001this February 8th 2024 regular meeting of the Fairfax County School Board will now come to order please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a moment of silence and a performance of the national anthem by the Rachel Carson Bella voce under the direction of uh Kristen reic and a performance of Lift Every Voice and seeing by the Mount Vernon voices under the direction of Chelsea Huber I pledge of allegiance to unit States stand indivisible andice [Music] stripes and bright [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] night flag still [Music] and the of [Music] the okay [Music] Lift Every Voice and and sing till Earth and Heaven ring ring with aies of Liberty let are rejoicing rise high as the LI sing Skies let it down loud as the Roar Sing Sing a Song full of the
002fth that the dark past has taugh us sing s full of the hope that the Pres has faing the right R in Sun of a new day be let it March on till Victory [Music] is Stony the road we trod bitter the CH Rod felt in the days when hope unborn had died yet with us stead beat we not our we feet come to the place for which Our Father side we have come over that with tears has been water we have come treading our path through the blood of [Music] the out from the gloomy pass till now we stand at last where the white gleam of our bright star is cast God of years God of our silent tears th who has brought us th far on the way thou who Hast by thy
003might let us into the light keep us forever in the path we [Music] pray our feet stray from the places Our God where we met BL our hearts drunk with the wine of the Lord we [Music] forget shath our heart may we forever stand true to our god true to our [Music] name [Applause] can we hear it one more time for our amazing student performers all right agenda item 2.02 certification of closed meeting compliance in order to comply with Section 22- 3712 D of the code of Virginia it is necessary for the board to certify that since the Fairfax County Board convened a closed meeting on February 8th 2024 to the best of each board member's knowledge only public business matters lawfully Exempted from open meeting requirements and only such public business matters as were
004identified in the motion convenient the closed meeting were heard discussed or considered by the board during the closed meeting do I have a motion Mr Moon and a second Miss Dixit all those in favor Miss seore Heiser Mr McDaniel Mr movine miss lady Miss St John cunning Miss Marin Mr Dunn Dr Anderson Miss Anderson Miss Dixit Mr Moon that's unanimous all right agenda item and myself that's unanimous all right agenda item 2.03 confirmation of action taken and closed I call on Dr Anderson for a motion I move to Grant in part the school reassignment appeal of a student who injured a staff member at school and to modify the disciplinary decision of the division superintendent as per the terms discussed in the closed meeting is there a second second Miss seore Heiser all those in
005favor please raise your hand Miss seore Heiser Mr McDaniel Mr mline miss lady Mr Dunn Dr Anderson Miss Anderson Miss Dixit Mr Moon and myself all those opposed Miss St John cunning and Miss Marin any extensions the motion passes I call on Dr Anderson for a motion I move to deny as moot the school reassignment appeal of a student who threatened an intimidated students and staff at school and failed to follow the directions of school staff and to confirm the disciplinary decision of the division superintendent is there a second Miss Marin all those in favor please raise your hand Miss seis moiser Mr McDaniel Mr mine miss lady Miss St John cunning Miss Marin Mr Dunn Dr Anderson Miss Anderson Miss Dixit Mr Moon and myself that's unanimous I call on Miss Anderson for a
006motion I move to deny the school reassignment appeal of a student who threatened and intimidated staff members and injured a staff member at school and to confirm the disciplinary decision of the division superintendent is there a second second miss lady all those in favor please raise your hand Miss seore Heiser Mr McDaniel Mr mine miss lady Miss St John cunning Miss Maron Mr Dunn Dr Anderson Miss Anderson Miss Dixit Mr Moon and myself that is unanimous agenda item 2.04 announcements if you would like to review a copy of the agenda and any agenda item that is being discussed tonight that information may be found at the back of the auditor or on the website at fcps.edu Schoolboard dos tonight's meeting is being broadcast on channel 99 and live streamed on the website at fcps.edu TVC
007ch99 agenda item 2.05 Black History Month Proclamation I call on Dr Anderson for a proclamation whereas the month of February is the time that we as a nation recognize Black History Month Black History Month has been recognized annually by every US president since 1976 and whereas negro history week was created by Dr Carter G Woodson in a 1926 a renowned scholar and journalist whom the school board renamed Woodson High School after in honor of his contributions and historic achievements and whereas the Black History Month 2024 theme African Americans and the Arts celebrates the contributions and achievement of African-American art and explores how it is infused in African Caribbean and black American lived experiences in the fields of Visual and Performing Arts literature fashion folklore language film music architecture C culinary and other forms of cultural
008expression the African-American influence has been Paramount and whereas the first Africans the first Africans arrived on the shores of Virginia 400 years ago bringing skills knowledge and traditions that have created lasting culture impacting our communities today and whereas black Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression in all forms since the nation's earliest days and have contributed to the founding and development of this nation and recognize the importance of teaching this Rich impactful history to all students to create an inclusive and Equitable County for all country for all and whereas by resisting black people have achieved triumphs successes and progress as seen in the end of chatt slavery dismantling of Jim Crow segregation in the South increase political representation at all levels of government government desegregation of educational institutions in the passage of the Civil Rights
009Act of 1964 in the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of africanamerican History and culture and increased the diverse representation of black experiences and media and whereas those of African descent have lived in and contributed to the development and advancement of Fairfax County since its Inception as evidence by the many contributions of private citizens businesses and black organizations as well as the establishment of various communities and organizations that have enhanced the rich and vibrant culture of Fairfax County including including the tener Hill Heritage Foundation which was established to preserve the rich cultural heritage of pioneering African Americans who fought racial segregation and established the nation's first rural branch of the NAACP in Northern Virginia where Africans be bought land and worked to build a positive Community environment for all its citizens and the Gum Springs
010Community established an 1833 by West Ford a former slave who obtained land to provide a sanctuary for free and self- emancipated Africans who built their school homes and their church now therefore be it resolved that the Fairfax County School Board thereby proclaims February as Black History Month and officially recognizes Black History Month and appreciation for the contributions of great Americans who have worked tirelessly and often without recognition for the advancement of Fairfax County Virginia and the United States we encourage the celebration of the collective Ingenuity creativity cultures and traditions of black Americans and encourage participation and educ educational events honoring the contributions of black Americans is there a second second Miss seore Heiser Dr Anderson would you like to speak to your Proclamation I will that was a lot but I do want to share
011a few things um I've had the pleasure of speaking to this Proclamation this is now for the fifth time I remember very clearly the first time I spoke to it I sat where Mr McDaniel is sitting and at that time I highlighted the contributions of Caribbean particularly those of Haitian descent I talked about their contributions to the culture and the fabric of this nation last year fast forwarding a few I talked about the importance of teaching accurate history to not to not whitewash ugly but factual events in this nation's history I raise examples of activism as reflected in the black lives matter movement the 1619 project seeking to illuminate the root causes that perpetuate inequity and justice jce and discrimination this year I want to lean into the theme of this of this year's recognition
012which is African-American in the Arts starting with music R&B rock and roll swing jazz blues were all created by black musicians techno house Funk country and disco were both direct and indirect relatives of songs that slaves brought with them over to America their work songs dance tunes and religious music would become the common language of American music eventually influencing Americans of all racial and ethnic backgrounds from rappers like the shigal Hill Gang who laid the foundation for rappers like Eminem and so many others in the genre from Charles buddy Balden considered to be the first person to play what would be known as Jazz who set the ground workor for so many artists that there are too many to name black music has and continues to give our favorite songs a depth that can only
013be dug in by years of seeking Solace and solidarity and Rhymes lyrics beats and rhythms the music of today simply would not be the same without them in art Norman Lewis was truly a great American Artist and the only black abstract exposition expressionist of the first generation Horus Pippen celebrated self-taught American painter whom despite partial paralysis in his right arm from a bullet from a bullet W in um World War I started painting in order to train his injured arm quickly gain recognition for his distinctive style depicting anti-war scenes Faith Ringold a name that many of you may have heard before is undoubtedly one of the greatest African-American artists ever her techniques range from traditional painting to Performance and mask making Ringold is a deeply political artist frequently addressing systemic racism in the history of
014slavery and her works the legend of John Michael basat undoubtedly one of the greatest artists of the 20th century who found himself at a very young age in the center of New York's Bohemian life bat's mixed abstract and graffiti and poetry and political commentary turn him into the an icon of his generation lastly Joshua Johnson the son of an enslaved woman who was purchased by his father from another slave owner came to be known as the first African as the first first African-American painter who made a career out of Art in the letters I want to highlight Phyllis sweetley who published poems on various subjects religion and moral poems is the first book ever written and published by an an African-American and Wheatley was the first to achieve a global reputation as an African-American writer
015Jarina Lee was the first africanamerican woman to write and publish a spiritual autobiography the life and religious experience William Wells Brown published clotel in the president's daughter which was the first novel written by an African-American web deoy whose work continues to this day to take up space and explore the conundrum of the double Consciousness through his publication of The Souls of Black Folk a collection of essays and a work that will go on to influence numerous African-American writers and novelists his premise introduced in 1903 still serves as a platform for organizations fighting for equality and justice in closing I will return to the words that I have used in all of these four years now five to sum up my captions I'm sorry my comments black history is have black history month is in the
016only time that we should be talking about the contributions of Black Folk it's also not only about their contributions but it's also about the efforts to overcome the obstacles that impact Black Folk from realizing the American dream it's about name aing and intentionally dismantling the structures that serve to oppress and deny it's about practices actions and legislation in the hopes of developing a generation more tolerant and inclusive than the current Happy black happy black history month thank you Dr Anderson Miss seore Heiser thank you and well I um I don't have a lot left to say after those wonderful words from Dr Anderson and in truly wonderful words I wanted to share a few things um first I wanted to say that it's often been said that black history is American history and there could
017be not a more true statement than that the story of our country and that of Fairfax county is intertwined with the stories of black people the endless accomplishments and contributions but also unfortunately the marginalization and disfranchisement which sadly continues today during Black History Month and always it is critical that even as we as a school system Embrace steps forward such as a recent renaming of a school building once dedicated to the memory of a segregationist instead to honor the father of black history Carter G Woodson that we not only invoke Mr Woodson's name but we live up to his legacy Carter G Woodson dedicated his life to raising up awareness of the history and role of black Americans including the most glorious and painful aspects and encouraging every black person to be proud of their
018story and I would say every person needs to understand and be proud of the stories we are obligated to bring these principles to life in our public schools in our daily Endeavors in the classroom and here in our governance and oversight as elected body seminal to that whether it's the classroom whether it's the dis whether it's the leadership team room whether it's your office is the importance of teaching accurate history as well as Contin continuing to discuss and talk about the structures and mindsets that lead to the continued marginalization and dis disenfranchisement we can only build to a better future if we understand our past and if we're clear about where we are now so we know where we need to go and we know what mistakes we need to avoid so we can build
019a better and more inclusive Society on a side note I have to say I love the Arts and Music theme having a kiddo who's studying rock and roll um I love the fact that rock and roll really is a product of black music coming out of jazz rhythm and blues Boogie wogie gospel and led by Legends such as Little Richard FATZ Domino and Chuck Barry it's important to recognize where our roots are and it's important to recognize who contributed to the roots of things that we as a society love and treasure so I challenge everyone in the FCPS community and the community at large to commit to celebrating diversity supporting black communities histories traditions and culture and understand the ongoing struggle for human rights and commit to ending racism and discrimination in our community and
020Beyond black history is not just our past it's our present and it's part of a great future we can build together thank you Miss seore Heiser we will take the vote all those in favor please raise your hand Miss seis moris Mr McDaniel Mr mine miss lady Miss St John cunning Miss Maron Mr Dunn Dr Anderson Miss Anderson Miss Dixit Mr Moon and myself will the clerk announce the vote that vote is 120 it's unanimous the motion passes all right agenda item 2.06 custodians and food and nutrition Services Appreciation Proclamation I call on Miss Anderson for the proclamation whereas custodians are the first employees to arrive D in the morning and the last employees to leave at night and our custodians rise to the challenge each and every day to ensure schools are safe clean
021and ready to receive students whereas we honor FCPS custodians field custodians building supervisors who are responsible for the daily care and safe operation of all facilities and buildings on a yearr round basis school facilities represent a significant investment on the part of the citizens of Fairfax County and FCPS cons custodial employees ensure they are kept in clean and good repair and whereas by providing clean and safe School environments FCPS custodians have a direct impact on the educational success of our students and whereas FCPS custodians take pride in their work and seek additional training leading to certification as professional custodians and whereas we recognize that helping our children fulfill their Highest Potential begins with with access to healthy food and balanced Nutri and nutritious meals at school studies show that these are often the most nutritious
022and sometimes the only meals in a student's day they improve student health making