff. Yes, ma'am. And then this a copy of this once once it's approved, a copy of
025this will go to each principal so they have it so they know what's going on at the division level. And it's it's also distributed to the uh health department, fire and EMS, uh sheriff's department, and all of the emergency responders so that everybody's on the same page. We took ours about three years ago and we adapted it close more closely to the crisis management manual that the uh county uses for their fire and EMS and their emergency services. It just made more sense because that's nine times out of 10 who are going to be working in coordinates with. So the short answer, Miss Pitman, is yes. >> I'm glad to see you have it to this point. We've been working on it for a while, you know, trying to get it to this point. >>
026Are there any other questions for >> No, I just want to thank everybody who served on this committee for all the hard work >> because this is very technical and it involves stuff and having served on many of these different committees, I really appreciate the effort you put into this. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Madam Chair, I move that we approve the crisis management plan that Mr. Walters has presented this evening. >> Second. It has been moved and second that we approve the crisis management plan that Mr. Walters has brought to us. All of those in favor, you will sign. I >> jump to I. >> I. >> Thank you. Once it's been signed, you'll also get a copy of this electronically. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. >> Um the next part, Miss Benjamin,
027is the policy updates um that were presented back in um February of 2025, I believe. Did you have something to spell >> nutrition? School. >> Yes, >> it's not online. >> School nutrition. >> Oh, excuse me. I am so sorry. It's not on school nutrition. >> Thank you so much. >> I have two separate ones. So, thank you. She was moving so I knew something was happening over there. So, thank you, Miss Alder, for your >> Thank you. You're welcome. >> Good afternoon, chair, vice chair, board members, Dr. Weston. I'm here to present um the co-op bids. We are a member of the Southside co-op and we have opted to roll over our food food supply items, ice cream and milk bids for the 2526 school year. The vendors supplying these services include are our
028as food service, freezing point LLC for our fruit smoothies, Hershey's ice cream, Pat Dairy, and Smartmouth Pizza. The co-op issued a new request for proposal this year for fruit smoothie mix and this proposal was awarded to Freezing Point LLC. The co-op also issued a request for proposal this year for paper products and chemical products. The vendors supplying these items are Riverside Paper and Brady Plus for the chemicals. We are also members of the Southside Sanitation and Safety Co-op since 2021. Uh and our division, this is also a part of the Southside co-op. In this contract, um RFP was um for cleaning supplies for the nutrition department. We are also requesting permission to continue the use of cooperative purchasing with Greensville County for the Coca-Cola products. The estimated total for food and food supplies and chemicals
029for 2526 is estimated $2 million. if any questions. >> So, we have a cluster of different companies within the bid. >> Yes, ma'am. >> And they're similar to before. >> Yes. Same ones. Only different one is Freezing Point. We had tried beverage before, but they went out of business and that was one of the students favorites of the slushies. So, we went out for be so we can keep that item um for the students and it's 100% fruit juice. Excellent. Um, Madam Chair, I I move that we approve the bid for the co-ops for the nutrition department. >> Second. >> It has been moved and second that we accept the school nutrition bids uh for fiscal year 2025 26. All those in favor use the usual sign. >> I have it. And you have another
030one. Yes, ma'am. One more. >> Um, back on July 21st, we issued an RFP to supply produce, vegetables, and fruit for our school system. And we received three responses. The response, um, however, we issued it. Um, it was prepared with cooperative language allowing any district in the Southside co-op to use the chosen vendor if they wish. The proposed bid is for one year with an opportunity for them to roll over for four additional years based on performance and quality. Out of the three vendors who responded, it was decided that Rudy Rudy's exited mushrooms could supply the quality and quantity that we will need to maintain our high quality of standard and nutrition for our students. The annual estimated total be $135,000. It is recommended that we award Rudy's exotic mushrooms for an initial one-year period
031July 20 July 1st 2025 through June 30, 2026 with an option to renew for an additional four years. Estimated amount to approve the entire 5year period is $675,000 and that also includes the um items that we use for our fresh fruit and vegetable program. So are we awarding a contract for one year or the five years? >> One with the option to move for four more be five total. Yes ma'am. >> So if they don't do what we asked then we can revisit and if the quality of the um items we need >> she has the option after one year. >> Yes ma'am. We come in there. >> Okay. >> Did you use any of the fruit? I see July 1. Did you start using it yet? >> We have to approve the contract first.
032>> But did you use them last year? These are the same ones that we used in the past with the individual um items. Another student favorites >> and they Okay. >> Any other question for Miss Elder? >> Madam Chair, I move that we approve the school nutrition produce and fruit uh bid as presented for fiscal year 2025 26. It is moved and second that we accept the school nutrition produce and fruit um uh bid for fiscal year 202526. All those in favor use the usual sign. >> I is approved and thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Now policy updates. Thank you, Miss Benjamin. um we provided you um well they actually came out in February of this year and then we provided another copy of the policy updates so we're asking for your approval
033now that you've had some time to take a look at them. Um most of the policy updates have to do with change in code um or some changes to wording. Um there were a couple of policies uh that had to be updated annually and no changes were made but we just had to show that we were we were looking at it annually reviewing it. Um and then there were a couple also that we did actually change the wording in the policy itself to be more in line with um the law. >> So we're asking for your approval of these policies >> in some word and it was where it was redundant. We had we just eliminated >> some of it we just Yeah. >> Madam Chair, I move that we approve the policy updates that
034have been presented. >> Second. It has been moved and second that we approve the policy updates. All of those in favor use a sign I >> I. So the updates approved. Dr. Weston, thank you. Um I just wanted to provide you with an update as to where we are with enrollment. Um currently the good news is that we are above our budgeted amount. Um and so they are coming. So um now we just are all very um hopeful that everyone that has signed up to come and is signing up to come will show up on the first day. Um we do are watching a couple of the class sizes um at some of our schools u we have until September 30th to get all those to level out. So we'll see what happens the first
03510 days or so of school and come back to you in September and let you know exactly where we are with students. But the good news is that we are above our budgeted amount currently. >> That's good news. >> That's wonderful. That's very that's wonderful news. Yes, ma'am. >> Now you have policy updates. Yes. And so we just know that um you just finished those policies and now we have some more policies for you to review. Actually, this notebook is a little thicker than the one you had previously. So it might take you a little longer to go through. Um but there are a number of policies um that are there for your review. Um and we'll be coming back to you at a later date and asking for your approval um and whatever time
036you need to have in order to review those policies. >> Okay. Is that that's it for that? >> Yes, ma'am. That's all we have is just a list on record as being this will be the first reading of those policies for how how long that the board needs. >> Okay. >> Madam Secretary, are there any citizen comments? >> No one has signed up to speak tonight, Madam Chair. >> Board member comments. I just want to thank the students who participated in the summer work program for coming in and showing us what you did this summer and letting us know that you actually gained something other than a little bit of money. Thank you so much. I I want to acknowledge that um this time of year is always kind of a a mixed bag of
037emotions, I think, because it's the mystery of a new year, but also the excitement of a clean slate. And so, um it's always kind of I think it's a strange feeling that you have at this time of year. But in the midst of all that, I I want to acknowledge that there are sometimes changes that happen um that we don't want. And there are people that aren't in the room that were in the room the last time we were here. And those changes are hard. Um and I saw firsthand over the last few weeks what an amazing place Denwy County is. And uh we'll get through the these kinds of changes together because of the people in Denwy. Um, but at the same time, I just I just want to acknowledge that it's not easy.
038And so, uh, we're we're in this together. We're we're supporting one another. And I just want you to know that it's a new year and we'll get through it. But, uh, it won't always be easy. [Music] Well, thank you all for um for coming and thank you um Mr. Walker for what you said and um I want you to know that we have attended a few things too that young ladies we did a few things this summer too. We attended conference on education, um the welcome back breakfast, the back to school bash and also the IDPS. I think I saw you two out there. We had that awesome speaker and also on yesterday we did um some rounds with the faithbased or what called the pastor's round table. We did a few stops with them
039on yesterday. So, we continue to uplift and be here for each other and we and we have each other's back. >> Dr. Weston. >> Um, yes, I would echo that. I I would like to start by saying that I'm very um grateful for the partnership we have with Dewy County. Um it it is nice to to live and serve in a community that u we all have the same mission. Um and that is to remain mindful that it is about young people. And so, thank you so much um Nette for your service and your leadership. It's it's just um just great the work that you continue to do and lean in for our young people. Um she does a lot of things so I'm not sure how she's on every committee, every you know, so
040she does a lot of things. Um I'd like to thank um the IDCPS planning committee under the leadership of Betty Spires. Um it was another phenomenal um conference a two-day conference and um it was a it was amazing and I just want to thank you uh for every all the work that the team put in. I know you don't like to take credit for things so but I just really appreciate all the work that went into making that such a success for everybody. Um it was truly a great time for us all to come together. So thank you so much for that. um the back to school bash. I told Natanya the other night that she was the goat because uh she really did um it was it was it was a great event and
041uh every year it just keeps getting better and better and I'm just you know so appreciative of her leadership and her being able to pull all that together and everybody that came out to support that and to support our young people um was really um quite awesome. And then also the pastoral round table um uh you know we have a it's a great group of individuals and um you know they went around to each of the schools yesterday and um we just so grateful um for their service and their support of our young people in our schools. Um and I'm just we are truly a community like none none other and this is a community um we do call it the dimwitty difference. Um it is it's a very different kind of community that um
042does rally around people and one another and I'm just so grateful to be a part of that. >> Thank you Dr. West. >> Thank you. >> There any other comments in but in addition to anything board members will I'll entertain a motion. >> Madam chair I move that we adjourn. >> All in favor? I I >> So the meeting is now journed. You record 440.