School Board Meeting - 9/23/2025

001[Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music]   Good evening. My name is Kathleen Brown, chair  of the Virginia Beach School Board, and I call   this formal session of our schoolboard meeting to  order at 6 PM on this 23rd day of September 2025.   Madame Clerk, would you please announce the role?  Thank you, Madam Chair, president in the school   board chamber or chair Brown, Vice Chair Williams,  Mr. Bowensteel, Mr. Ken, Mr. Cummings, Miss Dwire,   Miss Felton, Dr. Green, Miss Melnik, and Miss  Rogers. Thank you. Would my colleagues please join   me in a moment of silence followed by the pledge  of allegiance. After the pledge of allegiance,   the national anthem will be sung by the  Salem High School Visual and Performing   Arts Academy Box Harmonia Ensemble. Their  chorus directed director is Miss Corbin Pento. Please join me as you are

002able  for the pledge of allegiance. Pledge 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. Say by the dawn early lights. What so proudly  we at the twilight last gleaming who brush   stripes and bright stars through the  peril fight for the we were so gallent.   stream and the rock clears bursting  in gave proof through the night that   our flag was still there. [Music] Oh  s that stars rain the [Music] for the [Applause] [Music] and the [Music] bra. [Applause] Well done. Oh my goodness. Thank  you so much. That was fantastic. That was so awesome. All right. Well, some might say we  it's going to be hard to top that,   but I I I think we've got something

003that's  going to equal that that that as well. So,   um we now do our favorite part, and that's  um recognizing students, um SRO's, teachers,   and everything in our division. So, Miss Dwire,  would you please read our recognition today?   Yes, I will. This evening, the school board  has the pleasure of recognizing members of   the BBCPS community for their achievements. Our  first recognition this evening is for two school   resource officers who took extraordinary actions  to help one of our students. Please welcome Kellum   High School SRO Christopher Cresenzi and  Ocean Lakes High School SRO Cameron Culmer. These two SRO's took proactive measure to save  a student's life after receiving a tip about a   student who might be in crisis situation. Officer  Cresenzi immediately began investigating and in   short order identified where the student lived.  He responded to the

004student's home with Officer   Culmer. The officers found the student needed  immediate help. as the student was transported.   Oh, thanks to their swift action, the student  received lifesaving medical attention and is   now connected with resources for ongoing support.  As the student was transported to the hospital,   the Virginia Beach Police Department's first  precinct patrol units stepped in to assist,   ensuring the student received quality care  and providing security at the hospital.   This partnership allowed the SRO's to return  quickly to their schools, continuing their   mission of safety, mentorship, and presence  on campus. The case highlights the dedication   of our SRO's as both guardians and warriors. They  protect our schools not only from outside threats,   but also from the unseen struggles our children  face. Because of their swift and compassionate   response, a life was saved. This incident  reminds us that

005proactive police work is   not just about enforcement. It's about  compassion, care, and protecting life.   Join me in giving a shout out to the officers  Chrisenzi and Kmar for their outstanding work. We wanted to take an opportunity while it was  extended to us to also recognize officer Singi   and officer for their heroic actions that day.  I am honored to be here in front of you. But   I'm also not surprised. I know the officers that  you are and the work that you perform every day,   we are incredibly proud of you. And we know  that the impact you have on students lives,   but in this occasion, the impact you had  on saving student lives. So with that,   I wanted to present to you all our  department's life saving medal to offer [Applause] Chief, if you don't mind, This

006concludes the schoolboard  recognitions for this evening. Okay, we are now on to the adoption of  the agenda. Are there any modifications   to the agenda as presented? Vice Chair  Williams. Um yes, colleagues. I would   um like to move item 14 C the budget calendar  from the consent agenda to action tonight so   that we can discuss it in more detail. Okay.  So that will now be 15B. Are there any other   modifications to the agenda as presented?  Okay. Seeing none, I call for a motion to   approve the agenda as presented and modified.  Moved by Mr. Cummings, seconded by Mr. Ken.   Any discussion? Seeing none, I call for the vote  to approve the agenda as presented and modified. So, Madam Chair, we have 10 eyes. The  motion did pass for the adoption of   the agenda as presented and modified.

007Thank  you. We are now on to the superintendent's   report. Dr. Robertson, we look forward  to your report. Yes, I can read it. So, uh, thank you for this opportunity. Uh, first  we'll start with about 400 educators attended our   new teacher orientation last month. And tonight,  we're going to share a two-minute video with you   that shows how these new members of our team are  looking forward to their career with Virginia   Beach City Public Schools. At this year's 2025  new educator orientation, we're welcoming close   to 400 new teachers. Those might be folks new  to the division, new to teaching in general,   and also new to the division, or new to a content  area within our division. We host orientation to   create a foundation for a successful school  year for our newest folks. They're getting   an introduction to

008the curriculum resources to  the people for whom they can lean on for support   in their particular content who teach the same  thing as them. They're beginning to build that   foundation of collaboration. I've been saying  I'm so nervous, but I'm also so excited. This   is something I've wanted for so long. And so I'm  excited to get in there and make a difference.   As a first year teacher, you feel like you're  never going to fully know exactly what you're   supposed to do starting out. But that's why I  feel like this orientation has helped ease some   of that anxiety. I'm learning. One, it's okay to  be nervous and I'm not going to know everything   from the start. There's a significant gap in  my last time I was teaching. It's refreshing,   too, to kind of get back into it

009and to be one  of those veteran teachers, but also, you know,   there's been so many positive changes in the  curriculum since I left. I've met teachers from   other schools. I've seen people that I grew up  with that are now back in the school system. So,   it's helping to boost my self-esteem a little bit  in regards to getting out those first date jitters   and first teacher jitters. And I was amazed at  how many people were here. I had no idea we were   hiring and transitioning that many teachers into  the classroom. I've learned so much that there   will be so much support for me throughout the  school year. So, it's made me feel a lot more   comfortable going into it. I'm not alone. It's not  kind of like, okay, here's your orientation. Now,   go in your classroom

010and do your thing.  It feels tremendous to have that support   to know the people. So far, I've gained community  helping to bridge connections and just putting us   forward in paths that we need to go. They're so  thankful and excited to start their school year   after they know the kind of support that they're  going to have. Sometimes we hear it's a lot of   information and I didn't know how valuable it  would all be until my first nine weeks unfolded,   but we always hear back that people feel  supported and they're glad to feel supported. We're glad to support our new talent and we  know these teachers will play an essential   role in helping our students succeed in this  year and beyond. More than 7,000 people went   to the back to school caref fair on octo on  August

01116th at the Virginia Beach Convention   Center. This was our largest turnout ever. Those  of you who joined me at the event know just how   thrilled our students and parents were to learn  about school programs and community resources   while receiving free book and backpacks. Helping  us were more than 88 80 community and student   volunteers and more than 200 partner agencies and  school departments. Some other impressive numbers   from the event included we distributed 3,000  plus backpacks and headphones. There were 300   vision screenings completed. 181 students received  vaccines. There were 100 plus haircuts provided.   We want to offer special thanks to our  platinum sponsor, Bayport Credit Union,   for supporting this event, which was hosted by  the Office of Family and Community Engagement   and the Virginia Beach Education Foundation. Our  first day back to school was full of energy

012and   excitement across the division. From new faces to  familiar ones, students were welcomed with smiles,   support, and encouragement. Our school leaders  set clear expectations for the year ahead.   Principal Shan Bevel said she was thrilled to  welcome sixth graders to Bayside Middle School   for the first time. New students received an  orientation included a tour of the building and   Miss Bevel reminded them that wherever they go,  they will excel as long as they keep their tools   of success in their toolboxes. Chair Brown, I want  to thank you and the rest of the board members for   being a valuable part of the first day of school,  giving students high fives and adding to the   enthusiasm for the progress we'll see in them this  year. And then finally, the annual PTA leadership   training institute and volunteer kickoff was  held

013September 10th at Corporate Landon Middle   Schools. Training was provided in fundraising,  event planning, social media management, and   more. In addition to PTA and PTSA board members,  volunteers and community engagement liaison also   participated. The event also included a partner  expo where participants learned how Virginia   Beach City Public Schools community partners can  support schools. I'd like to thank the citywide   PTA president, Tara Campbell, and the Office of  Family and Community Engagement for supporting   parents and giving them a forum to exchange  ideas with other volunteers. And thank you,   Madam Chair. This concludes my report. Thank you.  And do you have any recognitions this evening? Okay. Thank you. And there are two sets of  meeting minutes for approval this evening.   The first is the August 27th, 2025 special  school board meeting. I call for a motion to   approve the

014minutes as presented. Moved by Miss  Dwire, seconded by Mr. Cummings. Any discussion?   Seeing none, I call for the vote to approve the  August 27th, 2025 meeting minutes as presented. So, Madam Chair, we have 10 eyes. The motion did  pass for the approval of the meeting minutes from   August 27th. Thank you. We are now on to  the September 9th, 2025 meeting minutes.   Is there any modifications to those  meeting minutes as presented? Seeing none,   I call for the motion to approve the  September 9th, 2025 meeting minutes   as presented. Moved by Miss Dwire, seconded  by Mr. Kellen. Any discussion? Seeing none,   I call for the votes to approve the  September 9th, 2025 meeting minutes. So, Madam Chair, we have 10 eyes. The motion to  pass for the approval of the meeting minutes from   September 9th. Thank you. The

015school board will  now hear public comments on matters relevant to   preK through 12 public education in Virginia  Beach in the business of the school board and   the school division from citizens and delegations  who signed up with the schoolboard clerk prior   to noon today. The purpose for the public  comment section is for the school board to   offer an orderly forum to receive public  comments during the schoolboard meeting.   I call upon all speakers and all persons in  the chambers to be civil in discussion and   decorum. Whatever views you wish to express,  the schoolboard wants to hear from you and to   ensure that all viewpoints and perspectives are  heard. The best way to do this is for all of us   to strive for civility and respect. Madame clerk,  please introduce the first speaker. U Madam Chair,   before I

016do that, I wanted to make a note that  the online speaker had to cancel this evening.   So, we'll start our speakers with our  student speaker, um, Haddie Freriedman. Hi, I'm Haddie Freriedman. Um, I'm not here to  bother you guys about DEI tonight. I'm here to   bother you about the Spanish immersion program.  I am the class of 27, which means I was the first   group to go through Allon Elementary and Great  Night Middle in Spanish immersion. That program,   I spent like eight years of my life. That  program meant so much to me. I met lifelong   friends. I had so many fantastic teachers  from all over. I had Puerto Rico, Peru,   probably a couple others I'm blanking on, but like  I had so many teachers from all over the place   that I learned Spanish from. And as

017the program  continued, so did my Spanish. I was able to travel   with it. I went to Costa Rica and even at second  grade Spanish level, they were still so impressed   with my Spanish and glad that I was learning. I  was just in Spain. I was able to use my Spanish   there. And even out I was a model UN meeting and  a girl didn't really speak great English and so   she needed me to translate for her about what we  were doing. So the program has taught me so much   and so to cut it would be such a shame. However,  I do agree that yes, budget cuts, I know we all   warned you about this, Trump is going to do it,  whatever. But that Spanish immersion though,   it's such a vital part and so many kids  use

018it and it's so helpful. And that yes,   I understand that maybe middle school the program,  move it to VB, keep it at home school, whatever.   But my thoughts on it is that when I went into  sixth grade, my Spanish was so much better than   the kids who were taking exploratory or Spanish  one. I already knew my colors. I knew Rojo was   red. I knew uno trays. I knew my stuff. But these  kids never even heard of Spanish in their life   couldn't do anything. So that's why I agree  with the idea that moving it to a home school   and having a more like specialized class for it  would be beneficial because then their Spanish   would still be able to continue to progress. You'd  be able to build on this five years of project   first through fifth

019and be able to build on that  at a middle school level, but still having the   curriculum needed and having a challenge still cuz  I knew if I sat sixth grade me sat in Spanish one   with the kids who never learned Spanish, I would  have been bored out of my mind and I probably   would have dropped the program alltogether  because like what's the point and what's the   point of not continuing it to middle school and  so either moving into VB and having the program   there trying to centralize it or having the at  home or at your home school, whatever. But still,   either way, I think that is such a vital program.  And I implored the board to talk more about it,   to learn more about it, to research it, to talk  to parents or students like

020me who have been in   Spanish immersion for so long. And like I was able  to take AP Spanish last year as a sophomore. Like   most kids wouldn't have been able to take that. So  that's why like the Spanish program has meant so   much to me in my education. I met lifelong friends  through it. I'm probably repeating myself because   I didn't have a speech, but it was it's just been  so fantastic. Like I cannot I cannot gush about   this program enough and how amazing has been to  my education and how much that has meant to me in   like middle school too even like yes I understand  history was hard in Spanish. I was at Great Neck   that was really complicated. So having that of  only doing like the centralized Spanish one,   Spanish 2, Spanish 3 class

021but yes please please  please learn more about this. Do your research   before you guys vote in budget. And that is  time. Our next student speaker is Kora Mayo. Good evening, school board. My name  is Kora. I would like to share what   happened in my zone elementary school  gifted class. My teacher was great.   She was very nice but spent most of her time  helping my classmates who couldn't read. I was   bored. A parent said my teacher did a great job  improving their reading. My mom had a meeting   at my old school. That me after that meeting  they stuck me on my Chromebook all day when   I was 7 years old. Mrs. Brown on the school  board helped us and took the reports. My new   school is much harder and my teachers are  excellent. My parents pay

022a lot of tuition.   I've gone to three different schools in four years  in Virginia Beach. My new school, my new school's   gifted cluster program is very different than my  zone school. Thank you for the chance to speak. Um, our next speakers will be uh Mindy  Freriedman, Cody Connor, and then Kim Mayo. Good evening. Sorry about my voice. I did  three nights of fish at the Hampton Coliseum   this weekend. Um, first I want to wish all the  Jewish families in our division shatuva a happy   and healthy new year. Today is Russia Shana, one  of the holiest days in Judaism. I was disappointed   to see a schoolboard meeting for tonight and even  more disappointing that VB school social media did   not acknowledge the holiday at all. For context,  Jewish holidays start at sundown the night before,   which

023may explain why my children often find  themselves with test projects or events scheduled   on our holidays year after year. In recent years,  our division had made some progress in respecting   major religious holidays, but that progress seems  to have slipped. I guess that's what happens when   you eliminate DEI. It also underscores the need  for VBCPS to adopt a religious and cultural   observance calendar, but that's a conversation  for another time. I shouldn't be here tonight,   but in Judaism, we are taught it's a mitzvah or a  good deed to stand up for what you believe in. And   I believe in the dual language immersion program.  When I saw the presentation on the agenda for last   meeting, my heart sank. My first thought was they  can't get rid of the Spanish immersion program at   middle school. Enrolling our kids,

024our children  in the program from the very beginning in Allen   was the best educational choice my husband and I  ever made for them. Both our kids have completed   DLI through elementary and middle school. And I  can say without hesitation, it has been rigorous,   meaningful, and deeply rewarding. These proposed  changes no longer direct to my family or my   children as they are in high school now. But I'm  here to advocate for preserving and strengthening   the DL program at this middle school level by  consolidating it at one location. Bringing all   DLI students together will make the program more  sustainable and ensure they continue to learn at   a true immersion level. However, I know budget  issues are real and if y'all decide to end the   LI at the middle school level and return it  to the zone schools,

025I urge you to at least   provide a immersion level Spanish 1 through3  class for these students. They've worked far   too hard and for far too long to be placed back  with peers who are just beginning their learning   of the language. The research is clear. Students  who study another language think more critically,   achieve more across subjects, and even strengthen  their English skills. Bilingual students also   score higher on tests and are better prepared for  the global workforce. Honestly, who wouldn't want   that for their children? I encourage you  to not only visit the elementary schools,   but the middle schools that offer the DLI program.  Please do not give up on these students. DLI is a   wonderful program that means so much to the  community it serves. Let's work together to   adjust and strengthen it. Please do not dismantle 

026it. I worry this could be the first of many cuts   across our division and it's our students that  will ultimately bear the consequences. Thank you. Our next speaker is Cody Connor,  then Kim Mayo, then Lisa Weiss. Brought you another song today.  Hope you like it. [Music] getting by in our country today and not  going to make it on minimum wage. Aid so   much better than hope. Making masters and  saints out of lies want someone to blame   for starting this fire. Don't put it out  cuz those ashes are worth more than gold. And we race to the edge on a cave of a road. Who cares that it's there?  It's the gas and over we go. Feels like flying. Only the stop that  kills. If you're worried about that,   just take two of these pills. Pull

027your  guns close. Tell yourself this is not   what it seems. Close your eyes to the  truth and get lost in American dreams. [Music] The D has turned into the Dow and the  price of a life has been trending down.   keeps getting lower each day. Slavery is illegal unless you're  in jail. But freedom's a crime now,   so everyone fails. There's no safe place  to stay. Too late for running away. So we raise to the air on a pave level road. Who cares that it's there?  Hit the gas and over we go. Feels like flying only the kills. If you're  worried about that, just take two of these   pills. Pull your guns close. Tell yourself  this is not what it seems. Close your eyes   to the truth and get lost in American  dreams. Close your eyes and

028get lost in. Our next speaker is Kameo Lisa  Weiss and then Omar Hagazi. Good evening. I'd like to discuss gifted ed and  expanding ODS beyond their campus. This is not   a partisan issue. I appreciate comments made  at your July retreat. Thanks Chair Brown for   repeating my suggestion about retesting rising  ODS sixth graders. Mrs. Dwire for asking what   is giftedness a profound question and Miss Rogers  for sharing your personal experience. We need to   thank big picture. Dr. Green distinguished herself  for her clear position of fiscal responsibility   and repurposing the ODS building. You showed  a vision to improve VB schools for all and an   authenticity with your remarks on segregation.  Affirmative action sending one kid to ODS from   every school was administration's band-aid  fix to appease. ODS no longer represents   the highest scoring gifted kids. Our current 

029model no longer serves our gifted community.   We've outgrown our one gifted school. A nice  problem to have. If I were an elected official   hoping to reelected or superintendent, I'd  focus on parents of gifted kids not at ODS,   the majority, not a small group with a sense  of entitlement. While the opinion is mixed   on what the solution is, we want our tax  money towards our own gifted children.   The hybrid B model Virginia Beach uses will  never work according to national expert Dr.   Plucker. By law, VB schools should be offering  programming to everyone, which our current model   does not allow. It's well documented there  is not fair access or equitable services   across the division. ODS has been the subject of  lawsuits, and I'm concerned parents could do more. ODS takes roughly 57% of our $20 million  gifted

030budget while serving just 11% of   the gifted population per your July 24 retreat. One solution Miss Rogers outlined to ensure  all gifted students are serviced appropriately   without the massive costs associated with  ODS is bringing ODS to neighborhood schools.   We could have maybe five gifted schools spread  out across the division and an option to attend.   This would cut current costs and allow our  kids to stay close to home.Mmies are roughly   1 million to run versus 13 million for ODS. It  was stated in conclusion the teachers insurance   matter has reminded us that fiscal restraint is  so important. Let's refresh our gifted programs.   Let's fix the mistakes of the past and implement  a win-win solution. I plan to post about this   more. Email [email protected]. If you're a  parent watching and want to explore options,   that is time. Thank

031you. Our next speaker is Lisa  Weiss, then Omar Higazi, and then Heather Sight, Lisa Weiss, Omar Hagazi. Good evening, school board. My name is Omar, and I  want to talk about how we as a city can respond to   school shootings. God forbid they happen here.  The unfortunate reality of school shootings is   two things. One, they're never going to be 100%  preventable. Number two is that first responders,   it's not just law enforcement and EMS. It's  the surviving students and the teachers. In   the mid '90s, the military adopted the tactical  casualty combat care solution commonly referred   to as TC. It it trains service members to be able  to stabilize patients prior to their arrival at   the emergency room, thus increasing the chance of  survival. This training is basic. It's effective,   and it can help reduce the number 

032of of casualties. Unfortunately,   it's time that we must pass this knowledge on  to to teachers and to students that want to   volunteer. Foldable safe rooms also seem  to no longer be part of the discussion,   and I'm assuming it's because of the  $50,000 price tag that it came with.   for I I implore the city we need to act and  apply the reality of what the situation is   in our country. Number one, we need to offer TC  training to teachers along with their mandated CPR   and AAD training. Triple C should also be offered  to students in 6th through 12th grade. And I can   tell you from from personal experience, some of  my friends in the military and law enforcement,   they've already taught this to their stu to their  children. procurement of 10 TC trauma kits for all  

03386 schools and the procurement of the ballistic  safe rooms such as KT's security solutions that   was explored last year by Mayor Dyer. And last but  not not least, mandated policies by the city to   backfill school resource officers who are absent  due to court training or on leave. As a former   officer, I can tell you that it that's a tough ask  due to the constraints of the the law enforcement.   Um, they're overworked, they're underpaid,  and they're underst staffed. Uh, I'm not a   salesman. I'm not here to sell you anything. I'm a  federal investigator. I'm a former law enforcement   officer. I'm a combat veteran. This stuff works.  And I, like I said earlier, unfortunately,   I think we've reached a time in our country where  we have to pass this on to our teachers. And,   uh, it works.

034The curriculum hasn't changed since  the mid 90s. It's effectively stayed the same.   Um, you can teach a teacher how to apply a  tourniquet, apply a chest seal, apply gauze,   and that can stabilize a student or another  teacher so they can make it to the hospital and   reduce the number of casualties. Uh, in your  inboxes right now is a detailed breakdown of   everything that I discussed this evening along  with a cost breakdown. So, if you check your   email inboxes, I would love some sort of a reply  in the coming weeks. Thank you for your time. Our next speaker is Heather Cip, then  Alan Wakefield, then Alberto Malis. Good evening, Chairwoman Brown, Vice Chair  Williams, members of the school board,   and Dr. Robertson. My name is Heather Cythe,  and I am the president of the Virginia Beach  

035Education Association. I'm here this evening to  remind you that employees of Virginia Beach City   Public Schools are still facing an important  decision about their health care that no human   being should have to make. Open enrollment should  be a time to decide which health insurance plan   best fits your family's medical needs, not a time  to decide if you can even afford to retain health   insurance because the premiums have doubled.  Earlier this evening, many of you expressed   concerns over student meal debt and were seeking  ways to ensure all students receive a hot meal.   Your employees need you to be equally concerned  about whether the cafeteria staff can afford   to stay with VBCPS when the compensation and  benefits in neighboring districts exceeds what   you are paying them. You also heard about  the many fine programs we offer students,  

036particularly at the high school level to serve  their needs and ensure they have a wide range   of opportunities to explore. You need to be  equally concerned about the teachers who are   endorsed to instruct these programs. Then  they will be staying in this division after   this school year. Bus drivers, maintenance and  custodial staff, teacher assistants, security,   office associates, administrators. This division  is nothing without the staff who ensure our   students get the very best. They deserve the best  compensation. BBCPS employees should not have to   choose between better pay and affordable health  care premiums. They deserve both. They deserve   to be ranked as high on the pay comparison as  they are in so scores. They deserve to be in a   position where they feel valued. You're going  to have to put in the work to find a solution  

037that will be effective January 1st, 2026. BBCPS  staff deserve to actually see their raises and   not have them wiped out by premium increases. Do  the work. Have the difficult conversations about   budget and revenue streams. Show the employees  of Virginia Beach City Public Schools that you do   indeed value them and that retention is an actual  goal. No more lip service. They deserve more. Now,   a few words about immersion language. I am a  bilingual adult who learned my second language   through full immersion. Nothing can compare  to that level of language acquisition. It   is a question. It is without question the best  means for learning a language. I am also a world   languages teacher who has taught everything from  the nine weeks exploratory to AP. The students   who have done immersion in elementary cannot  be placed in the

038same level one course as a   firsttime language learner. Their needs are more  closely aligned to the coursework that is prepared   for our heritage speakers. Curriculum already  exists that will appropriately challenge them.   send them to VB Middle where they can have  immersion or send them to their home school   with coursework that is appropriate for what  they have learned through immersion. Thank you. Our next speaker is Alan  Wakefield and then Alberto Malis. Good evening everyone. Tonight I will try to  compare an event 40 plus years ago to well   tonight. Welcome back in time to my second date  at Maymont Park in Richmond. Barbara suggested we   needed to get something to eat after our visit.  I replied a delicious snack by the car would be   perfect. To her amazement, we spread out a  few things. She was curious

039and asked what   was covered up. I said, "A homemade blackberry  pie from scratch." She said, "Wow, you can cook,   too." Why did I bring this story to your  attention? Well, you have $200,000 plus or minus   to spend on a new school. I had $10 to buy some  gas for my car and pie ingredients for my date.   I thought about your conversations at the last  meeting about other options. Partnerships was one,   but the bottom line to me is the money, the  funds are really not available. Schools age as   soon as they are built. Many others are in need of  remodeling, repair, andor maintenance. And in the   near future with technology and AI, we will have  major changes in how education is delivered. So,   you have wants and needs that coincide with  each other. I had a

040want to impress my date,   but also a need to have gas to get there and  back with a total of $10. I accomplished my   mission as planned, as a Marine would say. Are  you able to accomplish yours without adding more   short and long-term debt to the citizens  of Virginia Beach? Thank you very much. Our next speaker is Alberto Malis. Alberto Malis. Okay, Madam Chair,  um our last speaker is not here,   so that ends our public comments for  this evening. Okay, thank you. Uh we   are now on to our information agenda and our  first presentation is the interim financial   statements for June unodudited July and  August 2025. And we welcome Daniel Hopkins,   director of office of business services. Good  morning uh Chair Brown, Vice Chair Williams,   I'm sorry. Good evening. Just woke up. Uh Chair  Brown,

041Vice Chair Williams, school board members,   Dr. Robertson. I'd like to start this presentation  today to go over a few key points about the   financial statements and what to look for as you  read them. If you go to your statements B3 and B4   and that would be your statement of revenues for  June. That'll help you follow my presentation. Hopefully, you have them there. First,  you'll notice are Are you all there? All right. There should be a B3 in. All right. So,  first you'll notice there are percentages on the   statements. These represent actual versus budget.  This is a key measure on how we're performing   according to our approved budget. For revenues,  being over projections is positive. Of course,   we're we're getting more revenue. For  expenditures, being under budget is is um   what we what we always try

042to do. But, um when we  do receive revenue, revenue does not come in all   at once, and not all revenue sources are received  at the same schedule. State revenue is one of our   largest funding sources and it generally comes in  24 equal installments starting in July. However,   some state allocations begin later. For example,  infrastructure and operations per pupil for $15   million and K3 class size reduction for $6  million. These revenues don't start coming in   until January in 11 equal installments.  Other state revenue lines may come in   um may not come in until May or even June. We  track every line item closely to ensure by year   end that all funds are received in according to  the state budget. If any line items show less   than 100%, it's usually because state revenue and  adjustments to the

043budget uh during the year. It's   also worth noting that state re state revenue  accounts for about 47% of our total revenue. Uh we keep the board informed about  any changes in the state budget and   in context we didn't receive a  final calc tool until June 2025. Sales tax is part of the state budget and this  is based on our actual sales tax collections.   It's important to note that sales tax if it  exceeds projections the state basic aid is   reduced based on the composite index of 4138.  That means that our state basic aid will reduce   by 41% of the extra state sales tax. If state  sales tax comes lower, that would mean that   the state basic aid will increase by 41%.  And in some cases, they may hold harmless,   allowing us to keep any surplus. This

044variability  is a normal part of the state budgeting process. Uh, federal revenues can be highly unpredictable.   last year. This is the first time we ever received  federal impact aid in the year that they belonged.   Um, federal impact aid office at the federal  government would like to keep this trend,   but they're are totally reliant on the federal  government to pass the appropriation bill to   allow them to pay us. Fortunately, we have a good  staff that um closely monitors these payments,   but there's still no guarantee as to when we'll  actually receive them. Local revenues come in   from city transfers. Since the schools have  a bank have no bank account, all funds flow   through the city treasurer's office. The city  transfers our portion through journal entries   spread out over 12 equal installments throughout  the year. At year end,

045we verify that 100% of   these funds are received except for any revert  any amount reverted back to the city. Other revenue accounts for just 0.5% of the total  revenue. Many sources here are consistent.   However, larger one-time sources such as sale of  property and loss and damage technology can vary   significantly from year to year. And now  let's move to expenditures incumbrances.   By law, expenditures and incumbrances must remain  under budget. About 85% of our expenditures are   payroll and benefits which are distributed fairly  even fairly evenly throughout the entire year.   Non-personnel costs follow typical spending  patterns as the previous year. For example,   annual software licenses are often paid  at the beginning of the fiscal year.   for fiscal run June 30th. We don't officially  close these books until August 15. That's because   we are required to acrew any payments

046into the  prior year and some invoices might not arrive   until late July. So, this concludes the overall  financial statements and I hope this provided   a little clear information. Now, I'd like to get  into the interim financial statement presentation. Miss Melnik, sorry. Just keep going. Oh, sorry. Um, so now for the  interim financial statements for the fiscal year   ending June 30th, 2025, the overall final  revenue trend was favorable with an actual   overbudget amount of approximately $10.7 million.  The Commonwealth of Virginia revenue source was   favorable with an actual overbudget of  approximately 4.7 million or 101.2% of   budget. This is mainly due to the SOQ bonus of 6  million and the reduction of state basic aid of   1.5 million. State sales tax revenue was favorable  with an actual overbudget of approximately $2.8   million. This increases why we had

047a reduction in  state basic aid based on our composite index of   approximately 40%. The federal government revenue  source was favorable with an actual over budget   of approximately 2.8 million or 118.7%. This is  mainly due the increase in impact aid payments.   Other revenue sources were favorable with an  actual overbudget of approximately 415,000.   This increase is made up of various revenue  sources such as the propane bus rebate,   fees on damage technology, indirect cost to  grants, and reduction in the stop arm enforcement. The next graph illustrates a total revenues by  by major source in fiscal year 2025. The city   of Virginia Beach contributed 51.1%. Commonwealth  of Virginia 37.8. 8 state sales tax was 9% federal   government 1.7 and other sources it was4%. The  final expenditure trend for fiscal year 2025 was   favorable in all categories. The overall remaining 

048unspent unencumbered balance was $27.8 million.   The next graph illustrates total  expenditures incurred in fiscal   year 2025 by category. Instructional  category comprised of 69.7%. Operations   and maintenance 11.6%. Pupil  transportation 5.3%. Technology   4.6%. Administration attendance and  health 4.4 and debt service 4.4%. As presented on schedule B1 of your documents,  you'll find a summary of the reversion back to   the city general fund with revenue surplus of  10.7% and the remaining unspent unencumbered   balance of 27.8% and the reversion of the school  athletic funds of 344,000 and Green Run collegiia   of 391,000 with all adjustments and prepaid  items. The total amount of the reversion back   to the city is $ 38.1 million. The revenue  that comprised of the city and school board   revenue sharing formula on a preliminary  basis came in over budget. Our share of   this surplus is $7.5

049million. The budget  development staff is currently working on   potential future uses of these funds which are to  be presented to the school board on October 14th. The revenue sharing formula in these uh in  these figures are presented unodudited and   subject to change and July and August interim  financial statements are included in the board   documents this evening. They are being  presented as Virginia State Code. However,   these are abbreviated statements that are not and  they have no salaries or benefits for 10-month   employees. So these abbreviated statements are  not as meaningful or comparable as the financial   statements that we presented in for September.  This concludes my presentation. I'll be glad to   take any questions. Okay, Miss Melnik. Okay.  I really appreciate this. I really learned a   few things tonight. Like I guess you don't really  think about it,

050but we don't have a bank account.   I guess I never thought about that because I  just, you know, the I don't know. So that was very   interesting. The other thing is for the public to  understand that our budget is not black and white,   right? There's a lot of gray matter and you  talked about um the fluctuation of funds that we   have like the reduction in state basic aid due to  something else. And so I think it's important that   people understand that it's this is not just a  sum of money that doesn't change at all. So that's   probably some of the hardest stuff that we deal  with just in planning our budget and how sales   tax pays plays plays a role. It took me 11 years  to get here. Um so um you did mention here

051is my   question that we received the calc tool in June of  2025. When do we typically receive the calc tool?   when it typically in the past couple years yeah  has been June but before that I have to believe   it was like March or April but you can answer yeah  so you'll realize when you think about through   the budget process and that's why we're kind of  given this information now so as we get ready to   go into budget it kind of makes some connection  we hope so you know we have to pass the approved   budget by May 15th right so depending on when the  governor comes in and the general assembly finally   finishes what they're going to do initially. We  typically don't have that information final when   we're trying to approve our budget for the next 

052fiscal year. So, what happens is once general   assembly finishes and governor approves, it's  typically after we we get a May 15th approved   budget at city council and then we get a final  calcul that has then we have to go back and amend   and then we do come back before the board with  the additional funds. Usually we apply them to   compensation at that point because we're trying  to to that's usually what the the direction of   that additional funding is. But as Dan indicated,  we don't we haven't been in the last few years   getting that final um cal tool because the general  assembly continues to go back and forth with   the governor a little bit and okay with all the  vetos and Okay. So um um which also explains why   um your job is never done. It's

05312 months a  year. And so I thank you for all of that hard   work. Thank you. I appreciate it. And I I will  add to what you were talking about. The financial   statements that you have in front of you have the  approved budget of the school board. Okay. And not   the adjusted budget on June 5th. So that's what  you are looking at. Okay. Perfect. Thank you for   that, Miss Rogers. Okay. So in your conversation,  Miss P with Mrs. like I I guess um it leads me to   ask why if we don't have everything approved,  why do we then like we have to pay our staff,   but you said that we usually have the final, you  know, numbers go to paying our staff. Why do we   put wait for that monies to be why are we

054waiting  for that money? You know what I'm saying? Like why   are we not I hope I understand what you're saying.  So when we go through that process by code,   we have to have an approved budget for the next  fiscal year by May 15th. And I get that. And we   may not have all of the information that's  coming out of the state government, right?   So what happens is we balance with what we have  um and back and forth with you all giving you the   information that we have. So we just we have to  balance with what we have and then if we get the   additional funds which we monitor really closely  after that then we know we have to come back and   present to you all the additional funds that have  become available to us if

055that's the case and   then we actually say we give you recommendations  on what we could spend it on which is typical.   I'm just thinking back to this past year  where we did not give our instructional staff   um a like the raise until after that year because  of the additional funds that are coming in. But   why do we not put those raises and things with the  funds we have and have other things wait for that?   You see what I'm saying? Like so you're saying  do it the compensation all in front and then   hold off on nonpel. Why do we do that? Um, I think  I don't know that I have a great answer for that   because we because we come to the board with with  that information, right? We have information that   comes from Seagull that

056helps us with what we can  afford to give different levels of raises based on   the work that they do and then we present that to  you all. Then we have to have programs that are in   place, right? So, I don't know that there's it's  just always and I don't want to say that it's just   the way we've done things to where compensation is  what we think we can afford while still having to   to take care of some other non-personnel items  as well. Okay? Only because I want our staff   and let's just say that like reading the room, I  want our staff to feel like they're important to   us and that they are our priority. And sometimes  even though we know money is coming, our staff   having to wait to get to see what they're going 

057to get second does not make them feel important,   which is why I'm asking these questions. So, and  I think you have to think when you get ready to   go through that process. I don't think there's  any code or anything that prohibits us. But if   you get to that point and you put all that  money that's available at the time that we   have to approve into compensation and then that  money doesn't happen, then you're going to have   some other decisions I think you might need to  make. Right? And so that is just we try to make   a balance between trying to do one thing. And I  understand that. But then if you think about this,   if we don't get the money we think we're going  to get, guess who doesn't get it? It's our staff.   So

058that's why I'm saying like is perhaps we  should think about how we and I think that's   why we really want to try to inform the board as  much as possible about the process and try to be   in front of you more so that we can give you that  information and let you ask questions and give you   the information you need to make those decisions.  Yeah. And I I just like I think especially last   year we stressed a lot about giving the staff  raises and making sure that they felt like that   they were important. And I think even just the  way it's presented, not that it h, you know,   you guys have always done it that way, but coming  from the lens of they feel like we don't matter,   they wait for us to get our

059race second. And  maybe that's a shift that we need to make. I just have one question. um you gave us a lot  of information and um I think it may be useful to   have some of this um in writing. Do you think you  could give what you said? Yes. We'll email that   to the board. Thank you. All right. Well, I don't  see any other additional questions. It was good   information. I just want to be able to really like  analyze and absorb it the rest of the way. So,   thank you very much for that. The first part of  the just the first part. Yes. All right, we'll get   you. I appreciate that. We are now on to staffing  up for success 2526 opening of school update. We   welcome Dr. James Ailia. Ailia Avilia, I'm sorry.  I'm

060trying. Abala, I'm trying. Okay. Coordinator   of recruitment and retention. And thank you.  I I only had one name on here, so sorry.   and d and during their trauma. Uh hello, good  evening, chairwoman Brown, Vice Chair Williams,   members of the school board, and Dr. Robertson. As  a followup to our summer staffing update delivered   on August 12th, this evening, we are presenting  a schoolbased staffing update as of Monday,   August 25th, the first day of school. Joining  me this evening is Dr. James Abala, coordinator   of recruitment and retention. And at this time,  I will turn the presentation over to Dr. Abala. Good evening. During the August summer staffing  presentation, 57 full-time instructional vacancies   were reported, 31 of which were classroom  vacancies. A classroom vacancy refers to the   absence of a full-time teacher of record who is  directly responsible

061for supporting students. At   the opening of the 2526 school year, there were  14 full-time classroom vacancies. This reflects   11 fewer than at the start of the previous school  year and a 61% decrease in in vacancies over the   past three years. Of the 14 instructional  vacancies on the first day of school,   the open positions included teachers in second,  third, and fourth grades, English, health,   and PE, Latin, math, social studies, Spanish, and  technology education. All full-time instructional   vacancies were covered by long-term substitutes  with some preparing for a provisional license,   site assigned substitutes, or certified teachers  awaiting replacement before transitioning to   a new role after accepting a promotion.  Special education continues to represent a   critical staffing need. During the summer staffing  presentation, there were 17 identified vacancies   in special education. On the first day of  school, 13 of

062these positions remained unfilled. The division continues to receive new applications  for non-instructional school-based positions.   At the start of the 2526 school year, there  were 35 non-instructional full-time vacancies,   which is two less than on the first day of school  last year. The non-instructional vacancies include   positions such as teacher assistants, security  assistants, clinic assistants, and school nurses.   Turning attention to our operational support  areas, custodial services, food services, and   transportation. Progress continues when compared  to last year, while also identifying areas that   require focused recruitment efforts. Custodial one  vacancies remain steady at 29 positions, showing   no change from the previous year. Additionally,  food service vacancies decreased by 34 cafeteria   assistants. In transportation, there were seven  bus driver vacancies. routes were either combined   or covered by a second bus run. There were 32 bus  assistant vacancies, which is three fewer

063than on   the first day of school for the 2425 school year.  To better support staff and address their family   needs in the 2122 school year, the school division  began waving student tuition for full-time   employees who reside outside of Virginia Beach.  Since then, participation in the tuitionfree   program has grown steadily with more employees  choosing to enroll their children in VBCPS schools   each year. This growth highlights not only the  program's value to employees, but also its role   in strengthening recruitment and retention efforts  by positioning VBCPS as an employer of choice. The progress in staffing, recruitment, and  retention reflects the collective commitment to   ensuring every student begins the school year with  the support they need. While challenges remain,   the strategies in place are moving the  division forward and continued collaboration   will strengthen these efforts even further. At  this

064time, we are happy to address any questions   you may have. Miss Rogers, thank you so much for  your presentation. I totally appreciate it. Um,   couple of questions. Um, I think the second slide  I'm looking on my computer. um the instructional   vacancies, do we have the number of those split  between um title one schools and non-title one?   Because I know that we've talked about that  being more difficult is to sometimes staff those   schools. Do we know like what the split is by any  GS? You're asking for the vacancies the vacancies   current or vacancies as of the 25th, the first  day of school? as of the first day of school,   like what is our split between our title one  and our non-title one schools as to what our   vacancies are? So, we're going to follow up with 

065a memo that captures um this presentation. We will   try our best to respond to that question. We'll  respond to all questions in that memo as well,   and we'll see if we can go back and get those  title one schools that had vacancies and   break that out for you. Okay? And then uh the  non-instructional vacancies that includes you   said TAs is that also with our special education  TAs because that's also very hard difficult to   and do we know of our non-instructional how  much are special education and how much are   not on that slide out of which slide is it's  the non-instructional vacancies the orange one. So again, we chunk this by by level. We can drill  down and I can go back to the first. Totally fine.   If you want to just give those what we

066can get and  we will embed it in in that memo. Okay. And then   for your special education for your instructional  staff, is this an increase or a decrease from last   year or about the same? Do we know? You'll  get those to me. That's okay. No worries.   So, as of the first day of school and I  know Dr. um Myers knob is in the back. So,   um I'm going to it's similar similar, right? So,  we'll get we will get that and we have broken that   out again as well. So, we'll make sure we put  that information and highlight that. Okay. My   last comment is our tuition free program. I love  that that that is part of a a a recruitment tool.   However, is there a plan in place? Should  we need to change that because of

067budget,   because of whatever? Do we have a plan in place  that where we would be able to communicate the   need for a change to our staff well in advance  before an upcoming school year should this need   to change. Yeah, it's a policy, Mrs. Rogers.  We'd have to amend the policy, the PRC. So,   it'll take us a while. Okay, that's I I just  want to make sure that should something happen,   it would be a policy though and then we would  have to let everybody know. Okay, that's it.   Thank you. Thank you, Miss Melnik. To Mrs. um  Rogers point, gosh, some of us will remember that   one mom who came who taught for us and what her  children were going to have to go through every   year to get here. the the boat, the I mean it 

068was like trains, planes, and automobiles. Um,   and it's it it every time we talk about this,  my heart breaks because I know what she paid   and she was a loyal employee and it was the year  after her kid I could cry. Her kid graduated, we   stopped. And it's such a gift for our teachers and  they and and that should always remain my opinion.   Um, but I want to first give you giant kudos  um for the efforts that you you put out to to   find these amazing staff members. Just it's  so amazing. And I of I often referenced the   um you'll remember the um file cabinets upstairs  on the third floor full of teacher resumeumés and   how we never wanted to be in the file cabinet. Um  we just wanted to be in a school and

069we had that   but we also didn't offer what we do now. And for  a division with a cheesecake factory menu we're   doing pretty darn well. we are and and thank you  for those comments, but um Mrs. Mel, I have to say   it takes a village and it does is our village.  Um so schoolbased staff, so we appreciate that.   We recognize that. We know I I I see commercials.  I see the vans driving around the city. I mean, I   know you are on location at at different schools.  You're recruiting. I get it. Um but thank you and   thank you for for hiring the creme de la creme  always. Our people are just really amazing. Um,   my one question for you is the bus assist  bus assistant number is a little high. Um,   and I'm assuming that

070is most often on a special  education bus or Mr. Freeman is saying yes. Okay.   And so what what do we do um when we have those  extra needs and we're so from the human resources   um side of it, we host our hiring events. In  fact, we are in the planning stages of getting   a support staff um hiring expo in the work. So the  human resources side of the house we partner with   um transportation and if Mr. Freeman wants to  add any additional information I'll turn it   over. Yeah. So I think your basic question is on  any given day if a bus assistant is not available   what happens. So M uh I will defer to Dr. Myers do  for the greater details of this, but in the IEP,   it's indicated by the parents whether there's it's 

071required that a bus assistant uh be there, right?   Or whether there's flexibility if a bus assistant  is available that day to make adjustments. Okay.   So, that's kind of the high level answer to your  question and and we make it work. Um Dr. Marsd,   do you have anything to add to what I just said or  clarify? Yes. Um, we held IEP meetings each year   to discuss this just to let the parent know like  if this happens, here's the options. Some of the   schools are great about you'll have administrators  get on the bus. You'll have buses that circle   back. But we know if that's not always the case  that we say to the parent, what do you want us to   do? Would you like us to call you to let you know  the assistant isn't available today?

072Are you going   to pick the child up? Do you want us to call you  and let you know the assistant is available, but   the student's going to go on the bus? So, we've  had those conversations just to be transparent   about some of the situations we've been in  with staffing. Fair enough. Okay. Thank you,   Mr. Cummings. Yeah. Thank you so much for sharing.  I don't really have a question, but just wanted   to publicly acknowledge um looking through the  presentation, the year-over-year improvements,   and so that does speak, I think, so much to your  team, to the division, and just the uh I don't   know, the good work you're doing. I mean I you see  instructional vacancies decreasing and everything   you know going those numbers getting smaller  and smaller. So I do think you know publicly   acknowledging your

073your great hard work is it's  you know you see the results of what you're doing   and if I recall correctly we had a presentation  a little bit ago with a great visual marketing   campaign. So I know the results are next year  we're going to see zeros across the the line.   But I'm excited to see, you know, just as there's  continued growth and iteration each year to see,   you know, great quantified improvement. So, I just  wanted to take time and acknowledge your all's   good work. Thank you so much, Mr. Common. Great  team, Vice Chair Williams, job well done. I mean,   this is just just great news and I know that  that y'all have worked so hard and I, you know,   share in the excitement of my colleagues and just  want to congratulate you and thank you

074so much.   Um these numbers are are really unbelievable. Um  it's unfortunate that at times we hear kind of no   one's going to come to Virginia Beach, everyone's  leaving. And these numbers do not prove that to be   true. So because of your hard work and because  of all the the advantages that we do have for   employees, the resources that we have, and and I'm  a teacher now. I've taught in three divisions here   locally and I heard that when I was teaching  in other divisions like, "Wow, Virginia Beach,   I can't believe that y'all have that or I can't  believe you do this and y'all are so lucky and and   so it's just great news and let's continue so that  we can be at zero next year as my colleague said,   but that's but this is truly awesome.

075Thank  you. Thank you, Miss Falton. Thank you,   Cheer Brown. I just like to say thank you for all  that you're doing. and was what's really working   and how we're advertising. But one of the things  that really spoke out to me when I attended the um   back to school caref fair on August the 16th, we  literally had a real bus in the convention center   sitting there and the uh students and the uh maybe  initiative uh employees were examining our buses.   I thought it was a good advertisement thing that  we did at the uh caref fair and uh TJ was there   explaining everything to them. But the and and  and keep keep up the uh great advertisement. We   look good. Thank you so much on TV. And when I  see it and I say yes, cuz we're

076doing good. But   my one question to you, um the background check  for our bus drivers, are they still extensive?   this one of the things that's causing us a peak  off from getting him to come in and how and how is   that background check now um given Mr. Frame. So  um the background check remains constant I'll let   HR uh view those but one of the things that we're  looking at related to uh hiring bus drivers. So,   as as we've talked about many times for this  category of employees, often just getting   through the process can be challenging and uh one  of the things that we were talking about earlier   is there's a requirement for three references  for us to be able to proceed through and there   there are candidates that are in the system that  don't have

077that. So, um, what we've been having   is conversations within our team for us reaching  out to those candidates to encourage them that,   hey, this is probably the last step that you  need to meet, uh, to be able to have a fully   developed application and us to be able to get  you into training. So, I know that wasn't what   you were asking. You were asking about what are  the barriers of uh, being able to get qualified   candidates in the door. And that's really one of  the areas, not so much the background check part   of it because that's a required part. It's a very  important part. to keep our uh our entire process   tight and safe. Uh but we are trying to look at  where are the elements that we can support people   to be able to

078uh get them across the finish line  so we can get them into training. Um Mr. Freeman,   thank you for that detailed explanation, but  I do know that those background checks are   very important. Good thing they're set by state  law. Although the state law did change a couple   years ago, it's still work required to follow  that unlike the city which city can make some   exceptions because the population we work with  they everybody has to pass that we can't accept   that and I'm not deterring that. I want them to  stay in place. I want us to do that because it's   important which some of the things that we hear in  other divisions. I do want those background checks   to stay there and we work them is just that I  get maybe a conversation from individual say   I

079did go. I'm still waiting my background check.  Could not wait. I'm going somewhere else. That's   the only reason I asked the question. It's not to  eliminate those for God's sake. No, keep that on   board. It's just that that is one of the things  that I hear that going in trying to get on the on   the bus even when they have the Am I saying right  CDL? Yes. They have the CDL's and everything. They   said just couldn't get in because it took so long  for the background check. And I'd say again due   to the nature of our business there are layers  and so we do extensive background checks, CPS   um verification checks because of the population  that we serve. So it may be a little bit of a   weight but different cases. So there are always 

080different components and different cases for each   individual. Just want to make the uh public aware  of that. I'm not deterring that. Please keep the   background check. Every um every program in the  city of Virginia Beach that I had to deal with   in working with children, I had to do a background  check. And I think it's been about four of those.   Every in have their background check. And I said,  this is what I have to tell them that is important   that we do that. just be patient and just hang in  there because it's important that we continue to   do the background check on our employees that we  employ to be around and work with our children.   Absolutely. Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Dr. Green.  Thank you. And and I don't have a question. I   just have uh

081accommodation. So, so thank you um  commending and and I think for our viewing public   um if you don't uh have a clear understanding  of what it takes to end up being fully staffed   um how hard this department works, all the  coordinators, uh assistants, uh and like they are   here late tonight, but this is typical uh for our  HR department. They're always here ensuring that   schools are staffed. And as a former uh employee  who had the honor of having to work with some of   uh these team members, um they're going to make  sure we have great matches. It's not a matter   of just putting a body in front of students. They  want it to be a good fit for the school community   uh as well as with the students. uh especially you  you've heard a lot

082of discussion this evening on   our specialty programs. So it takes a lot from  a staffing perspective to get schools open as   well as continuing when there's a vacancy uh  throughout the school year. And I think Dr.   Robertson or Dr. Tropman, you can correct me if  I'm wrong. We're probably one of the few school   divisions that don't have an enormous amount  of provisionally uh licensed teachers. So,   I want to give you accolades for that as well.  And you know, people may not that's a big deal.   uh when you do not have a lot of staff who are  provisionally uh licensed. The good news is um   I I know that Virginia Beach when we do have  provisionally licensed staff, they're not far   from being uh fully licensed, which a lot of other  school divisions cannot say. And

083that's because   our HR department works so hard to make sure that  we do get the best candidates. So, thank you all.   Thank you. And I don't have any questions either.  Um, but I do want to thank you guys when I compare   what we're doing statewide. Um, and you can  correct me if I'm wrong, but our numbers and   our percentages of vacancies are much much lower  in Virginia Beach. Um, and that is because of the   hard hard work that you guys do. And so I just  want to make sure that I tell you all that I   appreciate your work as well. So I give 1.98% is  what it was. It's 1.98. They rounded up to 2% on   the state website, but that was our vacancy rate  um for teachers last year. That is a lot less

084than   average though. Correct. That is state and region  two, the states. So I just wanted to shout that   out. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all. All  right. We are now on to the consent agenda. We   have policy 3-23, policy 3-25, policy 3-26, policy  3-42, policy 744 and 403b oversight committee.   Are there any objections to the schoolboard  voting on the consent agenda as presented?   Seeing none, I call for a motion to approve the  consent agenda as presented. Moved by Miss Dwire,   seconded by Vice Chair Williams. I call for the  vote to approve the consent agenda as presented. So, Madam Chair, we have 10 eyes. The motion did  pass for the approval of the consent agenda. Thank   you. We are now on to the personnel report  and administrative appointments. I call for   a motion to approve

085the personnel report and  administrative appointments for September 23rd,   2025. Moved by Miss Dwire, seconded by  Miss Rogers. Any discussion? Seeing none,   I call for the votes to approve the administrative  appointments and personnel report as presented. Mr. Cummings, how do you vote? Thank you,  Madam Chair. We have 10 eyes. A motion to   pass for the approval of the personnel report and  administrative appointments. Thank you. I call for   a motion to approve the budget. Madam Chair. Oh,  that's right. Dr. Robertson, glasses. Yeah. Yeah.   Yeah. My wife texted me and said enough's enough.  Put your glasses on. Put your vanity aside. Yes.   Put your Yeah. So, thank you, Debbie. Okay. So,  um, I'm pleased to announce that you've accepted   two of our our recommendations tonight. One would  be Aaron Arnold, formerly work-based learning   specialist in the Office of

086Technical and Career  Education to be the next coordinator of work-based   learning in the Office of Technical and Career  Education. Next up, uh, Frederick Franks. You   know, there are times when you want to determine  whether your division is distinguished. And I   think if you look at the resume of Frederick  Franks, um it is clear that this gentleman   could have gone and worked anywhere he wants to  work. Former division chief, na naval criminal   investigative service, better known as NCIS. He  also was a deputy assistant director of Naval   Criminal Investigative Service. He was associate  deputy director for the FBI and any number of   things and he uh he picked us. He's going to be  the next coordinator of security emer safe schools   the office of security emergency management.  We're excited to have him join our team. Okay, that's

087all. Thank you. Thank you.  It's very exciting. Um, that brings us to   the budget calendar. Is there a motion to  accept the budget calendar as presented? There is no motion to approve the budget calendar  as presented because we're hearing whispers about   a substitute. Can I make a substitute?  Well, we have to get the original on   the floor first. Okay. Moved by Mr. comments.  Seconded by Miss Dwire, Vice Chair Williams, pass those down, please. Um, so I I kind of  glossed over this um over the weekend and then   I I looked and and read in more detail at my lunch  break today about this calendar. So, my substitute   is to adopt the calendar that I'm passing to  you. Um so everything is the same except for   I have stried out the um budget workshop number  three

088for January 20th and the budget workshop 9   on March 17th and once we make a motion I will be  glad to discuss my reasoning. I mean am I once I   get a second I'd be glad second I would be glad to  second seconded by Miss Melnik. Okay go ahead. All   right. So, um I just started looking at this and  we and and I do appreciate um the amount of time   that we need and we will spend on the budget but  this is like twice as many budget meetings as we   usually have and if you look at all the workshops  we have different departments coming and so I've   just reduced it by two. It's still three more  than we've had in previous years. Hoping that Dr.   Robertson can maybe combine some of these  so that we

089don't come down for one 45minute   budget workshop. Um so that's that's my whole  um reason for doing this is that I think it's   just a little bit too many times to come down and  for him to combine. I I briefly talked with him   after dinner and if you want to add anything Dr.  Robertson about the feasibility of this. Yeah. So,   um I I uh I appreciate that offer and we can  absolutely um adjust around the loss of those   two meetings. What I think is really important,  and I'm going to be a little long-winded here,   um because this board, like every other  board representing a a school division or   an organization, you know, over the next several  months, is going to have a really difficult task.   And unfortunately, there are going to be those  who want

090to position this board into, well,   you have to do this no matter what. We have not  faced the budgets outlook that we have in front   of us. I think in my opinion, since 2009, 2010,  2011. And I think what we're trying to do here   with the team, and you saw it with Mr. Hopkins  tonight. We are going to overcommunicate really   with the public as well as the board. You guys  already know because you lean into the budget   documents. You ask all the right questions. You  do your homework. But I really want to lean into   the public to let them know that you're you're  going to have some really hard decisions and you   are going to be exhaustive in the work that you  do to gather the information you need to gather   so you can make

091the best decisions for Virginia  Beach City Public Schools. and they are going   to be critically hard decisions. I appreciated  Mr. Wakefield tonight's example of his $10. He   needed gas in his car and he needed to press  his girlfriend. That is exactly what you guys   are going to have to do. And it doesn't go very  far. And and I also appreciate that we continue   to see evidence of the number of people who want  to work in Virginia Beach City Public Schools.   There is no school division in this area, none,  that can boast of the staffing rate that we have   in Virginia Beach City Public Schools. None. And  we are 50% larger than our next competitor right   next door in terms of staffing. We do value staff.  Our board values staff. We know how important   staff is.

092We're going to do everything we can to  ensure that we stretch every dollar to the best   possible way to honor our staff and pay for the  things we have to pay for. There are things that   are going to be outside of the board's control.  these meetings. The purpose of these meetings   is for the board to really dig down and engage  with us on where are there opportunities for us   to make some reductions that won't pull away the  worldass offerings that we provide in Virginia   Beach City Public Schools. I do not sleep at night  and this is just honest. I do not sleep at night   because I know what's coming and I need everyone  to understand your words matter and when you when   comments are made pro or con about staff that  don't matter or we

093don't we got a val we do we   need everybody say look the reality is the reality  it's going to be very difficult and this budget   calendar represents an exhaustive commitment  from my staff to make sure we communicate with   the public. We communicate with the board. We give  you guys everything you need. And the change here,   I honestly I think is a very respectful change  to my staff that these two dates can come off   and we can we can better utilize the dates that  we do have, which are still more budget dates   than have ever been um used in Virginia Beach  City Public Schools, including when we had   no money. Miss Melnik was on the board. Miss  Williams was on the board in 2009, 10 11. So I thought you came on in 11. So So

094before  we continue on, I just want to clarify. So   you do feel as though everything can still  be accomplished even with this motion? Yes,   ma'am. Okay, Miss Rogers. Okay. Two things. First  of all, um Dr. Robertson to your comments. Um,   I I understand that you want that we do want our  staff to know we value them. I'm just trying to   come up with ways where we can show them more.  Um, I having been in the classroom just three   years ago, I have tons of relationships with  staff and one of the things that they have said   is they don't feel valued and we want them to.  And so that's why when I make those comments,   it's not because we don't do it, but that the way  we're doing it isn't a way that they necessarily   feel

095it. And again, that doesn't mean that we're  terrible, but always change can be good. So,   I just wanted to make that comment, but also  I wanted to ask you, um, even though we can do   what we want to do if we eliminate these two,  would it be possible to kind of hold those in   case we need them dates? You know what I'm saying?  because I would hate to be in the middle of a big   discussion that needs to go to possibly one of  those dates and now we've eliminated it and we   would we be able to bring them back if necessary.  Yeah. So that's a good question. First of all,   Miss Rogers, you're one of the 11 going to be  solving the problem. So my comments were not   directed to you, okay? Uh because you're

096going  to be one of the solution makers. Uh but yes,   so this is a this a as you know we have called  meetings before because of things that occurred.   So all this means to us is at this point we're  not planning for January 20th. That can change   during agenda planning on January 13th. Yeah.  And I want to make sure that we don't have to   like oh go through the motions of you know three  people have to ask for the special meeting that   these are going to be here should we need them.  We'll say that we don't but I mean you know what   I'm saying. Yeah. So, I would defer to the  chair there. Um, Kathleen, not yet, but let   us all speak. Does that make sense what I said?  It makes sense. Um, okay. So,

097I I think Yeah,   I think it's just a matter of whether or not this  passes in a vote, but I mean, I I do think that   we can always schedule an extra special meeting  if we need to. Um, Mr. Bowen Steel. Yeah, this   is probably a crazy thought, but is there any way  we could possibly do like a budget retreat thing? Huh? No. To maybe get more done in like we  did for our summer retreat. Yeah. So, yes,   the answer is yes. There was a time when uh the  school board did do a January budget retreat. Um,   so the answer is yes. I think the challenge  is going to be information overload and I   I do think a budget retreat in a budget  season unlike this one is a good decision.   I just think the

098decisions you guys are  going to have to make are going to be doing it in a domino approach one at a  time is probably more appropriate than   trying to have a whole day of of some really  complex topics because what's going to happen   uh it's going to be actually a set of dominoes  once you make a decision a domino is going to   fall and then it's going to create a new pathway  and I think that our ability to kind of spread   those decisions out in a manner that allows  you to make those decisions is going to be more   helpful for you than a retreat. But normally  I I think a January retreat is a good idea. Miss Melnik, so I was the only board member who  voted against the reduction of two regularly   scheduled board

099meetings. I thought we did  ourselves and the community a disservice   this this past summer when we were without  a meeting. We went way too long in between.   Um, I wrote down a few things that Dr. Robertson  said. He said, "You are going to have a really   difficult task ahead of you. You are going to be  making critically hard decisions. We're going to   overcommunicate with the public. We're 50% larger  than our neighboring division. We want to honor   our staff and we are really going to have  to talk about where are the opportunities to   make reductions." You also said your words matter,  meaning the board's words matter. This is probably   in my 11 years going to be the hardest budget.  And to some of my neighboring colleagues here,   um they were thrust into budget planning last  year,

100brand new, and I would imagine there's   still a learning curve for some people who are  on this board to reduce the meetings. My husband   would would love it if I could would would agree  to this. His birthday is on St. Patrick's Day. Um,   but I don't see with everything that's in front  of us how we make cuts and still be accessible   to the public the way we should be. We also  asked for a pay raise last year and we got one.   So, um, our our job is to be here and to  really go through this budget. I agree   with Mrs. Rogers that on the 20th and  the 17th if we're in a position those   could be you know to be determined dates  but considering what we have ahead of us   um I don't know how

101we just arbitrarily get rid  of those before we even start the budget process.   I think it's unfair to the community, but I  am willing to have those is to be determined. Mr. Cummings, yeah, there as uh previously said,  you know, you talked about difficult tasks,   critical conversations, reductions. If I was  someone chiming in, you know, listening in, first   thing I'd be thinking about, well, can you unpack  that more for me? What you're anticipating? Um and   you know I think those are the conversations that  you know that's what first immediately pops to   my mind you know and I don't think this is like a  eitheror economy um because I do understand if we   reduce the meetings that content just gets loaded  onto you know other meetings um and so I do think   that we would be

102you know still utilizing time  to dissect and to understand and Um, you know,   I don't think I don't necessarily know if we're  going to be missing out on critical conversations,   but I do think with the way that you're phrasing  things, Dr. Robertson, that the anticipations   that you have do the way I kind of trend towards  being cautious, proactively cautious. Um, so I do   appreciate your your comments and yeah, I think  that's all. Dr. Green, thank you. Um, probably I   have a a unique perspective because I'm probably  the only one up here that has sat on that side   and this side during tough budget season. So, Dr.  Robertson, you were a principal and and I was a   director during that time frame under Dr. Merrill  when we had those tough decisions to make. Um,   also I

103would like to remind my colleagues one of  the biggest responsibilities we were elected for   and one of our biggest jobs is budget development.  that is our one of our biggest responsibilities is   uh budget development. So I hope that um you  know we will have the meetings that we need to to   ensure and believe me when I say you have not seen  times like this with a school division some of you   with budget development. It's going to be tough.  It's going to be a lot of going back and forth   with Dr. Robertson, Dr. Robertson in consultation  with his staff. Um, and again, we were hired   by our constituents. This is the biggest job  that we do every year is budget development. Mr. Helen, it should be widely known, but if it's not,  budget season is my

104favorite time of year. And as attractive as the idea  is to reduce the thrill that   I'd be experiencing in budget season. I'm cautioned by Dr. Robertson's honest assessment  that he didn't use these words, but it's the   same message that he conveyed. And that is it's  going to take some really heavy lifting. And if   this is an example of this time it's serious,  then I think we need to leave ourselves room to   stay at the helm and do what we need to do in  order to position ourselves to at least bring   to the public. This is our best effort. Let's do  our best. And so I but I'm cautious. Uh concern   maybe is a better word. You had indicated that  this would be greatly relieving on your staff and I don't want to dismiss  that or

105diminish that at all. But at the same time, I'm mindful  of the fact that this is a time   for some serious heavy lifting.  And as Mrs. Rogers has made plain there are many people that are involved  in this decision-making process and the   consequences or the results of our  decision carry a lot of weight. So I'm going to disappoint myself and say let's  meet more often during budget season. Thank you   very much for your time. So, I um I will support  your motion, uh, Vice Chair Williams, and I I just   wanted to point out this isn't a reduction in  meetings. It's still an increase in I it looks   to be five. Um, we're going to be doing our first  budget workshop in December, our second one in   January, our third one would also be in January, 

106and then we would meet every week in February.   we'd have one less meeting in March and then we  would vote at the end of March. Generally, we vote   at the beginning in March, we start in February.  Um, and so I don't think that this in any way is   sherking um our duties. I think it's efficient. I  think that it meets the criteria. The board asked   for more detailed presentations. I think we're  going to have those. And if more work needs to   be done, um, happy to have a special meeting in  addition, but I I don't think it's going to be   necessary. Vice Chair Williams. Um, yes. I just  wanted to I'm I'm hearing kind of sensing that my   colleagues thinks think that I just don't want to  come to meetings and that is not this

107case at all.   Um, this is like like um the chair said, five  extra meetings. We are still coming four times   in February, four times in March. What I want  to do is at some point we sometimes come down   here and no questions are asked, no talk is done  during a budget meeting. Staff is here and when I   started looking at this I'm like we're expecting  staff to present pretty much every single week.   10 meetings out of 10 weeks almost. And that is a  lot. And then I'm thinking me as a colleague and   I've been here on a while for a while, but newer  folks sometimes we can't we need more than six   days to digest this stuff. We get out of here on  a you know Tuesday night with this much paperwork   and presentations and

108then we're here six six  days later to start something all new. So I was   trying to kind of give us a breather in there, the  staff a breather and us a breather. But of course,   if we want to come all 10 times, I will be  here. I have not missed a meeting this year. So,   um I will be there, but I was just kind of doing  it just out of some and and again, like Mr.   Cummings said, it's not reducing our information  or our transparency or our communication just   in one workshop. It might have two departments  coming instead of the one. So, we might be here   for two hours instead of the one hour, you know,  whatever. So, I was just kind of condensing it   so that everybody could kind of um it it not

109be  so so demanding. Suggestion, Mr. Cummings. Yeah,   I just wanted to follow up and make sure you know  I stated I definitely don't see the substitute   motion as a desire to work less for the public. I  know I definitely hear what you're saying. You're   looking at operational efficiency, organizational  excellence, bureaucracy, you know, reduction and   seeing how we could best utilize time. Um, I def  I definitely hear what your your concerns. I think   those are great questions. I also appreciate,  you know, you putting forth a substitute motion   and spawning more discussion and helping us think  critically about this upcoming time. I am going   to lean into, you know, the proactive cautious,  but I did want to make sure that that stay on the   public. I definitely see what you're saying and  appreciate you putting that forward,

110Miss Falton.   Thank you, Chair Brown. And I just like to say to  um Miss Wings, it did not sound like that's what   you were trying to do, not to make more meetings.  I'm stating the same thing. I I saw you joining as   operational efficiency, but when you're out in the  public, uh all of us are out in the public and I   do a lot of community things and the first thing  that come is the budget. That's what they talk to   me about. What are you going to do about this? Why  can't we get more information on this? What are   you going to talk about? So, and I try to let them  know that any um any well-run organization needs a   good budget. So, you be listening listening in  on when we do these things and

111you understand   some of the things. And I think with some of  the work um schedules that most people have,   they can't make that one. They'll be able to hear  some other meetings. But I do appreciate your   trying to be efficient in this in this schedule.  But uh it's sometimes it's the small things that   we might miss that other people are listening for  and I think these meetings will allow us and like   they say you know to be determined as we move  forward in this process. Thank you so much. Miss   Melnik. Then might I ask Vice Chair Williams  if she'd be willing to amend her substitute   motion to leave January 20th and March 17th to be  determined. And that way if the need arises then   with proper notice we can make sure that that  because we'll

112have plenty of time. It's easier   to cancel than not that special needs that hard  but it's easier to cancel. Okay. Okay. Well then   then I'm then I'll withdraw that and just leave it  as my original. Okay. It's easier just to cancel   if we're in a good spot. No, my point being you  could you can do it to be determined and there   is a potential meeting on there, but if you don't  have anything in there, we still have we have to   still go through the special meeting process to  get the notes out. Not impossible. Well, that's   what I said. I I was asking it just to be those  two dates at least to be left on the table as to   be determined. January 20th and March 17th. Yeah,  that I mean that's fine. That's fine. I

113mean,   we we can always call an extra meeting anyway,  but if if that will um make Yeah. make make f   folks more um at ease um I will be glad to amend  that um that we will leave those on the calendar   to to tentatively be used as needed. I would be  comfortable with that and I appreciate that. Yeah.   Yeah. Sure. Okay. Um and that was seconded by  Miss Melnik. So, you second that modification as   needed. I do, but I'm just waiting for Regina  to update that amended substitute motion. And then, um, while Regina's updating that,   um, Miss Rogers, thanks. I just wanted to quickly  state while I've been ruminating on all of this   and everyone's conversation which I I totally  appreciate what I keep coming back to is Dr.   Robertson talking about the domino effect

114and for  me having a domino effect in front of me where I   make a decision which is going to lead to other  decision which will lead to another for me having   being able to make those decisions uh you know  one after the other you know each week for me   is is better for my thought process. I I think  of like the summer slide after you've been out   of it for a while, you forget what you've done.  And sometimes between in between each two weeks,   it happens. I forget what we just did two weeks  ago because there is such a load of information   and I want to make sure that I'm remembering each  week we did this decision which is leading to the   next one which is leading to the next one. And  so I feel

115like having all of that one right after   another will be good for me. Um, but I totally  get what everyone else has been saying as well. Okay, seeing no more discussion, we are going  to be voting on the amended motion to keep   January 20th and March 17th on the calendar as  special meetings to be determined or as needed.   did. Um moved by Vice Chair Williams, seconded  by Miss Melnik. The voting board is open. So, Madam Chair, we have 10 eyes. The amendment  to the substitute motion did pass. Thank you. We   are now on to committee organization and board  reports. Do any board members have anything to   report? Okay, Miss Miss Rogers. Um so this past  week um I we had the first of the year meeting for   um the mental health um task force and

116I just  wanted to um say that there's such good work   going on there and we are um going towards  what our goals will be but again there's   an incredible group of people that have been  assembled and I am really looking forward to   um the really impactful work for for staff  and students. We've really been discussing   um both of those and so I'm excited about  being on board. Mr. Balensteel. Okay. Well,   I'm not sure if this is the appropriate time, but  I'll find out. I have two things that I want to   mention and I'm not going to elaborate on tonight.  It's the uh cafeteria meals and discipline, but   I'll be reaching out during the upcoming year to  expand on that. But I do want to mention the fact   that I have spended a lot of time

117out of Betty F.  Williams and I've had people educators will say   request that some people visit the school while  it is raining. I totally understand. We can't redo   what a new roof because it's not going to be there  that much longer. But um if you're willing to come   out, I'll treat you to a cafeteria meal and you  can see what's what the situation is out there. Miss Milnik. Uh, tomorrow is the first of the year  of this calendar year's uh the school year's um   governor's school and CEP regional board meetings.  Um, I'll be there with Dr. Robertson tomorrow. Um,   and my colleagues from across region two. Is it  more just region two, right? And um just to remind   my colleagues, please visit the Governor School  for the Arts website, look at their calendar of   events,

118and if there's something that you would  that interests you and you would like tickets,   please let me know and we will make sure  that you have them so that you can attend.   And there there are many disciplines. So look  look at all the disciplines that they offer and   um and let me know. Thank you, Dr. Green. Thank  you. Um, last week Mrs. Woodhouse uh joined me at   the first meeting for the assess foundation board.  And I just wanted to um remind our viewing public,   our high school parents and students especially  that we have access coordinators in all of our   high schools and they are a great resource as  you start going through the college application   process as well as once the new FA forms open up  typically around uh late fall, they can assist   uh

119parents and students with filling ing that out  as well and chasing the money for a good college   education or for proprietary schools. Uh they help  with whatever your students continuing plan is   uh for after high school. So make that connection  with your assess coordinator who works very   closely with your school counselors. Thank you,  Vice Chair Williams. Um, yes. Tomorrow the policy   review committee will be meeting at 4 o'clock and  Monday the audit committee will be meeting at 4   o'clock. Okay. And so we have no closed session  today. So it is 7:52 p.m. and we are adjourned. [Music]