001THIS OCTOBER 6, 2016 REGULAR MEETING OF THE FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD WILL NOW COME TO ORDER. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM BY THE SANDBURG MIDDLE SCHOOL CHORALETTES UNDER THE DIRECTION OF JEANNE CROWLEY. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. Oh SAY CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT? WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING? WHOSE BRIGHT STRIPES AND bright STARS THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING AND THE ROCKETS RED GLARE THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE O SAY
002DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE? O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL JOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE TONIGHT. WELL DONE. SO MADAM CLERK, WE HAVE ALREADY CERTIFIED THE CLOSED MEETING COMPLIANCE. AND NEXT WE WILL GO TO ANNOUNCEMENTS. A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE WE BEGIN TONIGHT'S MEETING. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE A COPY OF THE AGENDA OR ITEM BEING DISCUSSED THAT INFORMATION IS ON THE TABLE BY THE AUDITORIUM ENTRANCE. TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS AVAILABLE ON SCHOOL BOARD AND BOARDDOCS. THE MEETING IS STREAMED LIVE ONLINE. SELECT SCHOOL BOARD FROM THE FULMEN YOU THEN CLICK ON THE WATCH LIVE BUTTON ON THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS WEBPAGE. PLEASE TURN OFF OR SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONE. I CALL ON MS. CHU FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS. THANK YOU, CHAIR. THE BOARD
003WILL BE RECOGNIZING SPECIAL OCCASIONS. I APOLOGIZE IF MY VOICE GETS HOARSE. THE BOARD HELD A CLOSED MEETING EARLIER THIS EVENING AND OCTOBER IS NATIONAL DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH. DYSLEXIA IS A LANGUAGE-BASED LEARNING DISABILITY THAT RESULTS IN PEOPLE HAVING DIFFICULTIES LEARNING TO READ, SPELL, WRITE, AND PRONOUNCE WORDS. RECOGNIZING THE MARKERS OF DYSLEXIA AND INTERVENING EARLY HELPS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE SUCCESS. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTION IN COLLABORATION WITH THE INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES WILL BE OFFERING SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT DYSLEXIA. ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, THE PARENT RESOURCE CENTER WILL HOST A DYSLEXIA OPEN HOUSE FROM 10:00 TO 1:00. ON DECEMBER 7, JANUARY 11, AND JANUARY 25, THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS ABOUT DYSLEXIA AT THE PARENT RESOURCE CENTER. THESE WORKSHOPS WILL HIGHLIGHT STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT READING, WRITING AND MATH
004AT HOME AND STRATEGIES TO WORK WITH SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH DYSLEXIA. PLEASE CHECK OUR FCPS WEBSITE TO FIND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, INCLUDING, "CLUES TO DYSLEXIA," WHICH HIGHLIGHTS BOTH THE STRENGTHS AND DIFFICULTIES STUDENTS WITH DYSLEXIA EXHIBIT AT EACH STAGE OF THEIR EDUCATION. THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL FORMALLY RECOGNIZE NATIONAL DYSLEXIA MONTH THIS MONTH. IN ADDITION NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK PROMOTES EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF STUDENTS CONSUMING WHOLESOME, HEALTHY SCHOOL LUNCHES OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGGIES, WHOLE GRAINS AND MILK. THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF OUR NATION'S CHILDREN AND JOINED THROUGH THE YEARS BY MANY OTHER EXCELLENCE CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS. THERE IS A CONTINUED NEED FOR NUTRITION EDUCATION AND AWARENESS. THE SCHOOL BOARD ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS TO BECOME AWARE OF THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR OWN NUTRITION HABITS FOR A MORE
005HEALTHY CITIZENRY. THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL RECOGNIZE TEEN READ WEEK, GOING BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL BOOK, EXPLORE POETRY, AUDIO BOOKS, BOOKS ABOUT MUSIC AND SCHOOL AND LOCAL LIBRARY. READ FOR THE FUN OF IT, ENCOURAGES TEENS TO ESCAPE DAILY ROUTINES. FANTASY NOVELS, SCIENCE FICTION, TRAVEL BOOKS OR TALES OF ADVENTURES. TEEN READ WEEK HAS BEEN OBSERVED SINCE 1998 TO-GAME TEENS TO READ FOR FUN AND TO USE RESOURCES AT THE LIBRARIES. TEENS WHO READ FOR FUN HAVE BETTER TEST SCORES. THE SCHOOL BOARD ENCOURAGES ALL STUDENTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES IN THEIR SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LIBRARY AND BECOME LIFE-LONG READERS AND LEARNERS. OCTOBER 7-8 WE WILL CELEBRATE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK. NAMI AND PARTICIPANTS ARE RAISING AWARENESS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK. EACH YEAR THIS ORGANIZATION WORKS TONIGHT STIGMA, PROVIDE SUPPORT, EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND ADVOCATE FOR EQUAL CARE.
006NAMI BELIEVES THAT MENTAL ILLNESS ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT YEAR AROUND BUT THIS IS A TIME TO COME TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE Lives OF TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. THIS YEAR'S THEME IS I AM STIGMA FREE. BEING STIGMA FREE MEANS LEARNING ABOUT AND EDUCATING OTHERS ON MENTAL ILLNESS, FOCUSING ON CONNECTING TO SEE EACH OTHER AS INDIVIDUALS NOT A DIAGNOSIS AND TAKING ACTION OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THAT IS ALL. THANK YOU, MS. CHU. WE TURN TO ITEM 1.04. I CALL ON MS. PALCHIK. YES, IT IS MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK. WE HAVE BEEN BACK AT SCHOOL A MONTH IN THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE BIG YELLOW SCHOOL BUSES OUT THERE. THESE BUSES AND DRIVERS ARE THE FIRST CONTACT FOR MANY OF OUR STUDENTS AS WE HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL ESPECIALLY
007KINDERGARTENS AND NEW STUDENTS. OUR BUS DRIVERS AND FABULOUS TEAM KEEP OUR STUDENTS SAFE EACH AND EVERY DAY. IT IS ALL OF OUR JOBS TO HELP ENSURE THEY ARE SAFE SO PLEASE REMEMBER TO FOLLOW THE LAW, BE COURTEOUS AND RESPECTFUL AND PATIENT WHEN SCHOOL BUSES ARE PICKING UP AND DROPPING OFF CHILDREN. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 17-21 HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK. BASED ON THE THEME, BE SMART, BE SEEN, I WAIT IN A SAFE PLACE! THE WEEK FOCUSES ON STUDENT SAFETY WHEN WAITING FOR AND BOARDING A SCHOOL BUS. SCHOOL BUS SAFETY IS AN ISSUE FOR ALL CITIZENS OF FAIRFAX COUNTY, WHO NEED TO BE AWARE OF LAWS REQUIRING THEM TO STOP AND WAIT BEHIND A SCHOOL BUS WHEN IT IS LOADING AND UNLOADING
008STUDENT RIDERS. THE MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY FOR SCHOOL BUS SAFETY IN FAIRFAX COUNTY RESTS FIRMLY IN THE HANDS OF OUR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS AND ATTENDANTS, WHO DAILY TRANSPORT MORE THAN 141,000 STUDENTS IN OVER 1,600 SCHOOL BUSES ON MORE THAN 6,500 SEPARATE ROUTES TRAVELING NEARLY 17 MILLION OPERATIONAL MILES EACH YEAR. IT IS A GREAT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO INVITE THE STAFF FROM OUR FACILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION, THIS WILL BE OUR VERY FIRST PHOTO OF THE REMODELED DAIS. I WILL HAND THIS OVER TO OUR PHOTOGRAPHER TO PLEASE DIRECT US FOR OUR PHOTO. THANK YOU. MADAM CHAIR, WE PROBABLY ONLY HAD A HANDFUL OF SOME OF OUR TRANSPORTATION STAFF TONIGHT. YOU KNOW THEY GET UP VERY, VERY EARLY HOURS IN THE MORNING TO TRANSPORT OUR STUDENTS. JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. YES, THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE THEM VERY, VERY MUCH.
009IF ANYONE FROM ANY BUS DRIVER, ANY STAFF IS HERE, PLEASE JOIN US FOR A PHOTO. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY'S PATIENCE WHILE WE DID THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR NEW CONFIGURATION. WE TURN TO ITEM 2.01, CITIZEN PARTICIPATION. THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS CITIZEN PARTICIPATION. SPEAKERS ARE REQUESTED TO LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO NOT MORE THAN THREE MINUTES. THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL NOT HEAR STATEMENTS INVOLVING ISSUES SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARS SUCH AS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, BUDGET OR BOUNDARIES. COMPLAINTS REGARDING INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS OR SCHOOL-BASED EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE APPROPRIATE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OR OTHER SCHOOL OFFICIAL. SPEAKERS SHOULD REFRAIN FROM USING PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION IN CONNECTION WITH A STUDENT. SPEAKERS ARE EXPECTED TO DELIVER THEIR REMARKS WITH THE DECOR RUM PROPER FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE PUBLIC'S BUSINESS. TONIGHT 10 CITIZENS
010HAVE SIGNED UP TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. I'M GOING TO CALL THE FIRST THREE NAMES SO THE TWO FOLLOWING CAN BE PREPARED. WE START WITH MONIQUE BAROUDI, FOLLOWED BY BETHANY KOZMA TO BE FOLLOWED BY BEATRICE BEARRY. I CREATED A VIDEO FOR THIS MEETING BUT YOU CHOOSE TO CENSOR IT. BY DOING SO YOU PROVED MY POINT. YOU SAY YOU VALUE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND YET YOU REFUSE TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC ON THE TOPIC OF GENDER IDENTITY. MY VIDEO CLIP STARTED. MY VIDEO STARTED WITH A CLIP FROM MAY OF 2015, THE POLICY 1450 WAS PASSED, THE CHANGES WERE PASSED. THERE WAS A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE BEGGING TO BE HEARD. SINCE YOU PASSED THIS POLICY WITHOUT A SINGLE PUP FORUM. JUST WEEKS AFTER IT WAS BROUGHT UP AS NEW BUSINESS. 10 PEOPLE GET TO ADDRESS THIS BOARD EVERY TWO
011WEEKS FOR THREE MINUTES ON A TOPIC OF YOUR CHOOSING. AND EVEN THEN YOU DECIDE IF IT ADDRESSES THE TOPIC CLOSELY ENOUGH FOR YOUR TASTES. THERE IS NO DISCUSSION, NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, NO EXCHANGE OF IDEAS. MY NEXT CLIP SHOWS MRS. SCHULTZ RECOGNIZING THE FACT THAT THIS TOPIC GENERATED MORE PUBLIC DISCOURSE THAN ANY OTHER IN THE HISTORY OF FCPS YET YOU DIDN'T CHOOSE TO GIVE ANY OF THEM A VOICE. MY NEXT CLIP SHOWED MS. PATTY REED, COMMENTING ON THE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF E-MAILS SHE HAS RECEIVED. SHE SAID AND I QUOTE, THE PROCESS USED TO PASS THIS POLICY WAS TROUBLING AND EMBARRASSING. THE NO CHANGE MEMO ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT EXISTS BECAUSE OF A VIRGINIA STATE CODE THAT REQUIRES THIS BOARD TO REVIEW AND UPDATE EACH ONE OF ITS POLICIES AT LEAST EVERY FIVE YEARS. POLICY 2601, THE
012STUDENTS RIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITIES, WHICH WAS UPDATED TO INCLUDE GENDER IDENTITY LANGUAGE IS PART OF THAT NO-CHANGE MEMO. I'M TRYING TO MAKE THE CASE IT SHOULDN'T BE. ANOTHER SECTION OF THAT SAME VIRGINIA CODE SAYS THAT EACH LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD SHOULD ENSURE POLICIES ARE DEVELOPED GIVING CONSIDERATION TO THE VIEWS OF PARENTS, TEACHERS AND CONCERNED CITIZENS. HAVE YOU DONE THAT OR JUST PUSHING YOUR OWN AGENDA. MS. McLAUGHLIN SAID AT THE LAST MEETING IT IS CONCERNING THAT CITIZENS THINK THIS BOARD IS TONE DEAF. WORDS WITHOUT ACTION ARE SIMPLY THAT. EMPTY WORDS. IF THIS BOARD IS TRULY COMMITTED TO PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROVE IT. PLAN A TOWN HALL OR A PUBLIC FORUM. CREATE A TASK FORCE, TAKE A SURVEY. THIS BOARD HAS TAKEN ON CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES IN THE PAST AND SHOWN A COMMITMENT TO MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT LATER HIGH SCHOOL START
013TIMES, HALF DAY MONDAYS, WITH YEARS OF PUBLIC FORUM AND STUDIES. EVEN THE POST LABOR DAY START WARRANTED A START OF FCPS. WHY DO YOU REFUSE TO-GAME THE PUBLIC ON THIS ISSUE? I AGAIN URGE YOU TO REPEAL THE CHANGES TO POLICY 1450 IN THE STUDENTS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES HANDBOOK AND START DOWN A PATH OF TRUE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR ALL OF YOUR STAKEHOLDERS. THANK YOU. BETHANY KOZMA TO BE FOLLOWED BY BEATRICE BEARRY. I COME TO SPEAK ABOUT SUICIDE PREVENTION. THE MOST IMPORTANT ADVOCATES OF STUDENTS IN DANGER OF SUICIDE ARE PARENTS. KEEPING SILENT DOESN'T HELP ANYONE. IN HIGH SCHOOL AS A PREDATOR'S VICTIM I KEPT SILENT. HAD I SPOKEN UP PERHAPS I WOULD HAVE HELPED PREVENT THAT PREDATOR FROM SEXUALLY ASSAULTING AGAIN. I FELT LIKE IT WAS MY FAULT, IT WASN'T. FOR SOME VICTIMS OF RAPE AND SEXUAL
014ASSAULT AND THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE ARE REAL. I TOLD SOME OF MY PEERS I WANTED TO FORGET ABOUT IT. I THOUGHT I COULD CONTAIN IT. I WAS WRONG. PREDATORS, EVEN HIGH SCHOOL BOYS WILL NOT STOP WITH ONE VICTIM ESPECIALLY IF THEY REALIZE THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT WITHOUT ANY CONSEQUENCES. A FEW YEARS LATER THIS SAME PREDATOR VICTIMIZED ANOTHER GIRL I KNEW VERY WELL. SINCE THEN I VOWED NEVER TO KEEP QUIET AGAIN. AS A FAIRFAX COUNTY RESIDENT, MOTHER AND ADVOCATE I WILL NOT BE SILENCED. I MUST STAND UP FOR NOT ONLY MY DAUGHTERS BUT OTHER GIRLS. AS THE MAJORITY OF ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE WOMEN, MY STORY SHOULD RESONATE WITH AT LEAST ONE OR TWO OF YOU. STATISTICALLY SPEAKING 1 OF 6 WOMEN ARE VICTIMS OF RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AND MALES DOMINATE THE CRIME
015STATISTICS. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF HORRIBLE STORIES OF GIRLS COMMITTING SUICIDE AFTER INDECENT PHOTOS ARE ON THE INTERNET. IMAGINE HOW THEY WILL ENDANGER GIRLS FACILITIES AND BE PROTECTED UNDER YOUR POLICY. POLICY 1450 SEEMS INNOCUOUS, THE REPERCUSSIONS ARE FAR REACHING. DO YOU WANT A BOY OR MAN TO SEE OR PHOTOGRAPH YOU UNDRESSING OR NAKED IN ONE OF THE BATHROOM OR LOCKER ROOMS. NO UP WITH SHOULD BE BULLIED OR BELITTLED, YET WHAT ABOUT WOMEN OR GIRLS SEXUALLY VICTIMIZED OR FEEL DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO SAFE PLACE. ALL ARE ILL SERVED IN THE NONDISCRIMINATION CLAUSE. WHY ARE YOU ALLOWING AND PROMOTING PREDATORS TO HIDE UNDER TRANSGENDER VOTES. YOU ARE CHARGED WITH ENSURING THE SAFETY OF ALL STUDENTS. HOW COULD ANYONE THINK ALLOWING BIOLOGICAL BOYS INTO BIOLOGICAL GIRLS FACILITIES ARE PROMOTING SAFETY? IT IS A RECIPE FOR VICTIMIZATION
016OF GIRLS. I URGE YOU TO LISTEN TO PARENTS AND INVOLVE US IN A SUICIDE PREVENTION PLAN. PLEASE REPEAL POLICY 1450 AND PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. [ APPLAUSE ] NEXT BEATRICE BEARRY, ALICE GUO TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN KOCHKA. I HAVE TWO GIRLS ATTENDING FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I WOULD LIKE TO START MY THREE MINUTES BY SENDING OUR MOST SINCERE AND HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO CONNOR ROSE'S FAMILY. HE TOOK HIS OWN LIFE. SUICIDE IS A SHOCKING EVENT. FOR SOME PARENTS THEIR TEENS SUFFER SILENTLY AND PARENTS NEVER KNOW. SOME PARENTS LIKE ME KNOW THEIR CHILD SUFFERS WITH GREAT ANXIETY. AT TIMES MY DAUGHTER IS CRIPPLED BY HER WORRIES. ELLA WAS IN FIRST GRADE WHEN SHE BEGAN HAVING PANIC ATTACKS. I WAS CALLED TO REMOVE HER BECAUSE SHE WAS DISRUPTING THE KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM. I GIVE KUDOS TO THE
017SCHOOL KNOWING THAT THE PERSON WHO COULD HELP THE MOST IS HER PARENTS. ELLA IS SEEN AS DIFFERENT BY THE OTHER CHILDREN BECAUSE SHE ISN'T IN ALL THEIR CLASSES, SOMETIMES HER ANXIETY INCREASES AND SHE HAS TO DEAL THE CLASSROOM AND THIS CALLS ATTENTION TO HER. I IMAGINE CHILDREN WITH GENDER IDENTITY ISSUES AND CONFUSION CAN FEEL LIKE ELLA, SOME MAY SUFFER FROM ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION BECAUSE OF THE CONFUSION THEY EXPERIENCE. I BELIEVE THE FUNDAMENTAL DIGNITY OF EACH HUMAN BEINGS AND THEY ALL HAVE RIGHTS. ALL OF US HAVE THE RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE, COMFORTABLE, ACCEPTED AND LOVED. YOUR FAMILY IS WHERE YOU GAIN YOUR IDENTITY. FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOL BOARDS, THE BOARD, SAY YOU FOSTER A CULTURE OF CARING AND FAMILIES PLAY A FUNDAMENTAL ROLE IN CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. I DON'T THINK THAT IS SO WHEN YOU ASK MY DAUGHTERS
018TO SHARE THEIR BATHROOMS AND LOCKER ROOM WITH BOYS. MY CHILD HAS SPECIAL NEEDS AND HAS HIGH STRESS ABOUT SHARING HER BATHROOM WITH A BOY. DO THE PARENTS OF THESE CHILDREN WANT THEM TO ENDURE MORE STRESS AND ANXIETY ALLOWING THEM TO USE AN OPPOSITE SEX BATHROOM. WHEN ONE OF THESE CHILDREN THINK THEY CAN'T HANDLE IT ANYMORE, WHEN HE OR SHE TAKES THEIR OWN LIFE BECAUSE OF THIS STRESS OR ANXIETY WHO WILL BEAR THE BURDEN OF THE BLAME? WILL IT BE YOU? I'M ASKING THE DECISION BASED ON EVERY CHILD'S DIGNITY AND RIGHTS. EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO BE SAFE IN THEIR SCHOOL AND SCHOOL ACTIVITY THEY ATTEND. PARENTS OR AS YOU CALL US STAKE HOLDERS ARE PARAMOUNT AND THE BOARD SHOULD NOT OVERRIDE THINKING THEY KNOW BEST. IF MY CHILD HAS TO SHARE A BATHROOM WITH A BOY,
019I SHOULD BE INFORMED. IF MY CHILD HAS TO BE IN A ROOM IN A SCHOOL-SPONSORED EVENT WITH A BOY, I SHOULD BE INFORMED. MAKE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYONE THRIVES IN A SAFETY, HEALTHY, RICH ENVIRONMENT. MY CHILDREN DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE AND RESPECTED. THE DECISIONS YOU HAVE MADE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS IS UNFAIR. I SAY SHAME ON YOU SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. AND I HOPE NO PARENT HAS TO STAND UP HERE TO TELL YOU YOUR MISGUIDED DECISIONS CAUSED THE DEATH OF THEIR CHILD. I ASK YOU TO REPEAL. ALICE GUO TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN KOCHKA AND VANESSA POYNTER. WELCOME. GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT SUICIDE PREVENTION. ROUGHLY 90% OF RAPES ARE COMMITTED TO FEMALES BY MALES WITH ONE IN SIX FEMALES SUFFERING SEXUAL ASSAULT. WHY IS THE SCHOOL BOARD CREATING A HOSTILE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT BY
020ALLOWING MALES INTO FEMALE LOCKER ROOMS AND BATHROOMS? BASED ON NATIONAL STATISTICS THERE IS A RELATIVELY LARGE GROUP OF SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS AND ROUGHLY 7,000 YOUNG GIRLS IN FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE SURVIVORS, THEY CARRY TRAUMA, SEVERE DIS TRESS AND ROUGHLY 1,000 OF THESE GIRLS MACON TEMPLATE SUICIDE WITH HUNDREDS ALREADY ATTEMPTING SUICIDE. SO I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR SUICIDE PREVENTION FOR THEM. MANY OTHER SURVIVORS LIVE IN FEAR, SILENCE AND DISTRESS. YOUR POLICY CAN SILENCE THEIR FEAR, SILENCE AND DISTRESS. YOU ARE SENDING A STRONG MESSAGE TO THESE GIRLS THAT THEY DO NOT MATTER. YOUR POLICY IS ALSO SLAPPING THEIR BRUISED FACES THAT TO FEEL FEAR AND ANXIETY ABOUT A MALE USING THEIR BATHROOM IS SOMEWHAT BIGOTRY AND WRONG AND YOUR POLICY IS INSTEAD FORCING THEM TO LIVE WITH IT AND BE CONTENT WITH WHATEVER THE COST, WHATEVER
021THE DEPRESSION AND WHATEVER THE INTENSE SUFFERING. SO I WANT TO HEAR YOUR SUICIDE PREVENTION. SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS ARE NOT POLITICAL ACTIVISTS. THEY OFTEN LIVE IN SHAME, GUILT AND DEPRESSION. THEY NEED OUR HELP TO PULL THEM BACK TO LIFE, NOT PUSH THEM OVER THE CLIFF. SO WHY IS THE BOARD TRYING TO TORMENT THESE GIRLS WITH A HARMFUL AND CONTROVERSIAL EXPERIMENT THAT IS NOT BACKED UP BY SCIENCE, THAT HAS NEVER BEEN IMPLEMENTED ANYWHERE ON ITS OWN ACCORD THROUGHOUT 8,000 YEARS OF WRITTEN HUMAN HISTORY. SO I WANT TO HEAR YOUR SUICIDE PREVENTION. AGAIN, ONE IN SIX FEMALES SUFFER SEXUAL ASSAULT. SO WHERE IS YOUR HUMAN EMPATHY FOR A PLIGHT OF IS SUFFERING OF THIS RELATIVELY LARGE GROUP? THE SIMPLE SOLUTION TO THEIR SUFFERING, THEIR DEPRESSION, THEIR PROBLEM IS TO REPEAL POLICY 1450. RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. JOHN
022KOCHKA TO BE FOLLOWED BY VANESSA POYNTER. I'M JOHN KOCHKA AND I YIELD MY NAME TO NINA KAMARA. GOOD EVENING TO YOU ALL. MY NAME IS NINA KAMARA. I AM SO HONORED TO BE HERE THIS EVENING TO TALK ABOUT SUICIDE PREVENTION AND SEX EDUCATION. I WORK VERY HARD TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY. I WORK 16 HOURS A DAY MOST OF THE TIME. BUT AT LEAST I FIND IT IMPORTANT FOR ME TO BE HERE FOR MY VOICE TO BE HEARD. IN MOST CASES I UNDERSTAND THAT MAYBE PARENTS VOICES ARE NOT HEARD ALL THE TIME AND THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED WHEN MAKING DECISIONS AND AS A PARENT OF THE FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOL I'M INTERESTED IN THIS TOPIC. MOST OF THE KIDS SUFFERING FROM SUICIDE, THEY ARE KIDS WHO THOUGHT THEIR VOICE ARE NOT HEARD. WHEN THEY SUFFER TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE.
023AND IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF US PARENTS AND YOU AS IMPORTANT PERSONNEL HERE PRESENT IN THIS EVENING PROGRAM TO HELP THIS SITUATION TO PREVENT MISHAPS FROM NOT HAPPENING AGAIN. I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO IS IN THE SIXTH GRADE, WHO IS 11 YEARS OLD. AND AS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT I'M PLEADING THAT SEX EDUCATION SHOULD NOT BE INTRODUCED IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. FOR SOME OF THE REASONS I'M GOING TO GIVE. WHEN WE CAME TO FAIRFAX COUNTY I CAME BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE THE BEST SCHOOLS AND I'M PROUD FOR MY DAUGHTER TO BE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY. BASED ON THAT SEX IS REALLY NICE TO BE EDUCATED FOR STUDENTS, BUT I WANT TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS NOT FOR ELEMENTARY. BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MOST OF THE KIDS IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ARE
024BELOW 13 YEARS OLD. THEY ARE KIDS. THEY SHOULD BE TREATED AS KIDS. THEY SHOULD NOT BE TREATED AS YOUTH OR ADULTS. SO EDUCATING THEM ABOUT SEX, I THINK GIVES THEM A NEGATIVE EMOTIONAL IMPACT, GIVING THEM MORE RESPONSIBILITY TO THINK OF MAKING GOOD AND BAD CHOICES. AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN FROM WEST AFRICA, MY CULTURE AND RELIGION AND THE VALUES I PRACTICE DOES NOT PERMIT MY DAUGHTER TO BE TAUGHT SEX EDUCATION IN SCHOOL AT THE TENDER AGE. AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN MY CULTURE WE SEE KIDS BELOW THE AGE OF 13 SHOULD BE TREATED AS KIDS. YOU CAN TEACH THEM ABOUT FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION. EXCUSE ME. COULD YOU PLEASE WRAP UP. YOUR THREE MINUTES ARE OVER. YOU TEACH THEM ABOUT FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION WHERE THERE ARE LIMITATIONS TO THAT. YOU CAN'T GO BEYOND BECAUSE OF THE NEGATIVE IMPACT IT
025CREATES MOST TIMES ON KIDS. SO FOR ME MY DAUGHTER I AM GETTING OUT BY NOT SIGNING ANY DOCUMENTS COMING FROM THE SCHOOL FOR SEX EDUCATION. I WOULD NOT WANT HER TO BE GIVING THE RESPONSIBILITY. FOR THOSE PARENTS WHO DON'T KNOW WHOA IS IN THESE CLASSES I'M REALLY CONCERNED AND I'M PLEADING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. WOULD YOU PROVIDE THE CLERK WITH YOUR NAME SO SHE WILL HAVE IT? THANK YOU SO MUCH. VANESSA POYNTER TO BE FOLLOWED BY HUINA GAO. GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS. REPRESENTATIVE CHU. CHAIRMAN EVANS. SUPERINTENDENT GARZA. FACULTY AND STAFF, NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS. FIRST A KIND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT AND SHARE A FEW OF MY THOUGHTS. I COUNT IT A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE GROWN UP WITHIN THE FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. IN FACT, I'M
026NOSTALGIC LOOKING AT THE STAGE WHERE I PERFORMED AS A MIDDLE SCHOOLER HERE AT LUTHER JACKSON. CURRENTLY THE CDC MAINTAINS THAT SUICIDE AMONG ADOLESCENT TEENS IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE 15-24 AGE BRACKET. SUICIDE AMONG OUR NATION'S YOUTH IS REAL AND IT IS A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE THING. I UNDERSTAND THE DIRE NEED WE AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM, COMMUNITY AND CULTURE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO WITH REGARD TO SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL BEING AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH. I SUPPORT A POLICY THAT IMPLEMENTED STRONG PREVENTION AND RISK ASSESSMENT PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE MANNER IN WHICH THE BOARD INTENDS TO DO SO WITH REGARD TO PARENT RIGHTS. I AM NOT YET A PARENT. I'M A MASTERS LEVEL EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND EARLY INTERVENTION. I SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH
027YOUNG CHILDREN BUT A LOT OF MY TEAM IS SPENT BEHIND THE SCENES ADVOCATING FOR AND CHEERING FOR STUDENTS. THE CODE OF VIRGINIA ONLY REQUIRES PARENTS TO BE NOTIFIED IF THEIR ADOLESCENCE TEEN CONNECTS WITH A STAFF MEMBER WHEN SUICIDE IS IMMINENT. THEY HAVE TO KNOW IF THEIR CHILD IS BEING IDENTIFIED OR MONITORED, IF THEIR CHILD IS BEING SCREENED AND THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHEN THEIR CHILD IS BEEN ASSESSED. IT FRIGHTENS ME THESE ARE MISSING PIECES IN YOUR GUIDELINES. THIS IS A CONCERN BECAUSE SUICIDE PREVENTION BEGINS WITH FAMILY LIFE THAT IS SAFE, SECURE AND STABLE. IN A RECENT DISCUSSION OF FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION THE POLICY MAKING POWER WITH WHICH THE BOARD HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED APPEARS ABUSED. THE KRAS IN WHICH IT WAS WRITTEN AND DISCUSSES, HARDLY AN ADVISORY COMMUNITY AS STATED ON THE FCPS WEBSITE AND THE
028OVERSIGHT OF PARENTS RIGHTS. THESE ARE INDICATIONS THAT THE BOARD MAY BE VIOLATING THE AUTHORITY IN THE EYES OF ITS COMMUNITY. I FEAR THIS NEW POLICY MAY ONLY CONTINUE THAT TREND. OUR CHILDREN, YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS, YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS ALL DESERVE OUR STRONGEST SUPPORT AND SUCH STRENGTH COMES FROM AN HONEST THRIVING SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND THE ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT OF THEIR PARENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. I CALL ON HUINA GAO TO BE FOLLOWED BY PATRINA MOSLEY AND BONNIE BURKHARDT. GOOD EVENING. I'M HUINA GAO. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN IN FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOLS. FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR CREATING A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR MY CHILDREN TO GROW AND SECOND I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT BECAUSE I WANT TO VOICE SOME CONCERNS RELATED TO THE OVERALL WELL BEING OF STUDENTS REGARDING THE FORTHCOMING
029REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTS GENDER IDENTITY TO THE NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY AND STUDENTS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES WHICH IS STRANGELY BEING APPROVED WITH THE CLAIM OF NO CHANGE WHEN IT CLEARLY HAS CHANGED AND APPEARS TO BE VIOLATING THE STATE LAW. I WAS HERE TWO MONT AGO AND LISTENING TO TESTIMONY OF STUDENTS. I WAS TOUCHED. NO STUDENT SHOULD BE SUBJECTED TO BULLY OR DENIED EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY. WHEN IT BECOMES TO SCHOOL REGULATIONS WE NEED TO SET EMOTION ASIDE. I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED OVER THE IMPLICATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES IN THE REGULATORY CHANGES SET TO COME. I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE TO HAVE MY CHILDREN IN THE LOCKER ROOM OR BATHROOM WITH ANYONE OF THE BIOLOGICAL OPPOSITE GENDER. FOR MY CHILDRENS SAFETY AND PRIVACY AND THE MODESTY THAT IS INGRAINED IN OUR CULTURE. THIS POLICY WILL SUBJECT MY CHILDREN TO THE SAME DISCRIMINATION THE SCHOOL BOARD
030FORBIDS TO JENTDER DIS FORIC STUDENTS. NO STUDENT SHOULD BE SUBJECTED TO HARASSMENT, BULLIES, THEIR HEIGHT, THEIR WEIGHT, THEIR LOOK AND THEIR ISSUES WITH GENDER. I'M SPEAKING FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART BECAUSE WHEN I GREW UP I USED TO BE TEASED BY MY CLASSMATES SIMPLY BECAUSE I SWEAT A LOT. I WAS CALLED SMELLY SKUNK. IT WAS SUCH, IF I WAS SUCH A GIRL NOW IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, MAY I REQUEST THE SCHOOL TO REDUCE THE ROOM TEMPERATURE BY FIVE DEGREE SO I WOULDN'T SWEAT AT ALL AND WOULDN'T BECOME THE TARGETS OF THE BULLY. HOWEVER, THE IMPORTANT THING IS I DON'T BELIEVE THE ABILITY OF PROVIDING SUCH ACCOMMODATION HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH LACK OF INCLUSION. MAYBE THE KEY TO TACKLE THE SMELLY SKUNK SITUATION IS NOT THE ROOM TEMPERATURE ITSELF. BUT THE UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN BODY
031DIMPSS AND EMPHASIS ON CHARACTER EDUCATION AND MORE COUNSELING SERVICE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. DEAR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF DEVELOPING SCHOOL REGULATIONS. I'M IMPLORING EACH OF YOU, PLEASE DO NOT CREATE MORE PROBLEMS BY PRECIPITATING A FLAWED IMPLEMENTATION. LET'S DECOMPOSE ISSUES RATHER THAN COMPOUNDING THEM. DON'T MAKE AN ILL INTENTION LD POLICY AS A NIGHTMARE. CALL FOR THE CONSCIOUS RPS OF NOT GOBBLING THE LIQUOR TO QUENCH THE THIRST. PATRINA MOSLEY AND BONNIE BURKHARDT. IS PATRINA MOSLEY HERE? ALL RIGHT. BONNIE BURKHARDT. I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE TOPIC OF SUICIDE PREVENTION WITH THREE CHILDREN I KNOW. THE EIGHTH GRADE FLE TEACHES ABOUT AGE SEX, NOT THE NORMAL MEAN ONE COUPLE ENJOYS INTIMACY OR WHICH YOU MAKE A BABY, IT IS THE PRIMARY METHOD IN WHICH ONE GUY RAPES ANOTHER GUY. I KNEW AN EIGHTH GRADE
032BOY WHO WAS RAPED BY A HIGH SCHOOLER. HE CRIED TO HIS MOTHER, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU COULD DO THAT TO A GUY. HE DEPARTMENT HAVE THE FLE LESSON. LET'S SAY HE DID HAVE THAT LESSON AFTER HE WAS RAPED. OTHER GUYS WOULD SAY, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU COULD DO IT TO A GUY. THE BOY WOULD STARE AT THEIR FACES WITH ABSOLUTE HORROR. AFTER PARENTAL SUPPORT AND COUNSELING HE STARTED HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR BY COMMITTING SUICIDE. 90% OF RAPE VICTIMS ARE GIRLS. A GIRL I KNOW WAS RAPED BY HER FATHER. THEN HER BROTHER STARTED TO RAPE HER. SCHOOL IS THE ONLY SANCTUARY AWAY OF THE HORRORS OF HOME. HOW WOULD SHE FEEL IF A TRANSGENDERED BOY SHOWED IN THE BATHROOM. HER BROTHER COULD SAY HE IS TRANSGENDERED. SHE SUFFERS FROM BULIMIA. ANOTHER FIFTH GRADE GIRL BECAME AN INCEST
033VICTIM. HER OLDER SISTERS STARTED HER ON ILLEGAL DRUGS TO COPE. DRUG OVERDOSES ARE A SLOW FORM OF SUICIDE. KEEP THESE SCHOOLS AS SANCTUARYS FOR CHILDREN. PROVIDE THEM SOMEONE TO CONFIDE IN AND WHO CAN HELP THEM. NOW, PICTURE A WOMAN HOLDING HER BABY BOY IN HER LAP, SCREAMING, AS SHE TRIES TO PIECE TOGETHER THE BLOODY FRAGMENTS OF HIS SKULL IN A FEEBLE ATTEMPT TO SEE HIM ONE LAST TIME. OUT OF ONE SIDE OF THE MATH YOU TALK ABOUT SUICIDE PREVENTION AND YOU TEACH AGE SEX AND RAPE TECHNIQUES IN SCHOOL. WHAT HARM COULD THAT POSSIBLY CAUSE? YOU DECIDE. PAUL KARPE. HI. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS PAUL KARPE. I WAS A SPECIAL ED TEACHER BEFORE I RETIRED FROM FAIRFAX COUNTY. 31 OF THOSE YEARS HAVE BEEN IN FAIRFAX COUNTY. FOLLOWED RETIREMENT I HAVE BEEN SUBBING ON A
034DAILY BASIS FOR LONG-TERM. THE BOARD NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT ALL RETIRED TEACHERS ARE CERTIFIED IN THEIR-- AREAS. MOST OF US HAVE A MASTERS DEGREE OR TWO. SOME OF US HAVE A PH.D. BY HIRING A FAIRFAX COUNTY RETIREE YOU ARE GETTING A BARGAIN IN THE CLASSROOM BECAUSE YOU HAVE HIRED A PRO. WHEN RETIREES ARE IN THE CLASSROOM YOU ARE GETTING A PROFESSIONAL. WE ALREADY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM, KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIORS AND KNOW FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AS THEY SAY, BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. IN ALL THE YEARS I HAVE BEEN TEACHING I HAVE NEVER SEEN EMPLOYEES TREATED THIS BADLY. WE WERE TOLD OUR PAY WOULD BE CUT. ALL SUBS HAD THEIR PAY DECREASE. FAIRFAX COUNTY EMPLOYEES WILL RECEIVE $15. D.C.'S MINIMUM WAGE WAS UP CREASED TO $15. HOW
035DEGRADING FOR THE RETIRED FAIRFAX COUNTY TEACHER WHO CHOOSES TO SUB AND FACES A 34% PAY CUT FROM $22.20 TO $15.33. NOT TO SLIGHT THE REGULAR SUBS, BUT RETIREES ARE THE SUBS WITH MANY, MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM. WE ARE HAVE THE ONLY IN OF THE SUBJECT MATTER AND ABILITY TO EXECUTE A PLAN AND IMPROVISE IF IT IS NECESSARY. EVEN WHEN WE SUB OUT OF OUR DISCIPLINE, WE HAVE DECADES OF CLASSROOM SAVVY TO ENGAGE THE STUDENT IN THEIR CURRICULUM. SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I SUBBED THERE WERE NO LESSON PLANS LEFT BY THE CLASSROOM TEACHER OR MINIMAL. I HAD TO USE MY MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TO SPONTANEOUSLY GENERATE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THE 30 STUDENTS FOR THE 7 1/2 HOURS. COULD A LESS EXPERIENCED SUB, ONE WITH 60 CREDITS OR A NON-TEACHER DONE THAT? BY
036ELIMINATING RETIREE TRACK THE COUNTY IS INSULTING US, YOU HAVE LUMPED US IN THE SAME CART GARY WITH THOSE WITH ONLY 60 CREDITS. THE COUNTY SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS ARE PAID MORE, $18.82 AN HOUR. A RETIREE'S SALARY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DECIMATED. YOU WOULD HAVE INCREASED IT TO KEEP THE EXPERIENCED POOL OF RETIREES. DOES THE COUNTY ASSUME RETIREES WILL SUB FOR $15.33? MOST IMPORTANTLY, WILL THOSE RETIREES SUB LONG-TERM FOR $21.91 AN HOUR? I HAVE DONE LONG-TERM SUBS APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES. WHOA. SUM UP. JUST WRAP UP. THAT WOULD BE FINE. I APOLOGIZE FOR MISPRONOUNCES YOUR NAME. THAT'S OKAY. NOBODY GETS IT RIGHT. I WANTED TO SAY, BY THE WAY, MY DOG WALKERS CHARGE $15 A VISIT WHICH CONSTITUTES A 20-MINUTE WALK. WHEN THEY WALK THREE DOGS THEY MAKE $45 AN HOUR. IT IS MORE THAN A RETIRED FAIRFAX
037COUNTY TEACHER AND THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A DEGREE. THANK YOU. WE TURN TO ITEM 2.02, STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS. I CALL ON MS. CHU. THANK YOU MS. HONORABLE CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK OUR SPEAKERS TO R FOR COMING TO TALK ABOUT THESE DIFFICULT ISSUES. WHEN I FOLLOW CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IT IS HEART BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS STILL RINGING IN MY HEAD. ON TWO FRIDAYS AGO I HAD THE GREAT FORTUNE OF ATTENDING THE-- THE SIDEWALKS AROUND THE SCHOOL WERE COMPLETELY COVERED IN IMAGES OF PEACE AND KINDNESS AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GOOD CITIZEN. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE GROVETON STAFF, STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FOR COMMITTING TO THE CULTURE OUR COUNTY HAS BEEN SUPPORTING. THANK YOU FOR GROVETON CONTINUING THIS. GROVETON HAS BEEN A PART OF FAIRFAX COUNTY 100 SCHOOLS IN SUPPORTING TALK FOR PEACE. GETTING TO
038KNOW THIS ORGANIZATION AND ITS FOUNDER HAVE BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE. THANK YOU. IN ADDITION, ON SEPTEMBER 26, THE SUPERINTENDENT STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL HAD ITS FIRST MEETING WHERE WE DISCUSSED MENTAL HEALTH INCLUDING SUICIDE PREVENTION. THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, BULLYING, HARASSMENT AND STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS. THEY HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY TRUCK D.C. STRUR CHURED ON THE AGENDA. THIS YEAR I'M MAKE IT IT MY MISSION TO VISIT ALL THE HIGH SCHOOL AND SECOND DARE SCHOOLS. I WAS ABLE TO MEET WITH CHANTILLY HIGH SCHOOL AND WONDERFUL CAREER AND TECHNICAL OPPORTUNITIES. I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE CHAN TILLIE HIGH SCHOOL FOR ITS WONDERFUL EDUCATION AND SUPPORT OF ITS STUDENTS. IN ADDITION, ONE OF THE PILLAR SCHOOLS OF THE SCHOOL, DIVERSITY, I CAME TO SEE IS EXTREMELY WELL REPRESENTED AND CHERISHED BY ITS OWN STUDENTS. THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF TRANSGENDERED STUDENTS AND
039I HAVE SEEN CASE BY CASE BASIS WHERE ADMINISTRATION ARE ABLE TO CARE FOR SUCH STUDENTS AND MAINTAIN A CARING CULTURE WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY. I WILL BE MAKING MANY MORE SCHOOL VISITS. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE NOTE THUS FAR I HAVE SEEN STUDENTS TAKE IT UPON THEMSELVES TO CREATE THE CARING CULTURE. THEY DON'T REACT TO CHANGE IN LEGISLATION SOMETHING THEY NEAT TO RESEARCH INTO, THEY ADAPT TO THE 21st CENTURY CHANGE AND SOCIAL CHANGES WE ARE EXPERIENCING. I VERY MUCH LOVE THE COMMUNITY THERE. IN ADDITION AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK IS UPON US AND I SEE MANY CITIZENS ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SUICIDE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS, ATTEND THE CONVERSATION FAIRFAX HIGH SCHOOL OCTOBER 29, WELL KNOWN SPEAKER WILL BE DISCUSSING THESE ISSUES. FINALLY, AS I MENTIONED AT LAST MEETING THE 2016-2017 STUDENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AS WELL
040AS THE APPLICATION FOR THE FAIRFAX COUNTY COUNTY STUDENT HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ARE OPEN. ANY STUDENTS INTERESTED IN LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO ON LINE AND CHECK OUT THESE APPLICATIONS. THANK YOU, MS. CHU. TURN TO ITEM 3.01, THIS IS THE PORTION OF THE MEETING WHERE THE BOARD WILL CONFIRM ANY ACTION DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED MEETING. THESE ISSUES MAY INCLUDE ACTION REGARDING STUDENT DISCIPLINARY MATTERS. BOARD MEMBERS HAVE DISCUSSED THE INDIVIDUAL CASE AND AT THIS TIME WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO CONFIRM THE RECOMMENDED ACTION. I CALL ON MRS. SCHULTZ FOR THE MOTION. I MOVE TO GRANT THE SCHOOL REASSIGNMENT APPEAL OF A STUDENT CHARGED WITH A SERIOUS CRIME RELATED TO AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED IN THE COMMUNITY AND MODIFY THE DISCIPLINARY DECISION OF THE DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECONDED BY MRS. CORBETT SANDERS.
041ALL IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HANDS. THAT IS UNANIMOUS. WE TURN TO 3.02, APPOINTMENT OF INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT. I CALL ON MRS. STRAUSS FOR A MOTION. THANK YOU, I MOVE TO APPOINT MR. STEVE LOCKARD AS ACTING SUPERINTENDENT ON AN INTERIM BASIS EFFECTIVE ON THE LAST DAY OF EMPLOYMENT OF THE CURRENT DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT WHILE THE SCHOOL BOARD CONDUCTS ITS SEARCH FOR AND UNTIL IT APPOINTS A NEW SUPERINTENDENT. >> DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECONDED BY MRS. CORBETT SANDERS. MRS. STRAUSS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? YES. THANK YOU. DR. STEVE LOCKARD IS A SKILLED COLLABORATIVE ADMINISTRATOR WHO UNDERSTANDS HOW OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM WORKS. HE IS A CHAMPION FOR STUDENTS AND ASSURES STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF EVERYTHING WE DO. THE BOARD IS GRATEFUL HE IS WILLING TO LEAD. HE JOINED FCPS AS DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT
042MAY 2014. HE WAS DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF FREDERICK COUNTY SCHOOLS IN MARYLAND, ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND IN HIS DISTANT PASS HE WAS A DIRECTOR, PRINCIPAL, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND MOST IMPORTANT AT ALL, A TEACHER. HE IS A FATHER OF THREE KIDS. THAT ALSO COUNTS. THE BOARD IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOMEONE WITH HIS EXPERTISE AND VISION AND WE SINCERELY LOOK FORWARD TO OUR INTERIM, WE DON'T LOOK FORWARD TO THE INTERIM SITUATION WE ARE GOING THROUGH, BUT AS WE FIND OURSELVES IN THIS POSITION WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL DR. LOCKARD WILL HELP US. FORTUNATELY, DR. LOCKARD WILL NOT BE ALONE. WE HAVE A STRONG TEAM. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR KAREN, YOUR APPOINTING OF MANY NEW FOLKS SITTING OVER HERE AS WELL AS MANY SEASONED PEOPLE. SO THAT OUR CABINET AND OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM ARE VERY STRONG. SO WE
043GO THROUGH THE SEARCH IN A PERIOD OF STRENGTH. THANK YOU DR. GARZA. THE SCHOOL BOARD IS GREAT FALLS DR. LOCKARD FOR AGREEING TO BE OUR INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT. WE SHALL ALL WORK VERY HARD TOGETHER, ALL OF US. SCHOOL BOARD, THE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE, OUR TEAM, ALL OF OUR TEACHERS AND OUR PRINCIPALS. THANK YOU. MRS. CORBETT SANDERS WOULD YOU LIKE TO YOUR SECOND? I HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY IMPRESSED BY THE LEADERSHIP SKILLS HE HAS DEMONSTRATED AS WELL AS HE IS A PROVEN CONSENSUS BUILDER, COLLABORATOR AND THOUGHTFUL LISTENER WITH A DELIBERATE MANAGEMENT STYLE THAT I THINK WILL BE IMPORTANT AS HE HAS A STEADY HAND ON THE TILL AS WE GO FORWARD. CERTAINLY HE REPRESENTS THE BEST OF DR. GARZA'S ABILITY OF IDENTIFYING AND CULTIVATING TOP TALENT. SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS APPOINTMENT. MS. McLAUGHLIN. WELL, I'M JUST GOING
044TO SAY THIS, NOT ONLY DO I FULLY AGREE WITH THE WONDERFUL WORDS OF SUPPORT FOR DR. LOCKARD, WE COULD BE HERE SEVERAL HOURS IF WE WANTED TO EXTOLL NOT ONLY OUR CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN DR. LOCKARD BUT OUR APPRECIATION FOR DR. GARZA IN ASSEMBLING SUCH A GREAT TEAM. THE WORK WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US, ANOTHER CLOSED SESSION AFTER THIS BUSINESS MEETING, I WOULD SAY DR. LOCKARD IT HAS BEEN A TRUE PLEASURE GETTING TO WORK WITH YOU THESE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS. WE WISH WE WEREN'T NEEDING TO CALL UPON YOU, WE RECOGNIZE YOU ARE GOING TRULY HELP US CONTINUE THE GREAT WORK DR. GARZA HAS PUT IN MOTION THESE PAST THREE YEARS. THAT IS WHAT HAS ME MOST EXCITED ABOUT THIS CHANCE TO WORK WITH YOU IN A NEW POSITION. SO THANK YOU.
045MS. HINES. YES. WE WILL BE CONFIDENT TO GO TO THE PUBLIC WHILE WE DO THE UNTHINKABLE IN REPLACING DR. GARZA. DR. LOCKARD DOES NOT BEGIN HIS TERM TONIGHT. THAT WILL COME LATER AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE UNFORTUNATE DEPARTURE OF DR. GARZA. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. BEFORE CALLING FOR THE VOTE I WILL SAY BRIEFLY AS SORRY AS I AM THAT DR. GARZA IS LEAVING US, I AM VERY MUCH LOOKING PARTED TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH DR. LOCKARD WHEN DR. GARZA DOES MOVE ON. I KNOW THE TWO OF YOU WILL COLLABORATE OVER THE NEXT WEEKS TO MAKE A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR THAT TIME AND I KNOW DR. GARZA HAS LEFT US IN VERY STRONG SHAPE AND DR. LOCKHART HAS A GREAT TEAM TO WORK WITH AS WELL. I'M GOING TO CALL FOR THE VOTE. DR.
046LOCKHART, I'M GOING GIVE YOU EXTRA TIME IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM AFTER THE VOTE. WITH THAT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF LET ME SEE IF I'M SUPPOSED TO REREAD THE MOTION HERE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO APPOINT STEVE LOCKARD AS ACTING DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT ON AN INTERIM BASIS ACCORDING TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION AND EFFECTIVE ON THE LAST DAY OF EMPLOYMENT ON THE CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT WHILE THE SCHOOL BOARD SEARCH FOR AND UNTIL IT APPOINTED A NEW SUPERINTENDENT. ALL IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND. THAT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU CHAIRMAN EVANS, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, DR. GARZA. THANK YOU, DR. GARZA, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY YOU PROVIDED FOR ME TO COME HERE TO FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE INCREDIBLE LEARNING I HAVE GAINED WORKING WITH YOU
047AND ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY OF FCPS. I AM SORRY TO SEE YOU LEAVE US. I KNOW I'M BETTER FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND THANKFUL FOR THE EXPERIENCE FOR SERVING ON YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU TO OUR SCHOOL BOARD FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND CONFIDENCE. I'M TRULY HUMBLED AND HONORED BY THE CHALLENGE AND RESPONSIBILITY IN FRONT OF ME. YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT AND MY WORD THAT YOU WILL GET EVERYTHING I HAVE DURING THIS TIME AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT AND CONTINUING THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT THE BOARD, DR. GARZA AND THE ENTIRE FCPS COMMUNITY HAS BEGUN. I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH OUR SCHOOL BOARD, LOCAL AND STATE LEADERS, PARENTS, STUDENTS, COMMUNITIES, SCHOOL DIVISION STAFF AS WE CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIVE TO NEEDS, OPEN TO IMPROVEMENTS AND CONTINUALLY STRIVE TO BEST
048SERVE OUR STUDENTS. I WILL CONTINUE TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE PRIORITY WORK ADVOCATING FOR OUR TEACHERS, THEIR COMPENSATION AND THE BUDGET NEEDS OF THIS INCREDIBLE SCHOOL SYSTEM. I LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING OUR DIVISION STAY ON THE PATH OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND HELPING ALL OF OUR STUDENTS REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND ATTRIBUTES OF PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE. MS. STRAUSS YOU MENTIONED THE INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP TEAM, I AM SO THANKFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH A DEDICATED AND TALENTED GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS. BECAUSE OF THAT TEAM I KNOW I'M GOING BE ABLE TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. ALTHOUGH LITERALLY RUNNING MAY TAKE ME A BIT LONGER, BUT WE WILL HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. CERTAINLY WE WILL WORK TOWARD A SEAMLESS TRANSITION DURING THE BOARD'S SEARCH FOR A NEW SUPERINTENDENT. >> THANK YOU DR. LOCKARD AND CONGRATULATIONS.
049WE TURN TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. ROBERT RULES PROVIDES SEVERAL ITEMS APPROVED BY A SINGLE MOTION. MANY ITEMS HAVE GONE THROUGH BOARD REVIEW, DOCUMENTATION, HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC IN ADVANCE. 4.01, GUIDELINES SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION OF TEAMS, ENSEMBLES. 4 PRNT 012, POLICY 2613, STUDENT DRES CODE, POLICY 2630, USE AND PARKING OF PRIVATE MOTOR VEHICLES ON SCHOOL PROPERTY. VOLUNTARY UNIFORMS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS POLICY 5105, AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS AND POLICY 2620, STUDENTS WITH PHYSICALLY AGGRESSIVE OR VIOLENT BEHAVIOR AS DETAILED IN THE AGENDA ITEM. 4 PPT 03, AWARD THE CONTRACT FOR THE CHILLER REPLACEMENT AT CHANTILLY HIGH SCHOOL TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BUILDER, STING RAY WELDING, LLC, $858,000 AND AUTHORIZE FAMTS AND TRMS SERVICES TO EXECUTE AND ADMINISTER THE CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. 4 PRNT 04,
050AWARD A CONTRACT FOR THE WHIM OAKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RENOVATION AND ADDITIONS PROJECT TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER DLRKS 17.263 AND AUTHORIZE FACILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO EXECUTE, DELIVER AND ADMINISTER THE CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. 4.05. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> ONE OF THE SPEAKERS POINTED OUT THERE WERE SOME CONFUSION IN POLICY 2601, REFERENCING THE POLICY. THIS REGULATION IS-- I DO HAVE AN OBJECTION TO INCLUDING THAT ITEM IN THE CONSENT AGENDA. YOU WOULD LIKE TO PULL AN ITEM OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA? I THIS SO. THE POLICY REFERS TO THE REGULATION. THIS REGULATION HAS BEEN REVIEWS AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES. ONE OF THE SPEAKERS WERE REFERRING TO SR AND R HAD NO CHANGES. THAT CREATES CONFUSION. POINT OF ORDER, MADAM CHAIRMAN. I'M GOING TO
051ASK OUR CLERK WHETHER AT THIS TIME IT CAN BE PULLED OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA. COULD YOU TURN ON YOUR MICROPHONE. OH, YOU DON'T HAVE A MICROPHONE. IT HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE. I SEE. I UNDERSTAND THAT. SINCE THERE IS AN ALLOWANCE FOR AN OBJECTION I WOULD RAISE IT. IN THAT CASE IF A BOARD MEMBER HAS AN OBJECTION DO WE TAKE A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? WE MOVE ONE ITEM. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I WILL REMOVE THAT ONE ITEM AND SO WE WILL, SEEING NO OBJECTION TO THE CONSENT AGENDA WITHOUT THAT ITEM, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS MOVED AND THEN WE WILL TAKE A SEPARATE VOTE ON ADOPTING POLICY 2601 RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS. POINT OF ORDER, I'M SORRY MADAM CHAIR, I'M NOT SURE I AGREE. IF OUR RULES SAY THAT ITEMS MAY BE REMOVED AT
052THE REQUEST OF ANY BOARD MEMBER PRIOR TO THE MEETING. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE AN ITEM OF REMOVING THAT OPTION. WHAT MAY HAPPEN IS SOMEONE VOICES THEIR OBJECTION AND WHAT DO WE DO IF THERE IS AN OBJECTION? DO WE HAVE TO VOTE? WE HAVE TO VOTE ANYWAY. I THINK WE PROBABLY NEED A PARLIAMENTARY RULING ON THIS. I MEAN, I THINK WE HAVE A RULE FOR A REASON. IF WE JUST ALLOW PEOPLE TO-- SOMEONE AT THE BOARD TABLE TO PULL IT OFF WE SHOULD CHANGE THE RULE IF WE ARE NOT GOING FOLLOW IT. YOU NEED A MICROPHONE. THE STRATEGIC GOVERNANCE MANUAL SAYS AN ITEM HAS TO BE PULLED BEFORE THE MEETING BEGINS. WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE OBJECTS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? THEN YOU CAN CONTINUE. YOU NEED A MAJORITY VOTE TO PASS IT. SO DO WE
053VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? YES. WE NEED A PARLIAMENTARY RULING ON HOW WE PROCEED IF ONE BOARD MEMBER OBJECTS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AFTER WE HAVE STARTED THE MEETING. MAY I VERY QUICKLY POINT OUT, I'M NOT CERTAIN THE REFERENCE THE INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUENT WAS REFERRING TO REGULATION. I DON'T SEE IN THE REFERENCE TO REGULATION ALL OF THESE SPECIFICALLY. IN SECTION TWO. WHICH ONE WAS IT? SECTION TWO OF POLICY 2601, IT SAYS THIS REGULATION. CAN I OFFER A SUGGESTION AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS POSSIBLE. HANG ON, MS. CORBETT SANDERS. I JUST CONSULTED ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER. I'M READING FROM THE 11th EDITION, PAGE 361, REGARDING CONSENT CALENDARS AND CONSENT AGENDAS. THE MATTERS ARE TAKEN UP IN ORDER UNLESS OBJECTED TO, IN WHICH CASE THEY ARE RESTORED TO IF ORDINARY PROCESS WHERE THEY ARE PLACED IN
054LINE FOR REGULAR CONSIDERATION ON THE REGULAR AGENDA. SO MR. WILSON'S OBJECTION WOULD PLACE IT IN THE REGULAR ORDER WHICH MEANS IT IS AN ACTION ITEM? IT IS NEW BUSINESS. IT COULD BE PLACED EITHER NEW BUSINESS OR AS AN ACTION ITEM. THAT SUP TO THE CHAIR. >> I SEE. WHAT WE WILL DO IS MAKE THIS AN ACTION ITEM AND VOTE ON IT AFTER WE HAVE APPROVED THE CONSENT AGENDA. I'M SEEING NO OTHER OBJECTION TO ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. NOW THE VOTE IS ON POLICY 2601, RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS. MRS. STRAUSS. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. I BELIEVE THAT THE ISSUE IS THE 2601 IS THE POLICY. IT IS NOT THE REGULATION. I THINK THE ERROR AND MISUNDERSTANDING IS SOMEONE THINKING THIS IS THE STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. H THIS IS A POLICY THAT
055SAYS THERE WILL BE AN SR AND R. THIS IS NOT A VOTE ON THE CONTENT OF THE SR AND R. >> NO. IT IS STILL AN ACTION ITEM. RATHER THAN CONSENT ITEM. >> I KNOW. WHAT I'M SAYING IS WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE THOUGHT THIS WAS THE ACTUAL VOTE ON THE CON TEPTS OF THE SR AND R, IT IS NOT. >> I MOVE WE CHANGE SECTION TWO. THIS POLICY HAS BEEN REVIEWED. >> I'M SORRY. WHAT IS YOUR MOTION. >> TO SUBSTITUTE REGULATION WITH POLICY. THIS POLICY HAS BEEN REVIEWED AND NO CHANGES AT THIS TIME. >> I SECOND THAT. >> ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION, RAISE YOUR HAND. OKAY. THAT IS UNANIMOUS. SO THAT MOTION PASSES. NEW BUSINESS. THE FOLLOWING ARE NEW BUSINESS AGENDA ITEMS. THERE IS NOT A VOTE BUT ACTION IS SCHEDULED AT A
056FUTURE MEETING. 5-01, AWARD A CONTRACT TO THE VISITOR SIDE BLEACHER REPLACEMENT AT STUART HIGH SCHOOL AND EXECUTE AND ADMINISTER THE CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. 5-02, AWARD A CONTRACT TO SOUTH LAKES TO THE LOW ES RESPONSIBLE BIDDER AND AUTHORIZE THE DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT OR STAUPT SUPERINTENDENT OF FACILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO EXECUTE, DELIVER AND ADMINISTER THE CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. 5-03, AUTHORIZE THE DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT OR THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT DEPARTMENT OF FACILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES WHO MAY ACT WITHOUT THE OTHER TO NEGOTIATE, EXECUTE AND ADMINISTER A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR BUS PARKING TO SERVE THE SCHOOL DIVISION'S NEEDS IN BRING SPEELD INCLUDING ALL LEASE DOCUMENTATION IN CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE SCHOOL DIVISION. 5-04, ADOPT SUICIDE PREVENTION RISK ASSESSMENT POLICIES DETAILED IN THE AGENDA ITEM. 5-05, ADOPT NEWLY REVISED 2016 FAIRFAX COUNTY
057PURCHASING RESOLUTION PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS IN THE AGENDA ITEM. WE TURN TO SUPERINTENDENTS MATTERS. I CALL ON DR. GARZA. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELEASED GRADUATION RATES FOR THE 2016 SCHOOL YEAR. OUR GRADUATION EXCEEDS. 96 PRNT 2 STUDENTS GRADUATED ON TIME. WE LEAD THE STATE IN THESE PARTICULAR ITEMS. ANOTHER CELEBRATION IS I'M VERY PROUD TO REPORT THAT YET AGAIN WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN S.A.T. SCORES FOR OUR STUDENTS, WHICH IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE ACROSS THE NATION. IN SOME STATES WE ARE SEEING LAGGING S.A.T. SCORES. THAT IS NOT THE CASE IN FCPS. WE, AGAIN, SURPASSED STATE AND NATIONAL AVERAGES ON ALL AREAS IN OUR OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE INCREASED THREE POINTS. WE ARE ALREADY VERY HIGH. OUR OVERALL COMPOSITE
058SCORE WAS 1672. WITH LAST YEAR'S BEING 1669. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF SPRINGFIELD ESTATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR BEING NAMED AN EXEMPLARY HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL IN THE NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON PROGRAM BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. YOU ALL KNOW THAT IS A RIGOROUS PROCESS TO BE SELECTED AS A BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL. ONE OF 329 SCHOOLS NAMED TO THE PROGRAM FOR THIS YEAR ACROSS THE NATION. SPRINGFIELD ESTATES WAS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND CLOSING ACHIEVEMENT GAPS AMONG THE VARIOUS STUDENT GROUPS DEMONSTRATING ALL STUDENTS CAN ACHIEVE IN CLASSROOMS. WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL TO SCHEDULE A CELEBRATION AT THAT SCHOOL. I KNOW THE BOARD MEMBERS WILL LOOK FORWARD TO VISITING THE SCHOOL AND CELEBRATE WITH ALL THE WONDERFUL STAFF THERE. AS WAS POINTED OUT EARLIER, OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS OCTOBER 29, SATURDAY,
0598:00 A.M. WE HAVE 50 BREAKOUT SESSIONS AND KEYNOTE SPEAKERS. IT IS GOING BE A WONDERFUL CONFERENCE. I'M SO VERY PLEASED WITH YOUR APPOINTMENT OF STEVE LOCKHART AS THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT. HE IS AN INTELLIGENT, THOUGHTFUL LEADER AND HE CARES AND HE ALWAYS WANTS TO DO THE RIGHT THING. HE WILL DO A GREAT JOB WORKING WITH OUR STRONG LEADERSHIP TEAM AS YOU WORK TO FIND A NEW SUPERINTENDENT. COMMIT TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH YOU, WITH DR. LOCKHART, WITH THE LEADERSHIP TEAM TO ENSURE FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >> THANK YOU, DR. GARZA. NEXT IS BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS. MS. HYNES FOR A REPORT ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE AUDIT COMMITTEE WHICH CONSISTS OF FOUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND TWO HIGHLY QUALIFIED CITIZEN MEMBERS MET ON SEPTEMBER 28 AND OUR AGENDA WAS TO
060FOLLOW UP ON PREVIOUS AUDITS AND GET A STATUS OF CURRENT AUDIT ENGAGEMENTS, THE AUDIT COMMITTEE CONSIDERED PROPOSED OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL METRICS AND WORK PLAN. THE NEXT MEETING OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE IS OCTOBER 26. THE LAST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND VIDEOTAPED FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T MAKE IT. ALL THE PAPERS RELATED ARE POSTED ONLINE. I CALL ON MS. DERENAK KAUFAX FOR A REPORT ON THE SKIP COMMITTEE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN. THE FULL SKILL BOARD MET YESTERDAY OCTOBER 5. AND WE DISCUSSED HOW COUNTY AND SCHOOL STAFF WORK TOGETHER TO INTEGRATE THE ONE FAIRFAX RUSSIAN INTO THEIR WORK. THERE WILL BE MEETINGS SET UP BETWEEN COUNTY AND STAFF TO BEGIN. ONGOING SCHOOL AND COUNTY STAFF HOW WE CAN ACCOMMODATE MORE CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS AND EXTENSIONIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE TIERED
061SYSTEM OF APPROACH. WE ARE WORKING ON A COUNTY AND SCHOOL COMBINED BASIS TO IMPROVE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY. THE ACTION PLAN FOR THIS TIERED IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM WAS APPROVED WITH THE CAVEAT A SMALL WORKING GROUP WOULD FURTHER REFINE THE TIER ONE INTERVENTIONS. THE SKIP GROUP IS MEETING, TO THE PUBLIC, THERE ARE TWO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS MYSELF AND MS. McLAUGHLIN AND TWO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND MANY, MANY HEADS OF ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE COUNTY. BECAUSE WE ARE A BIG GROUP I THINK IT HAS TAKEN SOME TIME, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD SOLID WORK BEING DONE THERE. IT IS EXTENSIVE. SO WHAT I'M GOING TO BE DOING IS I'M GOING TO BE ASKING THE CHAIR AND THE CLERK, I WILL ADD THE ATTACHMENTS SO YOU CAN PERUSE ON YOUR OWN AND SEE. IF THERE ARE
062THINGS, OF COURSE, FOR FUTURE POLICY CHANGES MS. McLAUGHLIN AND I WOULD BRING THAT UP. A LOT OF IT IS STAFF TO STAFF WORK AND THE THINGS WE ARE DOING ARE THE THINGS I THINK THIS BOARD REALLY CARES ABOUT AND IT IS HAPPENING. IT IS SLOWLY, BUT IT IS HAPPENING. I WANT TO BE SURE YOU HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE. THANK YOU. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS BOARD MATTERS. I CALL ON MS. HYNES. I WILL PASS TONIGHT. MS. PALCHIK. I WILL ALSO PASS. THANK YOU. MRS. HOUGH. THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO CAME OUT TO MY OFFICE HOURS IN THE SULLY DISTRICT YESTERDAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING IN MOURN IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. -- IN MOUNT VERNON IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. MRS. CORBETT SANDERS. YES, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MS. HUBBARD FROM
063WEST POTOMAC HIGH SCHOOL WHO WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE WHITE HOUSE FOR HER AVID PROGRAM. BIG APPLAUSE FOR HER AS WELL AS I WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY STAFF FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK WHICH MADE THE OPENING OF THE NEW MOUNT VERNON TEAM CENTER AT THE ORIGINAL MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL A GRAND SUCHK THIS PAST SATURDAY. >> MRS. STRAUSS. >> I MET WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE T.J. PARTNERSHIP GROUP. READ A LITTLE BIT OF OUR VISION GOING FORWARD. QUOTE FROM MIKE SKULNECK-- AS WE COLLECTIVELY ENVISED WHEN THE T.J. RENOVATION BEGAN THE NEW FACILITY SHOULD SERVE AS A HUB FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE IN THE COUNTY TO INSPIRE OR EXPAND A PASSION FOR STEM. T.J. IS A PUBLIC RESOURCE AND WE LOOK FORWARD AS THE CONSTRUCTION DUST SETTLES TO PROVIDE OUR SUPPORT. THE
064PARTNERSHIP FUND, IN ORDER TO BROADEN THE IMPACT AND REACH OF THE PROGRAMS BEYOND THE STUDENT BODY. IT IS IMPORTANT NOW THAT THE T.J. RENOVATION IS NEARING THE END, SOMEWHERE IN SIGHT, WE RETURN TO OUR ORIGINAL VISION WHEN WE BEGAN THIS RENOVATION SO WE CAN FIND, SEEK MORE WAYS TO SHARE THE FACILITY, THE RESOURCES THAT THE SCHOOL HAS AND THE WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIPS AND IDEAS THAT STUDENTS COME UP WITH AT T.J. IT IS A PLACE NOT JUST FOR THE STUDENTS WHO GO TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY WITHIN THE WALLS, IT IS A PLACE FOR ALL OF US TO PARTNER, TO LEARN AND TO EXCITE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ABOUT STEM AND RESEARCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MARK SKULNIK AND EXTENDING THE USE OF THE WONDERFUL RESOURCES AVAILABLE AT THOMAS JEFFERSON. >> MS. McLAUGHLIN. >> JUST BRIEFLY IN HONOR
065OF DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH I WANTED TO USE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE TREMENDOUS ADVOCATES WHO HELPED CREATE DECODING DYSLEXIA VIRGINIA ADVOCACY GROUP IN FAIRFAX COUNTY WHO HAVE DONE A MASTERFUL JOB OF HELPING TO EDUCATE NOT ONLY THE SCHOOL BOARD, BUT TO COMMUNICATE AND WORK WITH DR. GARZA AND MANY OF HER STAFF AND REALLY HELPING FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOLS UNDERSTAND THE PREVALENCE OF DYSLEXIA AMONG OUR STUDENTS AND HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THEIR EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS AND SO IT IS JUST HATS OFF AGAIN TO DR. GARZA IN YOUR TENURE HERE YOU REALLY HELPED US MOVE THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM IN A GREAT DIRECTION AND HELPING THOSE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND I KNOW FROM WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE ADVOCATES, THEY VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT WHILE WE-- IT IS A JOURNEY AND WE CONTINUE WITH A
066SCHOOL SYSTEM OF OUR SIZE TO GET IT RIGHT EACH AND EVERY TIME, YOU HAVE HELPED SET THE TONE FROM THE VERY TOP. I KNOW THEY WOULD WANT ME TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE HONORED IT HERE TONIGHT. MR. WILSON. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN. FIRST JUST A HEADS UP, I AM PLANNING TO HAVE OFFICE HOURS THIS MONTH TENTATIVELY IT IS FOR OCTOBER 26 AT 10:30 A.M. AT THE CENTREVILLE REGIONAL LIBRARY. I WILL SEND AN E-MAIL TO CONVERT THAT DATE AND TIME. I WANT TO SAY THANKS TO MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE COME OUT THE LAST SEVERAL MEETINGS AND EXPRESSED CONTINUED CONCERN ABOUT THE ISSUES SURROUNDING THE TRANSGENDER ISSUE THAT IS BUBBLING THROUGH OUR COURT SYSTEMS AND CAPTIVATED MUCH OF OUR COUNTRY AND PARTICULARLY OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS. AND I AM THINKING THAT PERHAPS WE
067HAVE A WAY TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC MORE AND PROVIDE SOME UPDATE IN TERMS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD'S ACTIONS OR PERHAPS NO ACTIONS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REGULATIONS. I THINK SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE REFLECTED TONIGHT PERHAPS REFLECTED SOME MISUNDERSTANDING AS TO WHERE WE ARE AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM ON THIS SCHOOL BOARD ON THE ISSUE OF GENDER IDENTITY. SO I AM GOING TO DISCUSS THAT WITH MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AND SEE WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN BRING THAT AS A FORUM TOPIC SOMEHOW WE CAN ENGAGE WITH THE PUBLIC MORE ON THAT TOPIC. THANK YOU. >> MS. DERENAK KAUFAX. >> THANK YOU. AS DR. GARZA MENTIONED I WANT TO EXTEND MY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEACHERS, STAFF AND PRINCIPAL AT SPRINGFIELD ESTATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BY BEING NAMED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS A 2016 BLUE
068RIBBON AWARD WINNER. THIS IS BASED ON OVERALL ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS PROVE ALL SCHOOLS CAN ACHIEVE AT HIGH LEVELS. AS A PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN KWHO ATTENDED SPRINGFIELD ESTATES I KNOW THEY WORKED HARD TO BECOME THIS EXEMPLARY SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS. DR. LOCKHART, WE ARE HAPPY YOU ACCEPTED THIS OPPORTUNITY WHEN DR. GARZA MOVES ON. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THIS ROLE. AND FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO EXTEND MY SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF CONNOR JUAROS. I'M SENDING PRAYERS OF HEALING DURING THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME. MR. McELVEEN. HOPEFULLY YOU HAVING A CAST ON AND LIMPING IS NOT A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME. WE WISH YOU THE BEST IN YOUR RECOVERY AND ALL YOU WILL DO FOR OUR SYSTEM. WITH THAT, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. WE ARE GOING TO INTO CLOSED MEETING.
069THE BOARD WILL MAKE A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED MEETING TO DISCUSS PERFORMANCE OF SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES PURSUANT TO TO CODE 2-2, TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNCIL REGARDING LEGAL MATTERS REQUIRING LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING PERSONNEL MATTERS, 2.28711. DO I HAVE A MOTION? ALL IN FAVOR. RAISE YOUR HANDS. THAT IS UNANIMOUS. WE NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.