DCPS School Board Meeting - June 10, 2025

0011.03. Thank you. Uh Madam Chair, I move that we reconvene an open session and adopt certification of close session. Second. It has been moved and second that we reconvene in open session and adapt adopt certification of close session. All of those in favor use the usual sign. I I whereas the Denwitty 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 2.2-3712 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 Denwy County School Board hereby certifies that to the best of each member's knowledge, only such business matters as were identified in

002the motion convening the closed meeting were here heard, discussed, or considered by the school board. Dr. Ela J. Pearson, District 1, I certify. Dwayne G. Walker, District 2, I certify. Barbara T. Pitman, District 3, I certify. Mary M. Benjamin, District 4, I certify. Jason L. Brown II, District 5. I certify. Madam Chair, all have certified. Thank you. I will invite you now to stand for 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. May be seated. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments to the agenda? Madam Chair, we have no amendments. I move that we accept the agenda as presented. Second. It has been moved and second that

003we adopt the agenda as presented. All those in favor use the usual sign. I hearing no nays. The agenda is adopted. Recognitions. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Local businesses have the power to shape community attitudes about public schools and the Virginia schoolboard association business honor role is a way for local school divisions to recognize local businesses for their support especially as the school faces increasing budget uncertainties. The business honor role helps division say thank you to these businesses for their vital contributions. This year, our business honoral recipients names were submitted by our secondary education department. The following three businesses have been instrumental in providing invaluable support such as offering internship opportunities, serving as a sponsor for industry day, volunteering in schools, serving on the CTE advisory committee, or offering inind or financial contributions and more. We

004are so lucky to have their support here in Denwitty County. Our 2025 honores are Wayne Cook Electric, Inc. Will the representative please come forward? [Applause] How are you? All right. Congratulations. This is your certificate and we have a thank you package in the mail for you. Okay. Thank you. All right. And I want to grab a picture after. Okay. Thank you. All right. Our next recipient is EPT, Inc. And um unfortunately, they were unable to be here tonight. And our last um honore is Dunlop House Assisted Living and Memory Care. And unfortunately, they could not be here tonight, but Miss Perinson um and Miss Perinson and I had two conversations this week. she was very excited to be honored um and to get this recognition. So, she knows her package is on the way and

005um she can't wait to display the honor. Now, our recipients names will be posted on the VSBA website for a whole year under the VSBA business honor roll page. Okay. Along with other districts, next up we have the school bell award with Miss Leanne Adams. Please come forward. [Applause] All right. This is Oh, it shouldn't be a surprise. Mrs. Adams is being recognized today for receiving the school bell award. This award recognizes school board administrators that have made significant contributions to their school, their school system, their state association, their national association, or our educational organization. Mrs. Adams will be recognized at the annual VAESP Principles Conference this summer. Correct. All right. Congratulations, Mrs. Adams. And that's the end of our recognitions. Well, thank you. Let's give all of our recipients another and congratulations to our

006VSBA uh business honor role recipients and our school bell award recipients. I like that school bell award. Next we um close session report. Madam chair, I move that we approve the personnel list as it's been presented to us today. Second. It has been moved and second that we approve the personnel list as presented. All of those in favor use the usual sign. I and opposed. It is approved. Consent agenda. Madam chair, I move that we approve the expenditure reports as presented. Second. It has been moved and second that we accept the expenditure reports as presented. All of those in favor use the usual sign. I hear no nays. It is accepted. Minutes of May 13th and May 27th meetings. Madam chair, I move that we accept the minutes of May 13, 2025 and May 27th,

0072025. Second. Second. Second. It's been moved and second that we accept the minutes of May 13th and May 7, 27th, 2025. All those in favor, use the usual sign. I I It is accepted. Board matters. Um yes, Miss Benjamin. We're going to start this evening with the approval of the 2025 consolidated grant. Dr. Clay, good afternoon everyone. Good afternoon. Uh it is our pleasure to come before you this afternoon uh as we do every year around this time um to bring information about our consolidated grant. Let me get my little clicker ready. So this evening um different coordinators will present um they'll talk we'll talk about the process for the for the grant and then title one will be presented title two title three uh and title four. So with the grant development process we

008go through a very similar process every year. Uh we begin with a comprehensive needs assessment. Um that is part of this I think when developing any type of plan. Uh the comprehensive needs assessment means we look at a wide variety um of data and it is a multidisciplinary team. So there are members of the academic leadership team planning and accountability um which they help us with a lot of the data. Um part of the needs assessment deals with a survey that goes to families, community, you know, parents and guardians, staff. So we get feedback from a variety of stakeholders through that survey and then the committee analyzes that data. We review discipline data. Um we review academic data to include so vowels and other pals plus. We review attendance data. We look at staffing data.

009Again, it is a wide variety of pieces that go into this to determine how do we need to spend this money because your data should drive your decision making. Right? So, the committee found needs or trends in the areas listed there, professional development, literacy, which we know is an ongoing effort with the Virginia Literacy Act, science, math, instructional resources, attendance. Um though we are making gains with chronic absenteeism, there's still work to do there. Technology, digital citizenship, so how our students are using technology, do they understand that and safety around that uh behavior and again supporting English language learners. So again, that kind of goes through that process of what we focused on. And then the coordinators of each grant after we did that deep data dive, they begin to work on their parts of

010the application. So again, for title one, title two, title three, title four, um that application has been reviewed several times, most recently last night. Um we're still making a few little tweaks, but we are we are almost 100% done. And so the final draft has been repaired prepared. Again, a few little revisions may need to happen. Uh, and that is in preparation to present to you this evening. And of course, we at the end of this will need your approval. So, next up will be Miss Valentine, who is our coordinator of the Title One grant. Good evening, board chair, vice chair, all other board members. Dr. Weston. Good evening. Um I will be sharing with you uh information regarding title one part A which is referred to as improving basic programs. Um and the purpose

011of title one part A we like to refer to as following the backpack of the student. Um the purpose is to provide grant funds that helps to ensure that all students have a fair and equal opportunity to succeed academically. Um the title one funds are normally utilized for students in schools that are demonstrating the greatest um academic need as well as C community eligibility provision also known as poverty rates. Um we utilize these funds to support highquality evidence-based instruction in the areas of literacy, math and science. Also to implement and evaluate uh effective instructional programs. Um, most importantly, recruitment and retention of highly qualified staff aligned with the Virginia Literacy Act, VLA. So, we want the best of the best in front of our students, helping to move that academic needle. And then finally, family

012and community engagement through meaningful literacy focused activities. And next, we get into the um actual allowable uses um the planned areas that we plan to use the funds for. So, in essence, where is the money going? exactly how is it being utilized? Um, Denwy County Public Schools proposes to use title one part A funding for the following. Um, the addition of Midway Elementary as a title one school. Um, we spoke about this previously. Um, and I presented, if you remember recently to the board in reference to this um, based on data points that include the community eligibility provision, also known as C, and academic data. um also six supplemental reading positions to include three reading interventionists and three reading specialists. Um these three reading specialists are in addition to the five locally funded reading specialist

013positions that we already have. So in essence, this is the above and beyond the cherry on top uh to demonstrate um providing additional supports for those students and schools that demonstrate the greatest need. also a behavioral specialist, a title one lead literacy interventionist that also supports um teachers specifically in the area of modeling, helping to comb through the high-quality instructional materials and actually working with them on instructional delivery, how to plan and prepare effective uh lessons for our students and also disagregating um the data utilizing that data to drive their instruction. Also uh the family and community engagement specialist position. Um this is important because as I mentioned earlier we have to uh a lot funding towards family and community engagement but more specifically parents and families are one of our most important stakeholders. So

014how can we work in concert with them to support the literacy needs of our students and we want to allocate funds to do that. also part-time literacy tutors um e tutors English as a second language tutors at the elementary level to support newcomers and PL1s and then utilizing remaining funds to support the required set aside for family engagement. In addition to that, we know that professional development is an ongoing need as we have new teachers um to enter, but also our teachers that are a little bit more seasoned as um instructional materials and uh instructional initiatives continue to change um from state level. We want to make sure that we're staying a breast of best practices and evidence-based practices. Also utilizing funds to support our homeless population that is continuing to grow. That is a

015requirement of Title One. And lastly, um, to support our curriculum work efforts. Were there any questions regarding title one? Thank you. Good afternoon. Um, I'm gonna start with title two. All right. So, the purpose of title two part A grant is to help schools improve the quality of teaching and school leadership. So it provides um funding to support professional development for teachers and principles to improve um student achievement by ensuring educators are well-trained, effective and able to meet state academic standards to increase the number of effective um educators who make a positive impact on student learning and um to ensure all students have access to effective teachers. and school leaders. So for the allowable and planned uses, um we are proposing to use title 2 part A funds to support our educators in schools through

016conference attending uh attending for our teachers and our administrators for outside presenters um and evidence-based best practices professional development um teacher evaluation program which we use talent had performed which allows our administrators to manage observations and document feedback. Um tuition and assessment reimbursement support for teachers seeking initial lure or additional lure in pre-approved hardto staff areas. We also um propose to um have stipens for teacher mentors and then financial support to programs offering an alternate right to a lure such as our Richmond Tech teacher residency program and also for recruiting and retention efforts. So um are there any questions for title two? Questions? Yeah. Okay. Okay, so we're going to skip title three for a moment since I'm here and jump to title four. Um, the purpose of title four grant funds is to help

017schools raise academic achievement. The grant supports efforts in three key areas. Um it provides all students with access to well um rounded education, creating safe and healthy um learning environments and enhancing the use of technology to strengthen learning and improve digital literacy. And we propose to use title 4 um part A funds to provide on-site contracted coaching to support science instruction through um a contracted company CTLG. And this is for science at the secondary level. Um we also are want to increase our access to dual enrollment opportunities. Um just to kind of give you like um this past year we had 112 students who took at least one dual enrollment. This past year it arose to 173. So that was definitely an increase and the title 4 um part A funds were to help support

018help support that. Um both of those are under the category of well-rounded education. Um we also want to use um the funds to support the ongoing responsive classroom initiative which helps with positive classroom um community promotes student engagement and social emotional learning. We actually have a training going on this week at one of our schools. And um we also want to provide support and digital citizenship um through Neptune navigate which helps our secondary um students um teaching them digital citizenship. And both of those are under the safe and healthy learning environments. And finally, we use the technology funds to send our um innovation specialist to conferences to bring back that information to help train and support teachers. Are there any questions for title four? I don't have any questions for T. You haven't finished yet.

019We got I have finished. If you don't have any questions, no all the I mean I am you know happy to see that we have these funds and we're doing things with it. Now, uh, have we added anything this year to the if we get the funds this year? Anything different or we just going to keep continue to support the initiatives that we have to? Thank you. Okay. And next is title three. Okay. Good evening. Um, our title three grant is for our um, English learners and our immigrant children and youth. We don't have any um identified immigrant children and youth. We don't receive state funds for that. But for our title three funds, the purpose of that is to support our students and not only learning the English language but having high achievement on

020the um state standards of learning assessments. Um we title 3 is also for supporting on-time student graduation requirements and for ensuring that our students are taught by um Virginia teachers with the appropriate license. Are you doing this on me? So, um, what we propose to use our title three funds for are for instructional materials, um, opportunities for professional development, to promote engagement activities for our families with limited English, and also um, we use a portion of our title three funds to support a secondary part-time LT tutor um, at the secondary level for our newcomers and our proficiency levels. ones and twos just really depending on the data. So that's our title three grant. Any questions for that? Is that the amount of money we are allotted? Does that depend on the number of students we

021are serving? Yes, ma'am. Um it's not a lot of money. Um, our grant that we're writing proposing for next year is based on a little bit over $14,000 and our ESOL, our English learners um, population has more than almost tripled in the last five years. So, we're currently at 165 identified English learners. We did have um, I want to say 10 of those exit based on our WEDA access access scores this past spring. So, it'll just really depend on the students that are coming in. Um, our standards of quality are changing for next year. So, we're attempting to hire an additional ESOL certified teacher so that we can meet the standards of qualities. It used to be one teacher per 50 students, which is a lot. Well, now it's going to be based on their

022proficiency level. So, for example, for a proficiency level one student, it'll be one teacher per 20 students. And our biggest population right now I'm I'm really excited about is um our level threes. We have based on preliminary data, we have about 60 level 3es moving into next school year. So, that's really a population we want to target to help them meet the criteria to exit the program. Great. I do have a question. I'd imagine that with the students that were using the title three funding for that also title two funds are probably being used at that school since they're low income. Actually, it's title one. Title one supports the English learners greatly. Okay. Yes, sir. That's how we're able to hire the part-time Eltutors at the elementary level. Okay. Gotcha. Learning with everyone else. Um

023the So, that was I guess the introduction to my question. Um how many of the resources that we're using outside of this title are solely in English and then some that are outside of English, you know, so that we can, you know, try to bridge the gap between, you know, it's only $14,000 that you said a little bit more than that. Yeah, there's more that we could probably do um if we were like using the funds that we have since they are serving in some cases probably the same populations, you know, being able to provide materials. Um I don't know if that question is making sense. I'm trying to I'm trying to follow you. Yeah. Um I So, you know, we have we have the title funding um that goes to some of our lowincome

024demographics. Um and you know, I can imagine that with many of the families that are um receiving services through the title funding that is used for our English learners that they are also receiving services through the title funding that is uh provided to low-income families and schools. So, how much of of the funding for low-income families um is being used to provide materials and services strictly in English um opposed to maybe using some of those funds um to provide materials and resources outside of English to kind of help bridge that gap since she said it's only about 14,000. Okay. Okay. I think I got you now. Well, many of them qualify in more than one area is basically what I'm hearing him say. So that is so right now our LEAP program which is our

025language instructional education program that we're mandated to have. We are a total English content immersion program. So the title three funding that we use is to purchase those instructional materials to help support them. For example, we purchased a newcomer program. Um we purchased some information to help them with key language uses. So that's directly for our Spanish learners. Now the title one funding, that's when um anything that a title one student, since we are schoolwide title one, they benefit from all those same resources. I will tell you that we're currently in the beginning stages of exploring the possibility of a bilingual program at Southside based on that being our school with the largest enrollment of English learners. And we're really looking at the prek K and one setting because typically those um English learners are

026clustered together. The teachers prefer it that way. They want them that way. were able to push in more direct L services within the classroom and that's like the perfect opportunity because our ESOL endorsed teacher at Southside is bilingual. So what a perfect opportunity for those children all the children to learn two languages within the th first three years of school. So that's that's on the horizon. Okay. And we also um sometimes utilize title one funds to purchase bilingual books. Yes. from any of the programs that we do, events that we do. Also, we're in textbook ordering season, if you will. And so, HMH is our core resource um that is utilized as our reading program. We're currently researching um something called AMRA that is under the HMH platform that um many districts have seen an

027increase in um effectiveness and student outcomes um specifically related to our EL students um because it reached to them in English and in Spanish and it has micro interventions embedded within the platform itself. We're just currently at the point where we want to analyze what we need the return on investment and also um a balance a delicate balance of making sure that we're not having students on the computer on devices too much because they're already utilizing but we're in those kind of research. Thank you. You're welcome. Good afternoon. So um as part of our grant process, we are also required to provide an opportunity to private schools to participate in our federal grants program and funding. So we send certified letters to all private schools located in Denwitty and surrounding areas where our students may

028um attend. The learning to lead education center has participated with us in equitable services this past year and will continue with the 2526 grant. So they receive funding from our title one, two, and four programs and based on the number of students that they serve. So for the grant, for this upcoming grant, their total is um $1,75169 that will be devoted to equitable services for private schools. So, as mentioned before, this grant application has been a culmination of work over the past few months with um a great team looking at what our students need and how we can make that happen utilizing all of these resources. And there are many criteria, guidelines, regulations, and rules involving these federal grants that must be met. So, our completed application is is due to the Virginia Department of

029Education by July the 1st. We are still fine-tuning a few things, but the application is basically complete and you have that it is quite lengthy. It has a lot of information. It's 110 pages long. Um, and it does total between all um four of the title grants. It does total to 1,167,35725. So, we are asking this afternoon for school board approval. um so that we can submit this in a timely fashion and we but we would be glad to take any additional questions that you may have and of course you know if you have any questions after tonight we'd be glad to answer those as well. So do we approve them as a group? Yes ma'am. It's a consolidated application so it's all one. Are there any questions about the cons um consolidated grant? Any

030questions on that end? But thank you all for your hard work and construction effort. Madam Chair, I move that we approve the 2025 consolidated grant for title one, title two, title three, and title four. As a second, it has been moved and second that we approve the 2025 consolidated grant for title one, title two, title three, and title four. All those in favor use the usual sign I I hearing no opt non approval the it is approved. Thank you very much. Thank you. Now Miss Benjamin and board members we will um hear about the literacy plan updates to literacy plan. Your faces. Good afternoon again. So uh Miss Brooks and I have come before you a couple of times. um once to uh get approval for the initial literacy plan and then last year around

031November I believe uh as we made some revision. So um the Virginia Department of Education requires every school system to submit a biionial literacy plan by June 30th. So, as you recall, the Virginia Literacy Act, um the law about literacy and the science of reading and all those different components we have gone over before went into effect this school year for our kindergarten through fifth grade students. Now, for the coming school year, that K5 initiative continues, but now the law brings in grades six through 8. So, our committee came back together in May and again in June. I just want to remind you uh the committee is composed of representatives from every school, every elementary school, middle school, high school, division leadership, teachers, um some administrators, reading team members. Um when we came together in

032May, we started with a growand moment, right? Because I think you always have to reflect on the first year of implementation of anything. and you know in transparency we know that many parts of this were very challenging uh for teachers for parents for students. So we had a wonderful session of kind of what went well. Hey where can we find some areas for improvement and there were great conversations on both sides of that. Uh we reviewed updates from VDOE on um items that we needed to make sure we included and then we came back together last week um to create the strikethrough version um that was sent to you or that you could see with revisions. I will say the revisions are not major. Um when the team really hashed it out, they wanted to

033make a few little adjustments. They felt like in general, I I do want to give you a glow that our kindergarten and first and second grade students with structured literacy and the science of reading and our new core curriculum, well re revamped core curriculum, we saw a lot of growth uh in those kindergarten, first and second grade students. Now, were there pockets where we didn't see that? Yes. But overall uh the growth was definitely there and that was a big glow from the whole team. We have a kindergarten teacher on this team who was just amazed by the growth, spoke very highly of structured literacy. Um, so when you look at the the strikethrough version, some of the things that you'll see are just some minor changes to wording and then of course it has

034to be a bianial plan. So the years had to change, meaning everything in here goes through 2027 now. Okay. So, it's most of it is just a a continued streamlining of what we're doing. We did have to add um the vow screener, which will be new for fourth through 8th grade students next year. Remember, preK through third grade students um participated in that new literacy screener this year. Next year, as part of Virginia Code, every fourth through 8th grader will participate in that screener. Oh, sorry, not every. You're right, Miss Brooks. Thank you, Penny. Penny set me up for success. Um, you'll see in the plan that it says fourth through 8th grade students and it it's based on so scores with fail basic, fail below basic scores are the ones that will participate in

035the screener uh beginning and midyear. Okay. Um again, what you'll see when you look at the red lettering are some minor changes um that the committee thought were needed. um like one of the things they wanted to do was add some wording that teachers need to infuse basically the 2024 English standards of learning into their instruction which we thought was a great uh great thing to add. Uh we added training um that comes through TTAC and VOE on unlocking big words for fourth through 12th grade teachers. So, that was an addition um that the team wanted to add. Again, that is videoe approved training. Um anything else, Miss Brooks, that you would like to add as far as changes? Well, we just want to make sure that um we noted in our plan that the

036training that um was required this past year from VA, we're not sure what that's going to look like for this coming year. So, we made sure we put all that in there, but we made a note for any new teachers that are coming on board. We are a um prek through five letters trained division. So, we will continue to offer that training to any of those teachers. And we actually had some of our secondary teachers, um exceptional ed teachers and a few others that opted to take that letters training. So, that was um that was great. But we just wanted to make sure that we're always keeping in mind that our new teachers that we're providing them with all the training that they will need and new administrators. Yes. Um so our elementary principles and

037assistant principles also took letters this year, letters for administrators, so they would know what that should look like in the classroom. So our new principal at Midway will take that um this coming year. Another thing I do want to point out, uh, the high school had asked for a a decoding diagnostic. So, we talked about that as a committee. We met with the high school separately, and this would be for outlier students, like not for every student, but when I come across a student that there is there's something I'm concerned about with reading, they have a screener uh that's that is specifically made for high school students that starts them reading on that ninth grade level or whatever level they're on. and kind of backtracks it to see what level they're actually reading on. So

038that has been added. Um and then part of the feedback from the committee was just originally we had literacy nights once a quarter and they said can we scale that back a little bit just to make sure that we're giving quality over quantity for family engagement. Uh and we did that so it's just at least once per semester. So, if there's a school that says, "Hey, I want to add a third one in there," they can do that, but they have to do one once a semester. And it would be a high quality event that helps parents understand HMH, Virginia Literacy Act, how to help their children at home. And the goal is to engage them in that particular school environment um with what's happening with instruction. Any questions about the revisions? I have an

039observation not really a question. I very much support the um the fact that that this is aiming at Onyx and the such gains in K1 and two. I had been concerned and now will be concerned for six, seven, and eight that the vow's assessment for these children and correct me if I'm wrong is assuming that these children have had this instruction all the way through and that is huge disadvantage to that child because going into the eth they didn't get what our current kindergarters wanted to. So, here comes the test as if they had had it the whole time. And that's not a Denm failure. That's a state of Virginia failure. But I just um to me that it should have been graduated in and gone on up through the grades instead of plunked. It's

040being stuffed in to the six, seven, and eight. And and the good news about the screener because it is a diagnostic screener. So it's a little bit different than our K3 screener. Okay? So for those older students, there's nine different subtests. Of those nine subtests, four of those are optional. So it's really going to be based on where we see that the child is experiencing a weakness difficulty. Okay. So hopefully those children once we have this diagnostic screener will be able to identify and pinpoint where their weakness is. Is it in decoding? Is it in fluency which many times is based on decoding? Um is it in encoding? So then those students will have a student reading plan and we'll be able to provide that targeted intervention for those students. I do agree with you

041that it it is tough because right now our K2 students are at an advantage and we we're excited that give us a couple years because we talk about third grade next year and with curriculum writing we talk about what can we do for fourth and fifth grade next year because those children haven't had that explicit explicit systematic phonics instruction. So, are always trying to think how we can bridge those gaps and change is hard for students and adults and I recognize that. But I just um feel like the stress for the children who have been frustrated with this as well as their teachers has been caused by the way it was implemented from the state. That you're absolutely right and I think one of the glows for us too. It w is we began literacy

042walkthroughs at the beginning of the school year, you know, and Dr. Weston and Dr. Clay did listening sessions and we listened to lots of people and their concerns. Well, we were continuing to do literacy walkthroughs at the end of the school year and we were really excited because those same teachers spoke very highly of the product now that they had seen the results of it. So that's exciting work. I agree. That's good. I agree. Even and I'll say even one of our upper grade teachers who in the beginning when we met was very frustrated. she's on our committee and during the committee of glows and groves she was she was like okay HMH like you know I've used it I've created some things that are aligned that go along with it I see the benefit

043of it so she's in the end spoke very highly but I think it's change is hard and it is a process so the vow screener will be a change next year but PAL plus did happen for eight this year so they did a screener this will just be a little bit different little different I appreciate Yes. Any other questions? Thank you for work that you put into the literacy. Team effort for sure. Yes. And our teachers definitely are on the front line of it. Uh and we just so appreciate their perseverance and stick to it. This maybe um the productive struggle they they got through the year and I thought I think many saw the the the glows of this. So, if there are no more questions, we do need board approval uh for the

044revisions that are being presented this evening. Madam Chair, I move that we approve the literacy plan for the school division. Second. It has been moved and second that we approve the DCPS literacy plan. All those in favor use the usual sign. I hearing no nays. It is approved and thank you again. Thank you so much. Thank you. Okay, next we have the 202526 textbook adoptions and I believe Shenaria and Carly are going to come forward with that. Good evening again. Good evening. As you know, uh we presented to you last month um forformational purposes to let you know the avenue we were going to take um to pursue textbook adoption. And so now we are here to ask for approval and uh approving our recommendation. So we will give a brief overview of the process

045that led us up to this point. Uh we formed both at the elementary level and the secondary level a text textbook review committee um for reviewing the process K through 8. Um this committee did take an indepth look into resources for history and math. As you know, we already have resources slated and in current usage for reading and science. Um, we had virtual and in-person meetings that were held with potential vendors. Um, we provided opportunities for Q&A as well as um access to sample resources. Um, teachers, parents, and staff had the opportunity to provide feedback as a part of the process. Uh these stakeholders were able to uh view sample materials here at the schoolboard office in person as well as um they were provided uh virtual links for them to navigate through the samples

046online. A survey was shared with teachers, parents, and staff um and the community to gather feedback on these potential resources. And those were pushed out um via Miss Robinson Williams that assisted in that as well as we included them in our newsletters that go to teachers on um a reoccurring basis. You want to do that? Okay. Um so you can see we we reviewed all of the uh survey data and um I think they were in alignment with kind of what the direction we were thinking. Um, and at this time we're recommending a three-year adoption so that as we build the curriculum that there's some consistency at least over that three-year period, but should things change at the state level, then we have we're not locked into any type of contract. It does save us

047a little bit of money by going in a three-year uh direction as opposed to a year-to-year adoption process. Um, and I think the the goal would be to be able to utilize those resources, provide the professional development, and have our curriculum team kind of lead the charge in embedding those into the curriculum. Uh, with us having new um, social studies and math standards so that they now have it as they're working on this summer, if we can have this approved so that they have access all summer long to it um, to make that start of the school year much smoother. And so this is kind of just an overview of what we showed you last time with the when the state rolled out standards. Uh even though they're labeled 2023, they are not tested until

048spring of this 26 school year. Um they have finally released all of the instructional guides and so teachers are utilizing those to start uh the work. We actually worked on or secondary all of that today. Um and uh so that's just kind of an overview of where we were uh last time. And and to that point I will add um for elementary u the resource that we are recommending is KDUM for math and five pawns press for history and social sciences. We're excited about the history and social sciences because that's also the recommendation for secondary. So that lends itself to some vertical articulation that we're excited about. Um also I wanted to add parents, teachers, staff members that uh participated in the feedback gave us specific feedback. Um we were looking for things such as

049layout, overall user friendliness, um whether or not they felt like the resource was engaging for students, especially at the elementary level, and the quality of activities andor questions. And um I did highlight some of the feedback from these stakeholders. Um one included, I really like Five Pawns Press. The reproducibles include the necessary components that classroom teachers need. I think the textbooks are colorful and engaging and students will enjoy them. Um for math and looking at KDUm, it looks more aligned and better correlated to Virginia S. Wells. We did have some vendors that had some grandiose um presentations that wanted to hook you in and they did hook us in but the most important feature that we were looking for was um alignment. It has to be aligned um so that we can ensure that our

050written taught and tested curriculum um and resources are aligned. So you can go one. Okay. So uh again like Miss Valentine said, Five Ponds Press is where we're looking to go for our middle school. um the high school is a little bit unique. Um we have resources that we have built into the curriculum and so that's where we're starting there to see because um it's not with with Virginia specific standards a lot of times it's a little bit more challenging to find in history especially um Virginia aligned resources um and then the math recommendation would be math space. uh we we will continue with our HMH adoption for the next year as well as STEM scopes for middle school and um the high school will continue to use discovery education. So any questions we can

051answer? So an elementary level we're we're buying actual books and they are classroom sets or they issued to the children. So yes ma'am they will have classroom sets. It was important for us to have a bundle, if you will, the digital and the print resources so the kids will have uh tangible materials in their hands, but then for teachers planning purposes and things of that nature, they have the access to the online portion as well. But at the high school, you have the it's on their chrome downloaded to the Chromebooks, but are there also classroom sets? So with the are you it depends on the subject. So um math at this point uh we have been using the digital only for the high school successfully. For the middle school we'd be looking at um what

052is uh downloadable printable and does it make that make more sense to do that or have like a the consumable workbook. So that is the next um part that will be included as far as our um evaluation when all of the print materials are being released. Um, well, the reason I asked that is I had a parent to say to me recently that I keep sharing on Facebook all the information about too much screen time that she said to me, but you are forcing the screen time. And so I'm concerned about that. Yeah. Because if they're on that Chromebook six hours a day here, go home and do their how much, we're we're part of the problem. Yeah. And I think so with the uh high school um all of the English curriculum has a

053consumable text that all students go home with. Um math typically are um there are paper materials that they utilize in class. Um and then a lot of our science and um social studies, they each student has their own kind of notebook um to try to navigate that balance. And so as we're recreating actually all of those those subject areas are working on curriculum and that was one of the goals was to create materials that did not require screen. Yeah. It needs to be a balance. Yes. And um and I think that that is going to be um a priority for all of our secondary. Of course, you know, the middle school um doesn't take it home. So that does require us to make sure that they have materials that are changeable. Yeah. Thank you. Just

054a question for clarification. When you said that the textbook was aligned, that's with the testing. Are there any other questions? Madam Chair, I move that we accept the textbook adoption and curriculum resources proposal. Second. It has been moved and second that we adopt the 20 textbook adoptions and update to curriculum resources. All of those in favor use the usual sign. I I hearing no nays. It is approved. Thank you again. Um Miss Fleming, we'd like to have you come forward and present the budget supplemental appropriation. Good afternoon once again. Good afternoon. As we near the end of um the school year, um this is kind of a housekeeping um area where our budget and the county's budget need to be the same at the end of the year. And so the county did approve some

055supplemental appropriations for endofear balances from last year. And so um also some adjustments that we've made throughout the year. So we need to also um adopt those um budget supplementals as well so that we end the year everything balanced and and um together with the county. So, what we're asking is that um you approve supplemental appropriations um in revenue in the amount of $213,649 for fund um 302 which is our small capital and fund 402 which is our debt service and then expenditures in the um area as listed here um for all funds in the amount of 2.2,370,650 2,370,656. Need approval. Madam chair, I move that we approve the budget supplemental appropriation for second. It has been moved and second that we approve the budget supplemental appropriation. All of those in favor use the usual

056sign. I I hearing no nays. It is approved. Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you Christie. Um so members of the board uh we on fe on on August August April 22nd you approved the fiscal year 26 budget. Um, but since that time, you know, some things have happened, some changes have been made. So, I'd like to present to you this evening, uh, what those changes are and make sure that we can get the budget, the fiscal year 26 budget to match the changes, uh, the adjustments that we need to make in fund 20, excuse me, 205, the school operating fund. Originally, the adopted budget was for $62 million. Um, we had originally asked the county for $1.5 million, but their local transfer ended up being $500,000. So, we have to re reduce

057the 62 million by a little over $1 million. We also um in working with the county took out the $667,000 that we had requested for the security um program. We are going to revisit that with the county in the fall of this year, but we have to reduce it from our budget. We did receive from the state an additional $1.1 million. So, our total revenue for fund 205 for the school operating budget is now $61.4 million as you can see there on the um sheet that I provided. Um for our expenses, um the adopted budget there was $62.5 million. Um we did once again the uh the security reduction and we did um of $667,000 but we are making some adjustments um to this budget. Um and I just want to talk just briefly about

058what the adjust adjustments are. Um there are some positional adjustments that we're making to this budget. Um too um are in academic services. Um we did some reclassification of a current position. Um and you know in doing that reclassification pulled funds from one um place to another. We added some responsibilities to a position um and we reclassified it to a director position. We also added a social worker because we just have the need um for that. Human resources. We're adding an additional position in human resources to assist us with some um the demands that are happening in that department. And in transportation, we're adding four full-time um positions there as well because the demand is also increasing there. Um we are putting some increases in the budget for the RISE program and looking at the

059cost associated with our evening class or excuse me, our evening school. We realized that we needed to provide additional cost there and our contract had actually come back came back in higher than we originate originally had budgeted. We did were able to make some reductions in contracted services and the additional hours. Um they've been really looking at all the transportation hours and they've been able to make some reductions until the additional hours there. So and um that's the school operating fund. Um in the capital projects we had originally asked the county um and this is fund 302. We had originally asked for $3.9 million. Um but the county did not fund all the capital projects that we had originally asked for. Um so we'd need to pull out the $2.3 million in projects that we

060had asked. Um they've actually moved some of these projects out to later dates. Um not that they're not going to fund them, it's just not right now. Um so you can see that change there um of of the $2.3 million. And then under those school grants, fund 303, um we do receive additional funding of $159,487 for our um preschool funding, the VPI funding, and we also had put in there the monies that we received, excuse me, the expenses that we um put forth for the kindergarten camp. And you can see those expenses there. So, I'm asking for um the budget to be approved um based on these new numbers and these adjustments um that we're making to the fiscical year 26 budget. And on the back, you can just see um the summary of all

061the funds for the entire budget and what percentage um of it is spent in what what areas. Dr. West under your kindergartener camp. Is that um the activities that we provide to when they come in to make them Where's my penny? I'm just not Penny. All things Penny. Penny, do you want to talk a little bit about kindergarten camp? Sure. This is not about the kids that this is what happens in the during the summer months, not what happens. You're talking about the activities as we go. This is Okay. Yes. This is for our rising kindergarteners. So, we offer this week opportunity for children with little to no preschool experience. Yes. To give them an opportunity to come into a school setting, experience a cafeteria, um focus on some social emotional skills, start their work

062with letters and sounds and math concepts. Um it's a half a day program. It's um we have two teachers and two pair of professionals and we can serve up to 40 children. Cameron Foundation for the past two years has funded this initiative. Thank you. Yes, Dr. Weston, I have a question. The CIP projects, you referenced the reduction of 2.3 million. Did do you have any details about which projects they move back or is that for a later date to discuss? Yeah, I can get those to you. I don't have those and I'm not going to um ask Mr. Walters to see if he remembers exactly what projects they um which projects did we move out. I know one of them had to do there was some southside projects that I think they moved to a

063different date. The ones that they did not Oh, Christie, never mind when you need a friend. How about that? It's um we had 1.7 million in there for um to finish the um renovations at Southside. The deferred maintenance, which was the restroom facilities, basically upgrading those. And then there was $586,000 in there for parking lot improvements at Midway, which they moved to the next year. Yes. Thank you for that. Thank you. Our goal is to have all of the parking lots paved eventually. Okay, we need a motion. Members, Madam Chair, I move that we approve the fiscal year uh 26 amended budget as presented. Second. It is a move and second that we approve the fisc year 26 amended budget. All those in favor use the usual sign. I I I. Any opposed? Hearing none.

064It is approved. Thank you. Um now we'd have Mr. Walters come forward and talk to us about the additional increase in the cost of adult meals. Good afternoon. Um, I'm presenting this. Um, uh, Miss Elder would normally present this, but she, uh, she couldn't be here tonight, so I told her I'd do it for her, so please forgive me. Um, I wasn't expecting to see you in the kitchen. No, you don't want to see me in the kitchen. I promise. Um so the food and nutrition services uh instruction 782-5 uh reference one specifies that school for food authorities which is schools uh must to the extent possible ensure the federal reimbursement children's payments and other nonprofit service revenues do not subsidize pro program meals served to adults. So essentially, we can't take the the money

065that the uh that the USDA gives us uh to subsidize student meals and use it on adult meals. So we have to to avoid doing that. There's a very detailed uh formula that they use to make sure that you're charging the correct amount so you're not subsidizing it with this money that's for student meals. Um and as you know we uh we are a part of the C the community eligibility provision program each year and we are I talked to Miss Elder. We are uh in that until 2028 right now and we are applying for 2028 to 2032. So we've already been approved through 2028 and we're in the process of applying through 2032. So um but I thought that was really good news too. Miss Pitman, uh, she told me you were going to

066ask, so I wanted to have that information. Um, so, so there's two two two prices we need to talk about here today that I'll need you to approve um, should you decide to. Uh, for lunch, the formula is the free reimbursement rate um, plus the performance-based reimbursement plus the per meal value of the USDA foods. All that has to be added together and we have to exceed that with our what we charge adults for lunch. Um that comes up to $4.86. So the uh the proposal will be to charge $5 for adult lunches. Um for the breakfast um the price has to be greater than the student free re free reimbursement rate uh which is 2.84 at the highest. So the uh price for breakfast would be $3 for adults. Uh that is not a

067change. So right now the current adult price for breakfast is $3 and the current adult price for lunch is $4.75. So we had to go up because we didn't meet the threshold of $486 for lunch. So, the recommendation coming from the nutrition department is that we charge $3 for breakfast, which is no change because we're good there, and charge $5 for lunch, uh, which would be a 25 cent change in additional cost for adults. And I can answer as any questions you have about this hopefully. Um, if not, I can get you the answers. But, um, the recommendation is for your approval should you decide to do so. Well, can an adult just alak cart? Not the whole lunch. Yes. Snack $150. Yeah. Um well, alak cart. Uh yes, they can, but I'm not positive

068those prices don't really because that's not money that's given for children. So those prices are independently set by our nutrition department. U slice of pizza, things like that. Yeah. Are there any other questions for Mr. Walters? Well, I know you can't get lunch at Route One for $5. So, you cannot. And our lunch, if you have not eaten in our cafeteria lately, it is phenomenal. It's No, it's not school lunch that you remember from when you were in school. Amazing food. Okay, we need a motion. I move that we accept the um increase in the adult meal prices as prescribed by our formulas. Second. It has been moved and second that we approve the addition of increase in cost of adult meals. All those in favor use the usual sign. I I hear no opposed.

069It is approved. Thank you. Um and then the last of the board matters. Um if you remember back at the reorganization um you know we we um appointed um Miss Bonnie Goolson to be our um school board clerk. Um and this is a bittersweet um um something that we have to take care of. We need to appoint the I understand it's the new Bonnie um is what people are calling her. Um Beth Rainey to be uh the new school board clerk. Um Do we have an effective date, Bonnie? Do we need to make that July one? So, we would make that effective July 1. So, if nobody makes the motion, does money have to stay? There you go. No, no offense, Beth. But nobody second the motion. I'm just I reluctantly move that we we

070love Miss Rainey, but was sad to see Miss Bonnie go. So, I'm sad to see her go, too. I make a motion that we appoint um Miss Rainey as our new school board. Second. It has been moved and second that we appoint Miss Beth Rainey as our new school board clerk. All of those in favor use the usual sign. I hearing no opposition. Miss Rainey, you are new school board clerk. That's right. Bonnie, you're free. for purposes. Elizabeth Elizabeth Rainey. Elizabeth Rainey. Yes, ma'am. So, the next is there any new business? No business. No new business. Superintendent Matters. All right. 6.01 uh 2025 26 fifth grade local history curriculum update. This is very exciting. Good evening. Good evening. Um, I am Miss Valentine, but as you can see, I have some friends along with me

071today. So, I have Miss Tammy Lucy, who is a fourth grade teacher at Denwy Elementary School. I also have Mr. Aaron Stoyak and Mr. Zachary Pitter, both from Pamplin Park, one of our community partners. So, it seems like yesterday, but it wasn't yesterday. I came before you to share a proposal um for a new fifth grade um curriculum if you will for local Denwitty history for the upcoming year. Um so just to give a little background information and c catch us up to where we are right now. Um the purpose for all of this came about because the Virginia board of education approved changes to the history and social science standards of learning for K through 12. Um, additionally, while awaiting approved resources such as the highquality instructional materials needed for textbook adoption like we

072just um spoke about and instructional guides which we recently just received, uh, DCPS had uh to adjust our history and social science scope and sequence and curriculum overall. Um, so to recap, in order to prepare for the changing standards, Virginia studies was taught and tested in both fourth and fifth grade for this academic year, uh, 2425. Um, the following year, which will be 2526, Virginia studies will only be taught and tested in fourth grade. Um therefore we'd establish that a new curriculum would be implemented for fifth grade during the 25 26th year which would focus on local then witty history. And these three I'm going to jump in at any moment um just to share their perspective. So why are we doing this? Um just again to catch us up to speed because most of

073our surrounding districts do it um for fifth grade specifically Powatan and Himrio just to name a few. Um, our students need to be aware of the history that is in their backyards and we feel like this will help students understand where they come from and foster a sense of pride in their community. Um, we feel that Denwitty has a rich history that spans across multiple centuries, I'm sorry, multiple decades that should be in historical events. Denim Woody played a major role in history um overall. And so, um, we're going to get into the unit information and that's where these folks come in. Um, we had a multitude of people come to the table to include teachers. Um, we wanted their voice to be involved in this heavily, classroom teachers, but also our community partners. Um,

074our students do visit Pamplin Park for different field trip opportunities. Um, as well as historians, um, and local community members such as our board chair who's also a part of that curriculum team. So, Miss Lucy, if you wanted to share what the uh units will entail. And I apologize. My presentation might not have Did it translate to you all? Might have gone to her. Sorry. I'm so sorry. Thank you, Miss Valentine. Good evening, board. Um, so we wanted to make sure that when we started working on what we were going to include in Denwitty history, there are so many things that Denwitty has been a part of since its inception, um, from the very beginning. So we tried to break it down into four specific units that we were going to cover. The first unit

075will be the start of Denwitty. So we're going back to the indigenous people who lived here um you know for a long time before any type of eur European or Africanamean person lived in Denwitty through the colonial times and the revolutionary war. Unit two, we'll go through the reconstruction era. Um, you know, the of course the Civil War and then leading into the Reconstruction era, civil rights and Jim Crow. Um, for unit three, we decided to do an entire unit on the history of education in Denwitty. Um, you know, everything that, you know, goes along with the civil rights of course in Denwitty, but even back to your one room schoolh houses, um, that were so prevalent in Denwitty, you know, from the beginning. We just felt like that was really important for our students

076to know and recognize um of how far education has come in Denwy since its inception. Um unit four is going to be the 20th century through the 21st century um focusing on transportation and advancements um and how much Denwi has grown throughout its um through the last two centuries. But we wanted to make sure that we included geography and industry. At first we were thinking that needed to be its separate unit. But through our discussions with our wonderful Pamplin Park friends, we realized that geography and industry really is interwoven in all of these units. And Denwitty would not be what it is today without its geography. And it's it's you know what has happened in Witty is because of where it is and with the fall line and with the creation of Petersburg and the

077harbors and and how many waterways did you say? 197. 197 waterways in Denwitty County. Um I've learned a lot being working with these two gentlemen for sure. But all of that is going to be interwoven throughout the units because it really is a piece of all of that going back to the indigenous people, the revolutionary wall, all the things that came with that. Um, so we want to make sure we get a a really good, you know, grasp of that throughout the units. This really has been a really big collaborative effort. Um that that's one thing that I have been so impressed with this committee is we have so many different faces at the table that represent so many different parts of Denwitty County. Um so we've had a combination of community members, community partners,

078um Denwy County elementary teachers, retired teachers um that have come together to help develop this curriculum and make sure that all perspectives are well represented throughout what we're teaching. the units that have been developed so far. Um, we shared with our fifth grade teachers and we did receive some feedback. Um, one of the main concerns with the feedback from some of our fifth grade teachers were, well, you know, I'm not from Denwitty County. How am I going to understand this material to be able to teach it? But we're just like we would prepare any of our teachers to teach any of the curriculum because we have teachers that aren't from Virginia, but they teach Virginia history. We have teachers that aren't from the United States perhaps that might teach Virginia State United States history. So

079we will make sure that our teachers are prepared to teach the Denwitty history just as we would any grade level or curriculum that we would do. One of the feedback things that we did get was that they need some type of narrative. They want the background information. So our wonderful partners here at Pamplon Park are going to help us add and we'll see our unit in just a minute a narrative section that kind of gives just kind of a background story of what's in this unit. Why is it important? What are the main aspects that you want to make sure that our students understand by learning and the activities they're going to do in that unit? Here we go. So, um we have an overall timeline. Um this work has continued throughout this current school

080year and will continue throughout the summer. So, we have um dates on the calendar where teachers will be coming in um specifically those teachers and community members that are on our curriculum team throughout the summer to add to this. Um we will have vetting sessions because that's another piece of this um process is we want to make sure that what we're sharing is not opinionated but actually based in fact and vetted primary resources. And that's another place where these women are have been a very big help with that as well. And another big piece similar to um what we talked about with the textbook adoption, the professional development piece is going to be huge. So for example, Miss Lucy will be leading IDCPS sessions. I will be leading IDCPS sessions specific to this um fifth

081grade curriculum. Um something else that we heard from our fifth grade teachers as far as feedback is um we wanted a chance before IDCPS to come in and actually unpack this ourselves. Again, we shared what has been developed with them thus far and provided the opportunity for them to give feedback, but they want an opportunity to come together collectively as fifth grade teachers to be able to ask question um you know tweeze out any particular um I guess barriers that they would anticipate. Um and so then to talk that through so that they don't feel like they're getting information overload when they come for uh DCPS. Um, we're really also excited about this opportunity because, um, like Miss Lucy mentioned, teachers, the feedback we've heard thus far is they want to be able to, um,

082understand and have the narrative. They know, okay, you're giving me what to teach, but how do I actually teach it when I'm um, going to be in front of students and sharing this information? um it's going to be a mindset shift because this will not be something that you can go online to find a worksheet to then give to students. Um you won't find that there. So it's really going to take some um instructional planning and instructional preparation um some collaborative effort and actual discussion and discourse over the instructional piece. Um but we're excited about it because it lends itself to us reimagining what instruction looks like. Um, we know at the state level there's an expectation to incorporate the five C's. And so this naturally lends itself to that as well as we want

083to incorpor in incorporate more project-based learning, more performance-based assessments because we know that's what students will be exposed to at the secondary level, but it's also sets them up for success to be college, military, um, trade school ready. Um and even in the new standards from the department of education um they're the way they want history and social science taught is more experiences um more that performance-based learning where their children are experiencing um different materials and and you know primary sources and really diving deep into it versus just memorizing a bunch of names and facts. They really want them immersed in the history and this allows us to immerse them in in a history that happened right here in our backyard. Absolutely. Um, with this also we will have more authentic experiences as far as

084field trip opportunities that are right here in their backyard and also like field experts that can come in to the classroom and help to lead um, discussions around this information also um, with 5C's and what we mentioned with PBL and PBA also that brings in soft skills and that's what we often hear our employers talking about um, with history and the UBD format. um it helps you to solve a problem of the community with a project and this is what we want them to walk away with with this history um curriculum. How am I going to be a contributing member of my Denwitty community? Um why is my community the way it is and what happened in history to lead up to this point? Um, most of all it's about conversation um and making sure

085that students are relying less on technology because like you see now my technology is not working for me and so I apologize um that you you're not able to actually see the unit. That's my fault. Um but you will receive a copy of this that actually shows what the unit entails. And so um this slide does say what do the units look like? And so it follows the um understanding by design or UBD format. Um the first unit is the start of dimwitty county as Miss Lucy stated. So we look at essential understandings, essential questions. Um any good lesson starts with just that. What are the questions that we want to answer? What is it that we want students to know by the end of this unit? Um and then it goes to actually transfer

086goals. We want our students to move beyond um learning material in theory but actually be able to put it into action and into practice. Um and as we spoke about some other opportunities for them to apply that include what we refer to as stage two and stage three where we have authentic performance tasks. So I'll just read to you briefly um what one of those entails. Um, but one includes create a timeline of major events in Denwi history, illustrating key moments from indigenous settlement to the 21st century. Research and present a landmark, event or figure from Denwi County's history. Design a map highlighting significant geographic features and how they influence local development and compare and contrast the history of schools in Denwitty with modern education, reflecting on progress and challenges. So that just gives you

087a bird's eye view of how um this will help students to um have an understanding of Denwit's history but then also um put it into practice as far as different hands-on activities and projects. Um so now I don't know if there was anything that Mr. Pitter or Mr. Stoyak wanted to add about their experience thus far. they really like your pizza. Well, one one thing I will say I learned is also from working with our entire group of people is um Petersburg and how much that played a role in who we are as Denwitty County and I didn't know if you wanted to speak to that. Certainly. I'll mention um um that Petersburg um you don't have this county without it. Um you heard Miss Lucy mention the fall line. Um the city of Petersburg

088is essentially established there because that's the farthest navigable point on the Appamatics River. So that's going to be a huge, you know, uh point of trade and of course everything going on in that big city is going to influence the county that it's a part of at the time. So we can't tell the story of Denwy County without telling the story of Petersburg. Um, of course, Denwy County is always going to be at the forefront, but um, we're going to tie in some of that as well to, uh, put things in a little bit of a regional context. [Laughter] Um, just on behalf of Pampin Park, we're excited to be a part of this opportunity and, u be more engaged with our, uh, you know, not only history in our backyards, but our own school

089system in our own backyard. and uh excited to uh help develop this uh this program and try to build up in a spree decor in uh young Denwitty residents and adopted Denwitty residents. So we're again thank you on behalf of of the park and we are excited to uh continue working closely with uh with this team and offering the best guiding hand that we can. So thank you. Well said. Thank you. And again, I apologize for my technology not working, but I will ensure that you receive a tangible copy of this as well as a digital copy. Um, if the team didn't have anything else, did you all have any questions? I have one question. I'm fascinated by this. I'm really I've been excited about it since we talked about it initially a year ago.

090Um, obviously you don't have a textbook because this is right. Is there maybe it's in that presentation. Do you have like a resource list that you could share because I would I would love to go explore some of these resources. So we're we're currently developing that um with the primary resources pamplin they have offered a lot thus far. Um and then the other resources because we don't have a textbook will be created by this team. So, it's some of what I mentioned earlier about like those potential projects um and performance-based assessments because they're not a traditional type resource or material. We will have to create rubrics by which to grade students on. I think also it's a mind mindset shift because some of our teachers are accustomed to saying I have to have x amount

091of grades by this point in the nine weeks and it's more about um less about quantity of grades and more about the quality of it and making sure that we're um not subjectively grading it and instead of the product of the grade is more about the process that the student has progressed through about learning these potential pieces along the way and I think with this not being an so tested you you know, material. We have a lot more creativity and room to expose our children to a lot of different types of resources. You know, whether that's an online resource or we have experts actually coming into the classroom um to do lessons or like she was talking about like the little mini field trips. I mean, there's so much history right here that you drive

092past every single day and the children don't even realize it. And so, you know, put them on a bus and take them to these places around the county. everything from the the Rosen Wald schools to um the battle sites to all the different things that are in this county that they need to realize when they drive past it, they're driving past history. The the reason for my question isn't so much because I'm worried about the the grades or the testing. I I enjoy history personally, but we're we're teaching something to our kids now that many of their parents weren't taught. And so I think it'd be great for the parents to be able to access the resources and say, "Hey, I didn't know that. Let me learn that along with I love I love that

093you said that because the other piece that we um are going to embark on is having I call them testimonials but more so from people that have experienced pieces of this history um or you know their family is been in their lineage so to speak to have those video moments um so that for parents like you're saying and I think it it's great to have it if we could forward facing so as we share out pieces of of our curriculum we're sharing out those pieces as well so that more people lean into it and understand just how much of um significant history lies right here in Deny County. Thank you. No problem. There are no further questions. Thank you all. Thank you. Um and the last thing under superintendent matters, you have a a notebook

094there with some policy updates. Um everything's been redlined for you and the additional information is in there and this is the first reading. So we'll come back at a later date and ask for your approval. Okay. Thank Nice to have him. Thank you. Whoever put them in I like having them in that notebook. So, thank you so much, Miss Bonnie, for putting those in a notebook for us. Appreciate that. All right. Next, we're going to um citizen comments. We have Linda Jones 15803. Is that Gatewood Road? Oh, wait. Let me read. Where is it? I have to read this. I have to read this. Do I read this? Bonnie, is that Where's the things at the bottom? Before you speak, just let me read this. The board ensures that public participation at any specially called

095meeting of the school board is fair and respectful. Upon recommendation of the board chair, public hearings and forums are typically designed to receive substantial community input and individual comment. Signup sheets will be available at each door, which has been done. If you wish to address the board, time limits will usually be set for each speaker to ensure everyone can address address the board. Typically, each speaker will be allocated five minutes during public hearings and forums rather than three minutes during the public address portion of the regular meeting. So, she would have three minutes. She would have three minutes. Yes. So, make sure you state your name and your address, please. Thank you. My name is Linda Jones. I live at Gates Road in I just want to say that I have a grandson that's high

096function and autismic and ADHD and he went through the elementary school and did fine did great. He after he got out of school, out of the elementary school, we decided to homeschool. I didn't know which one of us was going to come out for him or me because that was not his thing. You cannot sit at well dear Lord must look down on us and he is going to um running to leave and that was a godsend. He has done so well. Miss Stump and Miss Sylvestro has helped him so much and I know every parent that was say of children that were there will say anything anything that the school board or anything else can help us with would be greatly appreciated because it is a marvelous thing. It's a small school yet now

097but she wants more. They want more students but it's like a family you know the kids get along. There's no big arguments. There's no fighting. There's no you know nothing. They just like one big happy family and it has been great and we hope he will graduate from there. We will hope he will graduate from so uh that that's all I have to say how great the school is and how Miss Dump is and how Miss Sylvester is and it's great. Thank you so much. Thank you. So time went on down. Okay. Our next um Teresa Stump 8188 is Bose Bose Ford Virginia. Virginia. Do I need to repeat it again? Yes. I am Teresa Stump. T as in tree. Good afternoon. Come up here. I am Teresa Stump. I'm a retired educator for County

098Public Schools. Served 30 years and served one term in the school board. I thought I needed a break and then God said, "Oh, no, you don't. Wake up. Here we go." Um, so we started learning to education center uh with a mission and the mission is to provide an educational experience that meets students where they are on their learning journeys. And to do that, we have a lovely advisory board members. They're not all here. And we have who um sometimes I wonder but she decided to join me uh on this crazy journey. And the reason why I'm speaking to you is not just because I'm bragging on our school, but because we got to work with Del County Public Schools this year through the certified grants and I want to give a special yea worked

099with me and kept me straight throughout the process. Um and our guidance for Dr. Ross who she's at the school this week leading a girls empowerment. So that's been a blessing as well. Um as certified teachers, Renee and I used many years of of our experience. I think we got close to 60 together uh to support student learning and the growth we have seen in our students uh both academically and developmentally has been a true joy. Um the goal of our school though because we're not done is is we want to have a setting where we can work with public schools, private schools, and home schools to provide support where needed. So all that the students, all the kids are successful, not just ours, not just yours, but all the kids are successful. And we

100recognize that success looks different for each student. But at the end of the day, it shouldn't matter where the instruction provide an example of a cooperative setting program is in W. It's called the learning lab and they have a space where public school students, private school students and high school students go and they interconnect with each other and so they call it an organic experience and this experience encourages educators to be innovative and to bring their ideas to life. And so that's a a goal. That's a dream that we have is one day to be able to work uh with the public school because we're not bashing county public schools. I work for you guys for 30 years. We love our kids. We love our students and we love the school system as well. And

101this is just one example of opportunities. Your time is up. finish. I'll leave you with a quote then. Oh, I got to go to a BDOE conference in April and in the conference they discussed how um education doesn't matter where it takes place and it was so so enlightening to see public and private school working together again because the goal was educating students. Um here's the quote. If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader. John Next, we have Chris. Pronounce your last name. Billy. Billy. Bill Meyer. 5916 Cox Wilson's. Good evening. My name is Chris. I'm speaking up here as an employee of electric. I want to thank the board. I want to thank uh those who nominated us for the group we received

102tonight. It's much appreciated. To be honest with you in this situation, I will tell you Wayne's winner on this. We do spend a lot of time with the school system and helping with the trades program. However, uh since uh workforce development was put into place, greater region. Um we have hired nine students out of Del County School. Um so that was the first one I believe was during right after CO because we had to do it online. Somewhat unique when you go through the interview process. However, we have been able to hire some extremely bright and talented young and young women. We are hiring not only field staff but also office staff is crucial to the everyday success of the company. It wasn't for programs like this. Miss Wolf came to us years ago and

103asked us please be a part of this and I can't thank her and then with county for the opportunity. Finding good employees is hard enough. We can vet them the way we can through the school system and have the opportunity to see them more than one different way as in the career day and interview processes. It means a lot. So, thank you all very much for the opportunity to link for the lecture. Much appreciate it. It is crucial to the success of our business and other small businesses. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] Let's see. special recognition. So, um, we do have a special recognition and I wonder if Miss Benjamin, if you join me at the podium to do the special recognition as representative the board, we'd like to have to join us here. Yes,

104[Applause] we're going to try to get through this. And they dressed alike. Is that like I mean they're like twins. All right. Um so I'm going to read the resolution um for Bonnie Goolson. Um and then we're going to present this to you. Um, so whereas Bonnie L. Goolson has been an employee of Denwitty County Public Schools since December of 1983 and whereas Miss Goolson has tendered her letter letter of retirement to be effective July 1st, 2025. And whereas during those 41 years, Miss Goolson has served in various capacities as a school secretary, a central office secretary for curriculum, a personnel specialist, a deputy clerk, and lastly, an executive assistant to the superintendent and school board clerk. And whereas she played a very supportive role in aiding many schoolboard members and superintendent over the years

105through her unselfish contribution of time and knowledge while earning and maintaining the their respect as well as that of parents and students and co-workers with her personification of professionalism, fairness, and impartiality. Now therefore, be it resolved that the school board of Denwitty County expresses its sincere appreciation to Miss Bonnie Lee Coulson for her outstanding service and commitment to our school division. And be it further resolved that this resolution is adopted as a token of appreciation, gratitude, and recognition of her as an outstanding employee and a friend whose expertise and wise counsel will be sorely missed by the board, the superintendent, and the entire school division. Congratulations, Bonnie. [Applause] Let me stand up there. Would you like to say something? The mic is show. No. Okay. That's not a problem. Would you want to wait? Yes.

106I do want to say before Bonnie goes back to her seat, Bonnie, could you turn your resolution around. So, um, we worked very hard. Barney and I had conversations over a period of time about where she was going to place her resolution in her home. And so, when we went to pick out the frame, I said, you know what, she's a part of a team. She loves Dallas Cowboys and she probably has a lot of Dallas Cowboy stuff at her home. So her resolution, as you notice, is framed in the steel frame along with the blue mat as well. So she has stylist cowboys colors. Is the biggest Navy nation fan. That's true. That's true. So thank you so much, Bonnie. [Applause] I would like I would like to say on that subject that I

107have um not been a part of Denwin County public schools that didn't have a Bonnie in it. Uh when I was teaching in the 70s, Bonnie was one of my students. I was co I was coaching track and she was one of my track participants. I got to the point where I was in moving into guidance and she was a secretary at the school and then she got snacked up by the schoolboard office as sometimes that will happen the good ones rise on up and then of course worked with her as both a principal and as a school board member. So it exceeds 50 years. Yeah. So next year a school board diminwitty county school board that doesn't have a body in it will be a first for me. Yeah. So, thank you for all

108that you've done and um you've done a little bit of everything. We appreciate you. Board member comments. I I can't say anything. I can't say enough about Bonnie. I've known Bonnie for about 10 10 years, I think. Maybe a little more than that. But anyway, I just know Bonnie to be a compassionate. uh she gets to be a a friend and she'll do anything for you and I'm going to miss her dearly. So, Miss Rainey, look out. I She's just a a person that you just have to love. And and Bonnie, I'm going to miss you, but enjoy your retirement. I would want you to stay, but I enjoy mine. So, I can't I cannot want for myself what I don't wish for somebody else. So, enjoy. may anybody Wayne I'll say this what what

109they don't acknowledge up here sometimes is the fact that anybody can sit on this board like I am living proof of that anyway all you have to do is get your name on a ballot and trick enough people into checking the box and but then what happens is you get whoever up here and Bonnie has to keep them in line and um in those first few months on this board Bonnie was very gracious and how because I broke some rules. Um, and mostly out of ignorance because I didn't know the rules. And she did a wonderful job of letting me know, but not humiliating me. There aren't many people like that in this world that can, um, nudge you in the right direction and correct you without making you feel like less of a person.

110And so, uh, Bonnie, you've created huge f huge shoes for, u Miss Rainey to fill. But, um, I'm very grateful for you. Um, thank you for what you've done for me. I don't think that my first year on the school board would have been anywhere near as good as it was if there wasn't somebody always making sure that I knew where I was supposed to be, when I was supposed to be there, what I was supposed to have with me, and no, don't do this, don't say this, this is the way we do this. And Bonnie, I think I guess taught us all. So, thank you, Bonnie. I was waiting for my turn. Um, I have the sincerest gratitude um for all that you've done this month. You definitely, I would say for the three

111of us that are newer to the board over the last few years have really taught us a lot, really ranked us in. Um, I think one thing that really stood out to me, um, since the day that I met you, I got to see the quality of your work, um, is how enlightening it is. What I mean by that is I'd step into one of the offices here at the school board or central office or I'd walk into a meeting or we'd go to BSBA conferences and I would see things that you put together and prepared for us and then I think to myself, oh, I would have never thought to have done that. Um, and so there were so many things that you taught me simply through the quality of your work. Um, and

112I think I would be remiss to spotlight so much of your work while failing to really spotlight the the quality of your character, which is where that work comes from. Pastor Walker can probably correct me on this if it's not theologically sound, but I would say that, you know, I'm a believer of both faith and works. And I think that our works come from our faith, and your work and your quality of work definitely comes from your faith. your quality of character. Um, and I think that's what's most inspiring about you and should be aspiring for the rest of us to try to go after that same character and, you know, really instill that and develop it in ourselves. So, um, you definitely have left behind a legacy. Um, and you know, Miss Rainey, she

113will leave behind a legacy as well. And there will be many great great things that she will do, but um, it's you're going to be missed. Uh, but you're not leaving also, you know, like you'll still be right around the corner. We'll be able to email you, call you, and what have you. not about schoolboard related stuff. I'll be sure to to set that boundary, but I I do thank you for everything that you've done for me and the rest of the board since day one. Okay, is that it? Okay. Well, any other comments, school board, anything you want to make today? I want to make a comment regarding all the committee reports we've had tonight. After 34 years in education, probably serving on every committee that was ever created, I know how much time

114and effort you took. You did your regular job and then you did the extra job and I admire you so much not only for the time that you put into this but for the quality of the product that you presented to us. Thank you so much. Everybody up. I would like to also mention the business honores. Um, we I thank them for their outstanding uh service to both our students and to Denwitty County. We we have so many businesses that are great supporters, but we try to honor um several each year with the DSBA. But um that's what makes Denwitty such a great place to work especially with the school system that we have the support of businesses, churches, organizations um and it makes uh our work easier and um it's great to have business

115local businesses that are seeking out the employment of our students and we appreciate you. Any more? Well, you know, thank you very much for coming this evening. We appreciate you for all you've done and continue to keep us in your good wishes and our schools in your prayers. And Dr. Westot, a madam chair, I move that we adjourn. Oh, second in by in opposition meeting is adjourned.