001Good evening. I would like to call to order the regular meeting of the Newport News School Board for Tuesday, October 21st, 2025. On behalf of the members of the school board and Dr. Mitchell. I welcome each of you present this evening and those of you that are watching on TV and online. A quorum is present to transact the business of the school division. And now I will call on Miss Kyla Leget, our student representative to the school board to introduce tonight's student guest for the invocation and pledge. Good evening. We will begin tonight's meeting with the invocation and pledge to the flag. Here to do the honors is Andrea Elizabeth McKenzie, a 12th grade student at War High School. Andrea, will you please come forward and tell us a little bit about yourself before you
002begin. Good evening. My name is Andrea McKenzie and I'm a senior at Warwick High School. I'm a part of the Governor's Health Science Academy, New Horizon's EMT program, and I am our Navy Junior ROC's commanding officer. As we begin this meeting, let us take a moment to reflect on the values that guide both service and leadership. Discipline, respect, and a commitment to a cause greater than ourselves. May the decision made here tonight be grounded by integrity, strengthened by teamwork, and guided by courage. The same principles that sustain our schools, our communities, and our nation. As said by former first lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt, "A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader, but a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves." Let us take let us aspire to
003that kind of leadership the quiet steady and unwavering way to do what is right to serve others with compassion and move forward with purpose and hope for the future. Thank you. Thank you Andrea for participating in tonight's meeting. You did a wonderful job supporting Andrea tonight are her family members and her school family. Please stand and be recognized. Andrea, will you please guide us through the pledge? Yes, ma'am. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. We appreciate it and we thank you for your presence at tonight's meeting. Thank you, Kyla, for introducing our student and thank you, Angela. Very inspiring. The next item on tonight's agenda is school board
004recognitions. Dr. Mitchell, please join me at the podium. Good evening, Newport News. It is time for school board recognitions. So, let's get started. Good evening. I have the pleasure of presenting this month's honorees. VBA Academy Awards and that's the Virginia School Board Association. Training and development are top priorities for the school board. As part of its collective effort to maintain effective leadership, the board has participated in numerous development programs, conferences, and workshops through the Virginia School Board Association and COSBA. This evening, our school board members are receiving their own awards for their dedication to advancing their expertise from the Virginia School Board Association. The VSBA Academy provides training in effective leadership and governance to school board members and support staff. Each year, VSBA recognizes board members for their dedication to improving their skills through conferences
005and leadership, school law, strategic planning, and legislative issues. Each person's being recognized this evening has received a certificate from the SBA. These awards honor their participation in the academy themy's program for the past two years. School board chairman Dr. Terry Best and school board members Douglas Brown and Lisa Surles Law earned the award of distinction. Board members Gary Hunter earned the award of excellence. Board member Marissa Alger earned the award of achievement and board members Rebecca Aman and Rasha Harris earned the award of recognition. In addition, superintendent Dr. Michelle Mitchell earned an award of excellence. Award of distinction honorees school board chairman le school board chairman Dr. uh Best um and school board members Lisa Soros Law and school board members Douglas Brown will be recognized at a special luncheon during the Virginia School Board
006Association annual convention next month. Each of these dedicated public servants have received award certificates and distinctive label lapel pins to symbolize their commitment to effective school board governance through participation in the academy. On behalf of the students, staff, and citizens of Newport News, thank you for your dedication and leadership of the school division and congratulation on your awards. Let's give them a hand of applause. Awesome, awesome, awesome stuff. We're going to move on to the 2024 2025 Transportation Employee of the Year. Y'all on the edge of your seats? Yes. Okay. All right. We're currently celebrating National School Board Safety Week, which started yesterday and continues through this Friday, October 24th. So, we thought it would be a perfect week to recognize our transportations department outstanding contributions to our students safe arrival and from school each
007day. Every school day, drivers in Newport News share the road with other 300 yellow school buses. 300 of them, y'all. These buses are driven by some of the school division's most dedicated employees who provide safe and efficient transportation for nearly 20,000 students. Being a bus driver is a great responsibility and our next honorees have se served students in the school division for 10 years and was a previous winner of the rookie driver of the year. Wonder who could that be? Recently Gary Wingan was named the Newport News Public Schools bus driver of the year. Mr. Winnegan, please come forward. Come on. All right. I'm up here. If you all can could remain We'll go stand right next to If you could all come um please remain up front while we take a group picture after
008I get everyone up front. Thank you so much. Mr. again is a great role model for all other drivers. He is dependable with an exceptional attendance record and is dedicated to his students and committed to his job and his colleagues. The the uh criterion for the bus driver of the year is stringent. Honorees must have outstanding attendance, excellent annual evaluations, and they must volunteer and maintain a great safety record. Mr. Winnegan serves students who attend Heritage and Woodside high schools, Krenidan and Gildersleeve middle schools, Riverside Elementary School, and Achievable Dream Academy. He is also a driver for athletes. Congratulations, Mr. Winfield. The role of our next honoree is essential to ensuring that all of our students arrive at school safely and securely. Bus assistants are responsible for maintaining safety on the school bus by providing
009one-on-one attention to our special needs and younger students. The assistants are assigned to the most challenging bus routes, those that include younger students, medically fragile students, and students with disabilities. This year, Legal Ellis was named bus assistant of the year. Miss Ellis, please come forward. And that's Legalia. Yes, Miss Ellis is responsible for tending to students as they lo load, ride, and unload the bus. She must know the bus ride route, assistant emergency, operate on all equipment on the bus, and be familiar with the medical needs of each student. Miss Ellis has been a member of the transportation team for 25 years. She has outstanding attendance and has been commended for openly communicating with students, parents, and school staff. Miss Ellis has earned excellent annual evaluation and she maintains all her training and first aid
010certification. Congratulations on being named the bus assistant of the year, Miss Ellis. Awesome. Each year, the transportation department also recognizes a bus driver with five or fewer years of service with the rookie bus driver of the year award. Being a bus driver is a great responsibility and our next honoree has served students and the school division for three years. Miss Angel Jefferson, please come forward. Miss Jefferson is dependable and is dedicated to her students and committed to her job and her colleagues. The criterion for rookie bus driver of the year is stringent. Honorees must have outstanding attendance, excellent annual evaluations, and they must volunteer and maintain a great safety record. Miss Jefferson serves students who attend Woodside High School, General Stanford Elementary School, Discovery STEM Academy, and Greenwood Elementary School. She also serves as the
011key driver at General Stanford Elementary School. Congratulations, Miss Jefferson. Each year, the transportation department also recognizes a bus assistant with five or fewer years of service with the rookie assistant of the year award. The awardee must have an outstanding attendance record and demonstrate extensive knowledge of special needs bus equipment and safety and emergency procedures. The rookie assistant of the year is Rosa and Dela Paw. She could not be with us this afternoon, but we do know that we need to recognize her for her service. Miss Dela Paw works well with her students and she understands their needs. She has had excellent annual evaluations and she maintains all the required training. She works well with all of her students, but she especially enjoys traveling with her preschool special needs students. She has been a member of
012the transportation department for three years. Miss Dela Paw currently serves as the bus assistant for students who attend Menchville and Woodside high schools, Krennan and Passage Middle Schools, and Denbigh Early Childhood Center. Congratulations, Miss Dela Pas. Our next honoree is recognized for his dedication to the maintenance of our bus fleet. The mechanic of the year or top wrench award recognizes excellence in attendant punctuality, attitude, and work ethic. This year, mechanic at Alex Schaw earned this honor. Mr. Schaw, please come forward. Awesome. Awesome. Mr. Schol is part of a team of mechanics who maintain our school buses and support vehicles. He is an ASC automobile automative service excellent certified technician. A lot of hard work goes into keeping that fleet rolling safely, y'all. Mr. SH earned the top wrench award because of his outstanding record with
013preventative maintenance on quality assurance. He is also commended for great initiative and attendance. Mr. Schaw joined the transportation team three years ago. Congratulations Mr. Shaw. Keep up the great work and keep us safe on those roads. Joining our transportation colleagues this evening are some of their family members. Would you please stand if you're here? That's right. Also joining this this transportation team this evening is Shay Colts, executive director of transportation, transportation supervisor Sharon Moore and other members of the transportation family. Would you please stand? It's a whole Saturday. Thank you. So, we're going to come to the middle and let's get a picture. All right. So family, Newport News Public Schools apprenticeship program is a structured professional development and state certification program that combines hands on career training and practical classroom learning. The program is
014designed to develop highly skilled employees. During the multi-year process, apprentices gain a deeper understanding of their department's operations and how their work fits into the division's strategic plan and supports our students. The program is the only one in Virginia administered by a school division. I'll say that again because I didn't get any applause. The program is the only one in Virginia a minister by a school division. through the Virginia Department of Labor and Industries apprenticeship office. The customized courses customized courses enhance their apprentice skills and talents. The school division has programs in four occupational areas, child nutrition, custodial services, transportation, and clerical support. Tonight we are recognizing our fourth graduation graduating class of the transportation apprenticeship program. Oh wow. Our graduates will receive a certificate of completion and apprenticeship from the state council. These dedicated
015employees successfully completed a rigorous sequence of program requirements. We are so proud of their accomplishments. Please join me in congratulating the following. Janelle Banks, master bus driver two. Brian Brock, master bus driver two. Tanya Brock, master bus driver two. Eric Burton, master bus driver two. Javana Cardi, master bus driver two. Robin Chandler, non CDL driver. Come on. Latoya Donovan, master bus driver two. Charge it to my heart. Betty Elliot, master bus driver two. Amber Fuller, Ma, Master Bus driver two. Candace Jones, master bus driver two. Shelley Jones, master bus driver two. Alejandra Marshall, master bus driver two. Ella Overton, master bus. Master bus assistant to Shenica Robinson, master bus driver two. Elizabeth Rodriguez, master bus driver two. Tanya Thorp, master bus driver two. Dorothy Vaughn, master bus driver two. The transportation apprentices completed nearly 300
016hours of classroom instruction and customer service. effective communication, English, math, Spanish, workplace technology, and leadership skills. In addition to 4,000 hours on the job training in bus routing and dispatch training and coursework that makes them eligible to take the test for National Association for pupil transportation certification as a supervisor of transportation. Wow. Truly an example of lifelong learners, right? Again, please join me in another round of applause and our transportation apprentice pro program graduates. That's awesome. I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge their supporters, their family, friends, and colleagues. please stand. And transportation leaders, Mr. Colts and Miss Moore, please be recognized. And we also want to recognize Dr. Evette Smith, executive director of human resources, and Dr. Nina Ferris, director of human resources, who oversees the district's apprenticeship programs. Thank you all
017for your support. We're gonna get a quick picture. Y'all come Right here. So at this time, Newport News family, we will take a eight minute break so that our honoreds and their families may leave if they desire to. During this time, our viewing audience will be able to enjoy this month's school board spotlight. The meeting will resume following the spotlight segment. So we will stand in recess. Thank you. The Newport News Public Schools Transportation Department takes pride in offering safe rides to all our students. With drivers, schools, and families working together, we can ensure our students know the rules of the bus and stay safe every day. Getting to school safely starts as soon as we leave our homes. On the way to the bus stop, always walk along the curb or as far away
018from the street as possible. But be polite to your neighbors, especially those picky folks who always yell at you to stay out of my yard, you whippers snapper. Be sure to walk on the left side of the road facing traffic. Not that side, your other left. That's right, I mean left. And keep your eyes open for moving vehicles on driveways or side streets. Rules? Why do there have to be more rules, but rules keep us safe, especially at the bus stop? While waiting for the bus to arrive, stay out of the street and watch for traffic. Look, none of us are professional stunt doubles, so wait for the bus to make a complete stop before getting on. Enter the bus in a single file line, and don't forget to scan your student ID with your
019awesome picture and really bad haircut. Go directly to your seat, remain seated during the entire ride, and keep all body parts and property inside the bus. While you're at it, you probably shouldn't throw your friend's property out the window either. And definitely don't throw your friend. Make sure you listen to the bus driver's instructions so they can drive the bus safely. Remember, the bus is an extension of your school. So, the same rules apply. No running in the hallways wherever you are. Whether you're getting off the bus at school in the morning or going home at the end of the day, safety is always a priority. There's a reason they call it a bus stop. Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before standing up. Again, scan that unflattering student ID when you
020get off the bus, so now your parents will know that you're almost home. If you have to cross the street, always cross in front of the bus where the driver can see. And never ever walk directly alongside or behind the bus. Parents, this is a team effort. It's your job to explain these safety guidelines to your children, especially the younger ones like me and also the teens like my brother who acts like he's not listening. And please remind them to not take rides from strangers and go directly home when the bus drops them off in the afternoon. Drivers, please keep your eyes out for those very obvious flashing lights. In Virginia, passing a stop school bus with it flashing lights activated and stop arm extended is illegal. All drivers must stop for a school bus
021approaching in any direction so that children can get on and off safely. And our buses have multiple cameras. Those hefty fines are not fun to pay. If you have any issues or concerns, please contact your child's school. Thank you to our drivers for transporting our most precious commodity, the students. Every day, our drivers do an amazing job. Keep up the great work and stay safe out there. At the 7th annual Innovate Conference, Newport News educators were invited to connect with colleagues, explore fresh ideas, and walk away with practical teaching strategies. Held near the end of the summer at Woodside High School. The theme for this year's energizing conference experience was intentional teaching, unstoppable impact. Organized by the Office of Professional Growth and Innovation and the Office of Instructional Technology, the Innovate Conference was designed specifically
022for NNPS teachers and staff at all grade levels, where educators could exchange ideas, learn new strategies, and become a catalyst for positive change in their schools. Over 700 educators attended or presented with the opportunity to attend up to three hands-on sessions from 125 unique offerings. Presenters included MNPS staff, school leaders, local partners, business representatives, and world renowned educators. In between sessions, educators experienced the future of learning at the interactive innovation station. Instructional technology coaches helped teachers explore the intentional use of technology in the classroom, understand how these tools align with digital learning integration standards and computer science standards, and consider the growing trend of AI and daily instruction. And at the STEM showcase, educators engaged with NNPS students who shared their own STEM projects and how these engaging activities make learning fun, bolster critical thinking,
023and promote collaboration. And staff were welcomed to visit with the 28 community and business partners to learn how these organizations can support teachers and classroom learning. for attending the conference. Teachers earned five recertification points towards their teaching license while presenters earned 15 recertification points. Through this impactful and student centered learning experience, Innovate Conference brought NNPS educators together to energize instruction, elevate student engagement, and equip teachers as they develop lifelong learners. For over a decade, Books on Bikes Newport News has kept students engaged in reading through the summer months. Every week, teacher volunteers representing Discovery STEM Academy, Greenwood, Macintosh, Stony Run, and Yates Elementary Schools could be spotted in neighborhoods delivering brand new books to students and families. riding tricycles with containers of books or driving in cars during rainstorms or intense heat waves. Teachers handed
024out free books to any kid, no matter what school they attended. With a wide selection of picture books, chapter books, and bilingual translations, educators happily helped each young reader find the perfect book for them. They also offered bookmarks, cold treats, and gift card rewards from local businesses to encourage consistent reading all summer long. Phone calls and social media kindly reminded families where and when Books on Bikes would be stopping in their neighborhoods. Through the dedication of volunteer educators during their summer break, Books on Bikes Newport News ensured that hundreds of families received new books to encourage literacy growth and spread the love of reading. Newport News Public Schools newest specialty program is making waves. This school year, the floodgates open for the Maritime Engineering and Environmental Studies Academy, who welcomed their first class of student
025innovators. MISA is a collaborative lab school partnership between Old Dominion University and Newport News Public Schools located in the Oyster Point Business Area. The program focuses on various fields related to the maritime industry while offering students dual enrollment credits towards ODU. MISA is a 2-year lab school for 11th and 12th grade students with this year's 11th grade innovators attending morning classes at the program site before returning to their home schools for the remainder of the day. Classroom instruction takes place in studios where students use cutting edge equipment and tools to assist student guided learning in a variety of STEM based activities. Multitasking, problem solving, and working alongside industry professionals through internships and job shadowing opportunities create a truly unique learning experience that develops the career readiness skills needed in the maritime industry. The high school
026experience is much more than the daily academics and cramming for tests. Clubs, after school activities, and athletics help develop well-rounded students, provide new experiences, and create lasting memories for high school students. To help students find the perfect way to get involved in their school, each high school celebrated Get Connected Week. Youth development leads, activity directors, and athletic directors worked together to present each school's offerings throughout the week. Either during lunch or after school at back to school nights, students, teacher sponsors, and athletic coaches shared their clubs and sports with interested students who are focused on finding a sense of belonging at their school. I hope you enjoyed this month's school board spotlight. During our regular meetings, we provide time for the public to address the school board. These opportunities are scheduled in the early part
027of our agenda and towards the end of the meeting. As advertised, citizens may submit comments via email up to 30 minutes prior to our meeting time to be included in the official meeting record. For those of you joining us in person, the board considers this an opportunity to listen to your comments. Please understand that we will consider your concerns. We ask that you comply with our three minute time limit. As you begin your comments, a green light will come on. A yellow light signals that you have 30 seconds remaining and a red light and beep indicates your time is up. As your name is called, please come forward. CC Mazatus. Good evening Dr. Mitchell, Dr. fast and board. I am a retired Newport News public schools science teacher and I am here because Dr. Excuse
028me, Reverend Natalie Chamberlain is out of town and so she handed me her comments because she is here every month. I am reading her comments on behalf of her and our congregation at Hilton Christian Church. We remain aware that you have no intention of changing policy JBP, but the welfare of the LGBTQIA plus community is vitally important to us. Last month, most of you used your closing comments to affirm your commitment to the LGBTQIA community and especially the members of that community who are part of this school division. That sentiment is much appreciated, but it isn't enough. Pope Francis has said, "You pray for the hungry, then you feed them." And that is how prayer works. That's also true about professions of goodwill. Words are empty without action. Words without action, just like prayer without
029action, are a means to remain complicit with the evil against which one professes to care. We are here and we will continue to be here. You may choose not to act, but you can never say you didn't know action was needed. We will be here for the queer community. We will be here for the trans community. And we will be here for you, too. We're asking you to be courageous in the face of overwhelming reasons to stay silent. And we will be here for you, too. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Jackie Batterson. Good evening. My name is Jackie Batterson and I am a resident of Newport News. To begin, I would like to thank the members of this board who at the last month's meeting acknowledged what we have spent many months coming and speaking
030to this board regarding our transgender children and the procedure JBP. As I have said in the past, this school system has a decent policy in JB. However, I believe it is essential to revamp the procedure JBP such that it would acknowledge our transgender children's preferred name and identifying pronouns. It would be freedom of speech to allow school employees to recognize our children's preferences. I have a habit of reading signs outside of churches when I pass by. Some have funny sayings, some are serious, and some have parables. However, a sign at a United Church of Christ had this message. If trans people bother you more than Nazis, then you need to re-evaluate. At this time, we have a candidate here in the Commonwealth of Virginia who is running for the highest office in our state who
031is using our transgender children as a cudel to win votes. I feel that is immoral and totally unacceptable to use a minority to further your political ambitions. With this type of dialogue being spewed onto social media daily, it is more important than ever for the schools to provide a safe haven for all of our children. I will end with this. The reason speaking out is so important is that it lowers the perceived risk of those who are silent but have something to say. Your courage matters. Your words matter. Every voice is a key to unlock another's voice. Thank you. Good evening, members of the board. I'm here to support NEA uh red for campaign for collective bargaining and support work people working together to get everyone the standards they deserve. Um Dr. Graves has presented
032a resolution to the board and as a deliberative governing body, I ask that it be scheduled for a vote on or be placed on an agenda to be scheduled for a vote. Um, awards are nice, but even better pieces of paper are wages and contracts that protect the demands on people's time and the standards under which they can be expected to do them. Um, collective bargaining is a framework for ensuring this uh is is adequate and will help schools meet the needs of getting students to school at a on time at a predictable time and in a reasonable amount of time. Similarly, um procedure JBP does not reflect people working together. It it reflects scapegoating. um a minority and and by that the official policy or statements by the board are of the trans students
033are are some some kind of danger to the privacy of all students. the requirement for notification to to opt out. Um, and the the deference to the governor on athletics when when that's not what's in the state laws as required to to come down from the model policies um and the inability to allow counselors to hold sensitive information in confidence um are are things that should be changed in our procedures. Thank you. Thank you. Mary Boss. Uh hello uh members of the board and Dr. Mitchell. Um uh Mary Voss, an NPS teacher, parent and graduate. Um, as always, I would like to start off uh by encouraging the board to uh support collective bargaining rights, also known as contract negotiations for NNPS teachers and staff. Collective bargaining, of course, is the process that allows educators
034and staff to sit down as equals with their employer to negotiate over wages, working conditions, and the resources we need to do our jobs well. It creates a structured, respectful process for communication and problem solving. And it ensures that the people who work most closely with students have a real voice in decisions that affect classrooms every day. Uh when educators support staff, when educators and support staff have a voice, schools work better. Re research shows that collective bargaining helps reduce turnover, improves morale, and attracts and retains high-quality educators. Um in a time when uh school divisions across Virginia and the country are struggling to fill positions, this matters. teachers and staff who feel valued and heard are far more likely to stay and give their best to our students. Uh, moving on to the topic
035of a potential sick leave bank. Um, I want to say thank you um to the board and Dr. Mitchell um for sending out a survey to gauge interest in a sick leave bank for NNPS teachers and staff. Um, NEA members have been advocating for a sick leave bank. Um, so I'm very glad to see it's being considered. Um, I do think it's important to allow more than one week for staff to participate in the sick leave bank survey and to send out one more or you know additional at least one additional email about it, maybe even more. Um, even better would be a text blast to employees to remind them to take the survey. That way you can get plenty of data and ensure that uh significantly more employees take the survey which will make
036the results much more meaningful than if the survey is only open for a week. Um, I also think it would be very helpful for NNPS to provide additional information about the potential sick leave bank, including opportunities for teachers and staff to get on Zoom and ask questions. Um, I'm hearing some misunderstandings um from staff about what a sick leave bank means. Um, some some think it's just about donating to employees in need. they're not realizing it's also a safety net for them that they would also be eligible um to withdraw from the sick leave bank for a documented medical hardship um after their sick leave days are depleted. So that's like a common misunderstanding I'm hearing. Also, there's confusion about a third sick leave day being taken um with some people thinking it'll be taken
037without permission um when actually the district would ask permission first and give the donor the option to exit the sick leave bank. Um, so, um, I hope that NNPS will send out reminder emails, text blasts, provide, uh, Zoom Zoom sessions where staff can actually fully understand the sick leave bank proposal. Um, you know, a lot of Virginia's school districts give their employees the safety net of a sick bank. Um, and I have to think that it may partly be with how it's presented to them. So, um, I just hope NPS will consider really informing employees about what the sickly bank is, um, before the survey ends. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Thank you for your comments and thoughts this evening. We will now move to section three, the consent agenda, which includes 3.01
038minutes from the work session, September 16, 2025. Minutes from the regular meeting, September 16, 2025. Financial reports, including the revenue and expense reports for September 2025. Child nutrition reports 3.04, the personnel report 3.06, resolution, military child, 3.07, BMPP, BMP, agreement for project at Gildersleeve Middle School 3.08, budget transfer 3.09, resolution multi-state opiate settlement 3 10 General Stanford lease agreement. At this time, can we have a motion to approve the consent agenda? I move to approve the consent agenda as presented. We have a second. Second. It has been moved and seconded to approve the consent agenda. Any questions, comments? Um, yes, Madam Chair. I do have a couple questions on the I and it may just be the interface that I'm on. On the general Stanford school lease, I noticed that the in here ends January
039or December 2026. So, I just was what is the proposed new term? Is it just a renewal of it? It was hard to tell why it was in the consent agenda because it seemed like the old draft form of your motion is to allow us to contact the Department of the Army and get a renewal of the lease for an additional 25 years. Good. And the second question on the um BMP agreement at Gilder sleeve that's is that already it's I would think it would be already contemplated that was the solar panels and this is in regards to runoff regarding the solar panels. It's it's a solar panel project and the there's a need to increase the the BMP size that requires the storm water with the city that's a city ordinance requirement. Okay. And
040is that contemplated in the budget or any budget shift allocations? Was that in the original project? Just want to know what we're getting into. Thank you. PS within the and it allows us to ride off the city's um MS4 permit which is a municipal separate storm sewer system. So basically that's how we manage our storm water runoff and we use our um vendor that maintains our BMPPS to provide inspections for the city. So, it's a collaborative opportunity for us and it's worked out well. Any other questions? My question is is in regards to the opioid settlement uh resolution that we are adopting here and this is just uh in regards to uh it looks it looks like this is a completion of that settlement and I guess the question is maybe we don't know this
041at this time. How much money are we getting? We we are not a participant in the opioid settlement directly. We chose previously not to become a participant but the purpose of this resolution is to get even jurisdictions which didn't directly participate in the litigation to approve the settlement. The reason for doing that that helps encourage the settlement to be completed. In theory you could sue over the opioid crisis and the jurisdictions are being asked in essence to indicate that they will not sue individually and will allow this settlement to proceed without um any impediment from us. Okay. So, does our does our vote tonight mean that we are participant in the settlement and we receive money or does that mean that we're waving our rights to sue the lander? Okay. So, we're waving our rights
042to sue in the future, but we're not receiving any correct funding today. Correct. Any other questions or comments? Um, I'm not sure about the proper procedure, but I would like to move to separate that out from the rest. I would I would uh I would second that motion to to separate the opioid settlement from the consent agenda so we can vote on Okay. Second that we separate 3.09 the resolution for the multi-state opiate settlement. So Mending Miss Al's motion. I'm seconding U Miss Ammon's motion to amend the consent agenda to remove item 3.09. Okay. From there would be a motion to amend. She's a motion. So then we would vote on whether we pull it out and then we would vote on each separately. Yep. So, we're going to vote on the amended motion and
043go back to um the main motion which includes we have to vote whether to amend the motion, right? And then we're going to go back to the main motion. Motion to do all right without the opioid resolution in it. Correct. So, the amendment motion um Miss Aman and second by Mr. Brown. So, Mr. Brown you for the amended motion? Yes, I am. I'm just for. for. Okay. Uh Harris for. Hunter for. Slaw for. Alger for. Aman for. Bess for. Motion carries 70. And now we're going to go back to the main motion which was um Miss Alger. And who second it? Miss Aman. No. Miss Harris. No it was Miss Not Miss Alger's motion. It was Miss Aman's motion. We now we're voting on now we're back to the mayor. I'm sorry. The original the
044original as amended amendment. Correct. So, what I'm going to do is uh I move to approve the consent agenda that is currently amended um without uh 3.0 3.09 at this point at this time. All right. And we'll second it. Any discussion? Okay. Call. All right, Mr. Brown, for. Miss Harris, for. Hunter, for. Surles law, for. Alger, for. Amen. for. Best for. Motion carries 7-0. And now we're going to vote on the resolution. Okay. I I'll motion for uh item 3.09, the resolution for multi-state opioid settlement. I second. Any questions, comments? I'll just make the the comment I and I'm open to uh any other comments from the board, from the rest of the board. I don't see the benefit of agreeing not to sue uh when signing on means that we get no money. So,
045I don't I don't see the benefit of receiving nothing and agreeing to never sue in the future. I I don't see the benefit of that. But I can be convinced otherwise. I can be convinced otherwise by arguments from the rest of the board if they want to. offer that up. Any other comments, Mr. Hunter? Yeah, I'd like to have a little more elaboration on this one. Again, can we just table this until next meeting? No, we cannot because it's timeconuming because of the time lapse. Okay. The original timeline was early October. They extended it to early November. If you don't vote on it in this meeting, then you wouldn't have an opportunity unless you called a special meeting. The the answer to your question, Mr. Brown, is it the argument that the state would make,
046the attorney general's office, is that this is a a big deal lawsuit that covers multi-jurisdictional all over the country. um and to encourage the settlement of the case. Even those jurisdictions which didn't initially choose to participate can help the settlement be finalized because it guarantees to the other party that there won't be all kinds of additional lawsuits that would further cost them money and potentially cost additional settlements. The truth of the matter is this. The pursuing litigation of this kind would be so uh costly in involved that an individual uh school division probably couldn't do it on their own. That's the reason you have the multi-jurisdictional approach in the first place. So in essence, if we say no, we're kind of stopping or it likely won't stop the in practical terms, it likely won't stop
047the settlement, but the the attorney general's office would prefer that as many jurisdictions as possible join both city councils and school boards to encourage the settlement. I don't I don't recall why we didn't in the first place, but I know it came up. I can't answer that question. I know it was it was approached to the the superintendent and board at the time and a decision. There was never a decision to participate in the multiate litigation. So, we did not do that. Now, they're at the settlement stage and we're being asked to in essence facilitate the settlement. And I don't recall voting on it either. recall it coming. There was no You mentioned city council. So, has Newport New City Council um made a decision or taken a vote? I don't know the answer to
048that. I don't know yet. I I believe I believe I believe they have, but I'm not positive. Time for this a question. Could we table it until Thursday? Then we'll have a couple of questions. As long as you call a special meeting and use this as an item for the special meeting. Sure. So, we have a meeting. We have to go into agenda. Do we need to call We have to just alter the agenda. Amen. The agenda. The agenda. Yes, you can. You can. You've got 24 hours to uh call a special meeting and create the agenda. So the answer to that's yes. Okay. Do you have a motion? We need a motion for that. What happened? The for the meeting on Thursday because it's already posted. Can they just amend it with that agenda
049item? Because it's already noticed um for Thursday. It sounds like we have enough time to do it. We have more than 24 hours. I believe as long as there's 24 hours notice, you can change the meeting in the agenda. Yep. Do we need a motion? No. Do we need a motion? How do we do that? Do we table can we just do we need a motion or can we just table it to our a motion to add this to the next to the Thursday meeting? Is that what you're asking? Or can we just table or can you just table table and then table vote? You can you can just table it and we'll figure out how to get it on the agenda. Right. Do we vote on the tableing or do we just table it?
050I think we just table it. Right. Well, someone someone could certainly move to table it. I think this you could you could uh That's fine. table the item if you want to vote on it. That's acceptable as well. Okay. You make a motion. Can I make I move it? I move that we table this uh particular item until our 30th October 30th. Mr. Hunter, maybe I'll because I was the one who made the main motion. I will um I will relent in the main motion and until Thursday. Can I do that? I I I will I will resend my motion uh for Thursday. But do we still have to have something to put on the agenda for Thursday? Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Table. I'll second Mr. Hunter's motion or I will That's what I was I
051will uh with the second not the 30th. That's 23rd. Move 3.09 to the 30th. 23rd. 23rd. 23rd to the 23rd. I'm sorry. To the 23rd. Thursday. It's just Thursday. Our meeting. Our meeting is here in this location, right? Hines. No. Is it Hind? It's at Hines. It's still centrally located because 24 hours. Yes. Yes. Okay. So, what I hear is a a motion uh by Mr. Hunter, second by Mr. Brown to table agenda item 3.09, resolution, multi-state opioid settlement. Yes. Okay. All right. Brown for. Harris for. Hunter for. Sors law for. Alger for. Aean for. Best for. Motion carries 70. Okay. So we'll move on. Okay. Thank you. And we will move to section action items 4.01. 01 FY2027 to 2031 proposed capital improvement plan. Dr. Mitchell. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Um, tonight,
052as you know, Rusty Fairhart has spent a little bit of time with you on the uh proposed CIP uh plan. He will give you um an overview of it and a update, if you will, or a slight change with the with the request. We are asking, Rusty, correct me if I'm wrong, that um they will also vote on that this tonight. Correct. Um if you recall, the CIP outlines the division's facilities, priorities, projected timelines, and funding strategies for major major capital projects. And so I'm going to turn it over to Mr. Fairheart. You've had the opportunity to review the updated version. It was loaded into board docs. And so Mr. Fairheart, I'll turn it over to you. Good evening, Madam Chair, members of the board. Dr. Mitchell, I'd like to present to you the um
053request your approval for the FY27 to FY um 2031 capital improvement plan. Um essentially, you're familiar with what was proposed at the last work session, I'm sure. Um that's on the screen in front of us. They asked for the first year of the plan FY27 was for $187.8 $8 million with the two um big budget items being the renovations at Warwick High School and Dembi High School. Um as you're aware um a portion of the funding um for the design and renovation at Warwick High School was approved for the FY26 um CIP. So we're requesting the second half of that appropriation so we can complete that project and get it underway. Um and then we have DBI design and construction and the other items are there as well. um buses. Um we're trying to catch
054up with where we've been underfunded um in previous years based on the rising cost of buses so we can maintain our replacement cycle as appropriate. Um one of the items I will point your attention to is the learning cottage replacements. Um and that was for $25.8 million. And I'll share with you why I am pointing that out as we move forward based on feedback that I received from you all at the work session. Um the total for the five-year um CIP is $359.3 million. So move moving forward to what's being proposed to you tonight based on your feedback um last month. Um we've um based on your guidance, we've lumped the learning college replacements as a safety and security item and we pushed all those costs into the current physical year. That's FY27. So you
055can see that total rose to 28.2 million. Um the total for FY27 at this point is 21 excuse me, um two uh 20 20.2 uh 2012.2 million, excuse me. Um and the total has not changed for the 5year cycle. Um we've just moved those expenses and requests up to the current fiscal year. Um and everything else has remained consistent and those numbers for learning college replacements have disappeared in the end years of the budget. Um so with that, I'll take any questions that you may have or comments at this point. questions, comments? Being none. At this time, we'll have a motion to approve the 2027 to 2020 to 2031 proposed capital improvement plan. I move to approve the 2027 uh to 202031 proposed capital improvement plan. Second. Okay. Any questions? I just want to make
056a comment um that we didn't come to this point lightly with the capital improvement plan and I just really appreciate your team giving us um you know the full display of what we've done in the past that was important um and where we are and where we need to go and I I just enjoy working with a group of individuals who has gotten to the point where we ask for what we really need because there was a time that we didn't do that. Um, and we know that, you know, money is tight and our city is doing the best they can, you know, by all of us. But I am just really proud that we were able to um really present what we need at this point. Any other comments? Miss Buffalo, call the please.
057Brown for. Harris for. Hunter for. Sors law for. Alger for. Aean for. Best for. Motion carry 70. Thank you. Thank you. We'll now move to 4.02 personnel actions. Dr. Mitchell. Thank you very much, Madame Chair. Tonight, I'd like to make a recommendation for Mr. Dwight Durham as the director of financial services here in Newport News. He currently has Masters of Business Administration from the College of William and Mary and he also currently works in a neighboring district as a chief financial officer and has worked in a variety of other um financial uh positions in several divisions in our local. He brings experience with him and we we've had a conversation where sometimes it's nice to have someone that comes that has experiences from other divisions because we get to learn from others. And so tonight
058I am making a recommendation for Mr. Dwight Duran to be the director of finance. Thank you Dr. Mitchell. Any questions, comments? Madam Chair, I make a motion to approve the personnel uh item as recommended. You have a second. Second. Again, any questions, comments? Miss Buffalo will call the roll, please. Brown, for. Harris, for. Hunter, for. Surlaw for. Algere, for. Best for. Motion carries 70. Thank you. We will move to section five, reports and information 5.01, new and revised policies. Dr. Mitchell, thank you very much. Um, I think tonight will be Tracy Brooks night because she will be coming up again after this one. But tonight, Miss Brooks will present um seven of 15 new revised policies that are required under recent recently enact enacted state legislation and they're in three key focus areas, instruction, health,
059and uh student cell phone use. So, I'm going to turn it over to Miss Tracy Brooks. Thank you. Good evening, Madame Chairman, Madame Vice Chairman, members of the board, and Dr. Mitchell. It is a pleasure to share highlights from seven new and revised policies and procedures with you this evening. As you know, one of the major roles of the school board is to set the policy direction for the school division. So, we are fortunate to have two schoolboard members on the policy committee, and they are Mrs. Aean and Mrs. Zger along with principles, administrators, a teacher representative, and our school board and school division attorneys. As Dr. Mitchell mentioned, this evening I will be sharing seven of 15 new and revised policies and procedures that are required by new state legislation. And as most of
060you are aware, we typically begin each policy year by revising our current policies or developing new ones to ensure that we meet the most recent state mandates. Now, I've placed the seven policies in three groups. The first includes two policies that relate to instruction. Second are for policies that impact student health. And lastly is the policy that addresses student cell phones. Our first policy this evening supports opportunities for middle school students to take advanced mathematics classes to ensure that they are challenged and prepared to take accelerated high school and college level math courses. It formalizes the path that our school division has had in place for many years. This policy establishes the criteria and process for automatically enrolling fifth through 8th grade students in advanced or accelerated math classes and also allows parents to opt
061their students out of the accelerated classes should they choose to do so. The policy also requires the school divisions to notify parents of the policy annually. Now, in addition to so scores determined by the Department of Education, the Virginia Department of Education for automatic enrollment, there are other factors that may be considered to allow middle school students to enroll in an advanced or accelerated mathematics course, such as teacher recommendations, parent recommendations, or student aptitude as demonstrated through their grades, class portfolios, or other standardized testing. state. Now, currently we have a policy that requires the school division to provide instruction on the use and misuse of alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and gambling. We revised the policy to add the new state requirement for school divisions to provide instruction in our high schools on opioid overdose prevention
062and reversal. The class instruction will also include identifying the signs of possible opioid overdose and training in administering a medication for reversing or blocking a possible overdose. Our school is school division is incorporating this instruction and ninth and tth grade health classes. Now I would like to review our for health related policies. Our school division conducts several required safety drills throughout the year from fire drills and lockdown drills to school bus safety drills under state law. Now every school staff is required to conduct at least one sudden cardiac arrest drill on school grounds each year. However, our school division is requiring school staffs to practice responding to sudden cardiac arrests a minimum of twice a year after school hours. Our next policy addresses medications that staff or students may administer during the school day. And
063we're adding two new state requirements to the policy. The first requires that at least one employee and every school be trained and available at all times to administer an opioid reversal or blocking medication to someone experiencing a possible overdose during regular school hours. The second requirement allows secondary students with a condition causing seizures to carry their seizure rescue medications with them during the school day at school sponsored activities or on a school bus or other school property. if their parents have submitted a seizure management action plan to the school nurse, which includes written consent from the parent and written approval from the students primary care physician. Our next policy is new and requires notification of a school connected student overdose. So within 24 hours, principles must notify the parents of students in their particular school
064of a confirmed or suspected student overdose that has occurred on school property or at a school sanctioned event. The policy also requires principles to provide an updated notification to parents if the principles later discover any inaccuracies in their initial notification. Now, over the past few years, our temperatures have been increasing worldwide. This last health related policy addresses the protection and safety of our student athletes during extreme heat. The policy works to inform coaches, student athletes, and their parents or guardians of the risks, best practices, and strategies for ensuring the safety and protection of student athletes while engaging in outdoor physical activity during extreme heat. The procedure to the policy uses heat guidelines from the Virginia High School League for practices and games. The guidelines include five tiers based on heat or humidity levels, beginning with
065the first tier for the lowest heat or humidity level requiring special safety and protection precautions and advancing to the final tier for the most severe heat or humidity level when all outdoor athletic practices and games will be cancelled. My last policy this evening addresses the use of cell phones by students. Last school year, the school board passed a student cell phone policy incorporating some of the guidance elements from the Virginia Department of Education. Our policy prohibited elementary and middle school students from using their cell phones from bell to bell, meaning from the time their first bell rings at the start of the school day until the dismissal bell rings at the end of the school day. However, our high school students were allowed to use their cell phones during their lunch period. State law now
066restricts cell phone use for all students from bell to bell. So we revised our policy to reflect that change. The the revised policy works to maintain a safe and orderly environment during the school day and to promote a healthier and more focused educational setting where students can learn free of distractions. Additionally, the procedure to the policy was revised to prohibit a student from being suspended or expelled solely for violation of this procedure. So, as I conclude my report this evening, I wanted to revisit our timeline for implementing the five-year review of our 11 policy chapters from this school year to the year 2030. As we begin the second round of chapters to review in year one of our timeline, we will bring policies before you from three chapters and they are facilities planning, fiscal management,
067and support services. So, in terms of our next steps, the new and revised policies will come before the school board for action at your November 18th meeting. And once approved, the new and revised policies and procedures will be posted on our school division websites. So, this concludes my report this evening. Joining me are Mr. Daryl Pancress, executive director of secondary teaching and learning, and Mr. Lynn Wallen, director of legal services. So at this time we'll be happy to respond to your questions and to note your suggestions. Thank you. Okay. I had a question about the accelerated math program. You mentioned students would be automatically opted in and you would uh annually reach out to parents to provide them notice of this. And I was wondering how you're reaching out to parents, whether it's email, a
068text blast, through parent view, and if they are choosing to opt out their children, what does that process look like? Okay, Mr. Par. Thank you. Good question. Yes, great question. Um, so we will be doing an email blast for all parents with that as well as um putting into a parent view communication. Okay. Yes. Thanks, Madam Chair. Um, this formalizes a lot of what we're already doing, correct? We already sort of defer to that. And then my second question was on the cardiac arrest. We're already are we already doing two safety drills a year. So, it's not an additional burden. It's just codifying actually lesser than what we're already doing. Right. Our staff wanted to do two. So, we have that in place. We've been doing that. Okay. and kids are already students sorry enrolled
069in higher math if that makes sense for them and parents can opt out right yes ma'am we've actually before the state even put this into place we have had um a lower scaled score on our SOS that we've already been enrolling students in advanced math um even before this was in place yes ma'am sorry to circle back to my question but I don't know if you answered the what does the opting out process look like for parents I apologize about that you're right, you did ask that part. Um, so they will receive the letter confirmation saying that their student is there and then they will communicate with the schools based upon that letter um to counseling. So then counselors could make the adjustment in the schedule based upon their preference. Okay. Thank you, M. All
070right. Yeah, Christmas came early for me. Love the uh, of course, I love the IGBJ. I love it so much that I lobbyed I went up to dele to the uh Virginia General Assembly this last year and lobbyed for it. So, I'm really excited to see it. Uh the only question I have about um potentially ruining this dream for me is uh the the item that the section that says uh if available. So, the if available part for us, does that include virtual Virginia? because if not available in our schools, we could uh refer the student to virtual Virginia so that we don't slow the student down. Is that what we're is that what if available means in the policy? Correct. Yes. Um but I would say we're I would say 99% of those courses
071are available, right? Are available already, right? Because the only if availables are maybe at the high school level because really everything students are doing is already available. So that's that's awesome. Yes, sir. Yeah. Really excited. This is um This is 10 years in the making for me and I'm really can't wait to can't wait to vote on this. So, I'm really really happy and excited about pretty much all these policies, especially the cell phone one. You all know I've been talking about that for many years uh now. So, it'll be great to uh uh and I want all the students to hear me when I say I'm I'm taking the cell phones out of your hands even at lunchtime. So, yep, you can blame me and uh and I'm happy to be the blame for
072it. So uh and then the other question I had just in regards to uh it becomes very important as we talk to members of the Virginia General Assembly when we go and talk about uh legislation and bills that they're proposing. Have we, and I know I asked this question before, codified the cost of all of these unfunded mandates because there are several unfunded mandates that are in part of this package. And what I really appreciate is getting in the habit of is really quadifying how much this is actually costing us in additional actual labor and time because doing I think it's great that we're doing the um because I actually, you know, push for that having the out of school safety drills. That's great. But how much money is that? And can we get a
073number on each one of these policies such that when we go and talk to uh our delegates and senators that we can actually put a number to this is how much money you cost us that we did you didn't give us. Uh because because each one of these I'm I'm very confident having sat through the uh uh the education forum. They went through and said there's no um no appropriation impact on each one of these bills. But there is an appropriation impact. And what I mean is not just discounting I know for the like defibrillators and some of the heat things. Hey, we got this money from the Red Cross. They donated some devices. No, exclude that because absent of of gift and nonprofit helping us. How much money does it cost us? So we
074really have that number. We have not officially done that, Mr. Brown. That is a very good point. We have had unfunded mandates for years and we have not done that. And and I think that's a great idea and I don't see any reason why we we can't do that. Thank you. And I bring that up only from the standpoint of there's eventually going to be a law that's passed that we can't actually suck up and we can't actually stomach and we have to be able to explain. We didn't do what we were legally mandated to do because we don't have the money for it. And so I think it's important for us to get into the habit of figuring out how much money that's costing us. Yeah, it would be good to see what's costneutral,
075but I I'm looking at it and I'm wondering which in particular may um but a lot of this could be absorbed, right? It it well it can be, but it it usually this so several of these are requiring additional staff or additional staff time, additional staff training that they have not had in their regular training that they're going to have to either go to or we provide for them. So that that's all I see dollar signs. I'm just I hear cash registers just going off with each one of these. Thank you. So, um I was thinking the same thing even with the um the cell phone mandate, which I do believe Oh, let's keep that one. It's a I do believe that it is a good move. Um, but my question, and it might be
076rhetorical for right now, is um how much is that going to overwhelm our office staff? And is that going to require that we have more um support in the building to to, you know, allow students to come in, use phones to do rides in the afternoon. I mean, it might not be a huge additional cost, but it's definitely going to be one. I will say in terms of the office staff, it will, you're right, it won't necessarily be a monetary cost where we add additional staff, but it will it will have an impact on the staff in the main office and and teachers with with phones in their classrooms, you know, having kids call home. Absolutely. Just I want to tag on a couple And I think it would be good whatever the department is
077t kind of brainstorm what are these costs because they're going to be some financial costs and then some non-financial but they are costs in the sense that um you know you talk about the uh let's say the heat. There may be transportation costs of we've got to bring these kids back and we've got to take them when we have a you know heat cut something short or you've got and we maybe we even do a bell and then a five minute later bell so if kids have to call and check their rides they can if it gets too ownorous on the staff but uh you know in the offices but even the just staying late and the how many individuals are involved in doing this and there's going to be some just sheer additional stress
078of that can't get home to the can't grade papers. It's it's important that it's it's a strain. So, great idea. Yes, ma'am. Going back to the cell phone policy, I wanted to know how you're going to communicate to students how serious the consequences are of using your phone as it's a state policy now. And are you going to go do it through maybe student view or announcements or town halls? I was because I hear a lot about, you know, we won't be able to use our phones, but not what the process looks like if you get in trouble for using your phone. And I don't think a lot of students take it seriously because they don't know the consequences. Yes. In fact, there's a communications plan in place to cover many of the areas that
079you've mentioned. And I think the effective date for us is starting second quarter. So I know that information is going out to students and to families and as I said are using multiple venues and so definitely Mrs. works to that and I know some principles I know principal Holler well they'll send almost weekly emails updates if communications had an excerpt to let them include in it with the list that might be I think a lot of times people might just think of the natural communications that everybody checks every put it in there just an extra way to share because the lunch wasn't us it was the state so little yes indeed okay do Any other questions? Thank you. Thank you very much. And now we'll move on to 5.02 strategic plan presentation. Dr. Mitchell and
080Miss Brooks just needs to remain at the podium. Grab her water. And so tonight, Miss We will present the uh elevate 2030 empowering every student. um as we have worked through this plan, we see it as a bold step forward for our school district um as we are trying to chart out our next five years. So, Miss Brooks is going to provide tonight's presentation. Thank you, Dr. Good evening, Madame Chairman, Madame Vice Chairman, members of the board, and Dr. Mitchell. I am excited to present our strategic plan for the next five years and our profile of a Newport News learner. With the involvement of hundreds of participants, including our families, school division staff, and our community, we now have what we believe is an ambitious plan, innovative, and inspiring plan for the future of Newport
081News public schools. I would like to begin this evening with this quote from our superintendent that embodies our shared purpose and collaboration and it reads, "Together we are building momentum for lasting change, elevating every learner every day." When we began this process, we knew that a successful plan would require us to partner with the school division with our school division family and the community at large. So, we formed a strategic plan steering committee consisting of a broad representation from across the peninsula that provided input in developing the framework for both our five-year strategic plan and our profile of a Newport News learner. So starting in February of this year and throughout the process, steering committee members played a key role by providing invaluable insights and perspectives, ensuring that our strategic plan reflected the collective aspirations
082and priorities of our entire community. The committee members also solicited feedback from their larger group of constituents resulting in a more robust and inclusive process. Now, there were multiple sources of engagement throughout the strategic planning process with feedback and data points from the community through 13 stakeholder focus groups, over a thousand survey participants, and three schoolboard member workshops. And fortunately, with this board's direction and leadership, and the community's input, we finalized the school division's mission, vision, and core values, and develop the five goals that form the foundation and priorities of our strategic plan and the profile of a Newport News learner. And now I would like to share our mission, vision, and core values followed by the five strategic plan, priority or focus areas with the school board's goal under each priority. Our guiding principles
083that anchor all we do are our mission, vision, and core values. Our mission is to cultivate and empower every student's potential through highquality instruction, personalized support, and strong relationships. Our vision is elevate, empower, one, and NPS. And our core values are integrity, respect, accountability, excellence, empowerment, and collaboration. Now, our planning process aligns instruction with opportunity and engagement. The five strategic plan focus areas are here on the slide. Academic literacy, culture of advancement, workforce readiness, civic and business partnerships, and elevating our identity. And now I would like to take a moment to share the school board's goal under each of these priorities. After the board established the goals, our division leaders from various departments developed the key performance indicators that will measure our progress. Our first strategic plan focus area is academic literacy, which is the
084cornerstone of student success. The school board's goal is that 90% of students in grades three and five will be proficient in reading and math by the year 2030 with steady annual growth and a focus on closing achievement gra gaps. Under a culture of advancement, we are building a culture where every student can succeed in rigorous coursework, whether it be academic, artistic, or technical. The board's culture of advancement goal is by the year 2030, we will increase student engagement and successful completion of advanced learning opportunities across all areas of the curriculum while maintaining strong academic growth at all levels to ensure that students are prepared for future ready pathways. This strategic fi focus area ensures that students leave Newport News public schools with skills and credentials aligned to our region's economics needs. The school board's goal
085is to increase the number of students who graduate workforce ready equipped to enter high demand careers and meet the needs of a changing economy by 2030. Civic and business partnerships expand learning beyond the classroom through authentic community-based experiences. The board's goal is that all students in grades 6 through 12 will engage in realworld learning experiences that connect them to their communities and prepare them for future success by the year 2030. The last strategic focus area is elevating our identity. We will be amplifying the school division's story to build greater pride among students, staff, and families. The school board's goal is that by 2030, Newport News Public Schools will strengthen the division's image through consistent storytelling, elevating community pride, and celebrating student and staff success. And now I would like to share our profile of a
086learner at Newport News graduate which focuses on the following six attributes that this school board determine our students should possess. Our students will be academically prepared, emotionally intelligent, a leader, reflective, innovative and resilient. And now I would like to take a moment to speak very briefly to each of these. In being academically prepared, our students will be literate and workforceminded, ready for future endeavors. Using emotional intelligence, students will navigate life and relationships with empathy and selfawareness. Our students will lead with purpose, influence, and integrity beyond the classroom. As reflective learners, our students will think critically to grow and make meaningful life choices. Our students will be innovative. Solving problems with creativity and a f future focused mindset. And lastly, being resilient will allow our students to respond to challenges and demonstrate self-directed learning. As next
087steps, we will share copies of the draft strategic plan with board members this week for your review and revision. And then the plan would come before you as an action item at your November 18th schoolboard meeting. Following your approval, we will develop a communications plan to increase public awareness of our course for the next five years. Launch the strategic plan this fall with staff initially at our general administrative staff meeting in early December. Integrate plan elements into the curriculum by making meaningful connections for students that are rigorous and engaging. and create an implementation committee with the staff leads for each focus area to implement the action steps and measure our progress using the key performance indicators which will be reported to this school board quarterly. So in closing once again I would like to thank
088all who help shape Elevate 2030 from our students, families and staff to our community, business, government and faith partners. I would like to leave us this evening with our vision. Elevate empower one NNPS. So we thank you for the opportunity. Thank you. We thank the community. Any questions on this? Just excitement. Thank you for all your hard work. Yes, we do appreciate it because it looks like a lot went into it and we really appreciate it and thank you for pulling it together. Thank you very much. It was definitely a community effort. And we will now move on to 5.03, the attendance report. Board members, you have received a copy of this report. Are there any questions? 5.04, the membership report. Board members, you have received a copy of this report. Are there any questions?
089Thank you. 5.05. the construction report. Board members, you have received a copy of this report. Are there any questions? All right. Hearing none, we'll move to item 5.06, comments by the superintendent, Dr. Mitch. Thank you so much, Madam Chair. We are super excited to uh share with you that we are offering a virtual afterchool STEM academy for grades for through eight and it is hands-on and it will cover things like um aerospace, robotics, coding, uh astronomy and astrophysics and it's going to take place starting now and run through the spring. So we are super excited about that. And then yesterday we had an amazing day at Menchville High School. Um many of you uh Kyla was there and that is her school. Um we had the opportunity to do a ribbon cutting for the newly
090refurbished courtyard at Menchville which was made possible through a group donation u that was really led by a company USA joint venture. But there were lots of businesses that also not only donated uh finances but they also donated a lot of labor and a lot of time. So we are super excited about that and we are very appreciative to our community partners. We already acknowledged earlier this is National Bus Safety Week, but I did want to take a moment to thank all of our bus drivers and all of our dispatchers. There's so many people that go into getting the bus on the road. You know, they say the wheels on the bus go round and round. They don't go round and round just by putting the key in. There's a lot of people that are
091working on that and just want the transportation staff to know how much we really appreciate what they do every day. October is National Bullying Prevention Month. And as you know, if you've been an NNPS person for a while, you know that we do a lot about raising awareness about bullying while promoting kindness and acceptance. And we do it daily, but we also do it through a variety of events such as stand. And then October the 6 was recognition for World Bullying Prevention Day where everyone wore blue. So we had a good turnout at um Todd Stadium. We did something different this year. We did the walk around the track in the beginning of the game which really helped younger children be able to go home at a reasonable time. So it was very very successful.
092And one of the important things that we also want to touch on today is that this month is National Principles Month and we want to thank all of our principles for their leadership, for their commitment not only to students but to staff and to families. We appreciate your dedication. We appreciate your vision and the countless hours that you invest in our school community. Um, that's another job that's not an easy job. We talked about bus drivers today. Being teachers and principles are hard. We appreciate what our principles do every October is disability awareness month, national disability awareness month. And this really is a time for all of us to recognize and celebrate the contributions and the history of people with disabilities. It's a time for us to increase public awareness and the rights of people
093with disabilities. So this again is um October is two things. O well really three national principal awareness u bullying prevention and national principles. So October is a big month for us and I'm going to round it out by just sharing with you a few events that are coming up Saturday, November the 1st. We have a hiring event at War High School. Um, so if you are interested in working for Newport News Public Schools in a variety of capacities, oftentimes people think the job fair is for teachers only, but there are lots of positions that um, you can apply for. And uh, Monday, November the 3, can't believe it. It is the end of the marking period. Can you believe that, Kyle? No, it has flown by. It has flown by, but it is the end
094of the marking period. So students, if you have outstanding assignments, let let's get everything turned in. And then Tuesday is a ecomute day, work day. Still a work day, teachers who are sitting out here, but it is a commute day. Um students do not report and our staff will work from home. We do have elections. They use our building. So our staff is able to work from home. And then Wednesday, this is more for parents than it is for students. Kyle, Wednesday, report cards are issued. That's important for parents to know. Kyla, that's for your mom to know your report. And that ends my comments. Thank you, Dr. Mitchell. We will now move on to item six, another opportunity to hear from the public. Are there any additional cards? No, ma'am. Okay. Thank you. We
095will now move on to matters by the school board. And we will begin with our student representative. Thank you. The SA stage students have been selected for this school year and later this week I'll be meeting with Dr. Mitchell and Mrs. Brooks to plan the agenda for our first meeting which will be held on Wednesday, October 29th. We're looking forward to a really, really exciting year. Additionally, the ribbon cutting ceremony for Mitchell's new outdoor learning center took place yesterday. I'd like to take a moment to thank the Newport News community, staff, and partners for their dedication to continuously providing students with new and exciting opportunities. It was a joy to see so many people like Superintendent Dr. Mitchell, board member Mrs. Aemon, and vice chair Mrs. Alger gather to celebrate such a meaningful achievement. I
096truly thank all of you. Thank you. Thank you. We'll have Miss Harris next. Okay, that came quick. Um, I just wanted to first I want to talk about the strategic plan like it from being a part of the process from the beginning for the first time. um and seeing it really unfold and the pieces come together so nicely. Um it was great seeing it up there. Thank you um for that presentation. Um really proud of of what the collective was able to to come up with and I'm ready to push the the mission forward, you know, empower um one and NPS. I I just think it's it's it's perfectly woven together. Um I also wanted to um thank my colleagues for attending with me at the the uh honorable Dr. McKinley Price Street naming ceremony
097that took place on October 3rd. Um I wanted to also thank my colleagues for attending on on October 8th the Newport News PTA meeting that happened at Heritage um high school. Uh please I'm encouraging everyone to be a part of their uh PTAs. uh they're trying to get their uh membership up, so you can definitely go on the website and find out more about that. And uh that's a a way of engagement. Um October 5th was National Coaches Day. Um so all of our coaches um on on all of our fields across the division, I just wanted to shout you out too. It's a lot going on in October. Um but thank you for those coaches, those extended mentors and leaders um that uh help our students um excel and grow. Um, I also too
098wanted to bring attention that the there was notices went out for Jun Junior National Honor Society. Um, help your kiddos um get through those packets um so that they can be recognized and um make it a big deal because it is um and PTS uh excuse me uh SATs the PSATs are coming up as well. I wanted to give another reminder um that those uh dates are coming up and shout out to uh breast cancer awareness um month as well which is also in October. Um so all of our survivors and all of our folks that um are that initiative is important to wanted to just um shout that out. And lastly, um I just want to remind people that there are food distribution centers um in and about the city. There are uh faith
099specialists that are collaborating with other organizations that are providing food distribution opportunities at different schools. Please be on the lookout um for those notices. They're on social media. They're on uh Facebook. They are on the Newport News uh public school uh website. so you can keep a breast and ways to to uh offer these opportunities for our families and in our and our children. Um, and that's all I have. Thank you, Miss Harris. It's it's good to have a young person on the board like that. I call her the energizer bunny because she's all over. But thank you, Miss Ama. Sure. Thank you. Um, just a couple of things. Um, and Kyla kind of took some of the wind out of my sales. the um the ribbon cutting was a was a great event and
100since maybe some people watching who are in here aren't as aware of it, I wanted to share a little bit about sort of the the genesis or the reason behind it. It wasn't just uh Mitchell decided to redo its um its back courtyard. Those that live in the area may have seen all the construction and inconvenience of the construction at Riverview Farm Park. And that is a project by HRSD called the Swift project. And they it's not something they have to do, but it's something they've chosen to do, which I think is really neat. Um, communities around the mid-Atlantic, eastern seabboard, some of them get a lot of their water through the PTOAC aquifer, an aquifer under our area, under this region. And as they draw, it shrinks. You get some of the subsidance. You'll
101cities like Norfick sinking, sort of Allah, New Orleans, but that's up here. You see some of the sinking in in the ground. Not necessarily sea level rise always. Some of it is just the sinking because of things like the aquafer being depleted. So that system is a way to take waste water that would normally be released into the river. So it's very treated. Um you already treated treat it even more to be able to inject it into the aquifer to replenish it to hopefully preserve that. But it's been a big inconvenience. It was a big project. So the companies that or contractors that were involved wanted to do something for the local community and they picked they're right there. Um, and pulled together a lot of donations and resources to redo that. So, it was
102just a great opportunity to meet them, see see the new learning area and courtyard at its end um, and its completion and just make those connections and see them giving back to the community. So, that was just it was neat to see those two things tied together. Uh, they will also have Mitch will have its homecoming parade is coming back 9:00 am on Saturday. if you're driving by, take a look. Um, and middle school, I know the soccer season, I'm sure others, but the soccer season is coming to an end. I believe the final, the top two teams will compete next Tuesday at Todd Stadium. If it's like it usually is, girls, ladies at 4, um, men at 5. Um, but that should be exciting. And then we all are, I'm sure everyone's seen the
103notice, but we're all going to be having a community meeting to learn more about transportation options and buses and zoning and magnet schools. So, if you're interested in that, come check it out or um you know, see any notes or information that comes out of that. I'm really excited to learn what we have to learn. Okay. Thank you, Miss Aman. And now, Mr. Brown. Okay. So, I'll uh pick it back on that and just implore the community, please. On Thursday, October 23rd at Hines Middle School, I believe at 6 at 6:30, we are going to have a community um session to hear from you on our magnet busing program and our transportation needs. So, this is your opportunity as a community to let us know uh what the essential transportation needs are that you have.
104Uh this is a chance that we scheduled to hear from you. So it really will be a wasted opportunity if we don't hear from the public. Uh if you don't come and hear what's going on. So implore you if they if you don't have time in your schedule to participate in the meeting, please, you know, look at our meetings are recapped on YouTube and on our website. You can see uh the uh the meetings there and just participate that way. But please just take every advantage to give the give us feedback um at this time now because we're in a time where we are going to have to make continue to make some uh challenging decisions in regards to our transportation uh to uh essentially rightsize to the budget that we have and to the
105staff that we have. Right? So that's going to continue to be uh pressing forward. It's going to continue to be an issue. And uh as well, you know, as we have the the Halloween holiday coming up, I always just implore the community um challenge you to make it a make it a community day. So, one of the things that is sort of lost in this generation that used to be we all kind of had uh we had the trick-or- treat you know tradition that we would do and and various things have have crowded in the way of that in terms of people not wanting to go door to door and things of that nature but still there are community activities that you can do and don't let that just be a I would say a
106wasted day where you are insular uh in in your own house uh because at time like this especially we've we've got the uh I know a lot of folks are out of work right now um so you know you got time right now, so to speak. Get out in your community, fellowship with one another. Uh if your church is doing a fall um a fall picnic funday, participate in that. If there's something going on at the mall, go to that. But just make sure that do something uh that gets you uh out with the community and sharing that time with each other because you don't it doesn't have to be the trick-or-treating thing, but do something uh in the community together. Don't let that just be a day that you um you sit in the
107house. And uh finally, uh real excited, of course, about these uh policies. I IGBJ and JICV. Uh like like I said, Christmas has come early uh for me in in terms of these policies, something that I've been uh advocating for for a very long time and happy to see uh these codified uh for our division and can't wait to vote on them next month. So, please stay tuned because that'll be uh I'll I'll enjoy uh unwrapping my Christmas gift next month when we vote on these policies. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Brown, Mr. Hunter. Great things are happening in New York. Um I'm just going to have a couple comments. Uh first I want to thank uh Dr. Ransom at the um Elephix Churro Middle School. He hosted the Newport News Education Foundation meeting uh last
108Thursday. Um the first time I've been to Elephant Shur. What a phenomenal school. I thought it was a musical school, man. Wow. just want to uh the students were fabulous. Um they are approaching to be a blue ribbon school. I mean he has completely I don't want to brag on anyone but he has turned that school around or have moved that school up tremendously. So I want to shout out to him and his whole staff and all the students that go there as well. I want to say thank you for that. And if you don't know about the Newport News Education Foundation, I guess I've been on that board for quite some time. We're really one of the fundraising arms of the school district, um, we raise money for, uh, small teacher grants that we
109give out every year. Uh, we've started, we've had a golf tournament and we're going to have another one again. We have salute to success. So, if you had a student who, uh, was invited to those events and now we've also include those in the CTE awards who they got three or four or five awards they're also recognized. So again um Newport News Education Foundation I'm going to make it purpose this this year to kind of get us more on track to get us out and open and to um let us know that that is a fundraising arm of the school district that will help you know provide scholarships and we do provide scholarships and um grants to our teachers. Thank you, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Zlaw. So, I'll just piggyback off for Mr. Hunter, that we
110also have the LE scholarship for students. Um, and that is an opportunity for students to get funding to go to school, but then to come back here and teach. And that is just phenomenal. And some of the winners that we've had over the years are just amazing um and have contributed nicely. um the uh policies that we're looking at. I got excited. Mr. Brown's energy was like, "Oh my gosh." Uh but I got excited along with him because what I realized is that the fight that has occurred for some of those things to be for the state have already happened in our division. And it's individuals, you know, there there's some on here like Marissa and Douglas, and we go up and we we talk about the things that are working well um in our
111divisions. And so, it's really an exciting thing to see that they're happening for the entire state. We don't want unfunded mandates, but we do want um opportunities for all of our all of our students. And um it's just exciting to get into the schools. And so one of the ways that I've been able to get in uh the past couple of weeks is by um reading with the mayor's book club. So I encourage anyone can actually come in to the schools. You have to be vetted and all that good stuff. Um, but you can come in and read to the children and then they get the book uh that you actually read um to them and it's just a really neat way to to connect with um the students but even more importantly with the
112teachers. The teachers are fantastic and um they use you as the teachable moment when you walk in that door and it's really just a joy to be part you know of their their learning day, their teaching day. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Olong. Miss Al. Um, yes. I one of um one of our roles is to be an ambassador um out there for the community and so this past week I decided to take on an invitation with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and that was amazing. Uh so, uh it was early morning. It was the coldest day last week and uh and I get to the boat and there were so many leaders. Uh Pastor Swan from Ivy Baptist Church and his team were there and everyone was there with one purpose to be educated about
113um the needs of our river. Uh we were exploring the Hampton River. baby dolphins were just jumping all around. Uh looked at uh Oyster Reef and um and my reason for being there as a schoolboard member was to see the value of the education that we have out in the community and also the partnerships that we have in our schools. Um come to find out that a lot of our schools are already involved. Um, I believe Booker T goes quite often uh with the Ches Peak Bay Foundation. The the kids uh take trips um out there on the river and I'd like to see more of our members of our community um all around um to definitely take advantage. um they are an organization um that are they are about educating um and also advocacy
114uh for our environment. So I want to do a big shout out to them and uh and and you know thanking um our team over here for allowing me the opportunity to to be a part of that. Thank you. Thank you Miss Alger. So I'll be fast. I'm just gonna touch on a couple of things. Um just riding throughout the community. I've passed several um sporting events at different schools, so I didn't realize it was National Coaching Day, but I want to say thank you to every coach, every club sponsor, every middle school sport um and every parent and staff member that comes out and support those um children. We really do appreciate it and they appreciate it. Even though I know sometimes they'll say, "You don't have to come. I don't want you there."
115I'm not going to tell you how old I am, but I still enjoy for my mother to come and support me. So go out and support them if you can and we appreciate you all doing that. Um as well uh Mrs. Harris and I did attend the PTA meeting uh with the other Newport News schools and Miss Nordine and the PTA. They're knocking it out of the park. The numbers are steadily rising. If you're not a member, please make sure you can join at any school and you can join um online, but they're doing great things and we really appreciate our PTA. Uh Mr. August Bullock who was a great supporter of Newport News public schools. Um we extend condolences to his family. Um he like I he he started his career in Newport News
116but he ended um throughout he worked at schools throughout Virginia but when he retired he came back to Newport News and he served on two strategic planning committee meetings, our um diversity and inclusion committee and I believe it was maybe two more. but we're going to miss him and we just wanted to let his family know we appreciate his support of Newport News Public Schools. So, I'm going to end up with the uh community transportation meeting on Thursday. Again, it's 6:30 at Hines Middle School. I shared with you all at the last meeting that I had to take my great niece to school because when I pulled up to the bus, the bus had already closed and it was ready to go and they cannot reopen the doors and let you in and that type
117of thing. And I promised that she was not going to be late again. I I was not going to miss the bus again. Well, we missed the bus again. So, I had to take her to school. And again, I pointed out Carver because that's where she attends school. So, as I sat in the line, I said, "Okay, I'm not going to walk her in this time. I'll get in the car line." A well oiled machine. Just a well oiled machine. So, I want to thank all the staff at every school for what you do to get our kids into the building. I want to thank all of the parents that drive their children to school every single day and pick them up every day because it did make a difference in our transportation in Newport
118News Public Schools and I'm sure we share a little bit more of that at the community meeting. So, thank you so much to our parents. Again, I want you to know we really appreciate you and those staff members that are out there directing and it's been wonderful weather, but I I've been there. So, you're going to be out there in the rain and the cold and I know it doesn't feel good, but I want you to know we see you and we appreciate it. So, that's all I have to say. This meeting is adjourned. Thank you.