001Since our last meeting, excuse me, he caught me with something in my mouth. Um, since our last meeting, everybody's been asking me, "What do I want to see with the Burkeville Elementary School?" Okay, I know I don't want to see an empty building up there to be vandalized and destroyed. I don't want to see it sold and we have apartment complexes that our children can't afford to live in. Okay? So instead, let's leave the current occupants where they are. Let's put them in a different footprint. Okay? Charge them, rent, whatever it takes. Then let's take some of those administrators that we stuck all together seven years ago and spread them out. Give them a cleaning tool and some paint and tell them to have at it. Here's your rooms. Okay. Then I would like to
002see it be a training center. Okay. We have a lot of non-English-speaking parents in Nawway County. If we taught English as a second language, our educators would be able to understand what the parent is saying, the parent would be able to understand them and they don't have to go through the child. Okay. And in addition to that, the SRO program could probably use the grounds as well. It's a flat ground, campsites, camping equipment. It's great for that. Also for any sports they would want to have and the gym is there in the humid days when they can't go outside. They can play gym. They can do some other things in the school. All right. And that's all I'm going to say about the Burkeville Elementary School. All right. But um also last time the SRO
003um he updated at at April 10th meeting about a training that was held here. Um, there was a lot of student participants and when I asked the student participants, what are you guys getting out of this? They told me nothing. And I haven't been able to prove that wrong. And I would like to be able to prove that wrong because those kids came out and they did a wonderful job. And if they're getting nothing, then we're wrong. They should at least get some kind of volunteer hours or certificate or something for the time that they spent here with us on that day. Okay. Also, um I suggest that we also have that S O put some TRA training um that type of training that we did. Not the complete scenarios, not all of that, but
004just a a one little block of training um active shooter training for our teachers and our administrative staff. I've heard guns all my life. I've heard some big weapons, okay? But when I heard that gun's come across this PA system, it was a whole different animal. Okay. So, I think just some training, just four hours, that will be enough. That's all I have um for this evening. Um any questions? You have any questions for me? No, I appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Jackie August. [Music] Good evening, Mr. Abbott, Superintendent Grimes and board. My name is Dr. Jackie Green August, executive director of the Total Life Center of Virginia. I'm a community-based doula, a certified community health worker, tobacco treatment specialist, lifestyle coach, and an instructor of mental
005health first aid, Tai Chi, health literacy, and CPR first aid. I'm also a certified community health worker and ambassador. First, I'd like to thank and praise God for guiding my words and actions tonight. Thank you to the board and Dr. Grimes for all the support they have given me in the Total Life Center and Hope Pantry thus far. I'd be remiss if I didn't thank the people who came out tonight to support our work in the community. On average, keeping the pantry operating takes over 15 hours a week. And in the past 10 months, these volunteers have generated over 28,740 of inind service hours to the community. Thanks to our volunteers who work tirelessly to make Hope Pantry happen. But to begin my speech, I want to pose a question to each board member for
006a response. Have you spoken to your constituents about the pantry, some of whom are pantry guests? And if so, what do they tell you about us? They'd probably tell you they distribute food. And that's true. In 2024, the Hope Pantry has distributed 142,940 pounds of fresh, healthy, and nutritious food to 327 families twice a month. We got 30 applications just last month. This does not include the 220,000 we distributed throughout our two years of distribution prior. But we've accomplished so much more and done so much more than just give out food. There are five things that we do as the pantry staff and volunteers. We reach out to the community by supporting 20 day adult day students to visit the pantry weekly to socialize and learn workforce and communication skills. We provide opportunity hours for
007volunteers who need community service hours. In January, we volunteered to assist steps during their point of time contact providing resources to unsheltered individuals in Nawway. We also provide community service opportunities. Next, we advocate for our community. We assist people in completing benefit applications and provide guidance when denials and reinstatements exist. We help parents understand the special education process and their child's needs. And we also serve our community as medical reserve core volunteers. We organize and deploy when disasters happen and we are called. We created a community-based teleaalth room for our families, distribute revive kits to inform community members and assists with pallet of care planning and end of life activities. We educate our community. We train community members to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health crisis. We talk about the dangers of smoking
008and how to quit. We provide maternal health care with prenatal and postpartum visits to support the family. We provide diabetes prevention and chronic disease self-management classes, CPR, first aid, sports backers fitness classes, and Tai Chi classes. We also offer health literacy classes for our second language learners and our families in order to communicate with their physicians. And lastly, we uplift others. We established a community healthcare worker apprentice program which provided stipens and on the job training to people wanting to be certified community healthcare workers through through the Virginia certification board. I love my work. I'm passionate and it's my calling. I could discuss this the importance of it in rural Virginia all night, but I will let the words of the select committee on advancing rural and small town healthcare speak for me. In the
009final report dated December 15, 2024, the Honorable Rodney T. Willlet, who's the chair, and the Honorable Robert D. Or senior who's the vice chair along with all the other committee members made nine recommendations to improve rural health care. The ninth recommendation was that the general assembly may wish to introduce a budget amendment to provide funding to the Virginia Community Healthcare Workers Association to expand the workforce efforts of community healthare workers in partnership with relevant stakeholders. Ladies and gentlemen of the board, that is how vital this work is to the health of our community. But this these questions still remain. What now and what next? As a board, your next steps determine the fate of our community. After eight years of abandonment, will you attempt to renovate and reopen a defunct school with rapidly declining enrollment
010looming, knowing that the other five facilities could use funds to remain current and operational? Or are you willing to invest in the future of your constituents to reimagine the school for community use? It's up to you to decide. My only hope is that you vote wisely and consider your constituents needs and health and happiness. Thank you again for this time to speak. I will open the floor to any comments or questions. Thank you. It's not me. It's a group. It's a community. Well, someone has to be in front. Somebody got to hit the arrows. See none. Thank you so much. August. Um she basically I I'll take this opportunity to thank you personally. I'm Helen August and I too work for NY County public schools in the JV varsity after school. uh was a 21st
011century all like great times special uh needs self-contained class enjoy great work and I follow this lady here I met her I was a young man in Marine Corps uh living on cample met her she's an angel I held on to her since and whatever she does I support her that's my life right there and I we've been out this country cruises and joy took our kids out this country different parts of the state the nation and living life and seeing different things and experiencing life in its fullest, you know. So, so I came here because I did not want to go back to Miami, Florida in North Miami. Could you imagine that? People like that's crazy. I did not grow up in the country. I embraced it. I loved it. When she brought me
012here, I'm like, "Wow, you have seasonal changes. You have the beautiful color, the curvaceiousness of the landscape, you know, I mean, I've never seen that. All I saw was green all my life. So I committed to her to live here. After I got out the Marine Corps after the desert storm, I came here. I didn't go to Miami. Later on, once I settle in, I went to Miami and told my family that I was here alive and everything is okay. I'm living here in Virginia and I've enjoyed it. So I support her whenever she does and we work together and and that's I'm just here to thank you guys. That's it for the opportunity. She's passionate about it and you hear it and and so that's all I can say. Thank you guys for what
013you do. Whatever decision you make, we know it's not ours and we got to go. However, you know, the time has come and welcome. Thank you so much each and every one of you. Thank you. Appreciate you guys. Thank you. Yes, sir. Nhard, I said that correctly. My name is Benjamin Ear. Good evening, members of the board. Tonight, I'm here to address with you things that are bothering a lot of parents here in Ottawa County and surrounding counties. First off, some things that is bothering us is teachers having sexual relations while school is in session. And I know y'all will say it never happened like you told a member of this board that if you delete messages on your phone or emails that it never happened. There are several parents that have come to me
014about their child seeing teachers with drugs on their backpacks. Teachers that are dressing inappropriately, yelling at students when they are having trouble with classwork. Also making students cry and telling students that you have been you have not been in school. I'm not showing you how to do whatever the student might need help with. The students also get told, "Get your parents to teach you since you weren't at school." Teachers talking to other teachers in the front of students saying certain students will fail if they miss more time from school. That is not a professional way to act. Next, I would like to bring before y'all is the child that brought the knife to school. We as parents never were notified about this. Hold on. I'm sorry y'all. Take your time. Knife to school. We as
015parents were never notified about this situation. Our kids came home and told us that it happened. We find out two days later that it was a fake knife. If if us as parents didn't call the school, we would have never known about it. Now, with that being said, why are the metal detectors disarmed after the tardy bell has rung? With the metal detectors being disarmed, how are we keeping our kids and staff safe? How is that going to prevent an active shooter or a mass casualty event from happening? We as parents were notified. We as parents were not notified about the stranger that was on school [Music] property. School property while the children were outside at recess. We would have never known about that if once again our children didn't come home and tell us
016parents. Y'all can send mass messages out to say FEMA is at school or they have ran out of food or do y'all's little jingle when school is out. But when it comes to the safety of our children, y'all can't send out a mass message or a phone call. That is negligence on the school system. I have heard also that the school has in place if you see something say something. But when you say something to note county schools, it's just swept under the rug and once again acts like it has never happened. Now for the really big problem in our county and surrounding counties is the bullying. As everyone has seen and heard, a young gentleman took his own life in Ameilia County due to bullying. Also, a fourth grade student that took her life
017two weeks ago in Rono, Virginia due to bullying. Also, every year my daughter has been at Blackstone Primary, she has been bullied and assaulted. Last year, she was punched, kicked, spit in the face, and had her glasses thrown around on the playground getting called a big back because she's heavy set. And you know what? We were told by former principal of Blackstone Primary School to respect the other child's culture. What does bullying and being assaulted have to do with one's culture. My child this year is still being bullied. I hold each and everyone that is employed by Naiwe County school system systems from the superintendent all the way down to the custodians. To each of you school board members and to the parents at home that ignore what is happening each and every day from
018the elementary to the high school. If something is not done, we will unfortunately have this tragedy in our community. When we release our kids to y'all, it's supposed to be a safe place for them to be. We have faith in y'all and y'all are failing us. It is also said that you have It is also said that you have to threaten the school division that you're going to the local news station and you get told do what you got to do. What kind of professional response is that? If we don't hold the kids responsible along with their parents, nothing will ever change. Now, members of the board to the super to the superintendent. What are y'all going to do to make sure our kids are safely taken care of and not becoming another news headline
019to a student taking their own life from being bullied? I want to say this to you board members and to the not school division from the superintendent down to the custodians. If you can't keep our kids safe, resign and we will find someone that will protect them. With that being said, an environment that is not safe to disagree in is an environment that is not focused on growth. It's an environment focused on control. Members of the board, keep in mind that the next school board election, parents will have control. With that being said, it's time for change and the time starts now. Thank you each and everyone's time. [Music] Marina Adams. Yes, sir. You can I was just going to call on you because I as I understand it, you're going to speak for Marley.
020Yes. because she has kids. Take your time. Yeah, take your time. You're you're you're okay. It might not seem like it, but you're among friends. So, Marina Adams handed me this. Um, she said, "My son has a child. My son was a child that dealt with major bullying while in Nawway. We have lived here two years and and shocked to see how the administration deals with bullying. Back at the beginning of the school year, my son was on the bus when he and a boy were having some words. The boy kept trying to get my son to fight. My son said no. The boy then jumped on top of my son and pent his knees to his chest and beat him in the head multiple times. My son's only defense to escape was kicking the
021child off of him when he got a chance. My son got kicked out for four days and one day ISS which again he was he was bullied by kids as a teacher stepped out to a hall being called names about his size as well as the video being shown off. Miss Jay wanted to tell me my daughter did not stop the fight. My response was, "She is a child. She tried to get up there was fast as possible. Get up there as fast as possible to him, but if she got pushed and she pushed back, she would get kicked out for self-defense." And she stated yes. I was told that bullying has to be multiple times reported before action can be taken. So how many times is that? How many times does someone have to
022get mentally and a physically abused before we protect our kids? My son hit multiple times in the head could have led to seizures and brain injuries. If hit in one of the certain points of a child's skull, when are the schools going to wake up and take this seriously about the bullying? How many kids have to continue being harmed emotionally and being emotionally, mentally, and physically before the school takes us seriously? Most kids have said they do not speak because they feel teachers and staff do not stand behind and support them. But many times brushed off do better for our kids. Thank you, sir. [Music] prestige. That's not easy to do. I mean, that guy isn't shaking because he's scared of you. He's shaking because he's a concerned parent. He don't know what to do.
023You know, I've been coming to school board for years listening many, many accounts of bullying in our schools. A lot of times they've been covered up. incidents happened and uh they done sit next to the perpetrator the next day in class. It's time for us to do something about it. I'm finding out during this gentleman's speech that somebody may have brought a knife to my kid's school. I didn't know about it. Or that somebody's lurking around near the playground. Did we go on lockdown? Is that the protocol? Did we follow it? I'm just finding out about that now. But I will say I was at Blackstone Primary School today though because my daughter fell on the playground running out just being a kid during you know recess and a wood chip got stuck in her
024forehead there. So I was over there and the nurses did an amazing job helping to get that out and calm her down. So there are a lot of good people who do work in the school district that are trying to do good things. We've been shadowed overshadowed by a lot of these incidents that the school can't seem to get under control. But it's not just that. There's other incidents. Transparency, people being charged high amounts of fees upfront for foyer requests. I got charged $110 for a few text messages between an ex-p principal and an ex mayor. I had that looked at by the foyer council and they said I was overcharged and it was illegal. $110 for some text messages because they were reviewed by multiple multiple multiple people. And I'm being told by the
025administration they can do that. Sue Yates was quoted $1,400 to just do a search to see how many emails were a few years back. Want $800 upfront. That is a ploy of an administration that tries to stop people from getting information. It has happened to us over and over again through the years. And now you guys are looking for a new superintendent. Are we going to pick somebody who you're going to go with the status quo who's been working under that administration? Somebody in the school district that continues to try to hide things. What about the kids that were found across the street in the railroad tracks in the tent? How'd they get off school grounds a couple years ago? We charge people money so they don't get information. By the way, there's no statute
026of limitations on FOYA. And if it didn't if it wasn't so much work for me to fight and take you to court to get a hundred out of my $110 back, I'd do it. If it was more money, I would. But I've been through it twice before and it's a lot. It's a lot of time and effort. That has to stop. People can't be charged because you want to review it by five people. It's not allowed. Okay. One person. Yes. But at the end of the day, there's so many things to talk about. Now, we're hearing about an incident of employees engaging in sexual relations at the primary school and art teacher and a PE teacher and the administration saying, "Well, we got a report from the sheriff saying that the complaint was unfounded." Well,
027guess what? The sheriff only comes out for crime. For a crime to be investigated. Okay. Why was it unfounded? The original complaint was that it was unwanted and that was found unfounded. It's not the fact that the relationship itself did not happen. As a matter of fact, I heard from very good sources that it was multiple times that they were caught. And that's why the original complaint was unfounded. But the administration is saying, "I've got a report from the sheriff's office." So, it's the entire incident's unfounded. It's just not true. And I know it because your employees who work in the building tell me and I trust them. This stuff has to stop being covered up. Parents need to feel safe when they send their kids to school. Safe. There's bullying at the high school.
028There's bullying at the middle school. There's bullying at the intermediate school. And we have it at the elementary school. Now, should kindergarteners be getting bullied? First graders? Nobody should. We've got to do something. some come up with some kind of plan. But as you're selecting a superintendent, remember all the fights that parents have had over the years in the tenure of this administration. Do we want to continue with that status quo or do we want to get somebody in here that's going to do something about these things? People want change. We don't want the same thing. All right. Thank you. Thank you. I need a motion for the consent agenda. So moved. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. I. [Music] Action items. The Burkeville feasibility
029update. Miss Meyer. [Music] information. There are no action items tonight. Yes, just anformational item. Excuse me. Information item is all categorized here in one alone. Good evening, Mr. Chair, members of the board. Um, so the update I have for you for Burkeville this evening. Um, I have received the initial draft from the architects for the Burkeville feasibility study. Um I've only gotten about halfway through it. Um just reading through making sure one that they have done exactly as the RFP. Um and the plan is for them to come to our May work session as they told me it was about an hour hour and a half long presentation that they have to walk us through um how they came up with the information and the feasibility study and the numbers. Um I will say the
030the estimation is kind of where I expected it. um which is north of $13 million. Um now obviously there's there's things that can change that depending upon you know what the board decides to do with the building. Um but that's just a lot of that stems from building requirements from BDOE. Um and of course when you undergo major renovations you also have to bring the building up to current building code and ADA code um or ADA compliance. So there's a lot that would have to be changed. There's a lot of of information there. Um, so I will be getting back with him next week once I have finished um, going through it just to let them know if there's any edits. I've seen a couple of just minor changes and just square footage they had
031a little off in a couple of places. Um, and then they will be able to come into May the May work session to actually present the whole thing and how they got to their findings. Um, the other thing I wanted to update you on is I did speak with Mr. Bowen about um, Burkeville and the registar. wanted to get it straight from the county's um perspective as to what's going on. U my understanding is he is working with the county attorney to draft up everything that has to go to the um state attorney's office. Um and right now they're targeting a move of January 2026 and that is what I was told um this week. So that's the update that I have for you this evening. Um, and we said we'll um continue the the
032conversation about the feasibility study when the architects come at the end of the month so you can actually understand everything that went into that. Would it be possible for us to get the uh some preliminary information well in advance of the May meeting so that we'll have a chance to uh absorb what we can and be able to ask intelligent questions? Yes, we can get you a copy of the the draft report because the report won't be final until after they present anyway. So, we'll be able to get you um a copy of the draft report. Thank you. Uh on the agenda for the budget update. Um don't have much on budget update this evening. Um governor did sign the budget. So, at this point, what we are waiting for is just the final calculation
033tool from VDOE to be published. Um and that will give us two things. that will give us um basically what our our year-end um revenue will be from the state based upon our March 31 ADM. Um as well as that will give us an idea of um any potential changes that would need to be made to the budget for next fiscal year even though we probably won't amend that until July after the um the county passes their budget. Um, but I don't foresee based upon initial calculations there being much change to the county's requirement for our budget for next year. Most of the change would be in state revenue. Now, for this current fiscal year, there will be some reduction in the county's local requirement. I'm just waiting for that final capital to actually tell
034me how much that's going to be. Did I understand the news report, I think last week correctly, that education in Virginia was going to get an additional 600 million. Mhm. Yeah, I heard that, too. Yeah. Yep. I heard that. That's my update for that this evening. Was that already allocated? No. So, that additional money, um, part of that additional money is additional money for special education. Um, that's a new line item that they added. Um, and then some of the rest of it is just additional money into um, school construction um, and into those different pots of money that they have with that. Um, and I think there's some few other things out there as well. The biggest thing that will impact us really is the additional money for special education. Thank you. You're welcome.
035Thank you. Have there been any plans? Um, so has the special education increases been incorporated in as of yet? No, just because we don't know what those final dollar amounts are until we get the state calculation tool. So that'll be something that will have to be added in once we actually receive that and that'll have to be an amendment to the [Music] budget. When I'm sorry, um DOE normally publishes it about 14 days after the governor um signs, so maybe within the next couple weeks. ENTTC report, Mr. Allah. Yes. Uh big news. We just found out this week that the grant that was requested for I believe the amount was $37,500 has been approved uh for ENTC. So that uh is very welcome and will will help. Uh the end of the year testing is
036moving along. A little bit of a a hiccup with uh uh one of the nursing programs. they won't be able to do their uh they're going to complete their written evaluations, but the practical they're not going to be able to schedule that until sometime in July. So, like to see that happen a little sooner, but uh it looks like it'll be sometime in July. But things are going really well. the uh building product, our building program that uh we will start next year uh is well uh on the way getting everything in place at ENTC. So, a lot of exciting things happening. The governor's school, Miss Duncan, um as of yet there's been no um updates on that. Graduation is this Saturday. Um, other than that, there's no current updates other than the meeting places
037are being relocated from Nawway to Farmville. Uh, CAC report. Um, again, we have not had another meeting since our last meeting. Um, I will say it like a broken record. Um, you have to be part of the solution if you want to change things. Parents who have children with special education, you need to understand that your presence is desired. Your presence is wanted. It does not take a degree to be on the committee. You simply need to be a parent with an that has a student in Nawway County with an IEP. And if you don't fit that parameter, you can still attend the meetings. So again, I implore parents um the meetings are virtual. They can be done from the comfort of your home. You can't change things are the solution. [Music] Thank you. Uh
038I know our student liaison is usually active in some sports activity. So we'll go to the superintendent's report. Dr. Ron. Thank you, Mr. Abbott. board members. Um not too much uh this evening. I do um just for the sake of the public um highlight that this week is teacher appreciation week. Um and our all of our employees have been treated um to various um recognitions uh throughout the week by both um their school uh administration, central office staff uh and I said both but actually three and the school board. So that is appreciated. Uh the governor did uh do a proclamation regarding teacher appreciation week in which he acknowledges the dedication that our teachers have uh to uh their profession and also the impact that teachers have on uh this their students. Also this week
039uh on yesterday actually was school nurse appreciation day and as I have said before uh we are very blessed to be able to have um our our school nurses to all be um highly qualified RNs. Um and they do so much more than sit in the clinic and hand out um medication or take temperatures. Uh they are actively involved uh in working with school administration and parents and trying to promote uh the health the whole child which is not just um health medical issues but also their academic success and their mental health. Um, and so, uh, I want to take the time to say to our school nurses, um, that we appreciate what they do and we thank them for their energy and efforts. Uh, every single day, oftentimes, the little things they do are
040not necessarily seen or um, highlighted. But without them, our schools, our staff, and our students would not be as healthy uh, and as well cared for from that perspective as they are with them in place. I also um would just provide a highlight that um last month uh the board approved a motion uh to establish a discipline committee and we have had two meetings of that committee. The second meeting was last night. Uh and I would like to take the time to thank the participants who were present last night for their time and serious consideration of the code of student conduct handbook. Uh the discussion was I believe to be uh very honest. Um uh uh people spoke openly about their experiences uh and experiences they've heard about. Uh and next the next meeting the
041committee will uh develop recommendations for consideration and or implementation for next school year and be prepared to present um their thoughts and opinions at the June board meeting. And then finally um as Miss Duncan indicated the um Southside Virginia Community College graduation is on Saturday. I am looking forward to being present to celebrate and support our way high school students who will be recognized during this event for their completion of the governor school program. It is the community college graduation but we tend to say you know governor school graduation but not only do we have students in the governor school program who get recognized. We also have some students who earn um who take enough classes while they're in high school to earn a degree or a certificate from the community college and they also
042are recognized. So, I'm looking forward to that uh bright and early on Saturday morning. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Grimes. Uh this is a 15-day notification. The Nawway County School Board will be conducting interviews and other meetings for the position of superintendent from May 9th of 2025 through May 23rd of 2025. These interviews will be held in accordance with the code of Virginia section 2.23712. As Dr. Grimes indicated, the uh graduation for the governor's school is Saturday on the 10th. Another important date to mark on your calendar is uh May 17th from 2 to 6. Uh I believe the board was uh politely asked by the principal if we wouldn't mind having something thrown in our faces at the spring carnival. So, uh, apparently it's a fundraiser of some kind. I'm not sure how much
043money they'll raise, uh, but that's one of those, uh, activities that you might want to consider. It's a spring carnival for the, uh, for the high school. Uh, on May 28th, the board will have a work session. We will, uh, do the, uh, reviewing the feasibility and, uh, getting that detail. On May 29th, there's a joint board meeting with ENTC. Uh June 7th is graduation uh for our graduating seniors at football stadium. On June 25th, there is a work session and I would encourage board members to provide any information on those things that they wish to uh engage in for that activity. Uh other items. Does any board member have an item that they would like to raise? Hearing none. Uh may I have the closed resolution, please? Due to section 22-3711A of the code
044of Virginia, I move that the board convene a closed meeting for the purpose of discussing the following specific matters. A1 the consideration of personnel four 44 appointments one truency officer one health and PE teacher one science teacher one reset academy monitor one substitute teacher one summer food service manager six summer food service workers 30 summer school teachers one summer school clinic clerk and one elementary teacher B nine resignations s C three retirements D employee directory for the 2526 school year and E a student matter you've heard the motion is there a second second any discussion hearing none all in favor signify by saying I