001LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IN. AUDIENCE, I APOLOGIZE FOR STARTING A FEW MINUTES LATE. WE GOT CAUGHT IN OUR FORUM DISCUSSION. WE WILL BE STARTING MOMENTARILY. THIS OCTOBER 25TH, 2018, REGULAR MEETING OF THE FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD WILL NOW COME TO ORDER. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF THE HERNDON VALLEY ORCHESTRA UNDER THE DIRECTION OF ALEXANDRA TOUZINSKY. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] [NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYING] [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE BOARD HELD A CLOSED MEETING EARLIER THIS EVENING IN CERTIFIED COMPLIANCE IMMEDIATELY UPON RECONVENING IN PUBLIC AT FORUM WORK SESSION WHICH PRECEDED TONIGHT'S WORK SESSION. A NEW OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE WE BEGIN TONIGHT'S MEETING. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW A COPY OF THE AGENDA AND ANY ITEM DISCUSSED TONIGHT, THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE TABLE BY THE AUDITORIUM ENTRANCE.
002TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS AVAILABLE BY GOING TO THE SCHOOL BOARD ON THE FCPS HOME PAGE AND SELECTING BOARD DOCS UNDER UPCOMING SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. THE MEETING IS ALSO BE STREAMED LIVE ONLINE. SELECT SCHOOL BOARD FROM THE FULL MENU, THEN CLICK ON THE WATCH LIVE BUTTON. ON THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS WEB PAGE. PLEASE TURN OFF OR SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES. AND I AM GOING TO INFORM MY COLLEAGUES THAT TONIGHT WE ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE TOGGLE SWITCHES. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND MAKE SURE I SEE YOU SO THAT I CAN ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AND RECOGNIZE YOU. I NOW CALL ON MR. TIGNOR FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS. NATIONAL RED RIBBON WEEK, OCTOBER 23-31, 2018 NATIONAL RED RIBBON WEEK WAS ESTABLISHED IN MEMORY OF ENRIQUE CAMARENA, A U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION AGENT WHO WAS KILLED
003IN THE LINE OF DUTY WHILE INVESTIGATING A MAJOR DRUG CARTEL IN MEXICO. TO HONOR HIS BATTLE AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS BEGAN TO WEAR RED BADGES OF SATIN AND SOME PARENTS BEGAN TO FORM COALITIONS. NATIONAL RED RIBBON WEEK GREW FROM THESE GRASSROOTS EFFORTS TO FORM A NATIONAL MOVEMENT AGAINST THE USE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS. ITS ANNUAL CAMPAIGN ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO TAKE A VISIBLE STAND AGAINST SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MAKE A PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO FOLLOW A DRUG-FREE LIFESTYLE. THE 2018 RED RIBBON THEME IS "LIFE IS YOUR JOURNEY, TRAVEL DRUG FREE." NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH - NOVEMBER 2018 NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH STARTED IN 1915 AS AMERICAN INDIAN DAY BY THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA. OVER THE YEARS, INDIVIDUAL STATES RECOGNIZED NATIVE AMERICAN DAYS, BUT IT WASN’T UNTIL 1990 THAT PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH DESIGNATED NOVEMBER AS NATIONAL
004AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH. SINCE 1994, A PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION HAS PROCLAIMED THE MONTH TO BE NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN HONOR OF THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THE FIRST AMERICANS TO THE ESTABLISHMENT AND GROWTH OF THE U.S. THANK YOU. I NOW WILL CALL ON MISS SCHULTZ FOR A RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT MONTH. NOVEMBER 2018 IS NATIONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT MONTH. CAREER CENTER SPECIALISTS, SCHOOL COUNSELORS, CAREER EXPERIENCE SPECIALISTS, EMPLOYMENT AND TRANSITION REPRESENTATIVES, AND CAREER AND TRANSITION TEACHERS PLAY UNIQUE ROLES IN CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS. WITH A FOCUS ON READINESS FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AND CAREERS, THESE EDUCATORS ARE EMPLOYED TO HELP STUDENTS EXPLORE AND DEVELOP THEIR ABILITIES, INTERESTS, STRENGTHS, AND TALENTS AS THEY RELATE TO FURTHER EDUCATION AND ENTRY INTO THE WORKFORCE. THESE EDUCATORS COLLABORATE WITH PARENTS TO ENHANCE ACADEMIC AND CAREER PLANNING FOR STUDENTS. ALL EDUCATORS IN
005PREK-12 HELP STUDENTS INVESTIGATE SKILLS, QUALITIES, AND ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES THAT RELATE TO CAREER FIELDS, ENCOURAGE LIFELONG LEARNING, AND PROMOTE FUTURE READINESS. STUDENTS EXPLORE CAREERS AND OTHER POSTSECONDARY OPTIONS THROUGH CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, THE STUDENT LEARNING PLAN, ACADEMIC ADVISING, WORK-BASED LEARNING, AND RELATED ACTIVITIES. THROUGH CAREER AWARENESS ACTIVITIES, EXPLORATION, AND DEVELOPMENT, STUDENTS LEARN THE SKILLS AND TRAINING NECESSARY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN FUTURE CAREERS AND ACHIEVE GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AND PERSONAL FULFILLMENT. CAREER DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR BUILDING PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES IN ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE STAFF FROM THE INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO PLEASE JOIN US AT THE DAIS FOR A PHOTO WITH THE BOARD. COME ON DOWN. I NOW CALL ON MS. EVANS FOR THE RENAMING OF THE BREN MAR BOOK ROOM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I AM DELIGHTED TO PRESENT
006THIS ON BEHALF OF THE BREN MAR COMMUNITY TO RENAME RESOLUTION. WHEREAS, RONDA SWEET SERVED WITH DISTINCTION AS A READING TEACHER IN FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS (FCPS) FOR 12 YEARS, IN-BETWEEN HER FAMILY’S OVERSEAS MILITARY ASSIGNMENTS, AND WORKED IN SEVERAL FCPS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO INCLUDE MANTUA, BREN MAR PARK, WOODLAWN, AND CRESTWOOD, RETURNING TO BREN MAR PARK ELEMENTARY ALMOST A DECADE LATER TO CONTINUE HER WONDERFUL WORK WITH THE STUDENTS, AND; WHEREAS, MRS. SWEET HAD A ZEST FOR TEACHING AND LIFE AND WOULD SHARE WONDERFUL STORIES OF HER TRAVELS OVERSEAS, OFTEN SERVING AS A TRAVEL GURU FOR STAFF MEMBERS’ VACATIONS, AND PROMOTED A FAMILY ATMOSPHERE AT BREN MAR PARK THROUGH HER INCLUSIVITY, COMPASSION, AND ENCOURAGEMENT, AND; WHEREAS, HER KNOWLEDGE AND PASSION FOR TEACHING WERE UNSURPASSED AND SHE WILLINGLY SHARED THOSE STRENGTHS WITH HER COLLEAGUES AS SHE TRAINED AND GUIDED THEM
007THROUGH NEW CURRICULA, THROUGH THE SELECTION OF THE “PERFECT” BOOK FOR EACH STUDENT, AND THROUGH COLLABORATIVE CLASSROOM TEACHING TO ENSURE THE BEST INSTRUCTION FOR ALL STUDENTS, ALWAYS WITH HER FAVORITE INCENTIVE, “LET’S DO IT TOGETHER!”, AND; WHEREAS, ABOVE ALL ELSE, MRS. SWEET CARED DEEPLY FOR THE EDUCATION AND WELL-BEING OF HER STUDENTS AND BELIEVED NO STUDENT WAS UNREACHABLE, THAT EVERY CHILD COULD LEARN IF YOU BELIEVE IN THEM, GET TO KNOW THEIR STRENGTHS AS LEARNERS, AND BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE AROUND WHAT THEY CAN DO WHICH SHE DID WITH PATIENT LISTENING AND INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION SO THAT EVERY STUDENT FELT THEY WERE THE MOST SPECIAL IN HER EYES, AND; WHEREAS, MRS. SWEET MODELED THESE BEST PRACTICES CONSISTENTLY IN HER WORDS AND DEEDS, AND IN HER ACTIONS ALWAYS PUT HER STUDENTS’ NEEDS FIRST, BUILDING THEIR CONFIDENCE AS SHE HELPED THEM CONQUER CHALLENGES THAT
008HAD SEEMED INSURMOUNTABLE WHILE NURTURING A LOVE FOR READING AS THEY WORKED TOGETHER IN BREN MAR’S BOOK ROOM; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD NAMES THE BOOK ROOM AT BREN MAR PARK ELEMENTARY "THE RONDA SWEET BOOK ROOM" IN HONOR OF THIS EXEMPLARY EDUCATOR, MENTOR, AND FRIEND WHO INSTILLED A LOVE OF READING IN HER STUDENTS AND OPENED NEW WORLDS TO THEM THROUGH READING. I SO MOVE. IS THERE A SECOND? MS. EVANS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I APPRECIATE THE BREN MAR PARK COMMUNITY. THIS IS CLEARLY A SPECIAL EDUCATOR WHO MADE A HUGE IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF SO MANY STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO VISITING VERY SOON TO RONDA SWEET BOOK ROOM.
009MS. SCHULTZ, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR SECOND? THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN BEING CALLED THE SWEET ROOM. I LOVE IT. ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WISH TO SPEAK TO THE RESOLUTION? OKAY. WE WILL TAKE THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. AND THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. AT THIS TIME -- [APPLAUSE] AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MEMBERS OF THE BREN MAR PARK COMMUNITY, FORMER PRINCIPAL JASON PENUTI, I DON'T KNOW IF PAM MORGAN IS HERE. IF YOU WOULD ALL COME UP TO JOIN US AT THE DAIS FOR A PHOTO WITH THE BOARD. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I AM NOW PASSING THE GAVEL OVER TO THE VICE CHAIR, MR. MOON. I CALL ON MS. CORBETT SANDERS FOR THE RESOLUTION. THIS IS A RESOLUTION HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WHEREAS, IN 2018, RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY
010SCHOOL WILL PROUDLY CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS FOUNDING AND ITS REPUTATION FOR PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH AN EXCELLENT ACADEMIC FOUNDATION SO THAT THEY MAY EMBARK ON THEIR FUTURES FULLY PREPARED WITH THE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, GLOBAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS, ETHICS, SENSE OF CITIZENSHIP, AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS; AND WHEREAS, RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FIRST OPENED ITS DOOR IN THE FALL OF 1968 AND WAS BUILT ON LAND THAT WAS FORMERLY PART OF MUDDY HOLE FARM, ONE OF FIVE FARMS THAT COMPRISED PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON’S MOUNT VERNON ESTATE; AND WHEREAS, RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S VISION IS TO FOSTER SELF-EFFICACY AND A GROWTH MINDSET IN THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND TO DEVELOP ETHICAL AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS WHO DEMONSTRATE SUPERLATIVE EFFORT AND ATTITUDE, ENGAGE IN LIFELONG LEARNING, AND EFFECTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY; AND WHEREAS, RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NURTURES A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
011THAT PROMOTES HIGH ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS, AND MEETS THE NEEDS OF ALL LEARNERS THROUGH MEANINGFUL INSTRUCTION AND WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH COLLEAGUES AND PARENTS TO SUPPORT STUDENT LEARNING; AND WHEREAS, RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS PROUD TO HAVE A DIVERSE, MULTICULTURAL, MULTILINGUAL COMMUNITY, AND A ROBUST AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES CO-CURRICULAR AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT NURTURE THE LOVE OF LEARNING FOR ALL STUDENTS AT RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD HONORS RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND COMMENDS ITS HISTORY OF PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO THE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY. I SO MOVE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MS. KAUFAX. MS. CORBETT SANDERS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? YES, MR. VICE CHAIR, I WILL BE BRIEF, THOUGH. RIVERSIDE
012ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REPRESENTS ALL THAT IS GOOD IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND IN MT. VERNON ITSELF. IT IS A LOVING AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT THAT IS BOTH SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DIVERSE, AND PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL STUDENTS. IT IS A PROBABLY THE MOST DIVERSE ADVANCED ACADEMIC CENTER IN THE COUNTY AS WELL AS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO COME IN AND THRIVE. AND SO I AM JUST SO PROUD TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION. I'M PARTICULARLY PROUD TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRINCIPAL AND HIS STAFF FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE A DREAM TEAM. I DON'T WANT TO EMBARRASS THEM BUT THEY ARE CERTAINLY BEST IN CLASS. SO, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU, MS. KAUFAX TO YOUR SECOND? I CAN'T ADD MUCH MORE THAN THAT. WE ARE
013SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU AS PART OF OUR FCPS FAMILY. NOW THAT YOUR SCHOOL IS 50 YEARS OLD, WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT IS IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER? I KNOW I WILL BE AROUND FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS. SO EXCITING. IF NOT, LET'S TAKE THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND. VOTE IS UNANIMOUS. WITH MR. WILSON ABSENT. THE MOTION PASSIONS. AT THIS TIME IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO INVITE PRINCIPAL PAUL B. AND HIS STAFF TO JOIN ME AT THE DAIS FOR A PHOTO WITH THE BOARD. [APPLAUSE] I NOW CALL ON MS. PALCHIK FOR A RECOGNITION. THANK YOU IT IS MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO READ THIS RECOGNITION FOR ONE OF OUR WONDERFUL COMMUNITY PARTNERS. RECOGNITION OF EDUCACION PARA NUESTRO FUTURO (EDU-FUTURO) ON BEHALF OF THE
014FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO RECOGNIZE EDUCACION PARA NUESTO FUTURO, BETTER KNOWN AS EDU-FUTURO FOR THE LONG-STANDING AND DEEP SUPPORT OF STUDENTS IN FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND AS A CELEBRATION OF 20 YEARS AS AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY-BASED NOT-FOR-PROFIT. BASED IN ARLINGTON AND FAIRFAX COUNTIES AND FOUNDED IN 1998, EDU-FUTURO’S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER LOW-INCOME LATINO AND OTHER IMMIGRANT YOUTH THROUGH EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGEMENT OF THEIR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES TO BECOME THE NEXT GENERATION OF SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONALS – PROFESSIONALS WHO TRANSFORM THEIR COMMUNITY. OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM’S RELATIONSHIP WITH EDU-FUTURO STARTED IN AUGUST OF 2015 IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH ROBINSON SECONDARY SCHOOL WHERE EDU-FUTURO BEGAN SERVING MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN A PILOT LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. FROM 25 STUDENTS AT ROBINSON, TO A NEW IGNITE LEVEL SYSTEM-WIDE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FCPS
015OFFICE OF FAMILY PARTNERSHIPS, EDU-FUTURO IS NOW SERVING 300 STUDENTS IN THEIR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM ALONE. WITH 8 FULL-TIME STAFF, OVER 30 PART-TIME STAFF, 7 AMERICORPS MEMBERS AND HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS, EDU-FUTURO CONTRIBUTED ALMOST 19,000 HOURS OF SERVICE TO FAIRFAX FAMILIES. ALONG WITH SUPPORTING AND EMPOWERING OUR IMMIGRANT LATINO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THROUGH EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, EDU-FUTURO SPECIFICALLY SUPPORTS, MENTORING, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS; ROBOTICS CLUBS; COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS INCLUDING SCHOLARSHIPS; AND PARENT EMPOWERMENT SERVICES NOW AT MULTIPLE FCPS MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS. EDU-FUTURO EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS HAVE DEDICATED THEIR TIME, ENERGY AND RESOURCES TO HELPING LATINX ADAPT TO LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES WHILE ALSO TEACHING THE BROADER COMMUNITY ABOUT THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS IN THE US. WHILE MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS, EDU-FUTURO’S LONG-STANDING SUPPORT IS TO
016BE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU FOR EMPOWERING STUDENTS AND ENGAGING PARENTS. YOUR EXCEPTIONAL WORK TRANSFORMS COMMUNITIES, AND IT HAS FOR 20 YEARS! THESE ACHIEVEMENTS ARE A TESTAMENT TO YOUR DEDICATION, TALENTS, AND HARD WORK. WE WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS AND GROWTH AND ALL THE BEST IN YOUR ENDEAVORS. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE JORGE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EMILY -- SORRY, ALMOST GOT IT. PAOLO SANDOVAL, STUDENTS AND ALL WHO ARE HERE TO JOIN US AT THE DAIS FOR A PICTURE WITH THE BOARD. [APPLAUSE] THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS CITIZEN PARTICIPATION. TONIGHT FIVE -- I'M SORRY, SEVEN SENTENCES HAVE SIGNED UP TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. SPEAKERS ARE REQUESTED TO LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO NO MORE THAN THREE MINUTES. THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL NOT HEAR COMMENTING ON CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT, BUDGET AND BOUNDARIES. COMPLAINTS REGARDING INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS OR SCHOOL-BASED EMPLOYEES
017SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE APPROPRIATE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OR OTHER SCHOOL OFFICIAL. SPEAKERS SHOULD REFRAIN FROM USING PERSONALLY-IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION IN CONNECTION WITH ANY STUDENT. SPEAKERS ARE EXPECTED TO DELIVER THEIR COMMENTS WITH THE DECORUM AND RESPECT TO THE PUBLIC'S BUSINESS. BE MINDFUL THERE ARE OFTEN CHILDREN AT THESE MEETINGS OR WATCHING ON THE HOME. LANGUAGE SHOULD BE APPROPRIATE ALL AGE LEVELS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND THANKS TO THOSE WHO HAVE COME TO SPEAK TO US TONIGHT. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS AMANDA BREWER, ROBERT RIGBY AND JENNI BAE. HELLO. AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE TO SPEAK AGAIN TONIGHT. I'M AMANDA BREWER, THE MOM OF FIVE FCPS STUDENTS. THE APPOINTMENT TO THE COMMUNITY HEALTH POSITION IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT GIVES THE STUDENTS A VOICE. AS THE MOM OF A TRANSSTUDENT, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO
018IMPLEMENT THE GUIDELINES YOU PUT FORTH A FEW YEARS AGO. THE CASE BY CASE ONLY LEAVES HARM TO THE STUDENT. YOU CAN SAY IT HASN'T HAPPENED HERE BUT IT DID HAPPEN A FEW MILES TO THE SOUTH. A GIRL WAS LEFT ON THE BLEACHERS WHILE A LOCK DOWN DRILL OCCURRED. SHE SAT THERE WHILE THEY FIGURED WHAT THE BEST REACTION TO THE SITUATION. MY CHILD HAS BEEN HARMED IN THIS DISTRICT. SHE'S FULLY RECOVERED PHYSICALLY BUT THOSE WOUNDS ARE DEFINITELY EVIDENT IN HER LESS THAN ENTHUSIASTIC DESIRE TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN HER SCHOOL LIKE ALL THE OTHER STUDENTS. WHAT IS TO STOP IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN? WHAT TRANS STUDENTS NEED FROM YOU IS IMPLEMENTATION OF GUIDANCE. YOU GUYS CAN WAIT FOR THE COURTS BUT THAT LIKELY WON'T HAPPEN AND THEY WILL BE STANDING HERE AT YOUR MERCY. WHAT DO I
019TELL ME DAUGHTER? WE LIVE IN ONE OF MOST PROGRESSIVE AREAS AND IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THAT WHEN PEOPLE FIGHT THE EXISTENCE OF YOUR CHILD AND ACCEPTANCE AT THEIR SCHOOL IS ONLY ON A CASE BY CASE BASE. WE ALL KNOW THE MENTAL HEALTH OF STUDENTS SHOULD BE IN THE FOREFRONT AND WE NEED YOU TO STAND UP AND MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR ACCEPTANCE OF ALL FCPS STUDENTS. WHEN TRAINED STAFF, SCRO'S ARE LEADING, THE KIDS WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO WALK IN AND FULLY PARTICIPATE IN CLUBS AND SPORTS AND FEEL VALUED BY THE SCHOOLS THEY ATTEND. THANK YOU. MR. RIGBY. GOOD EVENING. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. DR. BRABRAND AND LEADERSHIP TEAM. YOU ARE BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF SELECTING MATERIALS FOR THE LANGUAGE ARTS CURRICULUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL. I ENCOURAGE THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO LOOK FOR MATERIALS THAT ARE
020INCLUSIVE OF LGBTQ PEOPLE. AT THIS TIME. MESSAGES OF INCLUSION ARE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AND LET ME GIVE EXAMPLES WHY. LET ME DESCRIBE TWO THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS IN OUR AREA FROM TRANSGENDER AND GENDER EXPANSIVE PEOPLE AND THEIR PARENTS ARE REELING. FIRST IN THE STAFFORD COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE STAFF DELAYED CHILDREN IN A PE CLASS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT LOCKER ROOM TO PUT THE TRANSGENDER GOOD. THE BASIC INHUMANITY THAT SEGREGATE TRANSGENDER STUDENTS WAS EXPOSED FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS. THE GOOD NEWS IS STAFFORD HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO CHANGE ITS POLICIES. STAFFORD SAYS WE WORK WITH TRANSGENDER STUDENTS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. THE REALITIES IS THE STAFF DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE THEY HAD CONFLICTING DIRECTION FROM THE HIGHER UP INCLUDES THE SCHOOL BOARD. I HOPE THE SAME
021THING COULDN'T HAPPEN HERE. BUT OUR STAFF ALSO RECEIVED CONFLICTING MESSAGES. I AND SOME OTHERS KNOW THAT FAIRFAX IS NOT NECESSARILY SEGREGATE TRANS KIDS. THE LAST ACTION YOU TOOK AS A SCHOOL BOARD WAS TO SUSPEND THE REGULATIONS THAT GAVE THIS DIRECTION. SO WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO? I KNOW WHAT TO DO. YOU NEED TO TELL EVERYBODY. THE TEACHERS IN STAFFORD ARE WINGING IT. WE NEED TO TAKE STEPS TO MAKE SURE THINGS DO NOT HAPPEN HERE. THE OTHER HORRIFYING EVENT THIS WEEK WAS AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING ON ERASING TRANSGENDER PEOPLE INTO THE MARKETPLACE AND IN EDUCATION. MOST OF US SPENT THE LAST WEEK CRYING AND HUGGING OUR LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS. I PARTICULARLY WORRY ABOUT HEALTH BENEFITS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND THEIR DEPENDENTS. A CLEAR STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR ALL CHILDREN FROM THE SCHOOL
022BOARD AND FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES AS YOU OFFERED IN A SIMILAR CRISIS FEDERAL CRISIS BACK IN FEBRUARY OF 2017 WOULD BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. MS. BAE. THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT BRABRAND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT AND THE WORK YOU DO ON BEHALF OF OUR COUNTY. I AM JENNI BAE AND I AM THE MOM OF THREE BEAUTIFUL KIDS WHO ARE FORTUNATE TO BE GROWING UP IN FAIRFAX COUNTY. THEY ARE ALSO LUCKY TO ATTEND A SCHOOL THAT IS RANKED AMONG TO DO BEST. WE COULDN'T ASK FOR BETTER TEACHER, A PRINCIPAL OR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT. TODAY I AM ADVOCATING FOR EVERY FAIRFAX COUNTY SPECIAL ED STUDENT. EACH STUDENT IN SPECIAL ED HAS AN INDIVIDUALIZED INDIVIDUAL PLAN, A CONTRACT THAT OUTLINES HOW MUCH AND WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT THEY WILL RECEIVE SO THEY CAN
023BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL. I AM HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE EVEN IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, WE FALL SHORT OF THOSE RESOURCES FOR SPECIAL ED. SCHOOLS ARE ALLOCATED RESOURCES AND THEY HAVE TO FULFILL EVERY CHILD'S, IE P. EIGHT STUDENTS ARE PUT IN ONE CLASS. ONE SPECIAL ED TEACHER GOES INTO THE CLASSROOM FOR ONE HOUR AND WORKS WITH THE EIGHT DIFFERENT STUDENTS AND NOW LEGALLY WE HAVE HAD ONE HOUR OF ALL OF THEIR IEP'S FULFILLED, ARE WE GIVING THEM ENOUGH EDUCATION? WE ARE LIMITING THE QUALITY OF THEIR EDUCATION BECAUSE OF OUR STAFFING AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE ARE ABOUT. WE ARE FAIRFAX COUNTY. WE ARE BETTER THAN MOST DISTRICTS IN THIS NATION. BUT DO NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE OF THINKING THAT JUST BECAUSE WE'RE BETTER THAT WE'RE DOING OUR BEST. OUR SPECIAL ED RATIOS ARE LOWER THAN THE STATE REQUIREMENTS
024BUT THE MANDATED RATIOS ARE THE BEAR MINIMUM. BEING SLIGHTLY ABOVE IS OKAY BUT IT IS NOT GREAT. SPECIAL ED ALLOCATION IS DETERMINED BY A STAFFING COMMITTEE THAT DEPENDS ON NUMBERS BECAUSE WHAT ELSE CAN THEY USE? THEY CAN'T READ EVERY IEP, X NUMBER OF KIDS EQUALS X NUMBER OF RESOURCES. EACH STUDENT'S UNIQUE SITUATION IS OBSOLETE AND THEY BECOME A NUMBER. RE-EVALUATE HOW WE ALLOCATE SPECIAL ED RESOURCES. FIND A WAY TO CONSIDER EACH CHILD'S UNIQUE NEEDS. TWO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS WITH 50 SPECIAL ED STUDENTS MAKES SENSE TO GIVE THEM THE SAME NUMBER. IF YOU REDUCE THEM TO A NUMBER, YOU'RE NOT DOING THEM JUSTICE. GIVE THEM INPUT NOT AFTER THE ALLOCATION BUT DURING THE DECISION PROCESS. WE'RE NOT JUST MEETING IEP HOURS ON PAPER. EQUITY FOR EVERYONE. I THINK WE CAN DO IT IF WE WORK TOGETHER. THANK
025YOU. KATHLEEN GILLETTE MALARD FOLLOWED BY ASHLEY BROADWAY-MACK AND NORMAN HALL. BEFORE I START, I WANT TO THANK BEVERLY AGAIN WHO IS ALWAYS SO PATIENT AND HELPFUL. ANYWAY. START ROLLING THE CLOCK. GOOD EVENING. SUPERINTENDENT BRABAND, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, I WISH TO ADDRESS COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS AND TO THE SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE. ACCORDING TO THE WEBSITE, FCPS SCHOOL BOARD HEREBY CHARGES THE SCHOOL ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH EXAMINING FACTORS THAT IMPACT SCHOOL'S SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL HELP. I KNOW THAT MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPRESENT PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. HOWEVER I DO NOT SEE A PERSON ON THE COMMITTEE WHO IS KNOWABLE ABOUT THE IMPACT OF MEGASCHOOL CAMPUSES. FAIRFAX COUNTY IS BLESSED TO HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL SCHOOLS. WE ARE ALSO UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE MANY LARGE MEGASCHOOL CAMPUSES. I AM GOING TO REFER TO AN ARTICLE BY STELLA MORABEATO ABOUT
026MEGASCHOOLS AND INSTABILITY IN KIDS. I'M ONLY GOING TO TOUCH ON SOME OF THE POINTS. YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE FULL ARTICLE. SHE WRITES THE CORRELATION BETWEEN MEGASCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS AND THE DETERIORATING MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN HAS BEEN INTENSIFYING FOR DECADES. CONSIDER HOW COMMON IT IS FOR HIGH SCHOOL TODAY TO HOUSE THOUSANDS OF TEENAGERS. FOR MOST OF THEIR WAKING HOURS FOR FOUR SOLID YEARS, MASS SCHOOLING IS INCREASINGLY UNHEALTHY FOR KIDS EMOTIONAL STABILITY IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS. THE SIZE AND MODEL OF MASS SCHOOL IS ALIENATING. IN 1929 TO 30S. THEY WERE 50,000 PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE US. BY 2013, THE NUMBER HAD SHRUNK TO 98,000 MEANWHILE THE U.S. POPULATION HAD NEARLY TRIPLED. SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE ARE PACKING IN LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS INTO ONE SCHOOL. MEGASCHOOLS ARE ABNORMAL SETTINGS. DR. PETER GRAY AT BOSTON
027COLLEGE STUDIED THE HARMFUL EFFECTS ON A STUDENT'S HEALTH. MEGASCHOOLS HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON STUDENTS. THERE'S A LOT OF POINTS SHE MAKES. ONE IS ALSO RELEVANT TO OUR PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT. WHICH IS THERE ARE NO UNIVERSAL POLICIES AGAINST BULLYING IN MEGASCHOOLS TO GIVE EQUAL PROTECTION. AS A RESULT, SCHOOLS KIND OF PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH GROUPS GET ADED PROTECTION BY IDENTITY GROUP. THERE IS A CAMPAIGN, IT GETS BETTER WHERE IT PROTECTS LGBT KIDS. IF THEY ARE NOT ON BOARD -- THEY CAN LOSE CUSTODY. YOUR TIME IS UP. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES AND YOU USED ALL THREE MINUTES. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO -- I WAS JUST FINISHING. I WAS JUST GOING TO WIND UP AND SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR WONDERFUL ATTENTION AND FOR KEEPING TIME. THAT IS SO HELPFUL. I WAS WATCHING THIS AND I
028WAS GOING TO END. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TELL ME MY TIME IS UP. MOST APPRECIATED. ASHLEY BROADWAY-MACK FOLLOWED BY NORMAN HALL. HI, GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT. MY NAME IS ASHLEY BROADWAY MACK. I AM THE PROUD MOTHER OF TWO ELEMENTARY STUDENTS. I AM A MILITARY SPOUSE OF OVER 20 YEARS AND A FORMER ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER MYSELF. I AM HERE TO PUBLICLY VOICE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT TO THE STUDENT HEALTH COMMITTEE. THIS COMMITTEE GIVES OUR STUDENTS A VOICE FOR INCLUSION. JUST A FEW SHORT DAYS AGO, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING A DRASTIC POLICY, GOVERNMENT WIDE. A POLICY THAT WOULD ROLL BACK RECOGNITION AND PROTECTIONS OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE UNDER FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS LAW. WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THE HIGHER COURT
029TO MAKE DECISIONS WHEN LIVES ARE AT STAKE HERE IN OUR DISTRICT. WE CANNOT SIT BY IDLY AND ALLOW CHILDREN TO BE VICTIMS. WHO THEY ARE DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE SURFACE TO FIT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF GENDER BOXES. AS PARENTS, WE LOVE OUR CHILDREN. AS TEACHERS, WE LOVE ALL OF OUR CHILDREN. THEIR SAFETY AND THEIR WELL BEING SHOULD BE AND REMAIN OUR HIGHEST CONCERN. TRANSGENDER CHILDREN ARE NOT ANY DIFFERENT BECAUSE THEY IDENTIFY DIFFERENTLY FROM THE SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH. THEREFORE, THEY SHOULD NEVER BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY. NOT NOW, NOT EVER. OUR CHILDREN ALL NEED THE SAME THINGS IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT TO FEEL SAFE, TO BE EDUCATED AND TO BE TREATED FAIRLY. AS MY FAMILY PREPARES FOR RETIREMENT AFTER DECADES OF SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY, CHOOSE TO GO RETIRE HERE PRIMARY BECAUSE OF THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM,
030THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT, IT IS OUR HOPE THAT FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL SUPPORT AND PROTECT ALL STUDENTS. ALL FAMILIES, ALL STAFF MEMBERS. WE AS A COMMUNITY CANNOT LEAVE ANY ONE GROUP VULNERABLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MR. HALL. FOLLOWED BY KELLY PINZON. GOOD EVENING, DR. BRABAND AND NUMBERS OF SCHOOL BOARD. I'M NORM HALL SPEAKING AS A CITIZEN AND THE VIEWS ARE MY OWN. I AM HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT FCPS STRATEGIC PLANNING AND THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PLANNING. AT THE LAST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, THE TOPIC OF RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP WAS ON THE AGENDA AND SEVERAL CITIZENS SPOKE AS PARENTS OF STUDENTS IN SPECIAL ED. AS I HAVE NOTED IN THE PAST, THERE ARE MANY, MANY POSITIVES IN HOW FCPS DOES SPECIAL ED. WE HEARD A PARENT EXPRESS THAT VIEW AGAIN TONIGHT AND THAT'S GREAT. BUT IF EVERY CHILD,
031EVERY NEED IS THE STANDARD, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT LEAVING SPECIAL ED OUT OF YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN DOCUMENTS MEANS THAT YOU THINK WE'RE ON TRACK OR YOU MAKE SURE THAT THEY INCLUDE SPECIFIC OVERALL IMPROVEMENT GOALS OR CALL FOR SPECIFIC RATES OF MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENT. I THINK THESE ARE YOUR CHOICES. AS THINGS STAND, NONE OF THE FOUR STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENTS HAVE SPECIFIC BENCH MARK GAINS OR RATES OF IMPROVEMENT THAT ARE TO BE EXPECTED. I NOTE WITH DISMAY THAT THE RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP PRESENTATION WHICH WAS TO HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED AT YOUR LAST WORK SESSION WAS NOT EVEN POSTED BEFORE YOUR LAST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO RESPOND TO IT. NOW THERE ARE DATA GAPS CONCERNING EXPERIENCES OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WITHIN THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND A WOEFUL LACK OF DATA SUPPORTING THE JOINT EFFORTS WITH THE FAIRFAX
032COUNTY SUCCESSFUL CHILD AND YOUTH POLICY TEAM WITH RESPECT TO THE SPECIAL ED. SO WHAT AM I SAYING? I'M CALLING FOR INCREASED INVOLVEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THESE NEEDS. THERE ARE MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN ASSIST FCPS IN THE MEANINGFUL REVIEW OF STRATEGIC ELEMENTS WITH AN EYE TOWARD STUDENT SUCCESS. THANK YOU. KELLY PINZON. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME HAVE THIS TIME TO ADDRESS Y'ALL. MY NAME IS KELLY PINZON AND MY HUSBAND AND I ARE THE PROUD PARENTS OF TWO SONS. I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTINUED CONCERN THAT WE AND SO OTHER PATIENTS HAVE ON THE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAM AND OTHER ACTIVIST LOBBYING GROUPS WHO WANT TO BRAINWASH OUR CHILDREN. I'M TALKING ABOUT CONCEPTS NOT BASED ON SCIENCE BUT RATHER ON IDEAOLOGISTS NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH THE OBSERVABLE REPETITIOUS AND UNIVERSAL NATURAL
033LAWS OF SCIENCE. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE IDEAOLOGIES TO WHICH YOU REFER TO IS THAT SEX IS ASSIGNEDA THE BIRTH. IT'S NOT JUST THE FALSE CONCEPT OF WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT, BUT HOISTED ON OUR INNOCENT UNSUSPECTING CHILDREN. THE PROCESS BY THE FLE CURRICULUM HAS BEEN DOOMENTED, WHICH IS BASED ON INPUT FROM THE HIGHLY BIASSED, PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND THE UN COMPREHENSIVE SEX EDUCATION PROGRAM. IT'S A CORRUPT PROCESS. I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS FOR Y'ALL. I KNOW Y'ALL ARE UNABLE TO ANSWER THEM BUT I WOULD LIKE THEM ON RECORD. NUMBER ONE, DO YOU SEE THAT BY TEACHING AN IDEOLOGY AS SCIENTIFIC FACT YOU'RE UNDERCUTTING A CHILD'S ABILITY TO MAKE SENSE ON THE WORLD AROUND THEM TO OBSERVE AND THINK THINGS THROUGH? NUMBER TWO, WHEN YOU INTRODUCE AGE INAPPROPRIATE SEX EDUCATION MATERIALS, YOU'RE SUBLIMINALLY NORMALIZING TOPICS WHICH ARE NOT
034DEVELOPMENTALLY PREPARED FOR. AND WHICH THEY DO NOT NEED. ONE EXAMPLE IS INTRODUCING THE TOPIC OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES TO 5TH GRADERS. THEY ARE ONLY NINE AND 10 YEARS OLD. I DON'T THINK THIS IS NECESSARY. NUMBER 3, SHOULDN'T YOU BE SUPPORTING EDUCATION THAT RESPECTS THE HUMAN MIND RATHER THAN ATTEMPTING TO COERCE IT? WE ALL KNOW THAT CHILDREN ESPECIALLY THE VERY YOUNG ARE EXTREMELY SUSCEPTIBLE TO CONDITIONING OF THEIR MINDS AND ALLOWING THE CURRENT SEX ED MATERIALS TO BE INTRODUCED, YOU'RE ENGAGING AND CONDITIONING AND PROGRAMMING OF THEIR MINDS. THIS IS NOT TRUE EDUCATION BUT RATHER COERCIVE THOUGHT REFORM. I WANT TO REFER TO MARGARET THALLER'S BOOK, CULTS AND THEIR MYTHS AND THE CONTINUUM ON PERSUASION. I PUT THE LINK IN MY STATEMENT AND GIVEN Y'ALL A TWO-PAGE SUMMARY. YOU WILL FIVE THE COMPARISON BETWEEN EDUCATION, ADVERTISING PROPAGANDA, INDOCTRINATION
035AND THOUGHT REFORM TO BE VERY INTERESTING AND USEFUL IN YOUR WORK TO PROVIDE TRUE EDUCATION. THERE'S GOOD LESSONS IN THE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAM I AGREE. BUT PLEASE I JUST I WOULD LIKE YOU TO LOOK AT THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE CITIZEN WHO IS HAVE COME OUT TO SPEAK WITH US TONIGHT. I NOW CALL ON MR. TIGNOR FOR STUDENT MATTERS. I WOULD LIKE TO REPEAT THAT AND THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO TALK ABOUT AND A FEW NOTES. FORGIVE ME IF I SCRAMBLE MY THOUGHTS. THE FIRST TOPIC IS A PERSONAL MATTER IN REGARDS TO MY FRIEND'S MATTER. AS A SENIOR, I'M APPLY TO GO COLLEGES AND THERE'S A LOT OF SENIORS APPLYING TO COLLEGES. EVEN IF YOU'RE A JUNIOR OR SOPHOMORE OR BENEATH THAT,
036THERE'S A LOT OF STRESS TO GET YOUR GRADES UP TO BE PRESENTABLE TO THE COLLEGES YOU'RE APPLYING TO IN THE FUTURE. KIDS KNOW THIS TOO. WHEN YOU COME HOME AFTER A DAY OF SCHOOL AND YOU GET A BAD GRADE ON YOUR ESSAY OR SOMETHING WHICH YOU TURN IN FOR HISTORY AND YOU TELL YOUR PARENTS ABOUT IT AND THEY ASK YOU TO LEAVE THE ROOM BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE GRADE. IT REALLY HITS HARD. RIGHT. SO THIS HAPPENED TO ME THIS WEEK. IT HAPPENED TO A FRIEND OF MINE. I'M ASKING PARENTS TO BE AWARE OF THE PRESSURE YOU PUT ON YOUR CHILD WHEN YOU SAY THESE THINGS. WE'RE NOT OBLIVIOUS TO OUR FUTURES. WE KNOW WE AT LEAST WANT TO BE HAPPY. SO INSTEAD OF PERHAPS YELLING AT THEM OR PUTTING
037THEM DOWN FOR THE GRADE. INSTEAD ASK THEM WHAT THEY CAN DO DIFFERENTLY TO IMPROVE. THIS IS EMBODYING THE PRESENT AND NOT PAST MIND SET OF PARENTING. WHEN YOU ADOPT THIS, IT ACTUALLY APPLIES TO A THEORY OF DAOISM I LEARNED ABOUT IN HISTORY. THIS IS A QUOTE FROM LAOSU. IF YOU ARE DEPRESSED, YOU ARE LIVING IN THE PAST. IF YOU ARE ANXIOUS, YOU ARE LIVING IN THE FUTURE. IF YOU ARE AT PEACE, YOU ARE LIVING IN THE PRESENT. KEEP IN MIND WHEN HELPING YOUR CHILD THROUGH THE DIFFICULT YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL. KEEP YOUR CHILD'S MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH IN MIND IF NOT MORE THAN THEIR GRADES AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. IT'S DIFFICULT TO RAISE A CHILD, AS I'M SURE YOU KNOW AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH SCHOOL, IT'S DIFFICULT TO BE A CHILD TOO. MOVING ON
038FROM ALL THAT. TALKING ABOUT SLEEP. SLEEP IS REALLY IMPORTANT TOO. OF COURSE YOU HEAR IT ALL THE TIME. IF YOU'RE GROWING MIND, YOU SHOULD GET AT LEAST EIGHT HOURS A NIGHT. IT'S TOUGH TO DO. I DON'T DO THAT. I WISH I COULD. FOR 12TH GRADERS, ONLY 16% GET EIGHT HOURS. 25% OR LESS GET SIX HOUR. THERE WILL BE A FACEBOOK LIVE ABOUT GETTING MORE SLEEPS AND HOW IT WILL AFFECT YOU AND PLEAD YOU TO LOOK AT THAT WHEN IT COMES OUT. I HAD AN SAC MEETING. I TALKED WITH ALL THESE STUDENTS THERE. THEY ARE SOME OF THE MOST HARD WORKING, FOCUSD AND PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE I KNOW. EVEN THESE KID, WHEN I ASKED THEM TO GO INTO THEIR PHONE, YOU CAN CHECK OUT SCREEN TIME. SPENT ON AVERAGE FIVE TO SIX HOURS A DAY ON THEIR
039PHONE. IF YOU CAN TAKE HALF OF THAT TIME, 2.5 AND THREE HOURS AND APPLY TO YOUR SLEEP, YOU CAN GET CLOSER TO THE EIGHT HOUR AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT. ALSO ELECTION DAY IS COMING UP. NOVEMBER 6TH, HAVE A PLAN TO GET TO YOUR LOCAL ELECTION CENTER AND WHAT TIME YOU WILL BE THERE. IF YOU HAVE A CHILD THAT'S 18, MAKE SURE THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO AS WELL. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU MR. TIGNOR FOR YOUR WIDE WORDS. NOW THIS SECTION OF THE MEETING IS THE CONFIRMATION OF ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED MEETING. THE BOARD WILL CONFIRM ANY ACTION REGARDING ISSUED DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED MEETINGS, REGARDING STUDENT DISCIPLINARY MATTERS AND IT IS AT THIS TIME WE WILL MAKE SEVERAL MOTIONS TO CONFIRM THE RECOMMENDED ACTION. I NOW CALL ON MS. KAUFAX FOR
040A MOTION. I MOVE TO DENY A COMMUNITY BASED INCIDENT CAN CONFIRM THE DECISION OF SUPERINTENDENT. SECONDED BY MS. KEYS GAMARRA. ALL IN FAVOR. AND THAT MOTION IS UNANIMOUS WITH MS. SCHULTZ AND MR. WILSON AWAY FROM THE TABLE. I NOW CALL ON MS. EVANS FOR A MOTION. I MOVE TO DENY THE SCHOOL REASSIGNMENT APPEAL OF A STUDENT WHO STALKED A FELLOW STUDENT AT SCHOOL AND CONFIRM THE DECISION OF THE DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. AND THAT IS WITH MS. STRAUSS, EVANS, KEYS GAMARRA, PALCHIK, HYNES AND CORBETT SANDERS. THOSE OPPOSED. THOSE ABSTAINING. AND THAT IS WITH MCLAUGHLIN THAT PASSES WITH SCHULTZ AND WILSON AWAY. I NOW CALL ON MS. EVANS FOR A MOTION. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE TO GRANT IN PART OF THE SCHOOL REASSIGNMENT APPEAL OF A STUDENT
041WHO POSSESSED ILLEGAL DRUGS AND MODIFY THE DISCIPLINARY DECISION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. STRAUSS, EVANS, KEYS-GAMARRA, MOON, KAUFAX, MCELVEEN, HYNES AND CORBETT SANDERS. ABSTENTION BY MS. MCLAUGHLIN. I NOW CALL ON MS. STRAUSS FOR A MOTION. I MOVE TO SPECIALIZE THE SETTLEMENT OF A SPECIAL EDUCATION MATTER OUTLINED BY LEGAL COUNCIL IN CLOSED SESSION. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. AND THAT MOTION IS UNANIMOUS WITH MS. SCHULTZ AWAY FROM THE TABLE. THERE ARE ADOPTED RULES OF PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE BY A SINGLE MOTION. MANY ITEMS HAVE GONE THROUGH THE BOARD REVIEW AND DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS. ITEMS MAY BE REMOVED. 6.1, APPROVE THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 27TH AND OCTOBER 18TH REGULAR MEETING. 6.02. CONFIRM THE SEPARATIONS FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 1, 2018, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2018. 6.03. CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENTS AND
042SEPARATIONS FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1, 2018, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2018. ITEM 6.04. AWARD A CONTRACT FOR THE ROBINSON SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR ROOF PREPLACEMENT PROJECT IN $503,210 AND SPECIALIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FACILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO EXECUTE DELIVER AND ADMINISTER THE CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. ITEM 6.05, THAT MS. KEYS-GAMARRA AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FROM BRADDOCK AND DRANESVILLE SHALL SELECT COMMITTEES TO THE BASAL INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS. 6.06, APPOINT ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS TO. MS. KEYS-GAMARRA. I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MS. KEYS-GAMARRA HAS ALREADY SUBMITTED HER PERSON. HEARING AND SEEING NO OBSTRUCTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED. SEVEN, NEW BUSINESS, THE FOLLOWING ARE NEW BUSINESS, THERE WILL NOT BE A VOTE BUT ACTION IS SCHEDULED AT A FUTURE MEETING. 7.01. AWARD FOR ANNANDALE HERACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RENOVATION PROJECT. TO EXECUTE, ADMINISTER THE CONTRACT. AWARD LAUREL RIDGE
043ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ROOF REPLACEMENT PROJECT AND AUTHORIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT OF TRANSPORTATION CITIZENS TO EXECUTE, DELIVER AND ADMINISTER THE CONTRACT ON THE SCHOOL BOARD. 7.03, AWARD THE CONTRACT FOR THE RUNNING TRACK REPLACEMENT AT SOUTH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL TO FIELD TURF IN THE AMOUNT OF $335,013 AND AUTHORIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FACILITIES TO EXECUTE AND ADMINISTER THE CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. NOW I CALL ON DR. BRABRAND FOR SUPERINTENDENT MATTERS. THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN CORBETT SANDERS. I WAS DELIGHTED TO APPEAR AT THOMAS JEFFERSON'S SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONFERENCE. I GOT TO GO WITH SANDY EVANS AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL SATURDAY AFTERNOON TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO GET FAMILIES BETTER CONNECTED TO OUR FAMILIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICT. NINA THOMAS DID THE KEYNOTE. WE HAD WORKSHOPS ON ENGAGING MILITARY FAMILIES, EFFECTIVE
044TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION. SPECIAL UPDATES. PARENT LIAISON COMMUNITY OUTREACH. INFORMATION ABOUT TITLE ROAM I SCHOOLS. IT WAS ALSO EXCITED TO SEE GENESIS WORKS WHICH WE HAVE BEEN PARTNERING WITH FOR SOME TIME. RECOGNIZE MANY OF OUR YOUNG FOLKS AT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB ON OCTOBER 16TH AND THEY HONORED US AS COMMUNITY PARTNER OF THE YEAR. THEY ARE AWARDED IN D. C SCHOOLS AND GIVE KIDS WHO ARE THE FIRST GENERATION OF COLLEGE-GOING KIDS TO HAVE INTERNSHIPS WITH THE COMPANIES IN THE AREA AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING IT. I ALSO HAD A CHANCE TO ATTEND, WE NOTED EDU-FUTURO. THEY HAD A SPECIAL DINNER AND RECOGNIZED ONE OF OUR PRINCIPALS FOR LIFTING UP FAMILY PARTNERS. FINALLY MR. TIGNOR, I LISTEN TO YOU EVERY NIGHT AND TONIGHT I AM TOUCHED AS A FATHER AND INDIVIDUAL HUMAN BEING. AS A FATHER I LEARNED
045ABOUT ONE OF MY OWN CHILDREN ABOUT A GRADE I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR ABOUT AND WHAT WOULD I SAY? LAST NIGHT WHAT I SAID WAS, I JUST WANT YOU TO DO YOUR BEST. IN THE END, THE GRADE DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU HAVE DONE YOUR BEST. I THINK WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CONTINUE TO HAVE IN A SYSTEM DEVOTED TO EXCELLENCE, TO GIVE ROOM FOR KIDS TO BE LESS THAN PERFECT BUT TO DO THEIR VERY BEST. THAT IS POWERFUL AND SPOKE TO ME AS A FATHER AND EDUCATOR. YOU ALSO SPEAK TO ME ABOUT GETTING SLEEP. I HAVE HAD A COLD FOR THE LAST THREE DAYS. I HAVE GONE TO MY DOCTOR AND WORKING TO MAKE SURE I AM TAKEN CARE. WITH PERMISSION, I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE. I HAVE OUT OF TOWN TRAVEL. I
046WANT TO GET MY EIGHT HOURS OF SLEEP AND BE READY FOR THE ENGAGEMENTS MY TRAVEL REQUIRES. I HOPE YOU WILL INDULGE MY REQUEST. DR. BRABRAND, GO HOME. I KNOW IF WE NEED ANYBODY, YOU HAVE THE DREAM TEAM BEHIND YOU. MR. SMITH AND DR. DURANT ARE CAPABLE OF FILLING IN. I SEND YOU MY BEST WISHES AND SEE YOU SOON. ARE NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS BOARD REPORTS. AND I CALL ON MS. EVANS FOR A REPORT ON THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MADAM CHAIR, WE MET THIS WEEK AND COMPLETED OUR WORK ON RECOMMENDATION ON ADVOCACY LETTERS WHICH WE WILL BRING TO THE GOVERNANCE WORK SESSION ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 29TH. WE HAVE ALSO COMPLETED OUR WORK ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDS THAT WAS A FORM TOPIC BROUGHT TO US A WHILE BACK AND SO WE HAVE A
047RECOMMENDATION ON THAT AS WELL. WE DID A VERY BRIEF DEBRIEF OF THE RETREAT AND WE'RE GOING TO BRING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD ABOUT USING A SIMILAR APPROACH AT OUR WORK SESSIONS TO ASK THAT EVERYBODY STICK TO THREE MINUTES ON THEIR FIRST ROUND. WE ARE GOING TO BRING THAT TO THE BOARD ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IS THE MEETING MANAGERS GO TO THE END OF THE TABLE OPPOSITE THE STAFF MEMBERS SO THEY CAN SEE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS SEEKING RECOGNITION. SO THOSE ARE A COUPLE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SUGGEST. WE ALSO MS. MCLAUGHLIN IS GOING TO BRING US SOME IDEAS BEFORE OUR NEXT MEETING ON HOW WE MIGHT BETTER APPROACH BRINGING ISSUES TO THE BOARD. THIS ALSO WAS A FORUM TOPIC OF MS. MCLAUGHLIN, WE ARE GOING TO CONSIDER IDEAS AND WITH THE IDEA OF
048BRINGING SOME SUGGESTIONS TO THE FULL BOARD. WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK OUR WAY THROUGH THE STRATEGIC GOVERNANCE MANUAL AND JUST DOING A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME. WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT WRAPPED UP IN A COUPLE MONTHS MAYBE. TO BE OPTIMISTIC. THANK YOU. MS. EVANS. I NOW CALL ON MS. MCLAUGHLIN FOR AUDIT COMMITTEE UPDATE. THANK YOU. AUDIT COMMITTEE MET YESTERDAY FOR TWO HOURS, AND WHAT WE COVERED WAS NOT ONLY JUST AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE WERE IN THE AUDIT WORK PLAN, BUT WE HAD A REVIEW OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL ACTIVITY FUNDS AND THAT TOTALS IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR. SO IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY WERE ABOUT 15 SCHOOLS WHERE THEY FELT THERE WAS NO NOTABLE AREAS IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT AND SO THAT STAFF WILL BE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THOSE SCHOOLS ON THERE.
049WE ALSO AS AN AUDIT COMMITTEE ASKED OUR AUDITOR GENERAL THAT IN THE FUTURE THERE WOULD BE SOME MORE CONTEXT FOR THE SCHOOLS WHERE THEY WERE DOING LOCAL ACTIVITY FUND REVIEWS ASKING FOR RANKING THE SERIOUSNESS OR CLASSIFYING WHAT SOME OF THE AREAS OF CONCERN WERE. THEN WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT JUST WAYS IN WHICH WE COULD ENHANCE THE SCHOOL BOARD'S AWARENESS OF THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE BY THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL. SO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY ASKED I BRING TO THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR A REQUEST THAT THE AUDITOR GENERAL HAVE A FORMAL STANDARD ANNUAL REPORTING OUT AND MEETING WITH THE BOARD. ABOUT THE WORK OF THE OFFICER OF AUDITOR GENERAL ALONG WITH A MIDYEAR STANDING ANNUAL REPORT AND PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD. IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL REPORTS DONE BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE,
050DONE BY THE OFFICER OF AUDITOR GENERAL, THE AUDIT COMMITTEE BELIEVES RISES TO THE LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE FOR THE BOARD'S DEEPER REVIEW, THAT WE THE COMMITTEE WOULD BRING THAT TO LET THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR TO SCHEDULE FOR A WORK SESSION. AND THE GOAL IS THAT WE RECOGNIZE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REPORTS THAT ARE OF HIGH PUBLIC INTEREST. SO, BEING ABLE TO ENSURE THE BOARD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT TYPE OF DEEPER BRIEFING, SUCH AS LIKE THE CONTRACTS AUDITS WILL BE COMING IN DECEMBER. THERE COULD BE HIGH RISK THERE TO THE DIVISION SO ONCE IT'S PRESENTED TO THE AGAIN THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, WE CAN THEN LOOK TO THE BOARD AND SAY IF YOU WANT TO HAVE GREATER DETAIL FOR YOURSELF. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REPORTS THE OFFICE OF AUDITOR GENERAL HAS DONE INCLUDING
051THE ONLINE CAMPUS AUDIT. THOSE WERE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT YESTERDAY'S AUDIT COMMISSION MEETING. THANK YOU. MS. MCLAUGHLIN. MR. MOON LEFT. HE SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS THAT DR. BRABRAND HAVE. I WILL GIVE A QUICK DEBRIEF ON THE FORUM BROUGHT BY MS. SCHULTZ AND THEN HAD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BROUGHT TO US BY MS. KEYS-GAMARRA AND THE FOCUS WAS TO SET AS A PRIORITY THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EMPLOYMENT'S RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES HANDBOOK. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THERE'S BEEN TOPIC OR DISCUSSION ABOUT IT OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS BUT WE WELCOMED MS. SCHULTZ'S FOCUS AND PRIORITIZATION OF THE ER& R AND WORKING WE HAVE ASKED THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR HR TO SET THIS AS A PRIORITY WORKING WITH THE ER & R AND ROAM IX TEAMS TO DEVELOP A HANDBOOK AND THE COMPLEMENTARY
052PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO BRING THAT TO US SOME TIME IN THE SPRING TO WORK, DR. BRABRAND WILL WORK WITH THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR TO GET ON OUR SCHEDULE AND THE ERR DOCUMENT WILL PROVIDE GREATER CLARITY AND GUIDANCE TO EMPLOYEES ON THE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FOR BULLYING, DISCRIMINATION, ABUSE, SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND BE IT PHYSICAL OR VERBAL IN NATURE AS WELL AS ONLINE COMMUNICATIONS AND BE SPECIFIC ON THE RESPONSE FOR APPROACHES TO IX AS WELL AND THAT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY FROM THE BOARD TO SET THAT AS A PRIORITY. NOW WE COME TO BOARD MATTERS. I CALL ON MS. STRAUSS. THANK YOU. I HAVE BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF VISITING ALL THE SCHOOLS TO OBSERVE STUDENTS IN THE DRANESVILLE DISTRICT. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, LANGLEY, MCCLAIN HIGH SCHOOL, COOPER MIDDLE SCHOOL, CLEARVIEW ELEMENTARY, HUTCHISON, FORESTVILLE
053AND LEMON ROAD. I WANT TO THANK THE PRINCIPALS FOR THEIR HOSPITALITY. GREAT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE THINGS WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO AND IMPROVE AND BRING TO SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR GOALS AND THEIR SCHOOLS. I WANT TO THANK THE TEACHERS AND THE CHILDREN WHOSE CLASSROOMS I VISITED. I WAS VERY PLEASED TO SEE EXCELLENT TEACHING AND LEARNING GOING ON. I ESPECIALLILY ENJOYED THE MATH AND READING WORKSHOP AND EXCELLENT COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSIONS. I SAW VERY INTERESTING WORK AT MCCLAIN HIGH SCHOOL WHERE STUDENTS ARE GROUPED IN DISCUSSING MORE ABOUT WHAT THEIR LEARNING IN MATH. HIGHER MATH, HOW THEY STRATEGYIZE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. IT WAS VERY ENLIGHTENING AND IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS, I HOPE TO GET TO THE REST OF THE SCHOOLS SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MRS. SCHULTZ. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO ATTENDED, I
054HAD TWO CITIZEN TOWN HALLS. CENTERVILLE AND SPRINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL. I SEE MS. TINA WILLIAMS HERE. THEY WERE EXCELLENT. A LOT OF EMPHASIS JUST FROM MY COLLEAGUES EDIFICATION ON CONCERNS HAVING TO DO WITH SPLIT FEEDERS. CONCERNS HAVING TO DO WITH BOUNDARIES. ON SPECIAL EDUCATION. THANK YOU NORM FOR YOUR COMMENTS THIS EVENING. RELATED TO ONLINE CAMPUS OPPORTUNITIES AND WHETHER THE ONLINE CAMPUS VERSION THAT IS SELF MODERATED FOR THINGS LIKE THE PERSONAL FINANCE VERSUS A TEACHER AND THERE WAS REALLY A MORE OF A CONSENSUS THAT THE ONE THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO A TEACHER, A LIVE TEACHER IS THE BEST WAY FOR US TO APPROACH ONLINE EDUCATION. AND A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND FCPS ON VERSUS OFF. AND CONCERNS RELATED TO INCREASED SCREEN TIME FOR CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY AT THE YOUNGER AGES. I WANT TO THANK THE PTA PRESIDENTS WHO
055ATTENDED MY PTA PRESIDENT'S ROUND TABLE. THAT WILL RUN OVER THE COURSE OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR AND IN PARTICULAR THOSE WHO STOOD IN THE STEAD OF THEIR PTA PRESIDENTS WHO COULDN'T ATTEND. IT WAS A ROBUST CONVERSATION AS I GO FORWARD OVER THE COURSE OF THIS ACADEMIC YEAR SERVING. I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, I HEARD DR. BRABAND MENTION THE STRESS STUDENTS ARE UNDER. I AM THE PARENT OF A SENIOR THIS YEAR. THIS TIME IS BRUTAL. IF YOU AREN'T WORKING ON COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS OR YOU'RE TRYING TO FIT IN ONE LAST COLLEGE VISIT. I HAVE RUN ON TO A BUNCH OF YOU ON THE COLLEGE VISITS ITSELF. IT WILL BE OKAY. THERE ARE 3500 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THIS COUNTRY. IF YOU DON'T GET INTO ONE OR TWO OR THREE OF YOUR FAVORITES, THERE'S SOME
056PLACE ELSE. YOU WILL BE FINE. AND I'M SAYING THAT TO MYSELF AS WELL TO BE SELFISH. ALL WILL BE WELL. I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE OPIOID LEGISLATION OR THE SIGNATURE DOCUMENT THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK. WE ARE UNFORTUNATELY IN A COUNTY WHERE STUDENTS ARE FACING STRESS AND THERE IS ACCESS TO A LOT OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION AT HOME. I HAVE HEARD ACTUALLY I BELIEVE HE'S A FAIRFAX COUNTY RESIDENT AND I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT HIS CAPACITY IS. HE HAS DEVELOPED A PACKET THAT GOES INSIDE A MEDICINE BOTTLE AND YOU PUT A LITTLE WATER IN AND IT TURNS YOUR MEDICATION INTO SOMETHING THAT IS NOW UNUSEABLE AND THEN IT DOESN'T POLLUTE THE WATER STREAMS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS AND HELPS TO MAKE MEDICATION SAFE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PARENTS HAVE BEEN TO BE AWARE OF.
057STUDENTS HAVE TO ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR PEERS WHO MAY BE STRUGGLING. PLEASE DON'T BE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP. BUT DON'T TURN TO PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION OR OTHER THINGS TO DEAL WITH THE STRESS. LET'S HELP YOU FIND A WAY TO GET THROUGH THIS A LOT BETTER AND HAVE YOU BE HEALTHIER. I JUST WANT TO THANK BENNY FOR HIS COMMENTS THIS EVENING. I DO WANT TO MAKE ANOTHER COMMENT. THE VICE CHAIR GIVES A RUN DOWN OF THE FORUM TOPIC. THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR A NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES. WHICH I REPRESENT. THE FORUM TOPIC WAS FOR THE BOARD TO DIRECT THE SUPERINTENDENT AS A RESULT OF OUR CONVERSATION TO UNDERTAKE KNOW EMPLOYEE JUST LIKE THE STUDENTS SIGN, OF STUDENTS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES DOCUMENT EVERY YEAR. SIGN IT ANNUALLY AND YOUR PARENTS HAVE TO SIGN IT AS WELL. WE
058HAVE 40,000 EMPLOYEES AND THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO SIGN THAT AS WELL WITH THE PRIORITY FOCUSED ON OUTLINING EXPECTED BEHAVIOR FROM US AS A BOARD AND THE DIVISION PERTAINING TO ADULTS AND THEIR INTERACTION WITH MINOR CHILDREN RELATED TO VERBAL, PHYSICAL, SEXUAL HARASSMENT BULLYING, INTIMIDATION, ASSAULT, ABUSE, THE WORKS. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOU'RE AN ADULT, WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOU'RE AWARE OF IT. WHAT ARE THE CLEAR EXPECTATIONS FOR REPORTING. I'M THANKFUL FOR HELEN NIXON AND CATHERINE CAROL OUR NEW IX DIRECTOR FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE LEADING UP DISCUSSIONS. IT'S GOING TO TAKE US A LITTLE TIME TO WORK ON THIS. IT'S TIME THERE BE A LOT OF CLARITY FOR OUR EMPLOYEE FORCE AND OUR FAMILIES THAT WE ARE SPEAKING VERY CLEARLY ON THE SUBJECT AND I THINK TONIGHT'S FORUM TOPIC IS A GOOD STEP
059FORWARD IN US BEING MUCH MORE DEFINITIVE AND CLEAR IN GIVING EMPLOYEES RESOURCES IN ONE PLACE AND HAVING AN ANNUAL RENEWAL GOING FORWARD TO RESULT FROM STAFF WORK. I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S COOPERATION IN THAT REGARD. MS. EVANS. THANK YOU. I WANTED TO SAY I AM PLEASED TO ATTEND THE TASTE OF ANNANDALE. IT'S A GREAT EVENT AND GETS BIGGER AND BETTER EVERY YEAR WITH MORE AND MORE PARTICIPANTS AND IT SPILLED OVER INTO A NEW YEAR. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ORGANIZED THAT GREAT EVENT. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE THE ANNANDALE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND PTA AND PRINCIPAL PARTICIPATE IN THAT AS WELL. AS DR. BRABAND SAID, I WAS PLEASED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FCPS FACING THE FUTURE CONFERENCE ON FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND IN PARTICULAR TO SERVE ON A PANEL TO DISCUSS EQUITY WITH DR. BRABRAND AND CHAIRMAN
060BULOVA THERE AS WELL AS OUR NEW OM BUDSMAN, ARMANDO PERRY. THIS WAS A GOOD INTRODUCTION OF OUR OMBUDSMAN TO ACTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. IT WAS A GREAT DISCUSSION AS WELL AS ENTERING WORKSHOPS THAT PEOPLE WERE VERY ENGAGED IN THE WHOLE CONFERENCE. THAT WAS WONDERFUL TO ATTEND. I APPRECIATE JOINING THE TYSON'S PARTNERSHIP IN CELEBRATION OF THE SHOES FOR KIDS EVENT TODAY. THIS IS WHERE THEY COLLECT, LAST YEAR THEY COLLECTED SHOES. THIS YEAR THEY FOCUSED MORE ON COLLECTING MONEY WITH WHICH TO BUY SHOES. THAT FOCUSED ON SEVEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THE FALL CHECK WAS THERE AS WELL. BOTH OF OUR SCHOOLS WERE BENEFITTED FROM THIS EFFORT. BAILEY'S UPPER, PRIMARY IN WOODBURN, GRAHAM ROAD, SHREVE WOOD AND FREEDOM HILL. IT'S APPRECIATED IN THOSE COMMUNITIES. CHILDREN WHO WOULD BE WEARING WORN-OUT SHOES WILL HAVE BRAND-NEW SHOES. THANK YOU FOR
061THAT PARTNERSHIP. IT'S STILL ON GOING. ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO CONTRIBUTE, AND THANK YOU ALSO TO THE FIRE STATION FOR HOSTING THE LUNCH. LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST. MR. TIGNOR, I CERTAINLY CAN SUPPORT YOUR CRY FOR MORE SLEEP. AS EVERYONE ON THIS BOARD KNOWS, IT'S BEEN SOMETHING I ADVOCATED FOR SINCE 2004. WE MADE PROGRESS ON THIS BOARD BY CREATING A LATER START TIMES A COUPLE YEARS AGO. WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO. CLEARLY WE HAVE WORK TO DO. THE DATA THAT YOU CITED FROM THE YOUTH SURVEY, THE LAST TIME I LOOKED WAS IMPROVING. NOT TO THE EXTENT WE WOULD LIKE. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT AND WE ALL STILL HAVE TO LOOK AT MIDDLE SCHOOLS. WE HAVE OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS. WE STILL NEED TO WORK ON THAT. AND AS FAR AS THE OTHER ISSUES THAT YOU RAISED, THANK
062YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT THOSE AS WELL. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OUR BOARD CARES ABOUT DEEPLY, THE ISSUE OF STRESS AND ANXIETY. I KNOW AS LIAISON TO THE SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON AND WOULD LIKE FOR US TO TAKE AND SPECIFIC ACTIONS WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSING LATER. SO THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO FOCUS ON QUITE A BIT. YES, ALSO TO REMIND PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND VOTE IN A COUPLE WEEKS TOO. YES. VOTE ON NOVEMBER 6TH. MS. KEYS-GAMARRA. I WILL GIVE A QUICK SUMMARY. I ALSO WANT TO THANKS OUR STUDENT REP FOR HIS WISE ROADS WITH RESPECT TO GUIDANCE FOR OUR PARENTS. HOW WE SET THE TONE IN THE HOME HELPS US TO LOOK AT SCHOOL IN THE PROPER PROTECT AND FIND
063THEIR BEST SELVES RATHER THAN THE EXTENSIVE LEVEL OF STRESS AVAILABLE TO THEM. I REALLY APPRECIATED THOSE COMMENTS. I WAS ALSO GLAD TO SEE A FORUM TOPIC THAT MS. SCHULTZ BROUGHT AND WAS HAPPY TO ADD TO THE TOPIC WITH RESPECT TO HOW WE ADDRESS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, BULLYING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WE HAD A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION AS TO HOW WE CAN DRILL DOWN AND MAKE IT CLEAR HOW WE'RE DEALING WITH THESE TYPES OF ISSUES AND OTHER FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION, AS PARENTS THERE ARE EXPECTATIONS TO KNOW AND WHEN YOU SHOULD EXPECT TO BE VERY CLEAR. SO I THINK IT WAS A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION AND REALLY GOOD STEP TO BEGIN TO SET OUT EXPECTATIONS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT TO LOOK AT THESE ISSUES VERY SPECIFICALLY SO I WAS HAPPY TO JOIN MS. SCHULTZ IN OUTLINING PRIORITIES FOR
064THAT. I ALSO WAS ABLE TO ATTEND WITH MRS. CORBETT SANDERS A LEGISLATIVE MEETING WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THIS WEEK. WE KIND OF DOUBLE TEAMED AND SHE WENT ANOTHER DIRECTION. I WAS ABLE TO STAY AND TALK WITH THE DIVERSION PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE TYPE OF THINGS AND IN PARTICULAR, MATTERS THAT ARISE FROM DISORDERLY CONDUCT. AND GET REPORTS TO HOW THAT IS IMPLEMENTED. THE GOOD NEWS IS THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS FOR THAT IS EXTREMELY LOW. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE ISN'T AN ESCAPE CHUTE WITH THE DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND MAKE SURE WE'RE REHABILITATING OUR CHILDREN WITH WHAT IS DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR THAT NEEDS CONSTRUCTION BUT NOT NECESSARILY TAKE THEM INTO THE CRIMINAL ARENA. LASTLY, I WILL END ON DISCUSSING TASTE OF ANNANDALE. I WAS ABLE TO SHOP AT THE FARMER'S MARKET THERE FROM
065THE ANNANDALE HIGH SCHOOL PTA. SO, THOSE ITEMS ENDED UP IN WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A DELICIOUS SOUP. NOBODY COMPLAINED IN MY HOUSE. IT WAS REALLY FUN. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. MS. MCLAUGHLIN. I FIRST WANT TO TOUCH ON SOMETHING THAT OUR STUDENT REP SHARED THIS EVENING BECAUSE AS THE PARENT OF THREE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE RECENTLY GRADUATED OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, I HAVE NOT ONLY CARED ABOUT THIS AS A SOCIAL WORKER AND A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER BUT ALSO AS A PARENT. BENNY, ALL I CAN SAY IS, I'M SORRY THAT OUR DIVISION HAS NOT BEEN MORE SUCCESSFUL IN WHAT MANY OF US HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS. THAT'S ABOUT THE QUALITY OF ASSESSMENTS VERSUS QUANTITY. WHEN I FIRST JOINED THIS BOARD, ALONG WITH MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE AT THE
066TABLE, THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM USED TO DIRECT OUR TEACHERS TO DO TWO GRADED ASSESSMENTS PER WEEK. THAT MEANS 18 IN A NINE-WEEK QUARTER. 36 IN A SEMESTER. THERE IS NO COLLEGE COURSE IN THIS COUNTRY THAT GIVES 36 GRADED ASSESSMENTS OF ITS STUDENTS AND FOR OUR KIDS WHO TAKE IB AND AP. THAT IS VOLUME, NOT QUANTITY. WE HAVE SINCE MOVED AWAY OVER TIME. OUR FORMER SUPERINTENDENT CREATED A TASK FORCE. THEY LOOKED AT THIS. THEY INCORPORATED OVER 200 TEACHERS AND STAKEHOLDERS BUT I DON'T THINK WE GOT WHERE WE NEEDED TO BECAUSE IT WAS MORE GUIDANCE THAN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT STANDARDIZATION. AND WHY I'M BRINGING THIS UP IS BECAUSE THIS BOARD HAS BEEN SO DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE WHOLE CHILD AND TO THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF STUDENTS AND TO OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL. WE
067HAVEN'T GONE THE NEXT STEP. HOW DO YOU STRATEGICALLY GET THERE AND BE MORE INTENTIONAL WITH THE WORK. I THINK BENNY, WHAT I WANTED YOU TO KNOW IS THAT YOUR VOICES AS THE STUDENTS THROUGH THIS STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, I HOPE YOU FEEL INCREDIBLY EMPOWERED THIS YEAR AFTER YOU GET THROUGH COLLEGE APPLICATIONS TO REALLY HELP BRING US EVEN FURTHER WHERE WE NEED TO BE. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT MY COLLEAGUES TO KNOW. I'M SENDING OUT IN THE NEXT FALL NEWS LETTER THE REGULATION AGAIN ABOUT HOMEWORK. THE SCIENCE AND THE REGULATION WITHIN FAIRFAX COUNTY SAYS 10 MINUTES PER GRADE LEVEL AND NOT TO EXCEED TWO HOURS A NIGHT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL. THAT'S WHAT OUR FAIRFAX COUNTY HOMEWORK REGULATION SAYS. THAT'S BASED ON FOLLOWING BEST PRACTICE, STANFORD BRAIN RESEARCH SUPPORTS ALL OF THAT.
068WE HAVE TO BECOME MORE UNITED ON IT LIKE WE WERE ON HEALTHIER SCHOOL START TIMES. I DO THINK THAT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT. KIDS CAN'T GET SLEEP IF THEY HAVE VOLUME FOR WORK TO DO. OUR TEACHERS CAN'T GET SLEEP OR THE REST THEY NEED TO REJUVENATE FOR THE NEXT DAY WHEN THEY'RE GRADING ALL OF THAT, WORK. THIS IS AS MUCH ABOUT TEACHER SLEEP AND REST AND MORALE AS IT IS FOR OUR STUDENT. IN TERMS OF WHAT DOCTOR BRABRAND SAID, BENNY, I ALSO WANTED TO SPEAK TO THIS. WHEN IT COMES TO THE LETTER GRADES, I THINK WE ALL AGAIN AT WITH BEST OF INTENTIONS AGREE, EVERY CHILD IN THE SCHOOL DIVISION SHOULD KNOW DO YOUR BEST WORK AND THAT'S WHAT COUNTS. BUT THERE IS ANOTHER PIECE OF THIS THAT I FEEL LIKE WE DON'T AS A DIVISION
069TALK ABOUT ENOUGH AND THAT'S ABOUT ENSURING THAT OUR GRADING PRACTICES ARE NORMATIVE AND MATCH STUDENT MASTERY OF MATERIAL. WHAT I MEAN IS, THAT WE HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE STUDENTS WILL GET A 5 OR 4 ON AP EXAM AND END UP WITH A C IN THE CLASS. THAT'S NOT AGAIN TO DRAW CRITICISM AND PLACE THE PRESSURE ON THE TEACHERS, BUT THE POINT BEING AS A DIVISION WE NEED TO WORK WITH OUR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO DO THAT UNLESS AND SEE WHERE THERE'S A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE LETTER GRADES EARNED TO THE TEST SCORES JUST AN EXTERNAL MEASURE BECAUSE SOMETIMES STUDENTS WILL SAY AT A MACRO LEVEL, WE WERE ALL WORKING REALLY HARD AND DOING OUR BEST AND THEY ENDED UP WITH YOU KNOW, GETTING CS LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS GETTING C'S IN A HIGH-PERFORMING CLASS. I DIDN'T WANT
070DR. BRABAND'S REMARKS TO JUST GO IN A VACUUM, YES THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU'RE DOING YOUR BEST AND BEING GRADED WITH ACCURACY, BUT I ALSO WANT STUDENTS TO FEEL LIKE WHEN THEY SEE A COLLECTIVE IN THE CLASSROOM, THE GRADES ARE VERY LOW TO THE PERFORMANCE OF WHAT THE STUDENT'S APTITUDE IS, STUDENTS NEED TO SPEAK UP. I HAVE STUDENTS WHO DID THAT COLLECTIVELY RESPECTFULLY AND IT'S BEEN A VERY POSITIVE OUTCOME FOR THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHER. ANYONE WHO HAD THEIR CHILDREN APPLY TO COLLEGE AND THEY RANGE IN HIGHLY SELECTIVE TO LESS SELECTIVE. THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THE GRADES DO MATTER. I WANT TO ENSURE EVERY CHILD FEELS LIKE THEY HAVE A VOICE TO SAY, THIS GRADE DOESN'T REFLECT MY MASTERY. IF IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, THE RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE IS PERSONALITY. IF THE KIDS ARE SAYING WE
071WERE ALL A STUDENTS AND NOW GETTING C'S IN HONORS AND ADVANCE-LEVEL COURSES, STUDENTS SHOULD FEEL SAFE TO TALK ABOUT THAT. I APOLOGIZE FOR GOING LENGTHY ON THAT. WE CAN HELP BY ACTION AND IMPROVEMENT. BENNY, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP. COULD HE RESPOND? IS THAT OKAY MS. CORBETT SANDERS. THE PURPOSE IS FOR INDIVIDUAL BOARD MATTERS. I WILL LET MR. TIGNOR FINISH. WHEN YOUR TURNS COMES UP, YOU CAN RESPOND. COUPLE MORE THINGS. I WANTED TO SAY TO OUR CITIZENS TO CAME TO SPEAK. IT'S MEANINGFUL TO HEAR YOUR POINTS OF VIEW AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION TONIGHT, WITHOUT QUESTION, ALL ACHIEVEMENT GAPS MATTER. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STRATEGIC PLANS WE HAVE WILL DEMONSTRATE THAT FOCUS. THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO BRING AN IMPORTANT VOICE TO THIS. SO WE'RE COGNIZANT OF WHAT MAY
072NOT BE COMMUNICATED AND WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF THAT, AND THEN FINALLY, I WANTED TO JUST SHARE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE AWARE. MS. KAUFAX AND I SERVE ON THE SUCCESSFUL YOUTH POLICY TEAM. WE HAD A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT ON A ONE-HOUR FAIRFAX PUBLIC ACCESS TELEVISION SHOW CALLED "INSIDE SCOOP". ABOUT THE 5.5 YEARSES OF WHAT SKIP ACCOMPLISHED TO DATE. IT TOOK A LOT OF PREP BECAUSE IN 5.5 YEARS, SURPRISINGLY A LOT MORE HAS GONE ON IN SKIP THAN WE REALIZED. IT WAS TO ME A VERY REWARDING EXPERIENCE TO SHARE THAT WITH MS. DER NAK-- DERENAK-KAUFAX. AND THERE'S WORDS AND THERE'S ACTIONS. I THINK SKIP IS HELPING CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACTIONS ON THAT AND SO, THAT WAS VERY POSITIVE. AND FINALLY, I WANT TO SHARE WITH MY COLLEAGUES THAT DURING MY OFFICE
073HOURS, THIS PAST WEEK I AM HEARING CONCERNS FROM OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARENTS ABOUT WHAT THE ONE TO ONE DIGITAL DEVICE WILL MEAN IN TERMS OF SCREEN TIME IN THE CLASSROOM FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN. I WANT TO THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, I FELT WE WERE MINDFUL OF THAT. I WANT TO REINFORCE AS WE MOVE ON THIS FCPS ON EFFORT, IT'S GOING TO BE SO IMPORTANT WE DO APPROACH THIS WITH GREAT CARE. OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES DESERVE NOTHING LESS. MS. KAUFAX. I HAVE BEEN TO SEVERAL COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. I SERVED AS A REPRESENTATIVE AT THE EXCELLENCE AWARDS WHILE THE RECIPIENT'S NAMES WERE BEING CALLED. WE HEARD OF SO MANY AMAZING INITIATIVES THEY WERE INVOLVED IN. I WAS HAPPY TO MEET WITH CONSTITUENTS AT THE GREEN SPRINGS RETIREMENT COMMUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS. THAT'S A VERY
074ENGAGED GROUP. IT WAS WONDERFUL TO MEET WITH THEM. I WAS ALSO HAPPY TO ATTEND THE FEA'S OPEN HOUSE AND DEDICATION OF THEIR BOARD ROOM HONORING THEIR FORMER PRESIDENT, WALT MICAH. I HAD A GREAT DAY WITH MY COLLEAGUES MR. MCELVEEN AND MS. PALCHIK AS WE CELEBRATED THE REAL FOOD FOR KIDS LAST FRIDAY. THAT HAPPENED AT LYNBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THE STUDENTS LEARNING ABOUT AND HELPING THE CHEF AND OTHER PEOPLE TO MAKE HEALTHY FOODS. THANK YOU TO PRINCIPAL JAY NOCO FOR OPENING UP YOUR AMAZING SCHOOL TO US AND FOR THIS TREMENDOUS PROGRAM AND THANK YOU TO MARY PORTER AND JOE ANNA HAMMERMASTER FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AT REAL FOODS FOR KIDS FOR SO MANY YEARS. I JOINED MY COLLEAGUE AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO CELEBRATE THE
075BEGINNING OF A PILOT PROGRAM AT WALT WHITMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND MT. VERNON WOODS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHERE THEY ARE PILOTING A COMMUNITY SCHOOLS MODEL. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE UNITED WAY AND UNIT NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE UNITED COMMUNITY MINISTRIES WHO WILL MANAGE COORDINATORS AT EACH OF THE SCHOOLS. WE WILL DO A PRELIMINARY NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE A MODEL FOR OTHER SCHOOLS IN FUTURE. I TOO AS MS. MCLAUGHLIN SAID, WOULD LIKE TO THANK CATHERINE REED WHO IS THE HOST OF A PUBLIC ACCESS PROGRAM CALLED "INSIDE SCOOP". SHE GAVE US AN HOUR TO TALK ABOUT SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN AND YOUTH POLICY TEAM. AS MS. MCLAUGHLIN SAID, FOR FIVE YEAR WORK, IT WAS GREAT TO DISCUSS THE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU COLLEAGUE FOR OUR STAFF TO THE FISCAL FORECAST AND WHICH DIRECTION YOU THINK THE BUDGET SHOULD GO.
076JANIE AND I MET WITH ALL BUT THREE OF YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. AND YES. IF YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH, PLEASE GO OUT AND VOTE ON NOVEMBER 6TH. MR. MCELVEEN. PASS. MS. PALCHIK. BRIEFLY, SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE. I WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. I THINK WE HAD A VERY PRODUCTIVE CIVIL CONVERSATION. I APPRECIATE THOSE WHO HELPED LEAD IT AND ORGANIZE OUR SCHOOL BOARD RETREAT. I CAME OUT OF THAT FEELING THAT WE ARE PARTNERS MOVING TOGETHER. I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I WANT TO THANK CUB SCOUT PACK 1132 DEN 4 FOR INVITING ME TO TALK ABOUT CITIZENSHIP. WE HAD, GOT TO LEARN HOW TO DO ADVOCACY THROUGH THEIR IDEAS SUCH AS HAVING ZIP LINES IN SCHOOLS. GOT TO LEARN HOW, WHERE YOU GO AND HOW YOU ADVOCATE FOR
077TOPICS LIKE THAT. FINALLY, I WANT TO THANK REGION ONE SCHOOLS THAT I VISITED LAST WEEK INCLUDING WHITE BOLTZ MIDDLE SCHOOL AND LOOK FORWARD TO VISITING MY REGION TWO SCHOOLS. THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE UP AND EARLY SATURDAY MORNING BEFORE ALL THE SPORTS PRACTICES AND THE RAIN, I HOPE TO SEE YOU AT PANERA RIGHT BEHIND HERE AT 8:30 FOR OFFICE HOURS. THANK YOU ALL. GET SOME SLEEP, BEN. MS. HYNES. WITH THE CHAIR'S INDULGENCE. I CEDE MY TIME TO MR. TIGNOR. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THAT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FOR YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT STUDENTS DOING THEIR BEST INSTEAD OF WHAT THE GRADE IS ITSELF. I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING TO RECOGNIZE. THAT THAT'S PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANT. BUT IT'S ANOTHER THING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DO FOR A LOT OF STUDENTS IN
078HIGH SCHOOL. FOR EXAMPLE, THAT ESSAY GRADE WAS CERTAINLY NOT MY BEST AND ANOTHER REASON WHY IT STRUCK HOME MORE WHEN MY PARENTS ASKED ME TO LEAVE THE ROOM. I KNEW MYSELF I COULD HAVE AND SHOULD HAVE DONE BETTER. THE ISSUE ARE, THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER FACTORS THAT GO IN. IT'S HOMECOMING. I HAD BROKEN UP WITH SOMEONE OVER THE SUMMER. THE WHOLE HOME GROUP WAS DIVIDED. THAT WAS PUTTING PRESSURE ON ME AND PLANNING OUR HOME COMING DANCE AND PARADE. THE PARADE IS COMING. COME OUT. RIGHT. BUT ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURES ON ME. OF COURSE, BECAUSE OF THAT, MY TIME MANAGEMENT WAUNLT -- WASN'T AS GOOD AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. IT'S IMPORTANT TO TELL THE TEACHERS TO MAKE SURE THEY INCENTIVIZE THE STUDENTS TO DO THEIR BEST. KEEP
079THE INTEREST LEVELS UP. MAKE SURE THEY WANT TO DO THAT ASSIGNMENT. I THINK THAT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. ALWAYS WISE WORDS. SO THANK YOU MR. TIGNOR AND THANK YOU MS. HYNES FOR CEDING YOUR TIME. TO ENSURE OUR UNDER REPRESENTED POPULATIONS ARE WELL REPRESENTED THROUGH A GROUP SUCH AS VOICES. I WANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE COMMUNITY THAT TOMORROW MORNING FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 11:00 A.M. IF YOU HAVE EXTRA COATS THEY WOULD BE WELCOME AT THE ANNUAL COAT DRIVE AT THE PEN DAL FIRE STATION. SATURDAY ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE A LITTLE DAMP, I KNOW SUPERVISOR STORCK WILL WELCOME ALL BIKE RIDERS WHICH WILL BE LEAVING FOR HUNT PARK AT 4:30 IN THE EVENING. LATER IN THE DAY AT BUCKNELL ELEMENTARY WE WILL BE HAVING A STEM FESTIVAL SPONSORED BY THE MAGIC OF MOTHERS. ON THE
080SECOND OF NOVEMBER I AM GOING TO ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO COME OUT FOR THE ANNUAL BATTLE OF THE HIGHWAY, WHICH IS THE FOOTBALL GAME WHERE MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL COMPETES AGAINST WEST POTOMAC HIGH SCHOOL. I HAVE ONE GO BACK. ROBINSON MARKETPLACE SATURDAY NOVEMBER 10TH 9 TO 3 IS A NOT TO BE MISSED EVENT. EVEN IF YOU DON'T GO TO ROBINSON YOU CAN GET ALL OF YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DONE OR ALMOST ALL OF IT DONE THERE. WITH THAT, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.