[00:00:01]
MEETING OF AUGUST FOUR, 2020[6:00 Public Session]
BACK IN ORDER FOR THE PUBLIC SESSION, THE MEETING IS BEING CONDUCTED BY REMOTE VIDEO CONFERENCING AND IS ALSO BEING LIVESTREAM BY THE COUNTY CHANNEL.UM, JUST, I WOULD REMIND EVERYBODY THAT'S TUNED IN ON THE ZOOM CALL TO MUTE WHEN THEY'RE NOT SPEAKING, WE'RE HEARING QUITE A BIT OF BACKGROUND NOISE TONIGHT.
[Action as Necessary or Appropriate Regarding Matters Discussed in Executive Session]
ACTION IS NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE REGARDING MATTERS? DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION? YES.MADAM CHAIR, WILLIAM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD AND WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO DO IT? GOOD.
I'M TENDON'S RECOMMENDATION FOR EMPLOYMENT LISTED.
UM, THE JULY 1ST, 2022, JULY 31ST, 2020 PERSONNEL RATIFICATION REPORT.
AND DO WE HAVE A SECOND? OKAY.
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY WITH TRISHA.
DO WE HAVE ANY FURTHER ACTION IS NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE REGARDING MATTERS, DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION? UH, YES.
MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF THE K-12 VIRTUAL LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR VCSC D STUDENTS, UH, FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR.
ANY TERMS BEYOND THE ONE YEAR BASE PERIOD WOULD REQUIRE APPROVAL OF THE BOARD FOR OUR COSTS, NOT TO EXCEED $2,750,000 FOR PROPOSED SERVICES RENDERED.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? MEL CAMPBELL.
ANY DISCUSSION MR. SMITH? YES, MA'AM SURE.
ACTUALLY I WENT TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND WE'RE TRYING TO SEE THE CONTRACT AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE THE CONTRACT FOR THE TIME THAT WE HAVE, WE'RE ABLE TO SEE THERE WAS MY SCHEDULE.
SO EVEN THEN I WASN'T ABLE TO READ THE CONTRACT TODAY.
UM, I WILL BE ABSTAINING FROM THIS VOTE BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HAD MY, I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO READ IT OR DIGEST THE CONTRACT.
AND, UM, I, I, UM, I WOULDN'T WANT TO JUST MAKE UP A VOTE OFF OF, UH, A COUPLE OF, COUPLE OF SECONDS OF POSSIBLY AN OVERVIEW OF A CONTRACT.
SO I WON'T HAVE, I WILL BE ABSTAINING FROM THIS CONTRACT, FROM HIS VOTE TODAY BECAUSE OF THAT OR SHAQ.
DID YOU CITE THE FUNDING SOURCE IN YOUR MOTION? I DON'T SEE THE MOTION YET.
UM, I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT AS I WAS READING THE MOTION.
UM, I COULD CERTAINLY AMEND THE MOTION TO SAY THAT IT IS FROM THE CARE IS FUNDING.
SO THE AMENDMENT IS TO BASICALLY YOU JUST PUT IT AFTER THE SEC, THE LAST SENTENCE MONEY TO BE FUND OR TO BE FUNDED FROM THE CARES FUNDING FUNDING.
DID YOU HEAR THAT ROBIN TO BE, TO BE FUNDED BY CARE SCHOLARS? LIKE, IS THAT OKAY? JOANNE SOUNDS GREAT.
BUT THAT'S ONLY FOR THE FIRST YEAR, RIGHT? RIGHT.
WE'RE ONLY APPROVING A CONTRACT.
THIS IS ONLY APPROVING THE CONTRACT FOR ONE YEAR.
SO THAT LOOKS LIKE THE, WHAT? WE JUST AMENDED THE MOTION.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT.
[00:05:05]
RO BY NASA.IT HASN'T COME UP ON MY BOARD DOC CHAT.
SO I'LL JUST SAY YES, MALCOLM WILL.
IT'S NOT ON MY BOARD DOC SQUADS.
ARE YOU ABSTAINING? HE'S MUTED.
ACTUALLY, I WAS WAITING TO READ IT.
IT'S ON THE SCREEN, MR. SMITH.
I WAS WAITING FOR IT TO COME ON MY BOARD DOCS.
ON MY BOARD DOCS ON MY BOARD CHAIR COULD ACTUALLY SEE THE VOTE.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THE VOTE UNTIL AFTER THE VOTE HAS BEEN TAKEN.
NO, ACTUALLY ROBIN, THE VOLKS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SENT TO ME.
UH, AND, AND, UH, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CAST MY VOTE, BUT I WILL ABSTAIN.
WE'RE WAITING FOR YOU TO CAST YOUR VOTE, SIR.
UH, POINT OF ORDER, UH, THAT THE GWAS PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME SIGN.
NORMALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS TO R TO R M OR DOCS, IT COMES, THE EMOTION COMES IN THE LAST AS YOU.
OR YOUR STATE OF YOUR THINKING.
AND SOME OF Y'ALL SAID THAT Y'ALL DIDN'T GET IT.
AND ROBIN STATED THAT SHE WAS TRYING, SHE SAVED IT AS I WAS WAITING FOR IT TO COME TO ME SO THAT, SO THAT I CAN READ IT.
SO DON'T SO DON'T TELL ME WHAT I SHOULD, WHAT THE BACK OF CAST IT, BECAUSE I WAS WAITING FOR IT TO COME TO ME AND SOME OR SOME BOARD MEMBERS DID NOT WAIT FOR THE COMPANY.
SO THEREFORE THEY CAST IT AS EARLY.
THAT'S MY, THAT IS MY NATURAL RIGHT.
MR. SMITH, I'LL RESPOND TO YOUR ACCUSATIONS.
SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS COMMENTED THAT THEY WERE NOT GETTING THE VOTE ON THEIR BOARD DOCS, INCLUDING MYSELF.
THEREFORE, WE JUST CAST OUR VOTE VERBALLY.
AND THAT'S ALL I WAS ASKING YOU TO DO WAS TO CAST YOUR VOTE VERBALLY.
THE MOTION CARRIES NINE ZERO ONE WITH, UH, ONE ABSTENTION.
[Approval of Agenda]
A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.HARD TO SAY IT'S GOING SO FAST.
DOUBTING IS YES, YES, NO CAMPBELL.
[Pledge of Allegiance, Moment of Silence, Statement of Media Notification]
WE WILL NOW STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.THE MEDIA HAS BEEN PROPERLY NOTIFIED.
[Points of Celebration • FY2019-20 SCSBA Boardmanship Institute Recognition]
WE HAVE SOME POINTS OF CELEBRATION, APOLOGIZE, A CELEBRATION FOR A BOARDMAN SHIP.AND WE'RE HONORING, UH, BOARD MEMBERS TODAY.
[00:10:01]
ROLL BINE FOR LEVEL TWO, WILLIAM SMITH FOR LEVEL TWO.GWARTZ FOR LEVEL FOUR, A LEVEL SIX IS THE HIGHEST RECOGNITION IN BOARDMAN SHIP INSTITUTE, UH, QUALIFIED BOARD MEMBERS, UH, THAT WILL BE AWARDED LEVEL SIX, PLAQUE AND PIN DURING ANNUAL CONVENTION WOULD BE IN FEBRUARY 18TH THROUGH THE 21ST AND 2021.
UH, BUT, BUT, UH, WANT TO RECOGNIZE THESE THREE, UH, BOARD MEMBERS HERE TODAY, UH, FOR, FOR, UH, COMPLETING THESE DIFFERENT LEVELS IN THEIR BOARDMAN SHIP.
[First Public Comments]
ALRIGHT.WE ARE NOW ONTO OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTS.
MY NAME IS COREY THOMPSON AND I AM SPEAKING TO YOU ALL TONIGHT, BUT I JUST FOR MYSELF, BUT ON BEHALF OF SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES AT BLUFFTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE OPINIONS BEING SHARED ABOUT THIS TOPIC.
SO ANY CONSIDERATION TO OUR THOUGHTS IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
EVERY TEACHER THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO FEELS A STRONG, WANT TO GET BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM AS TEACHERS.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT WE AGREE THAT IN PERSON FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTION IS THE WAY THAT OUR STUDENTS LEARN BEST.
HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME OUR PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF OUR STUDENTS, THE FAMILIES THEY RETURN TO AS WELL AS OURSELVES, WE MISS OUR COLLEAGUES, OUR ROUTINE, AND MOST OF ALL, WE MISS OUR STUDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE HEALTH CONCERNS THAT ARE PLAGUING OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION WILL MOST LIKELY BE INEVITABLE.
AT SOME POINT DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, IT IS VITAL TO PROVIDE CONSISTENCY AND STRUCTURE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND PARENTS.
WE HAVE ALREADY WITNESSED IN THE U S OTHER SCHOOLS THAT HAVE RETURNED WITH FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTION AND HAD TO RESORT BACK TO THE ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM DUE TO COVID-19 OUTBREAKS.
AS THE PROFESSIONALS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE CHILDREN IN BUFORD COUNTY, WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION MIRROR THE IN SCHOOL EXPERIENCE, AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.
WE THANK OUR PARENTS AND STUDENTS FOR WORKING TOGETHER DURING THE FOURTH QUARTER OF LAST YEAR, BUT WE KNOW VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION CAN NOT LOOK THE SAME.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO PLANNING AND DELIVERING LIVE INSTRUCTION IN THE VIRTUAL PLATFORM FOR ALL STUDENTS THAT IS STANDARDS BASED AND WHICH GIVES OUR STUDENTS ACCESS TO THE RESTRUCTURED INSTRUCTORS DURING THE COURSE OF THE SCHOOL DAY, AS THEY NORMALLY WOULD, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THIS QUALITY INSTRUCTION, WE NEED GUIDANCE FROM THE DISTRICT ON A DECISION.
TEACHERS CAN ENSURE THAT QUALITY VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION WILL OCCUR.
AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE FULL AMOUNT OF TIME TO PREPARE LESSONS AND COMPLETE NECESSARY TRAININGS.
WE ARE ALSO AWARE OF THE CONCERNS SURROUNDING OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN ABUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS FOR THESE STUDENTS.
WE KNOW SCHOOL IS THEIR SAFE HAVEN.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT THESE STUDENTS' NEEDS ARE STILL BEING MET WHILE LEARNING VIRTUALLY STUDENT SUPPORT IS NOT CONFINED TO THE SCHOOL.
STUDENTS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO MULTIPLE PLATFORMS, REACH OUT TO TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND COUNSELORS FOR SUPPORT.
SOCIAL WORKERS WILL ALSO STILL BE AVAILABLE TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS CAN STILL BE BUILT THROUGH DAILY COMMUNICATION AND INTERACTION.
IN ADDITION TO OUR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING PERIODS THAT ARE BUILT INTO THE DAY AT THIS TIME, WE FEEL THAT VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION IS THE ONLY LOGICAL WAY WE CAN ENSURE STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE TRULY SAFE AND MAINTAIN CONSISTENCY AMONG TEACHING AND LEARNING.
AS SOON AS IT IS SAFE FOR EVERYONE TO RETURN, TEACHERS WILL BE RUNNING BACK AND THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS EAGER TO SEE AND HUG THEIR KIDS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME CONSIDERATION MSAP.
[00:15:17]
HELLO, MR. CAMBRIA? YES.SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN HEAR YOU.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY A BEER 2020 WILL DO LONG.
REMEMBER KUDOS ON PROVING A REVISED DISTRICT CALENDAR.
THE STAFF FACILITY FOR CREATIVITY, PRIORITIZING AND COMMITMENT TO CHANGE HAS RESULTED IN A BALANCED ACADEMIC CALENDAR THAT PROVIDES TEACHERS OF STUDENTS WITH AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO TEACH AND LEARN FACTORS.
THERE WERE FOR YEARS IDENTIFIED AS INSURMOUNTABLE AND IT'S CHANGED WOULD CAUSE IRREPARABLE HARM TO HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS WERE ERADICATED BY THE PANDEMIC.
SOME CRITICS MAY REFER TO THIS AS IRONIC TURNING ADVERSITY INTO ADVANTAGE, BUT WE HAVE A BIGGER ISSUE TO DEAL WITH.
PLEASE CONSIDER THE FACTS WITH DECIDING HOW AND WHEN SCHOOLS WILL REOPEN, DO NOT BE KNOWN TO THE NUMBERS.
SOME
THE MILITARY CONGLOMERATE WITH LIMITED RESOURCES AND A PROFESSIONAL POPULATION.
CRANES COMPLY WITH RULES, REGULATIONS, AND ORDERS HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CONTROL THE SPREAD OF THE INFECTION.
HOW CAN WE OPEN UP SCHOOLS SAFELY WHEN WE HAVE IN YOUR CONTROL, THE COMMUNITY SPRAY.
THIS IS A TIME WHEN WE NEED TO THINK WITH MEDICAL SCIENCE, NOT CONVENIENT AT THIS POINT, THE SCIENCE AND MATH DOES NOT SUGGEST THAT IN PERSON INSTRUCTION IS SAFE FOR STUDENTS OR STAFF, PLEASE CHOOSE FACTS OVER RHETORIC, PERFECTION OVER SPEED, CAUTION OVER CONVENIENCE.
NO MATTER THE HOWLING FROM THE PUBLIC, THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED THAT HE VALUES PEOPLE'S HEALTH AND SAFETY.
HIS DECISION WILL BE DEFINITELY SECOND GUESSED.
HE MAY EVEN RECEIVE SOME CRITICISM.
HOWEVER, HE ALONE HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERY STUDENT AND STAFF MEMBERS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
HEALTH AND SAFETY IS THE FIRST PRIORITY.
NOT POPULARITY, NOT CONVENIENCE, NOT SERVICE FOR DR.
SO TO CONDUCT THE AFFAIRS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION, AND I HAVE EVERY OTHER FRIEND ON EARTH, I SHOW UP AT LEAST ONE FRIEND AND THAT FRIEND SHE'LL BE DOWN INSIDE OF ME.
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR DECISIONS.
I PRAY FOR YOU AND I PRAY FOR THE DISTRICT.
I'M A SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT HILTON HEAD ISLAND, EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER.
THIS WILL BE MY 32ND YEAR AS AN EDUCATOR.
I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY HEART, BUT I'VE LOVED EVERY SWEET FACE.
THAT IS WHAT CAN OUR SCHOOLS, AND ALSO TELL YOU THAT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS TOUCHED ME IN MY FAMILY AND IT HAS TOO MANY WAYS TO COUNT 39 PEOPLE IN MY DAUGHTER'S COMPANY.
A FAMILY MEMBER WHO LIVES WITH ME WAS VERY SICK WITH COVID IN MARCH.
AND IT'S STILL NOT AT 100%, A COWORKER'S DAUGHTER, A SON-IN-LAW IN THEIR FOUR YEAR OLD AND FOUR MONTHS OLD BABY AND TWO AND THREE YEAR OLD CHILD.
ANOTHER CO WORKER HAD TWO TEENAGERS TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID MY BEST FRIEND'S 22 YEAR OLD SON IS SICK WITH COVID-19.
MY NEIGHBOR JUST GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.
HAVING, HAVING COMPLICATIONS OF COVID
[00:20:01]
ARE VERY DEAR FRIEND IS I'M SUFFERING WITH COVID WHILE HER HUSBAND LIES IN A HOSPITAL BED ON A VENTILATOR.I HAVE ALL OF THESE CLOSE RELATIONS WITH COVID-19 AND PEOPLE OF ALL AGES CYCLING BACK TO SCHOOL, FACE TO FACE BEFORE TO SAFE TO DO SO.
WE ARE RISKING THE LIVES OF OUR SUITE STUDENTS.
THEY'RE AMAZING FAMILIES, AS WELL AS THE LIVES OF THE BACKBONE OF OUR DISTRICT, THE FACULTY AND STAFF AS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR OF 31 YEARS, I AM TRAINED TO BE CONCERNED WITH SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL GROWTH OF OUR STUDENTS.
HAVING SAID THAT, I ALSO BELIEVE THAT STUDENTS ARE EXTREMELY RESILIENT.
I DID NOT THINK THE STERILE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE WILL BE WALKING INTO IS GOING TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SOCIALIZATION THAT THEIR PARENTS ARE HOPING FOR.
I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR EMOTIONAL WELLBEING SHOULD ONE OF THEM, ONE OF THEIR CLASSMATES, ONE OF THEIR TEACHERS OR A FACULTY MEMBER OR A FAMILY MEMBER, BECAUSE OF A DECISION THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.
AND GOD FORBID THAT ONE OF OUR COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT FAMILY MEMBERS SHOULD DIE.
WE ALREADY HAVE EVIDENCE OF SCHOOLS, DAYCARES, AND YOUTH CAMPS THAT DID OPEN ONLY TO HAVE TO CLOSE BECAUSE OF THE WIDESPREAD VIRUS.
I BELIEVE OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM HAS PUT A GREAT PLAN TOGETHER THAT INCLUDES VIRAL AND FEEL SAFE.
THEY HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY THOUGHTFUL AND PRECISE USING SCIENCE AND DATA TO LEAD THEIR DECISIONS.
RODRIGUEZ AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM, AND I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION THAT ALL OF US WILL BE SAFE.
NO ONE WANTS TO BE IN SCHOOL AND MORE THAN EDUCATORS WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO.
THE FRICK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT EDUCATORS WILL BE RUNNING AND SKIPPING TO THE FRONT DOORS AND HOUSE OF OUR BUILDINGS.
WE CONSIDER THE STUDENTS, OUR KIDS.
SO UNTIL IT IS SAFE TO DO SO BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, SHE CONSIDERED NOTHING OTHER THAN VIRTUAL EDUCATION IN ORDER TO KEEP ALL OF OUR CITIZENS FROM THE TEENY TINY.
TAKE YOUR NAME SO THAT WE CAN HEAR YOU, NOAH.
CAN YOU ALL HEAR HIM? YES, SIR.
GREAT OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, DR.
RODRIGUEZ AND DIFFERENT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I SERVED NINE YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
I HAVE THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF SERVING IN MULTIPLE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.
I WAS A CRANE OPERATOR IN THAT I THINK SUPERVISOR AT NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA ALSO COMPLETED 18 MONTHS AS A SUPPLIER IN AFGHANISTAN.
AS A CIVILIAN CONTRACTOR, I HAVE AN EXTENSIVE LEADERSHIP BACKGROUND WORKING WITH PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS AND NATIONALITIES.
I HAVE NOW BEEN TEACHING IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT COURT FOR FIVE YEARS AT THE END OF THE 2019, 2020, THERE WERE ONLY SIX BLACK MALE EDUCATORS AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL.
AS I SPEAK TO YOU ALL RIGHT, NOW, I KNOW THAT TWO OF THOSE SIX FF, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT I'M HERE BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TEACHING HERE FOR COUNTY SINCE 2015.
DURING THIS TIME I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL BLACK MALE EDUCATORS QUIT TEACHING, GO TO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO TEACH AND MOVE AWAY, TO GET OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT HE COULD NOT GET HERE AND BE FOR COUNTY.
FIRST, I HAVE TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO BE DOING MORE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN BLACK MALE EDUCATORS.
WE MAKE UP LESS THAN 3% OF THE TEACHER POPULATION IN THIS COUNTY.
SO MANY OF US IN EDUCATION, WE KNOW THAT BLACK STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY BLACK MALE STUDENTS ARE DISCIPLINED TWICE AS MUCH AS THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS FOR THE SAME INFRACTION.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THESE DISPARITIES EXIST BECAUSE OF THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF WHITE TEACHERS CONTACTED BLACK STUDENTS.
SECOND RESEARCH SHOWS THAT STUDENTS WHO HAVE CONTACT WITH BLACK MALE EDUCATORS THROUGHOUT THEIR K TO 12 ACADEMIC JOURNEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO NOT ONLY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, BUT ALSO TO ATTEND COLLEGE.
WE ARE CONSTANTLY TALKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT AND OPPORTUNITY GAP.
I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN START BY PLACING MORE BLACK MALES, NOT ONLY IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS HERE IN THIS COUNTY, I RECEIVED MY MASTER'S DEGREE IN EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION IN MAY OF 2018 FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
SINCE THEN I HAVE APPLIED FOR 21 ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS HERE IN BUFORD COUNTY.
AND I'VE ONLY HAD ONE INTERVIEW TO BE PLACED IN AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL POOL.
IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, I HAVE TAUGHT AT JOSEPH FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR FOUR YEARS IN 2019, THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL JOB POSTED TWICE.
AND I DID NOT GET AN INTERVIEW AT ALL.
IT IS HURTFUL WHEN YOU PUT IN SO MUCH WORK TO GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL,
[00:25:01]
ONLY TO THE CONSTANTLY OVERLOOKED AS BLACK MALES.THAT FOR OPPORTUNITIES IN ADMINISTRATION, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO RELOCATE OR CHANGE CAREERS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT VALUED HERE.
I'M ASKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
FOR MANY OF US THAT ARE TRYING TO BECOME ADMINISTRATORS, WE CANNOT GET EXPERIENCE WITHOUT FIRST GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY.
SO THE QUESTION THAT I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU ALL WITH IS ALL THE STUDENTS REALLY FAILING WHILE WE FELT.
PLEASE SAY HELLO SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THEY CAN HEAR YOU.
CAN YOU ALL HEAR HER? HELLO PLEASE.
MY NAME IS BRITTANY LAUFER AND I TEACH SECOND GRADE.
MY SON IS GOING INTO FOURTH GRADE.
I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED PUBLIC EDUCATION WAS THE BEST OPTION FOR HIM, MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS, AND EVERY STUDENT WHO I TEACH NOW DUE TO COVID-19 AND THEIR HEALTH POTENTIALLY BEING PUT AT RISK.
I NO LONGER IN GOOD CONSCIOUS CAN SAY IT'S THE BEST I HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT GOING BACK FACE TO FACE CASES ARE STILL ON THE RISE.
WAS IT TOTAL AVERAGE THIS WEEK OF 98, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST AVERAGE SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.
ACCORDING TO KODAK, NOW THAT WILL WORK IS MORE RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED.
64% OF OUR POPULATION WILL BE INFECTED COMPARED TO 34%.
AS A STATE, WE HAVE A 20% POSITIVE TESTING RATE AND THERE IS NOT ENOUGH CONTACT TRACY TO HELP REDUCE THE SPREAD.
BUFORD MEMORIAL IS AT CAPACITY IN THEIR ICU ALREADY.
WHAT DID COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN GEORGIA HAD 260 BOYS WHO HAD EITHER TESTED POSITIVE OR BEEN EXPOSED WHO ARE NOW IN QUARANTINE.
AND THIS WAS JUST FROM THEIR PLANNING WEEK.
WE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT BECAUSE OF HIGH COMMUNITY SPREAD.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT CHILDREN, HOW IT IS SPREAD AND THE LONGTERM EFFECTS OF THIS VIRUS.
SINCE IT'S A NOVEL VIRUS, WE ARE LEARNING IN REAL TIME.
AND I DON'T WANT MY CHILD BY STUDENTS, MYSELF, OR ANYONE IN THIS DISTRICT TO BE A GUINEA PIG.
I UNDERSTAND THAT PARENTS WANT TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.
SO DO I, BUT NOT UNTIL IT'S SAFE AND THAT THEIR KIDS NEED SOCIALIZATION FACE TO FACE WILL BE ANYTHING, BUT WHAT THEY ARE USED TO EACH MORNING, I GREET MY STUDENTS WITH A HUG HANDSHAKE OR HALF-ASS I AM THEIR SHOULDER TO CRY ON.
WHEN THEY'RE HAVING A HARD DAY, I WILL HAVE TO GREET THEM AND CONSOLE THEM FROM AFAR.
WE HAVE A MORNING MEETING AND WE DO ALLIE TALKS WITH OUR CLASS MASCOT, ELLIE, THE ELEPHANT.
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO SIT ON OUR RUG AND DO THAT THIS YEAR.
WE WORK ALL DAY LONG, BUT NOW WE ARE UNSURE WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE.
WE ARE CONSTANTLY DOING HANDS ON ACTIVITIES, BUT WITH LIMITED MATERIALS AND HAVING TO CLEAN THEM, OR WILL WE HAVE THE TIME IN OUR DAY TO DO THAT? NOT TO MENTION MAKING LITTLE SUSIE, KEEP HER HOUSE GONE AND NOT LOOKING AT THIS ONE SHOT OR TRYING TO PUT IT EVERYWHERE.
WHEN I SIGNED UP FOR TEACHING, I KNEW THAT I WOULD SERVE MANY ROLES, A TEACHER, COUNSELOR, SOCIAL WORKER, TRAINER, AND NURSES, LITTLE BOOBOOS.
NOW WE'RE ASKED TO BE HEALTHCARE WORKERS, DON, AND ASK IF THEY SHIELD AND TRY TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN DURING THE MIDST OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
ARE THEY REALLY GOING TO GIVE ME THE MONEY THOUGH? I WON'T LEAVE YOU LIKE MY SON WHO IS ALREADY EXPRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT HAVING TO WEAR A MASK WITH GLASSES ALL DAY LONG.
I'M NOT BEING ABLE TO INTERACT WITH CLASSMATES.
I'LL TRY TO REMAIN ON HIS TEACHER, BUT ALL THE WHILE HE'LL BE THINKING ABOUT THE VIRUS.
AND IS HE GETTING SICK? IS HE BRINGING IT HOME TO HIS FAMILY? HE HAS BEGGED ME NOT TO SEND HIM TO SCHOOL AND ALLOW HIM TO HOMESCHOOL BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE WON'T BE ABLE TO FIND LIKE NORMAL FOR ALL THOSE REASONS.
I BELIEVE A VIRTUAL UNTIL SAFE IS OUR BEST AND ONLY OPTION.
HOW MANY CASES CAN YOU LIVE WITH? I DON'T EVEN WANT ONE IN THE DISTRICT.
PLEASE CONSIDER 14 DAYS NO NEW CASES BEFORE GOING FACE TO FACE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS MEGAN HEDO AND I AM A TEACHER AT SCHOOL, AS WELL AS THE PARENT OF A RISING SECOND GRADER AT BLUFFTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK OF VIRTUAL AND FEEL SAFE WHILE OTHERS THINK THAT SCHOOL SHOULD RETURN TO NORMAL.
THE PROBLEM IS THE SCHOOL WON'T BE RETURNING TO NORMAL.
STUDENTS WILL BE ISOLATED TO THEIR PEERS, SOCIAL DISTANCING IN CLASSROOMS AND LIMITED BATHROOM VISIT.
[00:30:01]
TO EDUCATION AS IT WAS 20 TO 30 YEARS AGO.WHEN STUDENTS SAT IN ROWS AND HAD LITTLE COLLABORATION, THE ONLY COLLABORATION THEY WILL HAVE WILL BE VIRTUAL UNLESS CLASSROOMS ARE PROVIDED LIKE THE GLASS DIVIDERS, SOME ALTERNATIVE FOR GROUP WORK.
BUT WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE PROPOSED LEARNING PLATFORM FOR K EIGHT, THERE MIGHT ACTUALLY BE MORE STUDENT INTERACTION VIRTUALLY THAN IN A CLASSROOM WITH COVID RESTRICTIONS.
IN ADDITION, IN A NORMAL YEAR, I KNOW THAT I AM CONSTANTLY WITH STUDENTS HELPING THEM WITH ASSIGNMENTS AND SHOWING THEM HOW TO DO THEIR WORK.
ONE ON ONE, I WAS ABLE TO DO THE SAME IN THE SPRING THROUGH DUE TO CAMMY AS THE SCREENCAST NEEDED, I AM NERVOUS TO DELIVER THE SAME STANDARD OF HEALTH AND INSTRUCTION TO MY STUDENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC, BECAUSE IT WOULD MEAN THAT I WAS WELL WITHIN A SIX MONTH OR THREE FOOT RADIUS.
I SPENT THE SUMMER PLANNING FOR VIRTUAL OR IN PERSON RETURN TO SCHOOL THAT THE UNCERTAINTY IS HAVING A TOLL.
I WANT TO GET BACK TO WORK AND I WANT TO DO SO SAFELY.
I PREPARED TO TEACH VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON I WILL DO SO FROM WHEREVER I HAVE ASKED AND JUST LIKE OTHER PARENTS, I WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FACILITATE BY VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION WHILE WORKING TO TEACH MY STUDENTS.
IF WE ARE VIRTUAL, I DON'T KNOW HOW I WILL PAY FOR CHILDCARE OR WAGE FOR CHILDCARE, WHICH IS SCHOOL.
HOURS ARE DIFFERENT THAN MY ELLS.
AND HE MAY BE ON THE HYBRID SCHEDULE.
I AM NO DIFFERENT THAN OTHER PARENTS IN THAT REGARD I CHOSE IN PERSON STRUCTURED BECAUSE I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE.
I ESPECIALLY CALLED BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK, MR. SMITH STATED HE FELT MOVING THE START DATE TO SEPTEMBER 8TH WAS AN ECONOMIC DECISION.
I ARGUED THAT A RETURN TO IN PERSON INSTRUCTION WHEN OUR PERCENT POSITIVE RATE IS OVER 20% AND OUR INCIDENT RATES ARE HIGH AND RISING.
IT'S BOTH IRRESPONSIBLE AND A PURELY ECONOMIC DECISION.
I RESPECTFULLY ASKED THAT WE HAVE A VIRTUAL RETURNED TO SCHOOL.
SO THE NUMBERS EVEN SAY, THANK YOU.
HI, I'M RON AND I'M A TEACHER IN THE DISTRICT AND I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
AND FOR SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES IS SAYING THAT WE ARE VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SENDING OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF BACK IN SCHOOL, UM, IN THE CURRENT KOGUT ENVIRONMENT.
UM, I AND MY COLLEAGUES ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY JOB.
I MEAN, WITH KIDS IS THE BEST PART OF IT.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST KIDS AROUND, UM, BUT AS TIME GOES ON, WE'RE FINDING THAT SCHOOL.
I STAYED IN CERTAIN FACTS AFFECTED BY COVID AND ASHLEY CAN BE CARRIERS FOR SOME OF THE HEAVY FIRE FLOAT.
ACCORDING TO SOME OF THE MORE RECENT RESEARCH RECENTLY WASTING FOUR DEATHS OF SCHOOL, AGE STUDENTS IN FLORIDA, JUDY COVID AS MORE AND MORE SCHOOLS OPEN, IT'S BECOMING CLEAR THAT STUDENTS ARE NOT IMMUNE.
I'M ORIGINALLY FROM CENTRAL INDIANA.
AND SINCE SCHOOL STARTED OPENING THERE LAST WEEK, AND OF COURSE NOT ALL THE SCHOOLS ARE OPEN YET, BUT AT LEAST SIX DISTRICTS IN CENTRAL INDIANA ALONE HAVE REPORTED STUDENTS.
WHO'VE COME TO SCHOOL AND HAVE TESTED FOR POSITIVE.
AND SOME OF THOSE GIVE US MULTIPLE SCHOOLS WITHIN THE DISTRICT IN GEORGIA AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND CHEROKEE.
COUNTY'S FORCED TO SHUT DOWN THIS SECOND GRADE CLASSROOM, YOU TO STUDENT TESTING, POSITIVE WITH COVID.
OUR STUDENTS ARE SO PRECIOUS AND THEY DESERVE THE VERY BEST.
I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR MOST STUDENTS, OR MOST TEACHERS MIGHT FEEL THESE SAYING THAT WE WANT TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM.
WE WANT TO SEE THEIR SMILING FACES THAT WE WANT TO DO IT WHEN IT'S SAFE FOR EVERYONE.
PLEASE, PLEASE CONSIDER VIRTUAL MODEL FOR OPENING UNTIL IT'S ABSOLUTELY SAFE FOR THEM AND FOR US TO BE THAT TOGETHER.
WILL YOU SAY HELLO PLEASE? HI.
CAN YOU WANT TO HEAR HER? YES, JULIA.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I'LL SAY, UM, I'M CALLING ON BEHALF OF MY MOM TO REX AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LIBRARY IN THE DISTRICT, MY BROTHER, WHO TENDS TO HIGH SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT.
AND ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS WHO IS A TEACHER AT A MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT.
UM, I WANT TO SAY THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT GOING BACK VIRTUALLY IS NOT IDEAL FOR MANY
[00:35:01]
DIFFERENT REASONS.EVERYONE WANTS TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
IS IT SAFE AND HEALTHY TO DO SO? HOWEVER, IN THIS SITUATION, WE'RE LITERALLY TALKING ABOUT PUTTING PEOPLE'S LIVES AT RISK.
IF WE GO BACK TO SCHOOL, IF PEOPLE ARE MADE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL IN PERSON, IT'S NOT A MATTER OF IF PEOPLE GET SICK, BUT IT'S A MATTER OF WHEN PEOPLE GET SICK.
EVEN IF SCHOOLS ARE ABLE TO FOLLOW A DISINFECTING PROTOCOLS PERFECTLY, WE KNOW THIS VIRUS SPREADS FROM PERSON TO PERSON AND WE CAN SEE BASED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY.
AND ALSO SPECIFICALLY IN OUR DISTRICT THAT EVEN ADULTS REALLY STRUGGLE WITH KEEPING SOCIAL DISTINCTION GUIDELINES.
SO IT'S JUST NOT REALISTIC TO BELIEVE THAT STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT BETTER.
NOT AS A PERSON WHO HAS MULTIPLE CONNECTIONS TO WHAT I KNOW IS, IS TIGHT.
THAT SCHOOL COMMUNITY, I'M NOT JUST CONCERNED FOR MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY, BUT I'M ALSO CONCERNED FOR MY HEALTH AS SOMEONE WHO'S GETTING EXPOSED TO PEOPLE LIKE IN THIS COAL COMMUNITY.
SO THIS REASON I BELIEVE THAT SCHOOL SHOULD NOT COME BACK IN PERSON UNTIL THERE ARE ZERO NEW CASES OF COVID IN OUR DISTRICT FOR AT LEAST 14 DAYS.
I KNOW THIS IS INCONVENIENT, BUT I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE LIVES OF OUR TEACHERS, OUR STUDENTS AND OUR BROADER COMMUNITY ARE WORTH IT.
WILL YOU SAY HELLO PLEASE? HELLO? ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD PLEASE.
HI, UM, MY NAME IS JEFFREY VERDICT AND I AM A VETERAN TEACHER WITH 25 PLUS YEARS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.
CURRENTLY I'M A MUSIC TEACHER AT BLUFFTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
EVERYTHING WE DO IN EDUCATION, IT WAS DATA DRIVEN.
WHY ARE WE IGNORING THE DATA? NOW THE HECK HAS PERFORMED OVER 1100 CASES TODAY.
AND IN OUR PERCENT POSITIVES, 18.3%.
IF YOU WERE MAKING IT'S TERMINALS FOR VIRTUAL LEARNING BASED ON GUIDANCE OF LOW, MODERATE, OR HIGH SPREAD, WE HAVE YET TO GET OUT OF THE HIGH PERCENTAGES.
RODRIGUEZ HIMSELF SAID WE WOULD GO VIRTUAL.
IF WE REMAINED IN THE HIGH PERCENTAGES OF SPREAD, PLEASE TELL SUPERINTENDENTS WE ARE MINIMUM GOVERNMENT MASTER.
SO WE WILL GO VIRTUAL UNTIL IT'S SAFE DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE GOING BACK VIRTUAL, MUCH LESS SPREAD.
WHY? BECAUSE NO ONE WILL GO BACK UNTIL IT'S SAFE.
NO, ONE'S GOING TO GO BACK UNTIL IT'S SAFE.
YOUR FACT THAT EACH SCHOOL NOW HAS A TRIAGE ROOM AS FRIGHTENING TRAINER'S ROOM.
I LOOKED UP THE WORD FOR MORE ACCURACY, TWO HOURS, JUST THE ASSIGNMENT OF DECREES OR URGENCY TO WORDS OR ILLNESSES TO DECIDE TO ORDER TREATMENT OF A LARGE NUMBER OF PATIENTS OR CASUALTIES.
SO NOW WE'RE ADMITTING THAT WE WILL GET SICK.
AND AT SOME POINT THERE'LL BE A LARGE NUMBER OF PATIENTS AND CASTLES PATIENTS OR CASUALTIES THAT COULD BE PREVENTATIVE.
WE START VIRTUAL, VIRTUAL UNTIL SAFE.
WHAT CAN WE DO IF WE'RE TEACHERS AND WE FEEL SICK AND WE HAVE A COLD, DO WE CALL FOR STUFF? CAN WE GET US STUFF? DID WE GO IN SICK? WHAT HAPPENS IF WE HAVE TO QUARANTINE? WELL, WE USE UP FOR SICK DAYS.
IF WE DO GO BACK, VIRTUAL WILL BE TEACHING FROM HOME TEACHERS IN ARIZONA, TAUGHT VIRTUALLY FROM A DISTRICT BUILDING AND GOT COVID-19 AND DIED.
TEACHERS IN GEORGIA WENT TO AN IN PERSON TRAINING AND 260 WERE EXPOSED TO COVID-19.
SAFE MEANS EVERYONE STAYS HOME AND FEELS IT AS SAFE AS IT RELATED ARTS AND SPECIAL TEACHERS.
MY COLLEAGUES AND I TO BE EVERY STUDENT IN THE SCHOOL, WE WILL BE EXPOSED TO ALL THE STUDENTS NAMED THOMAS COLE WAS IN ONE WEEK TIME, IS THIS REALLY SAFE? WE WILL THEN GO HOME TO EXPOSE OUR FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN SOCIAL DISTANCING.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE.
I TEACH NO PLANES ON CLAPPING GAMES.
THE RPE AND MUSIC TEACHER WILL HAVE THE SANTA FE COVERED SUPPLIES FOR EVERY CLASS.
CAN WE EVEN SHARE SUPPLIES? SO SAVE THE SANITIZER AND THE LYSOL WIVES, WHICH YOU CAN'T EVEN GET RIGHT NOW.
LET'S ADDRESS THE FACE SHIELDS, THE GOGGLES, THE LATEX GLOVES, THE HOSPITAL BOUNDS REACHING THIS.
I'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS THIS SINCE MARCH TEACHERS WILL DO THE WORK.
WE'VE ALWAYS DONE THE WORK WE'RE READY, VIRTUAL SELF.
[00:40:48]
WE DON'T HEAR ANYTHING LIKE THE NEXT PERSON CAUSE THEY DIDN'T ANSWER.CAN YOU HEAR HIM? GO AHEAD, JOE.
I JUST WANTED TO VOICE MY CONCERN.
UM, ABOUT STARTING BACK TO SCHOOL IN PERSON, I AM ACTUALLY AGAINST SENDING MY CHILDREN IN PERSON AND WOULD LIKE IT TO BE A VIRTUAL OPTION UNTIL X'S ARE AT A STEADY AND SAFE AREA.
I'M NOT GOING TO BE SENDING MY KIDS BACK IN PERSON.
WRITE THEM DOWN TO THE NEXT ONE.
TO THOSE BOARD MEMBERS THAT REMAINED VISIBLE DURING THE SLIDE PER ALL TASKS AND ARE GIVING YOUR FULL ATTENTION AND ARE ABSTAINING FROM SCROLLING THROUGH OTHER TECHNICAL DEVICES AND MAKING EYE CONTACT FOR THE CAMERA DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
I'M A TEACHER IN THE DISTRICT.
AND USUALLY BY THIS TIME IN THE SUMMER, I HAVE A HANDLE ON LESSON PLANS AND PLATFORMS THAT I INTEND TO USE FOR INSTRUCTION.
IF I WERE RETURNED TO THE CLASSROOM, SHOULD I REQUEST A LEAVE OF ABSENCE AFTER TONIGHT'S DECISIONS ARE MADE? MIGHT I WALK AWAY FROM THE PROFESSION THAT I LOVE AND HAVE BEEN A PART OF SINCE 1991? WELL, YOU ASKED ME TO TEACH VIRTUALLY.
IF WE DO GO VIRTUAL, WILL IT BE FOR THE ENTIRE SEMESTER OR MIGHT IVS TO BE PART OF A HYBRID INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL, REALISTIC GRADING GUIDELINES FOR BEING IN PLACE? WE CAN CERTAINLY AGREE THAT THOSE USED IN THE SPRING WERE FAR LESS THAN ADEQUATE AND REFLECTING STUDENTS' ABILITIES AND EFFORTS MIGHT NOT BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTION.
AND IF WE BEGIN SUCH, WILL IT BE SAFE FOR STUDENTS TO EVEN READ BOOKS OR OUR SCHOOL AND CLASSROOM LIBRARIES? MIGHT IT BE NECESSARY FOR ME TO EVEN QUARANTINE THE BOOKS THEMSELVES? I WOULD CALL THE TEACHER AND THE LEARNING SOLUTIONS VIDEO STATING THAT SHE KNEW HER STUDENTS BEST IN THE VIRTUAL MODEL VERSUS IN THE USUAL BRICK AND MORTAR OPTION.
WE KNOW MOST OF OUR STUDENTS LEARN BETTER IN A TRUE CLASSROOM, BUT THAT'S NOT A PRUDENT OPTION AT THE MOMENT.
I'M STRESSED BECAUSE TIMES TAKING, WHEN I COULD BE EDUCATING MYSELF, HOW TO DELIVER BETTER INSTRUCTION TO MY STUDENTS ONLY I KNEW THE AVENUE TO PURSUE.
DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO WEAR A MASK SEVEN HOURS A DAY WHEN IT'S ALL THAT WE ADULTS CAN DO TO KEEP ONE ON FOR THE TIME THAT IT TAKES US TO IN OUR SUPERMARKET AND BUY MILK? OUR SCHOOL
[00:45:01]
BOARDS ONLINE CALENDAR IS STILL DOCUMENTING THE NEED FOR VIRTUAL MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE END OF THIS MONTH.SO WHY IS IT EVEN UP FOR DISCUSSION AS TO THE SAFETY OF RETURNING TO SCHOOL AND A TRUE FACE TO FACE MODEL? IF IT'S SAFE FOR TEACHERS TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM, HAVE ALL OF THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS THEN PUT IN PLACE.
NO DESKS IN MY ROOM HAD BEEN EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY PANELS.
NO WATER FOUNTAINS HAVE BEEN MARKED AS OUT OF ORDER.
AND SOME CLASSES STILL DON'T HAVE.
SO FOR HAND IN HAND SANITIZING STATIONS, I'M TASKED WITH TEACHING ONE 65 STANDARDS AND INDICATORS FOR MY SUBJECT AREA.
AND NOW CDC GUIDELINES STATE THAT I HAVE TO SANITIZE DESKS BETWEEN EVERY CLASS OPEN DOORWAYS FOR STUDENTS, WHICH OF COURSE MUST BE LOGGED BECAUSE OF ACTIVE SHOOTER GUIDELINES.
SO ON NOW I'LL HAVE TO STOP INSTRUCTION EVERY TIME A STUDENT HAS TO LEAVE OR ENTER MY CLASS.
THOSE REQUIREMENTS ALONE ARE MIND BLOWING AT THIS POINT.
COULD ANY OF THESE ANSWER QUESTIONS HAVE ANSWERS POST? I'M HOPING THAT BY THE END OF TONIGHT'S MEETING, I'LL FINALLY BE ABLE TO SLEEP, HAVING A SENSE OF WHAT IS EXPECTED ON AUGUST 24TH OR MAYBE AUGUST 31ST OR SEPTEMBER EIGHT.
SO I HAVE TWO MORE AFTER THIS ONE.
UM, I AM A FOUR COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TEACHER AND I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING DR.
RODRIGUEZ AND THE SR FOR COUNTY DISTRICT STAFF, AS WELL AS THE DIFFERENT COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD FROM WORKING COUNTLESS HOURS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR STAFF.
IF YOU, FOR COUNTY AND DURING THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME AS AN EDUCATOR OF 17 YEARS AND A PARENT VOLUNTEER, THREE CHILDREN WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THEIR K-12 EDUCATION.
IF YOU'RE FOR COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, I AM A FIRM BELIEVER OF FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTION.
THE RELATIONSHIPS ARE FORMED IN PERSON THAT DEVELOPED COMFORT AND TRUST BETWEEN TEACHERS, STAFF, AND STUDENTS.
MY STUDENTS WITH STORIES MORNING WITH SMILE SETS THE TONE FOR PRODUCTIVE AND POSITIVE DAY OF LEARNING.
NOTHING CAN REPLACE THIS, THAT ISN'T UNTIL HE BEGAN HIS PANDEMIC.
I HAVE FEAR ON MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, PETER, AS WELL, UNKNOWN OF THE VIRUS.
I THINK ABOUT A TYPICAL SCHOOL DAY PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC GREETING MY STUDENTS, THEY DOOR WITH THE MORNING HANDSHAKE OF CHOICE, A MORNING MEETING WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE INTERACT EXCHANGE OF THOUGHTS AND CELEBRATIONS ON THE CARPET MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE ROOM FOR COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION, LITERATURE GROUPS, MATH GROUPS, SCIENCE, EXPERIMENTS, SHOUT OUTS, OR SINGING WITH CLASSMATES REACH A GOAL.
CAN THAT HAPPEN IF WE GO BACK FACE TO FACE, PERHAPS, BUT IN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT WAY, LITTLE MOVEMENT, LITTLE COLLABORATION, CONSTANT INTERRUPTION INTERRUPTIONS FOR HAND WASHING MASKING UP ALL DAY HOT FROM MASKS, STAGGERED ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL.
STUDENTS WILL BE CONTAINED TO ONE HOME, INCLUDING TAKING OFF MASS TO LAUNCH.
WE WORRY ABOUT THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL MENTAL HEALTH.
OUR CHILDREN, THE NEW FACE TO FACE SCENARIO WILL BE CHALLENGING.
SEEING THEIR TEACHER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A MASK, UNABLE TO READ THE NONVERBAL LANGUAGE.
IT COMES WITH A SMILE, OUR SPARKLE AND A FACIAL EXPRESSION TO REASSURE A YOUNG STUDENT WILL BE SO DIFFICULT.
OUR MASS CLAUSE WENT INTO EFFECT AT THE PEAK OF TOURIST SEASON, JULY 4TH, OUR METRICS CONTINUE TO BE HIGH.
WE HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF MASKING UP UNTIL TOURISM SUBSIDES.
I'VE BEEN READING MANY ARTICLES RECENTLY ABOUT SCHOOLS THAT HAVE REOPENED IN SUMMER PROGRAMS AND RECENTLY IN INDIANA, WHERE THE VIRUS IS SPREADING QUICKLY AMONG STAFF AND STUDENTS.
THIS IS TEMPORARY, BUT I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT WE WOULD BENEFIT FROM WAITING FOR THE METRICS TO GO DOWN BEFORE ATTORNEYS' SCHOOL FACE TO FACE.
WE ARE FORTUNATE TO BE IN THIS DISTRICT WHERE WE HAVE INCREDIBLE TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF OUR SUPERINTENDENT SCHOOL BOARD, BUT IT'S USE IT TO OUR ADVANTAGE AND SAFELY TURN FACE TO FACE TO SCHOOL WHEN COVER NUMBERS REACH A LOWER LEVEL.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
THANK YOU, JODY SPEAKING, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND START SPEAKING BY ROBIN.
UH, MEMBERS OF THE, YOU HEAR ME? YES,
[00:50:02]
I THANK YOU.MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
RECENTLY, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE WITH LOCAL EDUCATORS IN A DISCUSSION AS PART OF MY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE STATE LEVEL TEACHER ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION, AS C FOR ED.
THE THEME OF THIS DISCUSSION WAS VIRTUAL UNTIL FAITH LOCAL EDUCATORS HAD ASKED ME TO SPEAK AGAIN ON THEIR BEHALF TONIGHT, AS C FOR ED DEFINES VIRTUAL UNTIL SAFE AS BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH FACE TO FACE OR HYBRID INSTRUCTION.
ONLY WHEN CORONAVIRUS DISEASE ACTIVITY IS IDENTIFIED AS LOW OR MEDIUM, ACCORDING TO THE D HAT GUIDANCE REQUESTED BY SOUTH CAROLINA, XCELERATE ED TASK FORCE AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF IT, MANDATION ABATE ORGANIZATIONS THAT THESE DECISIONS BE MADE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WITH THE GUIDANCE OF LOCAL HEALTH EXPERTS, THE VIRTUAL UNTIL STATE DISCUSSION WITH PART OF A WEEK LONG EVENT ADVOCATING FOR RETURNING TO SCHOOL SAFELY IN ACCORDANCE WITH PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES.
I PROVIDED MY PERSPECTIVE AS A PARENT.
ONE OF THE TOP CONCERNS AMONG PARENTS, MYSELF INCLUDED IS BALANCING THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN WITH HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION.
THE VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROPOSED MAY NOT BE PERFECT FOR EVERY FAMILY, BUT IT WILL PROVIDE CONTINUITY.
WE ALL WANT A RETURN TO NORMAL, BUT I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE CLEAR WITH PARENTS ABOUT WHAT RETURNING TO A FIVE DAY IN-PERSON SCHEDULE WOULD LOOK LIKE IN OUR SCHOOLS, TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS POSSIBLE.
EVEN WITH A PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES CHOOSING VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION, IT SHOULD BE CLEARLY COMMUNICATED TO FAMILIES.
THE POSSIBILITY OF SCREW CLOSURES OR PARTIAL ALSO KNOWN AS HYBRID SCHEDULES IS GIVEN OUR ENROLLMENT NUMBERS COMBINED WITH THE HIGH LEVEL OF VIRAL SPREAD CURRENTLY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW YOU HAVE DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO MAKE IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE COUNTED AS.
[Approval of Minutes • July 14-15, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes • July 22, 2020 and July 28, 2020 Special Called Board Meetings]
NOW DOWN TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES.DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE JULY 14, 15, 20, 20 BOARD MEETING MINUTES AS PRINTED OR SHOWN IN THE BOARD DOCS? IS ANYBODY GONNA MAKE A MOTION? OKAY.
WISNIEWSKI AND ANY DISCUSSION KATHY
KATHY, COULD YOU PLEASE ON MUTE? NO, I JUST RAISED MY HAND TO MAKE THE MOTION, SORRY.
DO WE NOW HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE JULY 22, 2020 SPECIAL CALLED BOARD MEETING MINUTES, KATHY? UH, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE JULY 22ND SPECIAL CALLED WARNINGS AND JULY 28TH.
THEY'RE PUTTING TOGETHER CORRECT.
THE SECOND, MR. EARL CAMPBELL, ANY DISCUSSION VOTING IS OPEN.
MOTION CARRIES NINE ZERO ONE ONE ABSTENTION.
YOU CAN ANNOUNCE WHO THE ABSTENTION IS.
[Chairman’s Report]
ALRIGHT.WE'RE DOWN TO THE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT ON AUGUST 21ST AND 22ND.
THAT'S A FRIDAY AND A SATURDAY.
[00:55:01]
THE SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION IS SPONSORING THEIR 2020 SCHOOL LAW CONFERENCE.IT WILL BE HELD VIRTUALLY THE OBJEC OBJECTIVES OF THAT CONFERENCE ARE TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF THE FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS GOVERNING SCHOOL BOARDS AND DISTRICTS PRESENT RECENT LEGAL CHANGES AFFECTING SCHOOL BOARDS IN DISTRICTS, AND CLARIFY THE LEGAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITY OF BOARD MEMBERS ON SPECIALIZED TOPICS.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE REQUESTED TO REGISTER FOR THE MEETING.
AND I WOULD SAY TO ANYBODY WHO'S INTERESTED AND HAS NOT EXPRESSED THEIR INTEREST TO REGISTER.
THE DEADLINE IS TOMORROW AT NOON BEFORE THE REGISTRATION FEE INCREASES.
[Committee Reports: Academic Committee]
THE COMMITTEE REPORTS.YOU HAVE THE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE REPORTING, SO THAT WILL BE MR. MEL CAMPBELL.
THE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE MET ON THURSDAY AND I WOULD DISCUSSION WAS PRIMARILY S S S S 33, WHICH WAS ABOUT SUSPENSIONS AND EXPULSIONS AND ALTERNATIVE ASSIGNMENTS.
SO AFTER VETTING A NUMBER OF ITEMS, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD APPROVE AS A
SO WE REALLY JUST THE BOARD DOESN'T YEAH, EXACTLY.
TRAVIS MAY HAVE SOME THINGS TO SAY IN TERMS OF CLARIFICATION OR DOCTOR DR.
I THINK MOST OF THE STUFF, IF YOU SAW IT AS KIND OF SELF-EXPLANATORY THEY MADE SOME CHANGES THAT DR.
MR. CAMPBELL, WE TRIED TO KEEP THE EASE OF READING GOING BY COMPLEXITY OF CONSEQUENCE.
CAMPBELL, MRS. SWINTON, AND KAREN MCKINSEY WORKED VERY HARD.
ARE WE DEFINING AS A, ARE A SYNTHETIC TO BE READ FROM THE EYES OF SOMEONE WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH DISCIPLINE AND CONSEQUENCES PRACTICES? WE ENSURE TO PUT IN DUE PROCESS, PUT IN THE APPEALS PROCESS WITHIN EACH ONE OF THE CONSEQUENCES FROM SUSPENSION TO THE EXPULSION, TO THE ALTERNATIVE ED.
SO IT CAN BE READ WITHIN THAT DOMAIN.
CAMPBELL HERE WHO COULD GIVE A LITTLE LIGHT AS TO HOW WE TRY, TRY TO MEET THE REQUEST OF THE BOARD, AS WELL AS PROVIDING INFORMATION THAT THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR WHAT IS A PARENT TURN TO.
UM, AND OUR TEAM HAS WORKED HARD AT PUTTING TOGETHER A PRELIMINARY DRAFT DOCUMENT FOR PARENTS THAT WE WILL HAVE FINALIZED AND PUT ONTO A WEBSITE.
SO IF YOU WOULD LET ME HAVE A MOMENT LIKE THAT THOUGHT THE CAMPBELL'S SHARE, SIR.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, FOR MEMBERS, FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPLEMENT THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU PROVIDED TO US.
UM, WE ACTUALLY MET JULY 21ST, AS WELL AS YOU LIE 28 WITH THE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE MEETING TO REVIEW ASSETS 39.
UM, THE OTHER, IS THAT WHAT WE WANTED TO EMPHASIZE IN THIS PARTICULAR AR IS THE FLOW OF IT, MAKING SURE THAT IT READS WELL IN TERMS OF, UM, THE ACTUAL MISBEHAVIOR FOLLOWING THE SUSPENSION, THE ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT EXPULSION, AND THEN, UH, LIKE DR.
STRATAS MENTIONED THE APPEALS EMBEDDED IN EACH OF SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION, THE APPEAL PROCESS FOR PARENTS.
UM, WE ALSO WANTED TO EMPHASIZE MS. SCHOOLWORK, UM, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND REFERRING TO SS 11, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S NOT DO, UM, DOUBLE JEOPARDY FOR STUDENTS THAT STUDENTS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE FULL CREDIT FOR MAKEUP WORK.
SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT LANGUAGE WAS CLEAR IN THE DOCUMENT.
AND, UM, I DON'T WANT TO PROLONG THE SWINTON.
DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE? NO.
CAMPBELL, I THINK YOU COVERED IT.
I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT AFTER, UM,
[01:00:01]
THE EDITS, WE WILL HAVE OUR TRAINING THAT WE'LL BEGIN WITH OUR PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS REVIEWING OUR PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE PLAN, AS WELL AS OUR ADMINISTRATIVE REGS THAT ARE ALIGNED TO THAT PLAN.SO I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT'S, THAT THAT TIMELINE IS SCHEDULED AND, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO WE JUST APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK.
I WAS ALWAYS TOLD THAT FEEDBACK IS A GIFT AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I ACTUALLY HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, SO ROBIN, CAN YOU SCROLL BACK TO PAGE ONE AND IT'S NUMBER THREE ON PAGE ONE, WHEN I WAS RE VIEWING THIS DOCUMENT PRIOR TO TONIGHT, HARVEY WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION OF MISBEHAVIOR.
IT SAYS THAT THOSE STUDENTS IT'S KIND OF THE SECOND OR THIRD SENTENCE IN HERE, THE STUDENT WILL BE ADVISED VERBALLY OR IN WRITING OF THE AGGREGATE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HIM OR HER, TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE IT ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE IN WRITING VERBAL A VERBAL, UH, ACCUSATION CAN BE MISUNDERSTOOD MISCONSTRUED OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SAY.
AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE YOUR HAVE TO GO BACK TO THAT, UM, TO THAT, UH, ACCUSATION.
AND I GUESS THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION THAT'S I JUST DID NOT CARE FOR THAT.
AND I, I CERTAINLY DON'T WRITE THIS KIND OF POLICY AND THIS IS NOT MY AREA OF EXPERTISE, BUT I NOTICED THAT I DO SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND THAT, OR SHOULD TO ME BE AN, AN VERBALLY AND WRITTEN, SO WE CAN DEFINITELY MAKE THAT CHANGE BEFORE THE DOCUMENTS ARE SUBMITTED.
I JUST HAVE A PROCESS QUESTION.
UM, THE BOARD APPROVED OUR, UM, STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT APPROVAL AND, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M INCORRECT HERE.
UM, THE POLICY, UM, ACADEMICS COMMITTEE REVIEWED THIS AR, SO WERE THERE ANY CHANGES MADE TO THE AR THAT ARE CONTRADICTORY TO THE, TO THE CODE THAT THE BOARD HAD APPROVED PREVIOUSLY OR NO? SO IF I MAY MISS HIS OR SHAQ, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY THOUGHT IT WAS NEVSKY, THERE WAS A MOTION MADE REGARDING THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT APPROVAL PENDING TO RETURN OF SS 39 TO THE BOARD.
SO THERE HAS NOTHING IN WITH REGARD TO YOU'RE VERY CORRECT ON ANYTHING THAT WOULD IMPACT THE CONSEQUENCES REGARDING AND FRACTIONS.
I BELIEVE IT WAS MORE IN YOUR LANGUAGE TO PROCEED WITH ITSELF.
PUB THE PRIOR AR WAS A LITTLE CONFUSING AT READING AND WE WANTED CLARITY AT APPEALS PROCESS.
SO WOULD THE BOARD NEED TO REAPPROVE THE CODE WITH THE CHANGES MADE? THE DOCTOR WAS NEVSKY SUGGESTED WE HAVE NOT SENT THE STUDENT CODE OF STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT FORWARD, PENDING THIS PRESENTATION.
WILL THERE BE ONE ACTION REQUIRED OF THE BOARD TO INCORPORATE THIS IN THERE? HI, YOU MAY NOT BE THE EXPERT IN THAT DOMAIN.
MY UNDERSTANDING MORE TO THE EFFECT WAS THAT WE WANTED AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE APPEALS PROCESS AND FOR THAT TO BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD, TO SEE IF THERE WAS SATISFACTION WITH REGARD TO THE REWRITING AND TAKING THE FEEDBACK THAT WAS GIVEN TO US AT THAT PRIOR BOARD PRESENTATION, IF THE BOARD AT THIS TIME IS PLEASED WITH US HAS 39 THAT WE HAVE ADDED THE APPEALS PROCESS AND THAT WE'RE ALSO PUTTING INTO PLACE A PARENT AND STUDENT MANUAL THAT WILL GO ONTO OUR WEBSITE.
UM, I WOULD ASK THAT WE CAN GO FORWARD WITH OUR STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT BEING APPROVED FROM THE PRIOR PRESENTATION.
SO WE COULD SEND THAT TO THE BOARD, UM, TO THE STATE AND THEN START WITH OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AFTER WAS NASTY.
I AGREE WITH YOU, MADAM CHAIR, ABOUT THE, WHAT YOU POINTED OUT ABOUT THE VERBALLY AND IN WRITING.
I ALSO NOTICED IN THAT SAME SENTENCE THAT IT SAYS THE STUDENT WILL BE ADVISED.
UM, I THINK IT WOULD ALSO BE GOOD IF THE PARENT IS ADVISED OF WHAT THE ACCUSATIONS ARE AND THE PARENT IS MADE AWARE AT THE POINT OF INVESTIGATION.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANOTHER PLACES WHERE THAT MIGHT BE APPLICABLE.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT A PARENT BEING ADVISED OF THAT AS WELL, OR SIMULTANEOUSLY OR
[01:05:01]
AFTERWARDS AFTER THE STUDENT IS, WOULD BE, UH, BENEFICIAL, JUST SO THAT THE PARENTS ARE MADE AWARE ALSO FROM THE ONSET.UM, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING IN HERE ABOUT TRACKING OF THESE IS THAT COVERED UNDER ANOTHER AR SO MS. DISTRIBUTED, I'M JUST GOING TO ASK FOR A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, SIR, REGARDING TRACKING, IS THAT TRACKING OF CONSEQUENCES AND DISCIPLINE? YES.
MA'AM VIOLATIONS, YOU KNOW, BY DEMOGRAPHICS BY SCHOOL.
I JUST DON'T SEE ANY MENTION OF THAT IN HERE.
WE ACTUALLY DID PUT IN TO THIS ADMINISTRATIVE, REGULAR REGULATION, A QUARTERLY REVIEW OF DISCIPLINE TO BE CONDUCTED.
WE ACTUALLY USE THAT LANGUAGE WITHIN THIS AR SIR, WE WERE SPECIFIC WITH THAT PRACTICE.
I DON'T HAVE THE POINT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.
THANK YOU, MR. STRINGER AND DR.
STRATOS I THINK, UH, WHAT'S ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW.
UH, WELL, THAT'S THE INTERVENTION PART.
UH, THAT, THAT TALKS ABOUT THE, UH, QUARTERLY REPORTING PROCESS.
IT IS TIED TO THE MTSS PROCESS AND WE WERE SPECIFIC TO HAVE THAT PUT IN BECAUSE WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THAT'S BEING REVIEWED AND PART OF MTSS BEHAVIOR FOR US.
UM, KATHY ROBOT, KATHY, YOU HAVE TO UNMUTE AGAIN.
UM, I THINK GOING BACK TO, UM, MS. OR SHAQ'S QUESTION, THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT WAS APPROVED THAT NIGHT IN, IN THE MOTION.
THERE WERE NO CHANGES MADE TO THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT IT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.
UM, THE, IT WAS THE SS 39 THAT WE JUST WANTED TO REVIEW TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DID INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT APPEALS.
AND IN TERMS OF MR.
I MEAN, ALL THAT STUFF IS ENTERED IN WHEN INFRACTIONS OCCUR.
IF YOU REMEMBER THAT STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT, UM, WE TALKED A BIT ABOUT HOW THOSE WERE ENTERED IN AND, UM, AND THE PRINCIPALS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING AT THOSE AND LOOKING FOR PATTERNS IF YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THOSE TODAY AND JUST TO ADD TO THAT, MS. ROBOT IN THIS DOCUMENT IS ACTUALLY ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES WITH REGARDS TO WHAT'S DOCUMENTED IN EDUCATOR'S HANDBOOK, THE DISCIPLINE, BEFORE YOU START, JOHN, COULD SOMEBODY PLEASE MUTE HEARING A LOT OF BACKGROUND NOISE, MR. ALLEN, THANK YOU.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH THE BOTH CHRISTINA'S INPUT AND RACHEL'S INPUT.
AND SO CONFUSED THOUGH ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING TONIGHT.
I'M WONDERING IF WE NEED A MOTION TO CHANGE THAT LANGUAGE, OR DO WE JUST GET A VERBAL PROMISE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION THAT IT WILL BE CHANGED OR WHAT'S THE PROCESS WE SHOULD BE DOING HERE? IF I MAY, MR. DOWNEY, WHAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT FORWARD, WE'LL BRING IT.
IF ACADEMIC COMMITTEE AGREES, I COULD PUT, POSE A VERBAL PROMISE BASED ON MY INTEGRITY AND THE FACT THAT I DO AGREE WITH AND PARENTS AND VERBAL AND IN WRITING.
IF I MIGHT ADD, UH, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT PARTICULARLY STRESSORS, IF THE STUDENT IS A MINOR, THE PARENTS HAS TO BE INVOLVED IN ANY COMMUNICATIONS AROUND DISCIPLINE THAT EMBEDDED WITH THAT STUDENT.
SO BY MADE FOR POINT OF CLARIFICATION, IF WE LOOK AT PAGE ONE, ROMAN NUMERAL THREE, AND WE CAN'T GET ON THE LINES, ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR AT THE END OF THE FOURTH LINE, THE SENTENCE AND THE STUDENT WILL, AND PARENTS WOULD THAT SUFFICE BECAUSE IF WE ARE PUTTING IN WRITING AND WE ARE GOING TO BE TRAINING OUR ADMINISTRATORS AT THIS INCLUDES ALL STUDENTS IN BUFORD COUNTY.
SO WE WOULD SAY THE STUDENT IS STUDENT AND PARENT WILL BE ADVISED IN WRITING OF THE YEAR.
[01:10:01]
SIR.YEAH, THERE'S A BUNCH OF, I THINK THEY OVERREACHING A BUNCH OF PLACES HERE.
FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS AN AIR TRANSPORT REGULATIONS WITH WHAT THE ADMINISTRATOR DOES, A TESLA DISCIPLINE CODE, THE CODE OF DISCIPLINE.
WE ARE, WE ARE, WE WERE ENCOURAGED TO LOOK AT THIS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IN HERE COULD BACK UP THAT CODE.
AND SOME OF THE THINGS YOU YOU'RE COMMENTING ON, I'M NOT SURE YOU UNDERSTAND ALL OF WHAT'S BEING SAID IN AS, AS 39 WHILE I WROTE EVERY FOR EXAMPLE, LIST NUMBER THREE IS JUST ABOUT INVESTIGATING AN INCIDENT THAT HAS OCCURRED IN THE SCHOOL ON A PARTICULAR DAY.
AND BEFORE THE STUDENT IS, YOU KNOW, SOMERLY CHARGED THE, THIS ACTION HAS TO TAKE PLACE WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR AND PARTICULAR STUDENT.
SO BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE IS DONE AND YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME A STUDENT IS ACCUSED OF SOMETHING, I DON'T THINK THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS CONTACT THE PARENT BECAUSE PROBABLY 70% OF THE TIME THE ACCUSATION IS NOT SUPPORTED.
THE SECOND, UH, ITEM, UH, I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT WAS THE, UH, THE CODE OF DISCIPLINE.
DISCIPLINE IS ONE DOCUMENT AND IT'S NOT INDIVIDUAL TRACKING TO SPEAK TO DAVID'S THING, GO TO DISCIPLINE.
STUDENTS HAVE THEIR OWN RECORDS, THEIR OWN PERSONAL RECORDS.
AND AT NO TIME DO WE OUTLINE, WE DO HAVE, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? THE GEAR, THE STUDENT EDUCATORS, HANDBOOK, ADVOCATORS AND BOOK.
THE ADVOCATE IS HANDBOOK CAN GET YOU THE INFORMATION ABOUT ANY PARTICULAR STUDENT OR HOW MANY TIMES THAT STUDENT HAS REACHED SOME OF THE RULES OF THE CODE OF DISCIPLINE.
BUT AT THIS PARTICULAR, ER, WOULDN'T MAKE ANY STATEMENT ABOUT THAT IS PARTICULARLY SIMPLY WHAT THE PROCEDURES ARE WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING WRONG AND THIS CATEGORY.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE WERE LOOKING TO FINALLY AT WHAT WAS WRITTEN NOW, WHAT SHOULD BE WITH THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.
SO, UM, JUST TO CLARIFY FOR EVERYBODY IN THE MEETING MINUTES, WE JUST APPROVED OF JULY 14TH, I'LL READ THE MOTION, MRS. TRISHA, FIDRYCH MADE THE MOTION THAT THE BOARD APPROVED THE PROGRESSIVE PLAN STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT WITH THE ADDITION OF SS 39 TO BE ADDED TO THE DOCUMENT AND THE MOTION THAT MOTION WAS, UH, PASSED EIGHT THREE.
UM, SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT INVESTIGATIONS AND, UH, BEHAVIORAL STUDENTS, UM, IT'S ALSO BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT, UM, ABOUT HERE, LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION.
UM, ME BEING A NEW BOARD MEMBER, UNDERSTANDING THIS PROCESS, UM, COULD POSSIBLY THAT THE BURGERS.
SO WENDY HELPED ME UNDERSTAND WHEN STUDENTS DO DIFFERENT THINGS THAT REVERENCE IN SCHOOL OR ALSO OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL, WHEN IT COMES TO AN INVESTIGATION, WHAT IS THE CORRECT AGE THAT COULD WE BRING IN THE BEST LAW ENFORCEMENT IN WHAT WILL BE THE, THE, THE AGE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO NOTIFY PARENTS? OR WHAT'S THAT PROCESS? IF THERE'S A PROCESS DR.
STRADDLES, DO YOU WANT TO JUMP IN ON THAT? YES.
SO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I KNOW WE'VE, WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION IN THE PAST AND WE WANT TO LET A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
AND I KNOW WENDY SPOKE REGARDING, UM, AS SROS, OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS BEING UTILIZED AT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.
AND THAT IS AN ULTIMATE GOAL THAT WE WANT TRAINING TO HAPPEN HERE IN A FEW FOR COUNTY, BUT A LAW ENFORCEMENT, IF A CHILD COMMITS A CRIME UNDER THE CODE FROM THE POLICE CRIMINAL ACT, THAT IS A POINT THAT A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER SHE'D HAVE TO BE BROUGHT IN, BUT THEY ALSO TO BE BROUGHT IN PRIOR TO THAT, BECAUSE THAT OFFICER MAY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT STUDENT.
AND, UM, I COULD SPEAK SPECIFICALLY THAT I HAD AN OFFICER WHO WORKED WITH KIDS FOR ALMOST 12 YEARS AND, UM, HE WAS ABLE TO TAKE MORE OF A SPIN TO LET HIM MENTOR A CHILD VERSUS A CHILD
[01:15:01]
RECEIVING CONSEQUENCES FOR SUSPENSIONS.SO IT IS ABOUT BUILDING THE RELATIONSHIP AND PROVIDING THAT TRAINING SO THAT WE COULD NOT GO TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL AT TIMES.
BUT IF THERE'S A CRIME THAT'S BEEN COMMITTED, WE MUST REPORT.
WE ARE HELD BY LAW TO REPORT TO THE POLICE.
AND IF I COULD JUST SPEAK FREELY, UM, WELL ACTUALLY I'LL LET, UH, PROSPER.
I LIKE TO REDIRECT THE QUESTION AGAIN.
THE QUESTION IS AT WHAT AGE DO, UH, IN WHAT'S THE PROCESS THAT ONCE THEY BECOMES A, ANY TYPE OF INVESTIGATION AND WE CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT, OR WE ALLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT TO COME INTO THE SCHOOL, INTO THE SCHOOLS AND QUESTION OUR STUDENTS, WHAT'S THE PROCESS AROUND THAT IS MY QUESTION.
I THINK, UH, MS. MS. CARTILAGE WAS ABOUT TO, UH, RESPOND TO THAT.
AND I SAID, I'M NOT A RODRIGUEZ, BUT I ALSO DIRECTED THAT TO YOU AND MS. CARSON, THANK YOU.
SO WOULD THE NEW STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND WITH THE REGULATIONS THAT WENT INTO EFFECT, THE LEVEL THREE INVOLVES CRIMINAL CONDUCT AND THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ARE CALLED WHEN A STUDENT'S BEHAVIOR AMOUNTS TO 11 THREE LEVEL THREE VIOLATION, WHICH IS A CRIMINAL VIOLATION.
SO THERE THEY ARE CALLED TO RESPOND.
WHENEVER THAT STUDENT'S MISCONDUCT IS CRIMINAL OR THE CONDUCT WOULD PRESENT AN IMMEDIATE THREAT OF HARM OR SAFETY RISK TO ONE OR MORE PEOPLE.
NOW, WHEN A STUDENT TURNS 18, THE RIGHTS UNDER FERPA ARE ASSIGNED TO THE STUDENT WHEN THEY REACHED 18.
SO ARE YOU SPEAKING ABOUT A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 18 MR. SMITH? YES, MA'AM POSSIBLY.
UH, FOR INSTANCE, UM, A STUDENT DESTIN AND DEFINITELY IN THE COMMUNITY AND A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER COMES TO THE SCHOOL HOUSE TO QUESTION THE STUDENTS, WHAT SHOULD BE THE DISTRICTS? WHAT SHOULD BE AT THIS, THE DISTRICT STANCE ON THAT? I SAID, I WAS, I THOUGHT YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT IF THERE IS AN, AN ACTION THAT COMES ABOUT ON THE SCHOOL PROPERTY OR A SCHOOL ACTIVITY.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
YOU ANSWERED THE FIRST PART OF IT, BUT MISSED THE SECOND PART OF IT.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IF, WHAT IF, AND IN THE PROCESS A PROCESS HELPING ADMINISTRATOR AND MAKING THEM DOING AN INVESTIGATION, OR LET'S SAY FOR INSTANCE, UM, WE HAVE SOME STUDENTS WHO HAVE, WE HAD A SITUATION THAT TOOK PLACE AT A BUS STOP.
AND THEN AFTER THE, CAUSE IT WAS TOOK PLACE AT THE BUS STOP, THEN IT CAME TO SCHOOL, IT CAME TO SCHOOL AND WHAT I AM IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, I GOT INTO MY LAW ENFORCEMENT MATTER, DEALT WITH IT AT THE BUS STOP.
BUT TO WHAT DEGREE DO WE ALLOW THEM TO COME IN TO THE SCHOOL HOUSE AND TO INVESTIGATE? AND HOW DO WE GO ABOUT THEM INVESTIGATING? YOU'RE ASKING WHETHER A POLICE OFFICER WHO IS NOT A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER COMES TO THE SCHOOL, CORRECT? CORRECT.
THEN THE PARENT, THEN THE PRINCIPAL OR PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, PRINCIPALS, DEG DESIGNEE SHOULD BE NOTIFYING THE PARENTS TOO ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.
SO IS THAT, IS THAT A REQUIREMENT? ARE THEY ALLOWED TO TAKE THE STUDENT INTO THE ROOM AND START QUESTIONING OR DO THE PARENT HAS TO BE NOTIFIED BEFORE THAT, IF THAT CHILD'S A MINOR? I MEAN, I, I JUST THINK THE RE THE PRUDENT THING TO DO WOULD BE TO NOTIFY A PARENT THAT'S, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PAST PRACTICE HAS BEEN IN THE BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, PARENT SHOULD BE NOTIFIED JUST AS IT IS IN THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT.
ONE OF THE THINGS IS WE'LL PUT IN OUR STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT, IS THAT IN EVERY INSTANCE, THE PARENTS ARE NOTIFIED RIGHT AWAY.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WORK WITH THE PARENTS WHEN THERE IS A DISCIPLINARY PROBLEM FOR THE CHILD, AND MAKE SURE THAT THE APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS ARE PUT IN TO HELP THAT STUDENT SO THAT THIS BEHAVIOR DOES NOT REOCCUR IN THE FUTURE.
SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT A SPECIAL CASE, MAYBE YOU AND I CAN TALK ABOUT IT SEPARATELY, CAUSE I, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT I'D BE GLAD TO LOOK INTO, WELL, WELL, THERE'S NOT REALLY A SPECIAL CASE, UH, UH, HOMAGES CARTILAGE.
HOWEVER, I'VE BEEN APPROACHED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE COMMUNITY AND I'VE BEEN ASKED BY SEVERAL PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ALLOWED TO COME ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES AND THAT PRINCIPALS HAVE BEEN ALLOWING THEM TO COME ON CAMPUS AND DO INVESTIGATIONS ABOUT THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS, AS WELL AS THINGS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN OR TAKE A PLACE IN THIS, IN THE SCHOOL.
SO I, I JUST WANT TO KNOW ALONE BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS LIST, THEY'RE ALL ON THEIR PARENTS THAT ARE LISTENING RIGHT NOW ON THIS LINE.
AND SO WHEN THEY ASKED ME I WANTED TO GET A CORRECT, CORRECT FROM DR.
RODRIGUEZ AS WELL, I MAY HAVE POSSIBLY,
[01:20:01]
UH, HIS LEGAL TEAM, WHAT ARE THE RIGHTS OF PARENTS AND STUDENTS WHEN THEY COME TO, TO PERTAINING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT IS COMING OFF THE SCREEN.AND I STARTED DAN AND FINISHING UP THEIR INVESTIGATIONS IN THE SCHOOL HOUSE BECAUSE MR. SMITH, YES, SIR.
WELL, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, SIR, I AM NOT AWARE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT COMING ON TO OUR SCHOOL PROPERTY AND ENGAGING IN THAT KIND OF, UM, INVESTIGATION OR INTERROGATION.
SO I NEED TO BE, I WOULD LIKE IT IF YOU COULD GIVE ME SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT SO I CAN FOLLOW UP.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY, UM, THAT THESE MATTERS ARE HANDLED PROPERLY AND THAT EVERYBODY'S TRUE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AND THAT THERE'S THIS CLEAR COMMUNICATION AND THAT PARENTS KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
STRATUS HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER TO ADD AT THIS TIME.
UH, THIS IS FOR WENDY CARTLIDGE WENDY.
UM, MEL, MEL CAMPBELL'S POINTS ARE WELL TAKEN, BUT COULD YOU, COULD YOU GIVE US A, UH, YOUR VIEW ON WHERE IS THE TYPE OF CHANGES THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF PROVIDING THINGS IN WRITING AND, UH, AND BEING WITH THE MINOR, IS THAT IMPORTANT FROM A, UH, EVIDENTIAL PERSPECTIVE IN CASE OF SUBSEQUENT LEGAL ACTION? IS THIS, IS THIS DON'T LIKE JOINING THE GUYS AND CROSSING THE T'S.
ARE WE IN THE TWO OVER HERE? NO, I, YOU KNOW, MR. DARLING, I, I THINK THAT AS A PARENT, THAT A PARENT, AS WELL AS THE STUDENT NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES AND FOR WHAT I'VE SEEN IN THE SCHOOLS.
THERE, IT'S A VERY BUSY PLACE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON AND, YOU KNOW, THEY ALWAYS SAY A CONTEMPORARY WRITING MADE AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT HELPS YOU TO REMEMBER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED, AND YOU WANT TO BE FAIR TO THE STUDENT AND YOU WANT TO BE FAIR TO OTHER STUDENTS THAT MAY BE INVOLVED IN.
SO TO ME, IT SEEMS THE MOST PRUDENT COURSE IS TO MAKE A RECORD OF IT.
I MEAN, WE THINK ABOUT THERE'S AN INCIDENT ON A BUS THAT INCIDENT REPORT HAS TO BE MADE.
AS SOON AS THAT BUS DRIVER FINISHES HIS ROUTE.
AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A RECORD OF WHAT'S HAPPENED.
YOU JUST, IT'S JUST CAREFUL AND HELPS YOU REMEMBER, BECAUSE HOW ARE YOU GOING TO REMEMBER SOMETHING VERBALLY, YOU KNOW, A MONTH LATER OR A WEEK LATER, WHATEVER.
SO I JUST, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE ONE OF THE THINGS MR. DIALING AND BOARD MEMBERS THAT, THAT I'VE OBSERVED IN THIS PROCESS WITH DOING THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND SOMETHING THAT I APPRECIATE THE BOARD SUPPORT ON IS IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE INTERVENE EARLY AND HELP THESE, AND JUST NOT BE PUNISHING.
THE STUDENTS HAVE THESE INTERVENTIONS LOOK AT THEIR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL NEEDS, LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEIR FAMILY AND BE SENSITIVE AND COMPASSIONATE TO THEIR NEEDS.
SO THAT'S THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT IS IN THIS MATRIX, IT STARTS EARLY ON TO GET THIS COURT AND THE SCORES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AS A STUDENT IN COUNSELING, DOES A STUDENT NEED A REFERRAL FOR MENTAL HEALTH? DOES THIS STUDENT HAVE A HEALTH PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED? AND THEY'RE JUST, WE'VE GOT TO INTERVENE AND HELP OUR KIDS AND NOT PUNISH THEM.
THAT'S WHAT THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT IS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.
SO I HOPE THAT HELPED YOU MR. DOWNWIND, AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL SUPPORT.
I JUST WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS.
THIS IS A GAMBLE OR WE HELP THEM.
YEAH, I, YOU KNOW, UH, JOHN'S POINT IS WELL TAKEN.
THE, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THIS DOCUMENT TO, TO AGREE IT WAS WRITTEN.
SO I THINK YOU, YOU PROBABLY NEED TO TAKE SOME TIME AND LOOK AT IT, BUT THAT, UH, NUMBER THREE, THERE, THAT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT BASICALLY WRITTEN IN TERMS OF A LEVEL OF ONE OFF EVENTS WHERE A STUDENT IN THE SCHOOL HAD BEEN ACCUSED OF SOMETHING COULD BE, YOU KNOW, THROWING A SPITBALL AT A TEACHER.
WELL, THE PRINCIPAL HAS TO INVESTIGATE THAT.
AND PRIMARILY THAT'S WHAT THAT'S ABOUT.
I THINK WE ALL WERE SEARCHING THE WORD INVESTIGATION IN TERMS OF NUMBER THREE, BECAUSE IF YOU CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE DOCUMENT, THERE ARE OTHER FORM OF INVESTIGATION, OR THERE ARE OTHER NOTIFICATION OF PARENTS, DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE CRIME OF THE SCHOOL OFFENSE, I SHOULD SAY.
[01:25:01]
SIR.CAUSE THE LEVEL ONES ARE MORE, YOU KNOW, TEACHER MANAGED IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE LEVEL THREES ARE THE ONES WHERE THERE'S ONE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
AND IF YOU SCROLL DOWN AND CONTINUE TO READ THE DOCUMENT, YOU FIND THAT SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED IN THE DOCUMENT IN TERMS OF THE DUE PROCESS THAT RACHEL WAS CONCERNED ABOUT.
I MEAN, THAT IS, I THINK ISRAEL WELL ORGANIZED AND, AND, AND EVERYTHING IS BASICALLY COVERED THERE.
EARL CAMPBELL, MR. CAMPBELL, YOU NEED TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT IN THE PAST, WE DID HAVE SOME ISSUES WHERE STUDENTS WILL QUESTION WITHOUT PARENT'S CONSENT.
UM, AND, UM, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST ALSO IS THAT FOR US AS BOARD MEMBERS? OH, DEBRA WAS NEVSKY.
UM, I WAS GOING TO JUST TOUCH ON WHAT MEL WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH ITEM THREE AND YOU KNOW, MY RATIONALE FOR WANTING SS 39 INCLUDED WITH THEM AT OUR PRIOR MEETING.
UM, MY MAIN REASON FOR THAT WAS FOR THE DUE PROCESS ASPECT OF IT.
AND ALSO FOR MAKING SURE THAT PARENTS WERE NOTIFIED AND THAT EVERYBODY WAS AWARE OF WHAT THEIR APPEALS RIGHTS WERE.
UM, I STILL STAND BY MY POINT OF HAVING THE PARENT BE NOTICED BY EVEN IF IT'S IN AN EARLY STAGE OF ANY TYPE OF INVESTIGATION.
UM, AS A PARENT OF A KID IN SCHOOLS, I WOULD WANT TO KNOW, UM, IF SHE HAD BEEN ACCUSED OF SOMETHING SO THAT I COULD HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HER, WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS FOUNDED OR NOT.
UM, I JUST THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
UM, SO I STAND BY THAT AND I DON'T KNOW THOUGH, PROCEDURALLY, IF THERE'S ANYTHING FURTHER THAT WE, WE NEED TO DO WITH THIS, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN APPROVED, HOWEVER, IT WAS APPROVED WITH THE ADDITION OF SS 39.
SO IF ANY CHANGES ARE GONNA BE MADE TO THIS, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS IS FOR THAT.
IF I MAY ASK APPROVAL AND APPROVAL IS NOT NECESSARY, WE DIDN'T GO FORWARD WITH SENDING OUR STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT, BUT AT THIS TIME I WILL HAVE ON OUR STAFF, THE, TO CONDUCT TO THE STATE SO THAT WE COULD NOW START OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
SO MR. CAMPBELL, DOES THAT FINISH YOUR, THE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE REPORT? YES, IT DOES.
[Committee Reports: Ad Hoc Bluffton Growth Committee]
WE'RE NOW GOING TO THE AD HOC BLUFFTON GROWTH COMMITTEE.UM, YES, THE BLUFFTON GROWTH COMMITTEE HAS MET, UM, WITH THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON STAFF ON JULY 22ND.
UH, WE WERE ABLE TO VIEW A LOT OF REALLY GOOD INFORMATION RELATIVE TO THE GROWTH OF BLUFFTON DEVELOPMENTS, UM, AND WHAT THE TRENDS HAVE BEEN LOOKING LIKE.
WE WERE ABLE TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS OF THE STAFF, UM, AND THEY DID LET US KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE UPDATING THAT DOCUMENT AND PROVIDING THAT, UM, TO US AND ALSO TO THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, UH, COUNCIL IN OCTOBER, I BELIEVE ADDITIONALLY, UH, THE COMMITTEE MET ON THE 23RD OF JULY, UM, MS. CAROL CRUTCHFIELD, WHO IS OUR DISTRICT LIAISON, DID A REVIEW OF THE DEVELOPMENTS, UM, LAND THAT IS AVAILABLE.
UH, WE DISCUSSED GETTING THE MAPPING OF BLUFFTON AND LARGE FORMAT FOR US TO LOOK AT, CAUSE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT ON THE SMALL SCREENS.
UM, WE ALSO DISCUSSED IN THE FUTURE, UH, RANGING A TIME FOR THE COMMITTEE TO WALK THROUGH THE DIFFERENT BLUFFTON CAMPUSES, UM, AND TO SPEAK WITH THE ADMINISTRATORS THERE.
AND, UM, ANOTHER THING THAT WE DISCUSSED WAS MEETING AN UPCOMING MEETING TO TRY TO MEET WITH THE MAYOR AND OUR BLUFFTON REPRESENTATIVES, AS WELL AS, UM, INVESTIGATING AND TALKING WITH, UM, MR. ROBERT AUDITING AND MS. CAROL CRUTCHFIELD ABOUT THE EXISTING BLUFFED IN SCHOOLS AND THEIR CAPABILITIES FOR EXPANSION.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE REVIEWING OUR EXISTING FACILITIES AND WHAT THEIR CAPABILITIES EXACTLY ARE.
[01:30:01]
UM, SO THAT'S AN UPDATE OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON AND, UH, COVITZ KIND OF RESTRICTING US A LITTLE BIT AND BEING ABLE TO GO TO THOSE CAMPUSES AND TO HAVE SOME OF THE MEETINGS, CAUSE EVERYBODY'S VERY BUSY, BUT WE ARE STILL TRUCKING ALONG.COULD YOU LOWER YOUR HAND PLEASE? ANY OTHER ANYBODY BURNING QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT.
[Committee Reports: Policy Committee]
COMMITTEE REPORT.MADAM CHAIR, POLICY COMMITTEE HAS MET SEVERAL TIMES.
WE HAVE COMPLETED THE TASKS WHICH WERE ASSIGNED THIS WEEK.
WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE DOCUMENT ONE MORE TIME FOR ANY COSMETIC CHANGES AND WE WILL BE DISTRIBUTING IT TO THE FULL BOARD, UM, EITHER MONDAY OR TUESDAY, DEPENDING ON HOW WELL OUR MAKEUP IS.
UM, I SUSPECT WE'LL, WE'LL, UH, DISTRIBUTED ON MONDAY, RIGHT? ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE POLICY COMMITTEE? ALRIGHT.
[Superintendent’s Report: Other Matters • COVID – 19 “Coronavirus” Update]
THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.RODRIGUEZ, ARE YOU OKAY WITH HAVING WIND STOKES MARIE GO NOW I'VE GOT HER READY TO GO IN THE QUEUE IF YOU WOULD LIKE YES, THAT IS FINE.
THAT'S ACTUALLY THE FIRST ITEM ON THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
SO WHEN WE'RE READY FOR YOUR DISCUSSION OF BROADBAND.
MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SHANNON BRUNING.
MY PARTNER IS ALSO JOINING US AND WANTED AT, AT REQUEST.
UH, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH BROADBAND, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT'S BEEN A BUSY DAY TODAY, AND I HAVE A LOT TO REPORT TO YOU AS A RESULT OF SEVERAL MEETINGS, BUT, UM, LET ME JUST SET IT UP BY SAYING THAT, UM, CERTAINLY COVID HAS MADE US ALL REALIZE THAT, UM, HOW GREAT THE, THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IS.
AND, UM, THERE HAS BEEN, UM, MUCH DISCUSSION FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AS WELL AS ACCELERATE SOUTH CAROLINA AND ACCELERATE ED, UM, AS TO HOW TO DEAL WITH THESE POCKETS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ANY BROADBAND SERVICE.
UM, CERTAINLY, UM, WE HAVE BEEN ALLOTTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THROUGH THE CARES ACT, UM, AN INITIAL, UH, PROCREATION OF $50 MILLION FOR BROADBAND MAPPING AND THE PLANNING, UM, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STATEWIDE PLAN.
UM, WE, WE ARE AT THIS POINT LOOKING AT, UM, UH, UH, RFP THAT WAS DUE TODAY, UM, FOR MAPPING AND IT LOOKS LIKE THAT IT IS LIKELY THAT THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF WILL BE IN CHARGE OF THE MAPPING, WHICH IS LARGELY DONE AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, THAT SHOWS THE POCKETS OF WHERE WE DON'T HAVE SERVICE.
UM, THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY AUTHORITY, UM, HAS ALSO ISSUED, UM, AN EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT, UM, ON THIS VERY MATTER.
UM, WE, UM, KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTION OF MOBILE HOTSPOTS, UM, TO AT LEAST A HUNDRED THOUSAND HOUSEHOLDS.
UM, THE EFFORT WILL INCLUDE, UM, WORKING WITH, UM, ISP INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS, UM, WHO ALSO HAVE FIBER ACCESSIBLE TO SOME OF THESE HOUSEHOLDS, IF THERE'S, UM, AN ISSUE OF AFFORDABILITY, UM, OR CONNECTION.
SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THOSE IN THE STATEWIDE PLAN.
UM, IT WAS JUST ANNOUNCED, UM, A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF $15 MILLION WAS GIVEN TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, FROM THE CARES THAT AS PART OF THE RETHINK K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION MODELS AND IT'S TO AID IN THE USE OF REMOTE LEARNING, UM, THESE FUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT TO INCREASE AVAILABILITY OF REMOTE LEARNING RESOURCES TO TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IN AREAS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, WHERE, UM, THERE IS LACK OF BROADBAND CONTENT.
THERE'S ALSO GONNA BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESOURCES FOR SPECIFIC IDENTIFIED GAPS, UM, BY DEVELOPING AND CURATING AND ENGAGING HIGH QUALITY CONTENT.
THEY ALSO WANT TO USE THESE FUNDS FOR TEACHER EXPERIENCE CONFIDENCE, PROFICIENCY WITH
[01:35:01]
LEARNING TECHNOLOGY AND RESOURCES, AND FINALLY IMPROVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN FAMILIES, TEACHERS, AND SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT, UM, THE, UH, REMOTE LEARNING DOE IS PARTNERING WITH THE EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, SOUTH CAROLINA ETV AND PRIVATE INDUSTRY TO, UM, CARRY OUT THESE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.UM, THERE'S STILL A GREAT DEAL OF CONCERN, UM, BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, UM, AROUND, UM, HOW MANY STUDENTS HAVE NOT BEEN REACHED AND HOW WE PLAN TO REACH THEM.
UM, WHEN WE RECONVENE, UM, LATER THIS YEAR FOR SCHOOL, UM, WE, UM, ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE, UM, UH, HOTSPOT SURVEYS THAT ARE DUE TOMORROW, UM, THAT WILL PROVIDE FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISTRICTS THAT HAVE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT GRANTS, UM, TO PROVIDE FOR REMOTE LEARNING.
UM, I MENTIONED TODAY THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL MEETINGS AND, AND THERE WERE, THERE WAS A HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, UM, EDUCATION AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE, A PRESENTATION WAS MADE BY, UM, SUPERINTENDENT SPEARMAN TODAY.
AND SHE WENT THROUGH A LOT OF THESE, UM, REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS AND WHAT WE MAY SEE COMING, UM, IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
UM, IN ADDITION, UM, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, THAT THE FEDS HAVE ANNOUNCED, UM, CONGRESSMAN CLYBURN HAS NOW, UH, YESTERDAY THAT HE IS SEEKING A TWO YEAR BROADBAND PLAN TO BE CONDENSED INTO THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
AND HE IS INTRODUCING LEGISLATION, UM, THAT WOULD PROVIDE FOR A HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING.
UM, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE A MATCH PROGRAM.
WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS OF THAT YET.
UM, IN ADDITION, UM, THERE IS A PRESS RELEASE THAT JUST CAME OUT.
UM, IT ACTUALLY, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT EMBARGOED, BUT I, I FEEL LIKE I CAN SHARE IT WITH YOU.
UM, SENATOR GRAHAM PLANS TO INTRODUCE A BILL CALLED THE GOVERNOR'S BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT FUND THAT WILL ALLOCATE 10 BILLION TO FUND BROAD BRAND INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, WHILE REDUCING THE COST OF THE SERVICE, OUR PORTION OF THOSE FUNDS, SHOULD THEY BE APPROVED BY CONGRESS WOULD BE 170 MILLION.
UM, THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF IS GOING TO ANNOUNCE TOMORROW THAT THE VENDOR APPLICATION COMPONENT OF GARAGE BAND PROJECT, UM, WILL BE ON ITS WEBSITE AND AN APPLICATION WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR FUNDING, FOR PROJECTS THAT WILL BUILD, UM, BROADBAND NETWORKS AND UNDERSERVED AND UNSERVED.
UM, THE GUIDELINES WILL INCLUDE ELIGIBILITY VENDOR REQUIREMENTS FOR TIPS, SPECIFIC CRITERIA AND A MAP THAT IDENTIFIES THE PRIORITY TARGET, UM, AREAS.
UM, THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE HIGH SPEED, BROAD NET BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS, AND, UM, THESE IMPACTED COMMUNITIES AND HOUSEHOLDS THAT NEED TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE CHALLENGES OF COVID-19 DUE TO THE LACK OF BROADBAND.
UM, THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM WILL USE FEDERAL FUNDS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, TO INSTALL AND DELIVER THIS INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND AGAIN, AT ONE 42, WHICH IS WHAT WE PASS THAT ALLOCATED THE ORIGINAL $50 MILLION, UM, WILL BEGIN TO BE RELEASED TO IMPACT THESE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE CHALLENGES AS A RESULT OF LACK OF BROADBAND.
SO I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE SITUATION IS EXTREMELY FLUID.
UM, WE FULLY ANTICIPATE WHEN WE RECONVENE FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN SEPTEMBER, WE'LL BE BACK SEPTEMBER THE 15TH THROUGH THE 24TH, UM, THAT THERE WILL BE ANOTHER APPROPRIATION OF $50 MILLION TO AGAIN, UM, ATTEMPT TO TRY TO GET SOME, UH, DEVICES IN THESE COUNTRIES, COMMUNITIES TO, UM, ASSIST IN THE INTERIM.
SO WE CAN ACTUALLY WORK OUT, UH, A PROPOSED PLAN WITH INTERNET SERVICE PARTNERS THAT ARE PUT FIBER IN THE GROUND.
UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S A QUICK RUN THROUGH IT.
LIKE I SAID, IT'S BEEN A REALLY BUSY DAY TODAY.
UM, A LOT OF THIS INFORMATION IS NEW AND, UH, WAS IT JUST RELEASED TODAY? AND AGAIN, THIS PRESS RELEASE FROM ORS IS, IS NOT COMING OUT TILL TOMORROW, BUT, UM, I THINK A GREAT STEP IN THE DIRECTION FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE UNDERSERVED TO, I'M HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MAY HAVE.
UM, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS KEENLY AWARE
[01:40:01]
OF THE NEED AND, AND THEY, THEY WILL APPROPRIATE AN ADDITIONAL $50 MILLION.THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF HOTSPOTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DELIVERED TO COMMUNITY.
AND IF, UM, YOU ALL HAVE NEED OF THAT TECHNOLOGY AND YEAH, THOSE DEVICES, UM, THE DELEGATOR HAS ASKED ME TO EXPRESS TO YOU, UM, THEIR WILLINGNESS TO, UM, PUT TOGETHER WHATEVER APPLICATION IS NECESSARY VORS SO THAT THEY CAN GET, UM, NECESSARY APPROVAL.
AND, UM, THOSE DEVICES HOTSPOTS INTO THE, INTO THE BEAVER COUNTY AREA, SHANE AND I HAD A LONG MEETING WITH SENATOR DAVIS THIS MORNING.
AND, UM, HE IS KEENLY AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON AS HIS REPRESENTATIVE BRADLEY AND PERSON OF ERICKSON AND REPRESENTATIVE HER KIRSCHMAN, UM, AS TO WHAT THE NEEDS ARE IN THE, AND THEY'RE WILLING TO ASSIST US AND MAKING THESE ASKS THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND WHATEVER ELSE WE MAY NEED TO DO LEGISLATIVELY.
SO LET ME JUST STOP THERE AND SEE IF, IF YOU ALL MAY HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH WHEN KATHY ROBOT, I THINK YOU JUST ANSWERED MY QUESTION.
MY QUESTION WAS, UM, ARE THEY AWARE OF OUR NEEDS HERE IN BUFORD COUNTY WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU LIST, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT OTHER COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD QUITE A LOT ABOUT SOME OF OUR SMALLER, MORE RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT REALLY DON'T HAVE BROADBAND OR INTERNET ACCESS AT ALL, OR SEEMINGLY AT ALL, BUT THAT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY THE FACT THAT WE STILL HAVE NEEDS HERE IN BUFORD COUNTY.
SO I WANTED TO ASK THE QUESTION, ARE THEY AWARE OF OUR NEEDS AS WELL? UH, THEY ARE IN THE MAPS THAT WE'VE SEEN AT LEAST THE PRELIMINARY MAPS.
I MEAN, YOU CAN EASILY SEE THE AREAS WHERE, WHERE THERE'S JUST NOTHING, UM, AND BUFORD COUNTY, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.
UM, IT IS, IS ONE OF THE AREAS THAT, THAT HAS A LOT OF RURAL COMMUNITY THAT IS NOT TOUCHED BY FIBER.
UM, SO YES, THEY, THEY DO SEE THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I GUESS THE DEVIL WILL BE IN THE DETAILS AND HOW WE ROLL OUT AND DEVELOP THE PLAN AND OBVIOUSLY FIBER IN THE GROUND ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT CERTAINLY THEY HAVE TRIED TO PUT TOGETHER A FORMULA BASED ON POVERTY LEVELS THAT THEY WOULD ADDRESS THOSE AREAS FIRST AND THEN COME BACK AND DO THE OTHER AREAS AFTERWARDS.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, TRYING TO GET THESE HOTSPOTS IN THE HANDS OF STUDENTS AND PARENTS WHO NEED THEM FOR THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.
RODRIGUEZ, YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW THIS, BUT THE, THE DELEGATION DEFINITELY WANTS TO KNOW, UM, THOSE SPECIFIC NEEDS THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS.
SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ASKING THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION, UM, FOR WHAT YOU ALL NEED.
AND WE, WE HAVE, UH, THE, THE DEADLINE THAT YOU MENTIONED, UH THAT'S UH, TOMORROW WE HAVE SENT IN OUR REQUEST, UH, UH, FOR, FOR THOSE DEVICES, UH, LAST WEEK, I BELIEVE IT WAS THAT THAT WAS COMPLETED AND SENT IN.
SO, SO WE DID THAT IMMEDIATELY.
AND, UM, AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WILL CONTINUE, UH, TO REVIEW, UH, ANY SPECIFIC NEEDS WE MAY HAVE, AND WE WILL COMMUNICATE WITH THEM.
I APPRECIATE HEARING THAT FROM YOU.
UH, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO HEAR.
THANK YOU, LYNN, YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS.
IT WAS ALONG THE SAME LINES AS, AS CATHY WROTE, BINDS IS KIND OF WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS AND DR.
SO, UM, IF YOU FEEL THAT, UH, W W THE DISTRICT THEN BOARD NEEDS TO PROVIDE FURTHER INPUT TO OUR DELEGATION, OR PLEASE REACH OUT TO US, WE ARE, OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO OUR DISTRICT, AND YOU KNOW, THAT, BECAUSE THIS WAS ONE OF OUR, UH, RESOLUTIONS, YOU DRAFTED THAT THE BOARD APPROVED FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARD, LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IN THE COMING YEAR.
UH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE MOST WELCOME.
AND, AND I TRULY HAVE INUNDATED ROBIN WITH PAPER TODAY, BUT WE DO TRY TO SEND YOU REAL TIME, THE, THE INFORMATION FROM THESE COMMITTEES, UM, WHEN THEY NEED AND SEND YOU A SUMMARY OF WHAT HAPPENED AT THOSE COMMITTEES, SO THAT Y'ALL WILL HAVE IT IN REAL TIME AND CAN KNOW, UM, AND MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT MISSING OPPORTUNITIES, BUT, BUT I AM TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU ALL ON A DAILY BASIS AS THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARISE, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT MISSING OUT ON ANYTHING.
UM, AND I THINK THAT, THAT THINGS WILL BEGIN TO ROLL EVEN
[01:45:01]
MORE QUICKLY THAN THEY HAVE NOW THAT THESE RFP PROCESSES HAVE, HAVE GONE THROUGH.AND, UM, AND NOW WE'RE ACTUALLY REALLY STARTING WITH A PLAN ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO DISTRIBUTE THESE MATERIALS THAT WE HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR, AND THEN PUTTING TOGETHER THE NEXT STEPS TO MAKE SURE WE REACH, UM, PEOPLE WITH FIVE OR SO, WE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED.
AND IF Y'ALL NEED ANYTHING, HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT WE'RE, WE'RE HERE TO HELP IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN.
I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS, MR. SMITH.
ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WAS I HEARD YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, UH, AL MY, ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WERE HAVE Y'ALL WENT DOWN.
I THINK THIS IS A LITTLE OF THE, I THINK, JUST A LITTLE DEEPER AS WELL AS, UM, HAVE Y'ALL HAVE, Y'ALL MET WITH THE BUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL AS WELL, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, EVEN WITH PUTTING SOME OF THESE IN THESE FIBERS, IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTY VERSUS THE RURAL AREAS WHERE, WHERE THEY MIGHT NOT BE, I THINK THAT KIND OF COUNSEL NEEDS TO STEP IT UP AND POSSIBLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE GOTTA BE GOOD FOR THE GANDER.
I THINK EVEN NOT LONG, JUST KIND OF CONSTANTLY EVEN SOME OF THESE TOWN COUNCILS, BECAUSE THEY'RE THERE IN CERTAIN AREAS WHERE THEY ARE, WHERE THEY ARE PUTTING SORTING CERTAIN FIBERS IN CERTAIN, UM, CERTAIN CABLES AND CERTAIN THINGS TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GET SOME OF THOSE SERVICES.
AND I THINK THAT, UM, WITHIN THE PROCESS OF PROVIDING SOME OF THESE FIRSTS FIRST FOR CERTAIN SERVICES, UM, IF THE CONNECTION IS NOT THERE, UH, THE CONDITION IS NOT THERE.
THEN THOSE SERVICES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE I'M AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME PEOPLE WON'T BE ABLE TO BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY THAT SOME MAY BE.
SO I THINK AS I THINK THE CONVERSATION AS WELL, WHEN WOULD THIS, ALONG WITH THE LEGISLATORS NEED TO GO TO TOWN COUNCILS AS WELL AS KIND OF COMPLIMENT? I THINK BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A DEEPER ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO, UH, POSSIBLY START PROCESSING.
UM, THAT'S A, THAT'S A GREAT POINT, MR. SMITH, AND, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, SHANNON, I WENT DOWN AND MET WITH ASHLEY JACOBS, UM, JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, UM, TO TALK TO HER ABOUT THIS VERY SAME THING.
AND IT'S HIGH PRIORITY, OBVIOUSLY ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL'S AGENDA.
AND, UM, THEY ARE, THEY ARE TUNED IN AND WILLING TO DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO HELP PROVIDE THIS ACCESS TO THE AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE, THAT ARE WITHOUT.
SO, UM, WE'VE MADE THAT REACH WITH COUNTY COUNCIL AND, AND HAPPY TO GO TO ANY OF THE TOWN COUNCILS.
UM, AND I SUSPECT WHERE WE'RE PROBABLY ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, BEING CONCERNED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REACH THESE CHILDREN, THAT, THAT DON'T HAVE, UM, ACCESS TO BROADBAND.
SO, UM, WE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH, UM, WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THAT IS AWESOME, OB KUDOS TO YOU AND TO YOUR STAFF.
UM, AND NOW WE CAN JUST GET THOSE, UH, THOSE, THOSE TOWNS THOUGH, THOSE TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS, AS WELL AS THOSE MAYORS INVOLVED IN THIS WOULD DEFINITELY START HELPING OUR KIDS, UH, GET MORE EDUCATED AND, AND, AND, AND WE WOULD DEFINITELY BE ABLE TO, UH, SERVE ALL THE KIDS IN THIS DISTRICT EQUALLY AND EQUITABLY.
RODRIGUEZ, WOULD IT BE ACCURATE TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE REGULAR INDIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH ONE OR MORE MEMBERS OF OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION ON PRESSING ISSUES AT DURING THIS TIME? YES.
I, I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL MEMBERS OF, UH, OF OUR DELEGATION.
I ASSUMED THAT FROM YOUR EARLIER COMMENTS.
WELL, THANK YOU LYNN VERY MUCH.
AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR YOUR DINNER.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GUYS DO ALL THAT YOU DO, AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT.
UH, THE NEXT TOPIC, UH, ON THE SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT, WE'LL BE FOCUSING ON THE ACADEMIC RECOVERY CAMPS.
I LIKE YOU TO PLEASE WATCH THIS BRIEF VIDEO, UH, CAPTURING SOME OF THE WORK THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE, UH, THE SUMMER DURING THESE CAMPS.
AND SO, UH, THEN I'M GOING TO INVITE, UH, UH, DR.
STRATOSE TO, UH, TO PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK OR INFORMATION REGARDING THE ACADEMIC AND THE ACADEMIC RECOVERY CAMPS THAT, UH, THAT WOULD BE PERTINENT.
AND SO AT THIS TIME, UH, ROBIN, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO, AND YOU CAN, UH, YOU CAN RUN THAT VIDEO.
[01:50:06]
I THINK THE VOLUME IS STILL LOW.THE SOUND ROBIN, WHEN YOU HIT SCREEN SHARE, IF YOU GO TO THE LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER IS AN ICON THAT YOU CAN HIT THAT WILL MAKE YOUR COMPUTER SOUND COME ACROSS.
MAYBE ROBIN, YOU HAVE TO UNMUTE PERHAPS.
UM, DO I, I NEED TO UNMUTE MYSELF.
WE GET IN HERE NOW, BUT WE STILL DON'T HEAR THE VIDEO AGAIN AND SEE IF IT'LL START.
CAN YOU HEAR IT NOW? NO, ROBIN, WHEN YOU DO SCREEN SHARE, IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN ON THE LOWER LEFT HAND SIDE IS AN ICON TO HIT.
I BELIEVE IT SAYS, SHARE COMPUTER AUDIO.
LET ME, SO YOU MIGHT HAVE TO UNSHARE AND GO BACK.
SO I HAVE TO DO, THAT'D BE ON THE LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER.
IT'LL SAY, SHARE COMPUTER SOUND.
IT ACTUALLY WAS SHOWING UP ON YOUR SHARED SCREEN EVEN.
ALRIGHT, LET ME GO BACK TO MY SHARE SCREEN.
LET'S SEE IF I CAN GET IT BACK UP AGAIN.
IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR SHARE SHARED SCREEN ICON ON THE BOTTOM.
SPEAKER, UM, AUDIO SETTINGS, ROBIN.
I THINK IT'S WHERE YOU SELECT THE, THE THING YOU WANT TO SHARE.
UH, THERE'S A LITTLE CHECK BOX THAT YOU WOULD CLICK THAT SAYS COMPUTER AUDIO PIECE.
UM, IN THE SHARE AND NOT LETTING I'M TRYING TO FIND IT.
ROBIN, BEFORE YOU CLICK WHICH SCREEN TO SHARE AT THE VERY BOTTOM LEFT HAND CORNER, DO YOU SEE, SHARE COMPUTER SOUND? GOT IT.
RIGHT NOW I KNOW WE ALL HAVE A LESSON.
JULY P FOR COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFERED AN ACADEMIC RECOVERY CAMP.
IT WAS TO HELP KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS THAT NEEDED ADDITIONAL REMEDIATION IN READING AND MATH.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, WE DID THIS VIRTUALLY, IT WAS FOR CHILDREN WHO NEEDED EXTRA SUPPORT EITHER BECAUSE OF THE COVID PANDEMIC OR JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE, HAD NEEDED SOME SUPPORT DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, THE PROGRAM WAS OFFERED AT ALL ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
AND IT WAS FOR EIGHT DAYS, WE WERE EXCITED THAT WE HAD OVER 600 STUDENTS THIS YEAR THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE ACADEMIC RECOVERY CAMP.
WE ALSO HAD SPECIAL EDUCATION AND ESOL SUPPORT FOR THOSE STUDENTS THAT NEEDED THAT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
MY ROLE WITH THE PROGRAM WAS TO SUPPORT THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS WITH THEIR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.
USUALLY I WOULD ATTEND THE CLASSROOM LESSON ON ZOOM WITH THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHER, AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE A BREAKOUT SESSION AND THE TEACHER WOULD PUT THE STUDENTS THAT WERE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS INTO MY BREAKOUT.
AND WHILE WE WERE IN THAT BREAKOUT SESSION, I WOULD REVIEW THE LESSON WITH THEM AND THEN HELP THEM
[01:55:01]
WITH THE ACTIVITIES THAT THEY HAD BEEN GIVEN BY THE TEACHER AND TEACHERS WERE ALL TRAINED AHEAD OF TIME WITH A LEARNING AS PRACTICES, AS WELL AS SPECIFIC STANDARDS THAT WE COVERED FOR READING AND FOR MATH.I LIKED THE FOCUS OF HAVING ONLY HAVE A COUPLE STANDARDS FOR US TO LIKE REALLY DELVE INTO AND GO DEEP WITH.
WE HAD THE, WE HAD EIGHT DAYS.
IT WASN'T A LOT OF TIME, BUT WE HAD TIME TO REALLY DIG IN AND THE KIDS GOT THE SAME MESSAGE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
IT WAS THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND I FEEL LIKE THEY TOOK AWAY THAT INFORMATION.
I FEEL LIKE THEY WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL RIGHT NOW.
AND THEY COULD TALK TO YOU ABOUT CHARACTER SETTING, PLOT PROBLEM, SOLUTION OF THOSE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT DURING THE SUMMER BEFORE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ALSO OFFERED AN ALGEBRA BOOT CAMP FOR OUR RISING NINTH GRADERS IN THAT TRANSITIONAL YEAR TO HIGH SCHOOL, IT WAS ACROSS ALL SIX OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.
SO IT JUST KIND OF TOUCH ON LINEAR FUNCTIONS.
BUT THE GOAL OF THE CAMP WANTS TO BUILD MATH CONFIDENCE AND DEVELOP A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING AND WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONCEPTS THAT WERE NEEDED FOR ALGEBRA ONE, INTRODUCING SOME OF THE CONCEPTS I'M WORKING OFF THEIR MAPS, SCREENER TESTS.
AND I'M JUST KIND OF TRYING TO GIVE THEM AN OVERVIEW OF ALGEBRA ONE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, GOING TO THE CLASS LIKE GOOD MORNING, TALK WITH US FOR A LITTLE BIT.
THEN HE DID A WARMUP AND WE DID SOME WORK.
THEN WE GOT ONTO THE LESSON AND THEN WE DID A QUIZZES AT THE END TO WRAP IT ALL UP.
WELL, I WOULD SHARE MY SCREEN WITH THEM AND KIND OF DO THE PROBLEM, OR I WOULD JUST SAY, OKAY, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU FIVE MINUTES.
AND THEN WE'LL GO OVER IT, TELL ME YOUR ANSWER.
SO THEY WERE ABLE TO USE THE CHAT A LOT AND KIND OF GIVE ME THEIR ANSWER AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
TAUGHT US A LOT ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL AND THE CLASSES AND THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO LEARN IN HIGH SCHOOL.
SO I'M PRETTY SURE THAT'S GOING TO HELP US LATER ON.
THIS IS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WORKING VIRTUALLY WITH ELEMENTARY STUDENTS.
SO IT ACTUALLY WAS A LOT OF FUN.
THEY WERE DEFINITELY ANTSY AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WOULD SAY FUNNY THINGS AND, YOU KNOW, THEY LIKED BEING ON CAMERA.
IT WAS REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE A COUPLE OF PARENTS THAT ACTUALLY SAT IN WITH ME.
AND SO IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THEY WERE THERE TO KIND OF HELP GET KIDS ON TRACK AND WORK WITH TECH ISSUES AND DO ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
IN RECEIVING FEEDBACK FROM TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS, WE'VE LEARNED THAT THE STUDENTS REALLY ENJOYED THE VIRTUAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
THEY WERE VERY ENGAGED, EXCITED TO SEE EACH OTHER, TO SEE THEIR TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS.
AND THEY REALLY BENEFITED, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION, TEACHERS REPORTED SEEING SOME GOOD PROGRESS WITH THE STUDENTS.
I FOUND SOME MORE THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TOMORROW WHERE WE'LL WRITE THE EQUATIONS AND THEN START WITH THEM.
SO BOARD MEMBERS, I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU MADAM CHAIR, EACH OF YOU, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE HARD WORK OF OUR BUFORD COUNTY TEACHERS THROUGH THIS SUMMERS TEACHING AND LEARNING INITIATIVE.
WE STARTED IN JULY, WAS IT TWO WEEKS SESSION? I SHARED, WE HAD TWO SEPARATE PROGRAMS BEING IMPLEMENTED.
ONE THROUGH K THREE, WAIT A SECOND.
WAS THAT TRANSITIONAL DOOR OF STUDENTS GO ON FROM EIGHTH GRADE TO NINTH GRADE FOR ALGEBRA IN THE AREA OF LITERACY.
WE FOCUSED ON WRITING IN NARRATIVE INFORMATIVE AND EXPLANATORY.
WELL, YOU ALSO GAVE CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR RESPONDING TO AUTHORS, WRITING, SUMMARIZING INTERPRET, INTERPRETING, ANALYZING, AND BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE IN THE MATH AREA FOR THE K EIGHT EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON ALGEBRAIC THINKING OPERATIONS.
AND NUMBER SENSE, I HAVE TO SHARE THAT WE GET A STRONG AMOUNT OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LESSONS WERE MADE VERY SPECIFIC CHILDREN ALSO RECEIVE BOOKS THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET THEM TO THE SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO PICK UP IN OUR ALGEBRA BOOT CAMP.
ONE OF THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAD WAS BEING ABLE TO TAKE MASTER TEACHERS TO WORK WITH YOUNGER TEACHERS IN THE DELIVERY OF ALGEBRA, WHICH WAS RATHER SUCCESSFUL IN ALGEBRA.
WE FOCUSED ON FOUR DOMAINS, ALGEBRA THINKING THAT ANALYSIS MEASUREMENT AND GEOMETRY REAL AND COMPLEX NUMBER SYSTEMS. AND WE UTILIZE MAT TESTING SCREENER, WHICH DEVELOPED A PRESCRIPTIVE PORTFOLIO FOR OUR STUDENTS THAT WAS ALIGNED WITH KHAN ACADEMY.
I MENTIONED THAT IN A PRIOR BOARD MEETING, AND THIS WAS ONE OF OUR OPPORTUNITIES, THIS IS SOMETHING NEW THAT OUR MATH TEACHERS WERE ABLE TO UTILIZE THIS RESOURCE LIVE WITH OUR KIDS OVER THE SUMMER.
SO I WANT TO PUSH OUT A BIG THANK YOU TO, OR EDUCATORS WHO PUT THIS TOGETHER AND MEMBERS IN MY DIVISION,
[02:00:01]
WHO WE PUSHED A CART A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.AND, UM, THE FEEDBACK WAS VERY POWERFUL AND POSITIVE.
AND AT THIS TIME, UH, THIS, THIS BRINGS US TO CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION ON THE REOPENING TOPIC.
UM, HAVING REVIEWED THE HEC METRICS FOR THE PAST SIX WEEKS, WE SEE THE COVID-19 CONDITIONS SIMPLY ARE NOT IMPROVING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IN FACT, THEY'VE BEEN GETTING WORSE AND LAST WEEK, BUFORD COUNTY REPORTED A RECORD, 113 INFECTIONS IN A SINGLE DAY, NEARLY HALF OF OUR COUNTIES, 43 CONFIRMED DEATHS OCCURRED IN JULY.
OUR TEAM HAS GIVEN THIS SITUATION CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.
AND AS A RESULT, OUR DISTRICT WILL TEMPORARILY ADOPT FORMATIONAL MODEL TO TEACH ITS 22,000 STUDENTS.
WHEN SCHOOL REOPENS ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, WE WILL LIVE STREAM A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE DISTRICT FACEBOOK PAGE TOMORROW.
AND I ENCOURAGE FAMILIES, TEACHERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO TUNE IN.
PLEASE KNOW THAT IT IS MY DESIRE TO RETURN, TO FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTION.
BUT BEFORE THAT CAN HAPPEN, SAFELY CONDITIONS MUST BE SAFER THAN THEY ARE TODAY.
THE CORONAVIRUS HAS BEEN OUT OF CONTROL AND NO COUNTRY IN THE WORLD HAS SUCCESSFULLY REOPENED AT SCHOOLS.
WHEN INFECTION RATES WERE THIS HIGH WITH A CURRENT INFECTION RATES, THE QUESTION IS NOT IF A CHILD OR A TEACHER WOULD BE INFECTED.
IT'S MORE A QUESTION OF WHEN YOU HAVE AND ARE CURRENTLY HIGH INFECTION RATES.
OUR STUDENTS ARE EMPLOYEES IN ALL OF THEIR FAMILIES DESERVE ADVOCACY AND PROTECTION AND PROTECTION FROM POTENTIALLY HARMFUL CONDITIONS.
THEY REPRESENT THE BEST OF WHO WE ARE AS A DISTRICT.
AND WE WILL DO OUR UTMOST TO SAFEGUARD THEIR HEALTH AND THEIR WELLBEING.
PLEASE REST ASSURED THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL CONTINUE TO ASSESS THE SITUATION BASED ON DATA AND SCIENCE.
WE WILL DECIDE WHEN TO RESUME FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION.
WE AS A DISTRICT HAVE BEEN PLANNING FOR BOTH FACE TO FACE AND VIRTUAL INSTRUCTIONAL OPTIONS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, HOLDING OUT HOPE OF ACCOMMODATING FAMILIES THAT PREFERRED AN IN SCHOOL OPTION.
HOWEVER, DELAYING A REOPENING DECISION IN THE HOPES THAT COVID-19 INFECTION RATES WOULD SUDDENLY DECREASE PLACES, DECREASE PLACES, THE DISTRICT AT A SIGNIFICANT DISADVANTAGE LEADING UP TO THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
UH, THE REALITY IS THAT OUR SCHOOLS MUST FOCUS ON OPENING AND IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, AND THAT OUR PARENTS NEED TO BE ABLE TO, UH, TO FOCUS IN AND UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT THAT ONE OPTION IS GOING TO BE.
NOW, WE MUST FOCUS ON EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN IN THE SAFEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE WAY POSSIBLE.
RIGHT NOW THAT MEANS PROVIDING A VIRTUAL EDUCATION, EMPLOYING A VIRTUAL MODEL, WE'LL REMOVE THE DISTRACTIONS OF REPEATED QUARANTINES AND SCHOOL CLOSINGS DUE TO COVID-19 CASES, STRONG VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION CAN CONTINUE.
REGARDLESS OF VIRUS SPREAD THE REOPENING OF OUR SCHOOLS SAFELY AS AN ENDEAVOR THAT WILL REQUIRE ALL OF US IN OUR COMMUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER, TO LOWER THE RESULTS ON THE METRICS.
CURRENTLY, WE ARE HIGH IN ALL THREE CATEGORIES.
THE TWO WEEK INCIDENT RATE IS 616.8.
THAT IS TRIPLE WHAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE AT TO MOVE US FROM HIGH TO MEDIUM TRENDING INCIDENT RATE IS HIGH.
AND THE TWO WEEK PERCENT POSITIVE RATE AT 20.8% IS MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE TO MOVE US FROM HIGH TO MEDIUM.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US.
THE CITIZENS WOULD BE FOR COUNTY TO CONSISTENTLY FOLLOW THE MASKING OF PHYSICAL DISTANCING RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND THE SOONER WE CAN REDUCE OUR COVID-19 INFECTION RATES, THE SOONER WE CAN SAFELY REOPEN SCHOOLS, ONCE AGAIN, I CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH THAT RESUMING FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION IS OUR GOAL, BUT UNTIL THAT CAN HAPPEN, OUR PRIMARY GOAL NEED TO PRODUCE THE BEST POSSIBLE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
THANK YOU, MR. EARL CAMPBELL, YOU HAVE TO UNMUTE EARL.
UM, DISCUSSION WITH HEADSTART.
STRADDLES I KNOW HAS, UH, HAS MET, UH, WITH, WITH HEADSTART, UH, UH, ON, ON VARIOUS TOPICS.
BUT, UM, IF, IF NEEDED, WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THEM AGAIN, WE'LL REACH OUT TO THEM TOMORROW AGAIN AND SEE IF THEY HAVE, UH, UH, UH, ANY, UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.
STRADDLES, MR. CAMPBELL, WE'RE WORKING ON TWO OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRIVATE DONATIONS WITH DEVICES.
WE'RE NOT GUARANTEED THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN, BUT WE ARE LOOKING INTO, UM, INTO THE COMMUNITY FOR ASSISTANCE.
PRE-K TEACHERS, WE'VE ALREADY PUT TOGETHER AN INSTRUCTIONAL TEAM PUTTING TOGETHER, UM, PACKET INFORMATION FOR OUR CHILDREN AND LOOKING AT REACHING OUT FOR VIDEO LESSONS AS WELL.
BUT IN THE PAST TWO DAYS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE
[02:05:01]
INFORMATION POTENTIALLY.UM, SOME DEVICES BEING ABLE TO BE PROVIDED FOR US.
THEY STATE CURRICULUM THAT WE HAVE ALREADY FOR FOUR PRE-K IS ABLE TO GO VIRTUAL.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING TO BE ABLE TO PULL UP FOR OUR KIDS.
UM, WE'RE LISTENING TO THE TEACHERS.
WE'VE BEEN HEARING THEM FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW AND WE'RE LISTENING BECAUSE WITHOUT THE TEACHERS, THERE'S NO NEED FOR THE REST OF US.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE TEACHERS AND THEY'RE NOT COMFORTABLE.
WE WOULD HAVE A BODY IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT WE WOULDN'T HAVE A TEACHER AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
SO I MOVE THAT THE BOARD EXPRESS ITS APPROVAL OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S DECISION TO OPEN THE SCHOOLS VIRTUALLY.
UM, DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING FURTHER, MR. STRIVEN?
I JUST THINK, UM, THE BOARD SHOULD SHOW ITS SUPPORT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT ON THIS DIFFICULT DECISION.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO STEP UP AND, AND, AND SHOW OUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, MR. DAVID, CAN YOU SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME, PLEASE? I'M SORRY.
MOVE THAT THE BOARD EXPRESS ITS SUPPORT FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S DECISION TO START THE SCHOOL YEAR IN A VIRTUAL MODE.
I'M NOT SURE THOSE ARE EXACT WORDS, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I MEANT.
DID YOU GET THAT SO THAT THE BOARD EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S DECISION AND STARTING THE SCHOOL YEAR IN VIRTUAL MODE? YES MA'AM.
IF NOT CONSISTENT, YOU, YOU STOOD FIRM, UM, UH, DURING, UH, AGAINST LARGE GATHERINGS AT OUR GRADUATIONS AND YOUR DECISION THIS EVENING IS CONSISTENT WITH THAT.
AND CONSISTENCY IS THE MARK OF A STRONG LEADER, AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT AND THAT, AND SHOWING THAT ATTRIBUTE CONSISTENTLY.
UM, I KNOW THIS DECISION WASN'T EASY, UM, BUT I BELIEVE THE MOTION TO HAVE THE DECISION IS OUT OF ORDER, NOT THE BOARD'S DECISION TO DECIDE THIS.
IF THE BOARD DECIDES THIS, WE REMOVE ALL RESPONSIBILITY FROM YOU, DR.
RODRIGUEZ, AND WE ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DECISION.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THE GOVERNANCE MODEL OR PRINCIPLE NUMBER SEVEN, ENDORSES THE BOARD VOTING ON THIS THIS EVENING.
CERTAINLY BOARD MEMBERS ARE FREE TO EXPRESS THEIR CONFIDENCE IN YOU IN YOUR ABILITY TO MAKE THIS DECISION.
BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS THE BOARD'S JOB, YOUR DUTY TO VOTE ON THIS.
SO I WILL RESPECTFULLY ABSTAIN FROM THIS MOTION THIS EVENING, BUT I DO BELIEVE THE MOTION IS OUT OF ORDER SOLELY BASED ON PRINCIPLE NUMBER SEVEN OF OUR GOVERNANCE MODEL, WHICH WE HAVE ADOPTED THIS WORD RESPECTFULLY.
THANK YOU, MADAM SHARON, I ECHO WHAT MS OR SHAQ IS SAYING, UM, WITH REGARD TO FRANK BEING CONSISTENT AND I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT, UM, FOR HIM HAVING TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS AND HIM BEING A THOUGHTFUL LEADER FOR THE DISTRICT.
UM, HOWEVER, I WILL BE OFFERING SOME DISSENSION TO THIS, UH, DECISION BECAUSE I AM A FIRM ADVOCATE FOR PARENTAL CHOICE, AS WELL AS I THINK THE TEACHERS NEED TO HAVE CHOICE.
AND I THINK THE DISTRICT LAID OUT A REALLY COMPREHENSIVE, SAFE PLAN FOR RETURNING TO FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTION.
AND I DO RECOGNIZE THAT METRICS NEED TO GO DOWN IN ORDER FOR THAT TO BE,
[02:10:01]
UM, FULLY IMPLEMENTED TO THE WAY THAT THE DISTRICT ANTICIPATED.UM, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT TEACHERS WERE BEING PROVIDED FLEXIBILITY AND CHOICE, UM, AND THAT PARENTS WERE ASKED FOR THEIR INPUT ON HOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
UM, IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED SITUATION FOR EVERYBODY.
UM, AND THERE'S SOME OTHER METRICS THAT I THINK DESERVE POINTING OUT.
AND THESE COME FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER OF EDUCATION STATISTICS, THEY'RE BASED ON 2018 NUMBERS, BUT IN 2018 WE HAD OVER 4,800 ESL STUDENTS.
WE ALSO HAD OVER 2200, UM, STUDENTS WITH IEP OR THAT WERE SERVICED BY SOME, SOME DEGREE OF HAVING AN IEP 56% ON FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH, 308 STUDENTS THAT WERE HOMELESS, 16.2% OF FAMILIES WITH INCOME BELOW POVERTY.
UM, 81.5% OF PARENTS IN THE LABOR FORCE.
THESE ARE ALL OTHER COMPLICATED METRICS THAT MAKE THIS DECISION EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
AND ALSO WHY I THINK THAT FLEXIBILITY SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO BOTH THE TEACHERS AND PARENTS WHEN THIS DECISION TO ROLL OUT ANY TYPE OF REOPENING PLAN IS IMPLEMENTED.
SO THEREFORE I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS.
UM, THERE'S ALSO THE EVICTION MORATORIUMS THAT HAVE ENDED RECENTLY THE $600 A WEEK IN FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT, THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO BE RECEIVING ANYMORE.
SO THINGS ARE GOING TO BE GETTING A LOT WORSE FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE EDUCATING THE CHILDREN, WHICH IS OUR CHARGE, UM, AND PROVIDING PARENTS AND TEACHERS THAT FLEXIBILITY THAT WE PROMISED INITIALLY.
SO I DO RESPECT YOU, FRANK, THIS IS JUST MY OPINION ON THE MATTER.
AND, UM, I HOPE EVERYONE CAN APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL.
I APPLAUD THE DECISION THAT RODRIGUEZ, I THINK LIKE DAVID SAID, YOU HEARD THE TEACHERS AND I DIDN'T HEAR TOO MANY OF THEM, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING THE LIVE PRESENTATIONS OPEN CLASSROOM.
I, UM, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, UH, ABOUT THE PREPARATION.
I KNOW YOU MADE THE DECISION AND I THINK WHAT FOLKS HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS YOU DO HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION ORDER TO PREPARE ADEQUATELY FOR THE OPENING.
THERE'LL BE SMOOTH FOR EVERY STUDENT THAT'S INVOLVED CAN WAIT UNTIL A WEEK BEFORE SEPTEMBER TO MAKE THAT BEFORE THE OPENING TO MAKE THAT DECISION, BECAUSE JUST NOT PRACTICAL.
MY QUESTION IS, DOES THAT GIVE YOU ADEQUATE TIME TO, TO HELP PARENTS WHO HAVE CHOSEN, YOU KNOW, OPEN LIVE PRESENTATION, AS OPPOSED TO VIRTUAL AND SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURAL THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ALREADY EARLIER WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, HOTSPOTS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, TO MAKE SURE THAT EACH OF THESE FAMILIES ARE SERVICE TO THE ULTIMATE OF WHAT, WHAT SERVICE A BULLET IN THIS DAY AND TIME DR.
RODRIGUEZ, MAY I, SO FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
UM, IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ANTICIPATED AS, UH, AS A DISTRICT STAFF, IN TERMS OF BEING TO COMMUNICATE TO OUR PARENTS AND FAMILIES AFTER A DECISION WAS MADE, WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT IN A VIRTUAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE RECOGNIZE IS THAT, UM, THE VIRTUAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT SO MANY OF OUR PARENTS HAD LAST SPRING WAS SPOTTY AND DISPARATE AND REALLY VARIABLE, DEPENDING ON WHAT SCHOOL COMMUNITY, UH, YOU ARE A PART OF.
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE REALLY NEEDED TO DO WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THROUGH FIRST OF ALL, THE K-12 LEARNING SOLUTIONS PLATFORM AND ALSO THE VIRTUAL SE EXPERIENCE THAT OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL HAVE IS THAT THERE WILL BE CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE BOARD BECAUSE WE DID NOT WANT PARENTS AND FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT NUMBER ONE, THEY DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ADEQUATE TECHNOLOGY.
NUMBER TWO, THAT TEACHERS WERE NOT PROPERLY TRAINED IN NUMBER THREE, THAT THEIR STUDENTS WERE NOT HAVING A RIGOROUS STANDARD SPACE INSTRUCTIONAL EXPERIENCE.
AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE PLANNED, WHICH WILL BE RELEASED THIS FRIDAY WILL BE OUR VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION BRIEFINGS.
IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE DAY TO DAY EXPERIENCE WILL BE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND ALSO FOR OUR PARENTS, SO THAT THEY CAN ADEQUATELY PREPARE THEMSELVES AS WELL.
SO TO YOUR POINT, WE HAVE ANTICIPATED THIS QUESTION.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN KEPT, I HAVE BEEN CAPTAINING A TEAM BEHIND THE SCENES TO PREPARE THE RELEASE OF THIS PERSONAL BRIEFING AND SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOUBLING DOWN ON OUR COMMUNICATION TO PARENTS AND FAMILIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ANSWERING ALL OF THEIR QUESTIONS LEADING UP TO THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
[02:15:02]
OKAY.I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T MUTED BRAVO, DR.
RODRIGUEZ, SHOULD I COULDN'T SUPPORT YOUR DECISION ANY STRONGER THAN I DO? AND I UNDERSTAND DAVID, WHY DAVID MADE THAT MOTION, BUT I WAS STRUCK WITH ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENT THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY STILL THOUGHT THAT IT'S OUR DECISION AS A BULWARK, TO HOW WE OPEN THE SCHOOL.
THEY ALL BEGGED US TO MAKE A DECISION.
AND I BELIEVE THAT MS. SHORES JACK IS RIGHT PRINCIPLE NUMBER SEVEN SAYS WE DO NOT SUPPORT OR NOT SUPPORT A SUPERINTENDENT'S DECISION.
IF WE PASS UP, IF WE VOTE AS A BOARD, INSTEAD OF JUST OFFERING INDIVIDUAL FEELINGS AND SENTIMENTS.
IF WE VOTE AS A BOARD, WE OWN THE BATCH DISTRIBUTION.
AND WE HAVE TO FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE LIVE UP TO THE BASIC KENAGE OF WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF JOHN AS A COCONUTS MODEL IN THE BASIC KENNAN SHOW, THOSE 10 OR 11 PRINCIPLES.
SO I'M SORRY IF THIS UPSET SOME PEOPLE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO START ACTING LIKE A SCHOOL BOARD AND DROP THE HYPOCRISY OF ONE VOICE ON SOME MATTER IS ONE, NO OTHER IS CHERRY PICKING POLICY, CHIP CHERRY PICKING FACETS OF COHERENT GOVERNANCE.
WE NEED TO, TO, IF WE AGREE WITH DR REGAN'S HIS DECISION, I THINK WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT INDIVIDUALLY, BUT AS A BOARD, WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY NOSH.
AND I W I CAN'T, I WOULD LOVE TO VOTE FOR THE MOTION, BUT I CANNOT THAT MR. EARL CAMPBELL.
UM, YEAH, I HEAR WHAT SOME OF THE TEACHERS ARE SAYING, BUT MY CONCERN IS WHAT ABOUT THOSE PARENTS THAT HAVE TO GO TO WORK AND THEIR CHILDREN NEED TO BE EDUCATED? UM, HOW MANY, HOW MANY TEACHERS THAT HAVE AGREED TO, TO DO FACE TO FACE, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, MS. CAMPBELL, I DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME AT THE MOMENT, BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, IS THAT WE DO HAVE ON HUNDRED AND 66 TEACHERS THAT CAN WALK TOMORROW.
WE HAVE 46% OF OUR TEACHERS THAT, UM, THAT HAVE, UH, ARE EITHER AT RISK OR ARE, UM, UH, CARING FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS AT RISK AND, AND HAVE EXPRESSED CONSIDERABLE CONCERN OVER, UH, OVER IT.
AND SO I COULD SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
I DON'T HAVE THE OTHER NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME AT THE MOMENT.
AND LIKE I SAID, KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE TEACHERS, SOME OF THEM DON'T WANT TO GO BACK IN THE CLASSROOM BECAUSE OF THE VIRUS PENS.
YOU DON'T HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE, BUT TO WEAR TO WORK.
AND THERE'S NOBODY AT HOME TO SUPERVISE THOSE CHILDREN DOING EDUCATION.
SO THAT'S MY CONCERN RIGHT NOW.
UM, COLONEL GUYER, YOU'RE STILL MUTED.
UM, MR. GUYER, I BELIEVE THAT MR.
IT'S NOT BINDING ON THE SUPERINTENDENT.
IT IS NOT PERMISSION TO PROCEED WITH HIS PLAN.
IT IS SIMPLY SUPPORT FOR HIS PLAN AND I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR.
[02:20:01]
THINK THAT MR. STRINGER IS WELL-INTENTIONED HERE.UM, BUT WHEN THE BOARD TAKES ACTION, IT'S MORE THAN JUST A PAT ON THE BACK.
WE OWN THE ACTION WHEN WE VOTE.
UM, I'M, I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED AT MR.
WE'RE ONLY ONE OF LIKE THREE SCHOOL BOARDS IN THE STATE THAT USE IT.
MOST SCHOOL BOARDS IN THIS STATE ARE APPROVING THEIR SUPERINTENDENTS PLANS RIGHT NOW, WHY THEY'RE FREE TO, THEY DON'T HAVE THE GOVERNANCE MODEL THAT THIS BOARD VOTED AND, AND ADOPTED WHAT LINE AND SINKER.
SEVERAL OF US HAVE EXPRESSED OUR VERBAL SUPPORT FOR DR.
RODRIGUEZ, BUT A VOTE TURNS IT INTO SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT.
RODRIGUEZ FOR EXAMPLE, ON THIS PLAN IN HIS EVALUATION, BECAUSE ONCE THE BOARD VOTES ON IT, WE OWN IT.
WE TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY AWAY FROM HIM AND WE CAN PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH OPERATIONAL DECISIONS THE BOARD DECIDES TO.
RODRIGUEZ, MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS, UM, THE RESPONSE FROM, UM, MOLLY SPEARMAN ON OUR PLAN CITED, A DATE OF, UM, WE MUST HAVE IN PERSON, UM, OPTION BY WHAT WAS IT, SEPTEMBER 14TH, I THINK.
AND WE'RE ABOUT TO REVISIT, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT TO REVISIT OUR ACADEMIC CALENDAR ONCE AGAIN.
AND I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT DATE AS A START DATE.
WHAT, WHAT IS, HOW BINDING IS THAT IN REGARD TO US HAVING TO PRODUCE AN IN SCHOOL OPTION? AM I GUESS THIS SPEAKS TO WHAT DOCTOR WAS NESCAFE WAS SAYING EARLIER.
UM, CAN YOU TALK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT? YES.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH OUR STATE SUPERINTENDENT.
SHE UNDERSTANDS THE CIRCUMSTANCE.
UH, WE'LL CONTINUE TO DIALOGUE, UH, ON THAT SEPTEMBER 14TH DATE.
UH, AND, AND SHE APPRECIATES THE COMMUNICATION WITH HER, UH, AROUND THIS.
UH, SHE UNDERSTANDS THE CIRCUMSTANCE.
SHE UNDERSTANDS THE SITUATION, UH, LOCALLY, UH, IN TERMS OF, OF THE VIRUS AND THE SPREAD.
AND, AND SO, UH, SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT SHE, WE, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT SEPTEMBER 14TH DATE, UH, PIECE ON THERE.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, QUITE FRANKLY, SHE, SHE, SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT PREDICAMENT, UM, THAT WE'RE IN.
AND, UH, AND, AND SHE'S, SHE'S WILLING TO TALK ABOUT IT WAS IN YOUR DISCUSSIONS WITH HER.
WAS THERE ANY, UM, ADDRESSING ANY POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF POSTPONING, THE OPENING OF SCHOOLS TILL THAT DATE VERSUS THE EIGHTH? I'M SORRY.
WELL, SHE USES THE 14TH, UM, AS OUR HARD AND FAST DEADLINE FOR HAVING TO PRODUCE A, AN IN PERSON, UH, OPTION.
WAS THERE ANY TALK ABOUT WAITING FOR THE OPENING OF SCHOOL UNTIL THE 14TH AS OPPOSED TO THE EIGHTH? YEAH.
UM, WAS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT POTENTIAL SANCTIONS IF WE WERE TO DEFY GUIDELINES? WELL, I THINK, UH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE, THERE WEREN'T ANY, UH, UH, POTENTIAL SANCTIONS PER SE, WITHIN THAT, UH, WITHIN THAT SEPTEMBER 14TH DATE NOW, YOU KNOW, IF THE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, LEGISLATURE WORK, COME BACK IN SESSION AND, AND, AND DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEN, THEN THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, A DIFFERENT, A DIFFERENT STORY IN TERMS OF THAT.
BUT, BUT, UH, WITHIN THAT SEPTEMBER 14TH DAY, UH, UH, NO, UH, THERE WEREN'T, SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT, ABOUT THAT DATE.
SHE'S WILLING TO CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE WITH ME ABOUT THAT, UH, ABOUT THAT DAY.
AND I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY NOT THE ONLY ONES IN THE STATE.
UH, I'VE HEARD FROM OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT, UH, THAT ARE, UH, ALSO, UH, UH, LOOKING AT MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION AND THAT THEY HAVE THAT SEPTEMBER 14TH DATE, UH, AS WELL.
[02:25:01]
UH, AND THEY'RE CONTINUING THEIR DIALOGUE TO THANK YOU SO MUCH.LET'S SEE MR. SMITH, UH, THIS TIME, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, THIS, I'M SURE THIS IS WHERE THE TOUGH DECISIONS FOR DR.
UM, OUR, UM, I'M SURE THAT, UH, THAT WE'VE HEARD THE PARENTS AND THAT, UH, I KNOW THAT THERE'S TIMES WHERE THE APPRENTICES CAME TO ME AND HAVE, HAVE ADJUSTED SOME OF THE SAME, SOME OF THE SAME THINGS THAT TEACHERS AND STAFF AND, UH, PARENTS HAVE ADDRESSED IT TONIGHT.
HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, I'M A, I'M ONE ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT DR.
I MEAN, WHAT, UM, JOHN DONOVAN SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY INTERESTING THAT THE PARENTS AND THE STAFF MEMBERS WAS BASICALLY TALKING TO THE BOARD TONIGHT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY UNDER THE COHERENT GOVERNANCE THAT WE'RE UNDER, THIS IS A DAY TO DAY OPERATION, AND THIS IS NOT REALLY A FUNCTION OF THE BOARD.
AND I KEEP TELLING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE CURRENT GOVERNANCE GOVERNANCE THAT THE BOARD IS UNDER, THEN YOU NEED TO CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND LET THEM KNOW THAT.
SO THAT BEING SAID, I SAID THAT TO SAY THAT THE BOARD DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO BASICALLY MAKE THIS DECISION, THIS DECISION WAS UP TO THAT, THE RODRIGUEZ, AND HE MAY HIT HIM.
HE MADE THIS DECISION AND, UM, AND THE MOTION THAT WAS BOUGHT BEFORE US, UM, HOWEVER IT WAS BOUGHT BEFORE THE LAST TIME DR.
REGAS BROUGHT UP EMOTION AND SOMEONE BOUGHT IT UP AS WELL TO SAY FOR THE BOARD TO BEING SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
AND HOWEVER, THAT WAS OUT OF THAT WAS OUT OF THE ORDER DUE TO EXTENDING, UM, MRS.
UM, I MEAN, W W YES, I'LL USE IT IN THE CHAPTER SEVEN.
SO IT IS REALLY OUT OF, OUT OF ORDER BECAUSE THIS BOARD WHO WE ARE, ONCE WE ARE ON US, WE OWN IT.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO, AND WE CAN NO LONGER HOLD THE SUPERINTENDENT RESPONSIBLE.
NOW UNDER THIS CURRENT GOVERNANCE, UH, THAT IS THE SUPERINTENDENTS PURVIEW.
AND ONCE WE WENT IN, ONCE WE'VE ALREADY, THEN WE HAVE TAKEN IT FROM HIM AND WE HAVE PUT IT UP UNDER OURSELVES AND DIRECTLY.
SO AT THIS TIME I MOVE THAT WE VOTE ON THE MOTION.
ALL I BOUGHT THAT I MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE TELL THAT WE VOTE ON THE MOTION TO TABLE IT, BECAUSE THE MOTION IS OUT OF ORDER.
UM, I JUST HAVE I'LL SECOND FOR DISCUSSION YOU.
AND THE REASON WHY, I'M THE REASON WHY I'M, UM, I'M, I'M, UM, I SAID THAT WE NEED TO VOTE ON THIS, ON THIS MOTION ABOUT AN ORDER, BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I THINK THAT THE BOARD THAT WE CAN'T PICK AND CHOOSE WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT FOR US TO FOLLOW RULES AND WHEN NOT TO FOLLOW RULES.
AND I THINK THAT VOTING ON THIS MOTION, AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT, WHAT, WE'RE, WHAT, WE'RE, WHAT, WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SO, UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T WANT TO SUPPORT IT.
I DON'T WANT TO SIT AND TALK ABOUT IT ALL NIGHT.
I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND ACTUALLY GET TO GET, I GET SOMETHING GOING ON, UH, AND MOVING FORWARD, MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE WRITING RIGHT AND WRONG IS WRONG.
AND THIS IS JUST NOT WITHIN BREATH.
PAUSE PURVIEW UNDER THE CURRENT CLAN GOVERNANCE THAT WE'RE ON RIGHT NOW.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M MAKING THIS MOTION.
DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT? DID YOU HEAR THAT ROBIN TO TABLE THIS MOTION? I MOVE TO TABLE THIS MOTION, BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF ORDER.
NOT, NOT TABLE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU TABLE IT, YOU PUT IT ON THE TABLE AND IT HAS TO COME BACK UP AGAIN.
WE HAVE TO PULL IT OFF THE TABLE.
YOU WANT TO SAY POSTPONE INDEFINITELY? THAT NEEDS TO BE, YEAH.
WE'LL POSTPONE AT THE END, DEFINITELY.
BUT ACTUALLY I THOUGHT I SAID THAT I, THAT I MOVED, THAT WE VOTE ON THIS MOTION TO, UH, BECAUSE IT'S MOTIONS ARE MORE
SO, ROBIN, I WAS WAITING FOR YOU TO PUT THAT UP THERE.
AND I'M TRYING TO SEE WHY IT'S NOT GOING.
POINT OF ORDER, MADAM CHAIR, MR. DALEN.
[02:30:01]
THE WORD OUTER BOARDER SHOULD NOT BE IN THE MOTION.IT'S EITHER POSTPONED EMOTION INDEFINITELY.
UH, WE, THE BOARD REALLY DOESN'T DECLARE REMOTION OUTER BORDER.
IT PETITIONS THE CHAIR TO DECLARE IT OUT OF ORDER, PERHAPS THIS UNDERSCORES THE NEED FOR FAMILY MINISTRY DRAINING.
BUT, UH, IS THAT FINE, MR. DARLING? I'M SORRY TO POSTPONE THIS MOTION INDEFINITELY.
THAT'S THAT WOULD BE GOOD IF, IF MR. SCHMITZ WHERE YOU'RE SAYING GOLAN WITH THAT, BUT MR. SMITH IS JUST YOU IT'S YOUR MOTHER.
THAT'S WHERE I WAS, BUT I'LL JUST PUT THAT.
I WAS JUST ABOUT TO SAY THAT, UH, YEAH, THE
UM, I CAN, I CAN AGREE WITH THAT, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S FINE.
UM, ACTUALLY I WAS GOING TO COMMENT PRIOR TO THIS MOTION.
I HAVE NO COMMENT REGARDING THIS MOTION.
SO WE'RE READY TO, UH, TAKE A VOTE ON THIS, LIKE TO MAKE THE COMMENT, GO AHEAD, MR. CAMPBELL.
AND DEFINITELY I THINK IS ONE WORD.
AND, AND MY POINT IS JUST AS THAT, THE BOARD THAT WE HAVE IN CONSISTENCY AND THAT WE'RE BEING CONSISTENT BECAUSE OF MY COLLEAGUES DO REMEMBER THAT THE LAST TIME THAT THIS, THAT RODRIGUEZ BORDER PRINTS OUT HERE AS HIS DECISION, THE LAST TIME THERE WAS A MOTION MADE LAST TIME AND THE BORDER, EVERYONE AGREED THAT THEY DID NOT NEED TO BE A, A VOTE TO SUPPORT HIS MOTION.
AND I THINK THAT'S A SATURDAY.
THAT IS THE SAME PROCEEDING THAT IS TAKING PLACE ON THIS TIME.
I THINK IT'S, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY THAT WE, THAT WE HAVE CONSISTENCY GOING ACROSS THE BOARD AND THAT WE'RE CONSISTENT WITH, WITH OUR, WITH OUR DECISION MAKING.
THANK YOU, MR. SHACK, JUST A, JUST A QUICK PROCESS QUESTION BEFORE WE GO AHEAD AND VOTE.
THIS IS AN ODD MOTION TO RESOLVE THIS PARTICULAR SCENARIO.
A COUPLE OF BOARD MEMBERS SUBMITTED THAT WE FELT THE MOTION WAS OUT OF ORDER.
UM, CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN WHY? BECAUSE THAT WAS MR. SMITH'S WORDING AND I DIDN'T, HE GOT TO MAKE PRIOR TIRED PRIOR TO MR. BURGESS OUT OF ORDER IS A PROCESS ISSUE.
AND NORMALLY WOULDN'T BE AN EMOTION, BUT THAT WAS WHAT MR. WILLIAM SMITH SPECIFICALLY STATED.
WE, WE, UM, NOTED THAT IT WAS OUT OF ORDER PRIOR MR. SMITH MOTION AFTER MR.
I COMMENTED THAT IT WAS OUT OF ORDER DUE TO OUR FIRM COMMITMENT TO OUR, UM, GOVERNANCE MODEL AND THE FACT THAT IT PROHIBITS THE BOARD FROM ENDORSING OR SUPPORTING, UM, UH, THE SUPERINTENDENT'S DECISION ON AN OPERATIONS ISSUE.
UM, WE CAN CERTAINLY WEIGH IN, BUT ONLY THROUGH POLICY AS YOU KNOW.
UM, BUT, AND THEN YOU DID NOT ADDRESS THAT.
AND I BELIEVE MAYBE ONE OTHER BOARD MEMBER MEANT.
COULD YOU JUST SPEAK TO WHY YOU DID NOT ADDRESS THAT? I GUESS I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T HEAR THAT.
I HAVE NO OTHER COMMENT ON, ON IT.
BECAUSE YOU WOULD JUST WELCOME.
YOU WOULD BE IN CHARGE AS CHAIR TO DIRECT, UM, THAT FROM A BOARD MEMBER, ARE WE READY TO VOTE? VOTING IS OPEN OR SHAQ.
YES, NO, BUT I'M GOING TO VOTE.
NO, BECAUSE WHAT CAME UP ON MY SCREEN IS IT'S NOT THAT MOTION.
IT'S SOMETHING ABOUT STOKES MARIE BURR FROM FOREMAN AND MCNAIR IT BE TO GET THE MOTION.
OH, IT'S UNDER THE HEADING OF THAT.
SO THE MOTION EMOTION IS UNDERNEATH IT.
[02:35:06]
I VOTE NO ROBIN.THE FO THE SIX NOS ARE EARL CAMPBELL, CHRISTINA GWADAR, DAVID'S DRIVEN JERK KATHY ROBOT AND MEL CAMPBELL AND RICHARD GUYER.
SO NOW WE GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL, UM, THE MOTION, IF YOU CAN PUT THAT BACK UP, UM, WALDEN AND I THINK KATHY, YOU WERE NEXT.
SO, UM, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR DR.
UM, I KNOW THAT THERE, I HAVE, UH, BEEN CONTACTED BY, UM, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AND SANDBOX AND OTHER AGENCIES OUT THERE THAT ARE, UM, OFFERING SOME SUPPORT TO OUR STUDENTS WHILE WE ARE GOING VIRTUAL.
HAD, UH, CAN YOU SHARE ANYTHING ABOUT ANYTHING THAT ANY WAY THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP? YES, WE WE'VE BEEN IN, UH, IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM.
CAMPBELL, UH, NIKIA CAMPBELL, I BELIEVE IS ON, UH, ON ZOOM AT THIS TIME WITH US AND DR.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO SUPPORTING, UH, THE SUPERINTENDENT'S DECISION IN STARTING VIRTUAL AND VIRTUAL MODE TWO IN WHAT, IN WHAT WAY DOES THAT, THAT DOES THAT, THAT'S WHAT SHE'S SAYING.
HOW DOES THAT RELATE TO THE MOTION? IT RELATES TO WHETHER I WOULD VOTE TO SUPPORT THAT WE START IN VIRTUAL MODE, BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE WERE OTHER SAFETY GAPS OUT THERE THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR KIDS THAT CAN'T COME TO SCHOOL SIMILAR TO LIKE WHAT DAD DR.
WITH SNIFF SKI SAID, SHE, SHE, ABOUT WHAT ARE THE PARENTS GOING TO DO WITH THEIR KIDS? SO THAT'S A QUESTION I HAVE GO AHEAD, KATHY.
UH, CAMPBELL I BELIEVE IS ON AND DR.
STRADDLES IS ON, I KNOW THEY HAD, UH, COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENTS WITH, UH, WITH THE LOCAL, UH, PROVIDERS, UH, AS WELL.
CAMPBELL, WE'VE SET UP MEETINGS WITH THE Y YMCA BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
WE'RE WORKING WITH ONE MORE COMMUNITY PROVIDER RIGHT NOW.
LOVE MINISTRY HAS PUT FORWARD 240 SEATS FOR QUALIFYING FAMILIES TO ASSIST WITH VIRTUAL ON A SLIDING SCALE.
UM, BASICALLY THEY WERE SHARING WITHOUT THE CAMPBELL, THAT IT MAY BE FREE TO HELP OUT BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
AND THE Y YMCA ARE LOOKING TO DO ANYTHING.
THEY WERE JUST WAITING TO FIND OUT WHAT DIRECTION WE WERE GOING TO LEND ASSISTANCE, MRS. ROBOT.
AND I HAVE DROPPED THE CAMPBELL ON AT THIS TIME AS WELL.
WE ARE TRYING TO SET UP MEETINGS.
UM, BY MONTHLY, WE HAVE A TENTATIVE MEETING AS A FOLLOWUP OF THIS MEETING TONIGHT IN ORDER TO GO POSE SO WE CAN START EXECUTING PLANS AND ROLLING OUT TO MORE OF A COMMUNITY AND BY INVOLVEMENT OR SUPPORT.
AND THAT WAS MY QUESTION ARE RE UM, GETTING SOME SUPPORT FOR SOME OF OUR NEEDIEST STUDENTS.
DO WE THINK FROM THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE HELP WITH THEIR, UM, WITH VIRTUAL? SO ONE, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO WORK OUT RIGHT NOW IS FOR EXAMPLE, BROAD RIVER, UM, THE PARTNERSHIP THERE HAS RECEIVED, WHAT I BELIEVE IS IN DR.
CAMPBELL CAN CORRECT ME, BUT THEY'VE RECEIVED A 20%.
EVERY GRANT THEY HAVE PUT INTO THEIR GRANT PUTTING SUPPORT IN FOR VIRTUAL.
WE JUST RECEIVED NOTIFICATION TODAY, AND THEY SHARED THEIR AWARDS, WHETHER WITH A LETTER WITH US.
SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING OUT SOME OF THAT, THE DETAILS, BUT AGAIN, THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SAY IF WE WERE GOING TO GO FACE TO FACE OR VIRTUAL, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE SUPPORT IN ANY MANNER THAT THEY CAN.
AND WE'VE BEEN VERY STRICT AT SHARE WITHIN THE GUIDELINES OF HAVING SOME TYPE OF EXPECTATIONS TO BE WITH OUR KIDS.
CAMPBELL, IS THERE ANY OTHER UPDATES YOU CAN SHARE WITH ANY COMMUNITY CONTACTS BEYOND THOSE THAT I JUST SHARED? JUST WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
WE HAVE OUR NEXT MEETING ON WEDNESDAY WITH LOW HOUSE MINISTRIES, WHY MCA AND BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, AND POTENTIALLY WRITE DIRECTIONS.
[02:40:01]
WITH THEM AND HOW THEY CAN SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.UM, AND EACH OF THEM SUBMITTED A ONE PAGER ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
I RECEIVED A COUPLE OF THOSE COPIES TODAY.
WE'VE ASKED HIM TO GIVE US A PROFILE OF WHAT THEY WOULD, WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO AND WORKING WITH US SO WE CAN VET THROUGH AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS.
THEY'RE VERY EAGER TO SUPPORT US.
UM, WE'VE HAD A LONG STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE Y YMCA, AS WELL AS BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
UM, THE LOVE HOUSE MINISTRY IS NEW, BUT SHE'S REALLY EXCITED TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.
A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS, UM, IN THE NORTHERN SIDE OF OUR DISTRICT PARTICIPATE, UM, EITHER THROUGH AN AFTERSCHOOL OR SUMMER PROGRAM.
SO WE HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL OPTIONS.
I HAD A FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO, TO CATHY'S.
SO WHAT WAS THE NUMBER OF OUR FACE TO FACE, UM, PARENT RESPONSES? WHAT WAS THE MOST RECENT NUMBER FROM THOSE SURVEYS? I DON'T RECALL.
STRATOS CORRECTLY, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT WE ARE, UH, RIGHT AROUND THE 16TH CLOSE TO THE $16,000, 16,000 RESPONSES, MARK, AND, AND WE ARE RIGHT AROUND, UH, 55%, UH, CHOOSING, UH, FACE TO FACE.
SO GIVE OR TAKE A LITTLE BIT 8,000 PLUS YOU BELIEVE THAT THESE COMMUNITY PARTNERS HAVE THE CAPACITY TO MEET THAT NEED FOR THOSE THAT HAD DESIRED THAT, THOSE, THOSE 8,000 OR SO, AND ALSO DO THEY PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO THEIR FACILITIES? WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM TO SEE THE SPECIFICS AROUND WHAT THEY CAN PROVIDE.
AND THEN, UH, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO NEED TO LOOK AT, UH, WHAT OTHER, WHAT OTHER OPTIONS MAY BE AVAILABLE BEYOND, UH, JUST THOSE EXISTING, UH, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AS WELL AS WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK TO, TO HELP OUR FAMILIES AS WELL.
UM, ONE OF MY OTHER CONCERNS THAT I DIDN'T MENTION EARLIER WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT THE TEACHERS, UM, I THINK YOU MENTIONED THERE WAS A CERTAIN NUMBER OF FRANK THAT COULD LEAVE AT ANY TIME.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I, I MEAN, I'VE JUST BEEN LOOKING AT CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE BEEN SEEING ON FACEBOOK FROM OTHER PARENTS, AND THERE ARE QUITE A LOT THAT ARE DECIDING TO PULL THEIR KIDS AND HOMESCHOOL THEM THEMSELVES.
AND SO THOSE ARE LOST DOLLARS TO THE DISTRICT AS WELL.
AND I WANT THAT TO BE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT IS A PART OF THE CONVERSATION, CAUSE IT'S A REALITY.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH OUR VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING AND WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE SOMETHING THAT IS, YOU KNOW, TOP NOTCH TO OUR STUDENTS.
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT THIS COULD FORCE SOME PEOPLE TO LEAVE THAT MAY NOT HAVE OTHERWISE PLANNED TO, UM, OR HAD BEEN ON THE FENCE.
SO YEAH, I THINK THIS IS THIS, YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT I, THAT I WANT TO STRESS TO EVERYONE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE DECISIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT ARE, UH, YOU KNOW, EASY TO MAKE BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE RIGHT DECISION.
AND BECAUSE, UH, 95% OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO AGREE WITH IT, YOU KNOW, AND THEN THERE ARE DECISIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE, UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE RIGHT DECISIONS AND THE RIGHT HARD DECISION TO MAKE KNOWING FULL WELL THAT NO MATTER WHAT YOU CHOOSE, YOU'RE GOING TO GET HEAVILY CRITICIZED FOR IT, BECAUSE THE FACT IS THAT THERE IS NO GOOD ANSWERS THAT SUPPORTS AND MEETS EVERYBODY.
THAT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST THE REALITY OF FINDING YOURSELF, UH, IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS AS, AS A SUPERINTENDENT OR AS A DECISION MAKER, YOU KNOW, IN, IN ANY CAPACITY.
AND THIS ONE FALLS IN THAT CATEGORY OF, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO GOOD CHOICE BECAUSE WE WOULD ALSO LOSE A LOT OF FAMILIES WHO WOULD LEAVE IF, UH, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE DID OPEN AND WE'D LOSE TEACHERS AND THEN WE COULD POSSIBLY BE PROVIDING FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION, BUT WITH UNCERTIFIED TEACHERS OR SUBSTITUTES, UM, UM, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER FACTOR AND ANOTHER ISSUE, UH, THAT, THAT WE WOULD CERTAINLY FACE.
SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE DECISIONS THAT, UH, I CAN ASSURE YOU, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD A LOT OF DIFFICULTY WITH, I HAVE TRIED TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON, GIVE IT AS MUCH, UH,
[02:45:01]
UH, UH, TIME AS POSSIBLE, UH, CONSIDER, UH, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT I'M HEARING FROM PARENTS, THINGS THAT I HEAR FROM, FROM OUR, OUR STAFF AND OUR EMPLOYEES, YOU KNOW, UH, WORKING CLOSELY WITH, WITH, UH, OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM AND EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE DISTRICT TO TRY TO ARRIVE AT A DECISION.THIS ISN'T A, THIS ISN'T ONE THAT I JUST MAKE OFF, OFF THE CUFF.
IT IS, IT IS A CHALLENGING, IT IS A DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCE.
THERE ARE NO ROADMAPS, THERE ARE NO BLUEPRINTS ON HANDLING THIS.
THAT'S JUST THE REALITY, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH THE INFORMATION WE HAVE AND, AND WE TRY TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION, YOU KNOW, AND, AND TAKING EVERYTHING INTO CONSIDERATION.
I, YOU KNOW, I PROMISE YOU, IT IS NOT AN EASY ONE.
I PROMISE YOU, UH, IT IS NOT A, UH, AN OFF THE CUFF ONE, UH, AND, AND ONE THAT I KNOW FULL WELL THAT, UH, IN MAKING IT EITHER WAY, RIGHT.
WHICHEVER WAY, UH, UM, IT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, HEAVILY SCRUTINIZED, HEAVILY CRITICIZED.
AND IT'S JUST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY OTHER THAN IT, IT, IT, IT COMES WITH THE ROLE AND, UH, AND IT'S, UH, IT'S NOT A PLEASANT ONE, UH, TO HAVE TO MAKE, OR TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT CRANK I, AND I HOPE YOU DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME AT ALL.
I KNOW THAT YOU DIDN'T MAKE THIS DECISION LIGHTLY, AND I RESPECT YOUR DECISION IMMENSELY.
UM, MY POINT SIMPLY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT THE FLEXIBILITY AND THE CHOICE TO PROVIDE VIRTUAL AND FACE TO FACE ALLOWS ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TO BE SERVED.
AND I FEEL LIKE WHEN WE MOVED TO JUST ONE OPTION OR NOT SERVING EVERYONE, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION DECISION AND I RESPECT YOU.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME MAKING THAT POSITION.
I JUST HAPPEN TO DISAGREE WITH IT.
I, AND I, AND I, I, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND I DIDN'T MEAN TO INSINUATE THAT YOU, YOU WERE SAYING OTHERWISE, THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO, TO, UH, I THINK TO ILLUSTRATE THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, IT IS A CHALLENGING ONE, UH, AND AN UNPLEASANT ONE.
OH, I, I JUST, UM, IN THE MATTER OF THE MOTION THAT'S BEFORE US, I DO THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EXPRESSING SUPPORT AND OWNERSHIP.
UM, I SUPPORT A LOT OF THINGS IN MY LIFE.
I DON'T OWN THEM, SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS.
OKAY, PLEASE DO THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
WELL, I THINK THAT IF YOU SUPPORT SOMETHING AND YOU'RE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, YOU DO OWN IT.
UM, I'D LIKE TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE MATTER AT HAND AND TALK ABOUT SAFETY.
RODRIGUEZ IS GETTING GRILLED NOW, OR ABOUT THE PARTICULARS OF HIS DECISION TELLS ME THAT.
AND, AND THE FACT THAT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SAY, WELL, I HAVE TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS TO SEE IF I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT.
WELL, THEN YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU MIGHT NOT SUPPORT IT.
SO WHICH YOU DISAPPROVE AT THE CENTER OF THE DECISION.
IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO MAKE A PLAN RIGHT NOW THAT WILL SERVICE EVERYBODY, BUT IT IS POSSIBLE TO MAKE A PLAN THAT WILL KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE.
AND IF WE, IF THE BOARD PASSES THIS MEASURE, I AM NOT GOING TO OWN IT.
AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO OWN ANY MOMENTS OF SILENCE THAT TAKE PLACE FOR STUDENTS OR STAFF, BECAUSE THE BOARD DECIDED TO NOT SUPPORT THE SUPERINTENDENT, HIS DECISION, THE BOARD SHOULD NOT SUPPORT OR NOT.
OR UNSUPPORT THE DECISION I APPLAUD THE DECISION.
I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT ONE, BUT THAT'S JUST MY INDIVIDUAL VIEW.
AND I HAVE NO RIGHT TO VOTE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN DEFIANCE OF A GOVERNANCE MODEL AND SAY, WHETHER I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT OR NOT RODRIGUEZ, I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
IT SEEMS LIKE OUR, OUR POPULATION IS SPLIT RELATIVELY DOWN THE MIDDLE.
AND ANY DECISION YOU MAKE IS, IS GOING TO RUFFLE FEATHERS
[02:50:02]
OF ROUGHLY HALF THE POPULATION BASED ON OUR SURVEYS.SO I RESPECT THE DIFFICULT SITUATION YOU'RE IN.
THAT'S WHY WE HIRED YOU TO MAKE THESE TYPES OF DECISIONS.
THIS IS NOT THE BOARD'S DECISION.
WHAT VALUE DOES IT BRING TO YOU THIS EVENING FOR THE POOR TO VOTE ON THIS MOTION? AND, AND ALSO LET ME POINT OUT ASIDE FROM THAT QUESTION, IF THE BOARD VOTES ON THIS TONIGHT, WE ARE WIDE OPEN TO VOTE ON AND, AND TAKE CONTROL OF ANY LARGE, SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONS ISSUE GOING FORWARD.
I'M NOT GOING TO BE HERE MUCH LONGER.
THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CHALLENGE THAT THE REMAINING BOARD AND FUTURE BOARD WILL WRESTLE WITH.
WHAT CAN THE BOARD THEN WEIGH IN AND, AND, UM, TAKE CONTROL OVER? UM, WHAT CAN WE TIE YOUR HANDS ON GOING FORWARD? IF WE CAN DO THIS THIS EVENING, CERTAINLY ONE ON ANY OTHER CONTROVERSIAL DECISION, UH, THAT COMES DOWN THE ROAD.
SO EXPLAIN TO THE BOARD, WHAT VALUE THIS OFFERS YOU TO HAVE A SPOT ON THIS MOTION? THEY SEE? WELL, I THINK WHAT I WOULD SAY TO YOU, MS. HORSHACK IS THAT, UH, I THINK YOU, YOU SAT IN THE SAME, UH, TRAININGS THAT I SAT AND AROUND, UM, AROUND, UH, THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE.
AND I RECALL IN, IN THAT DISCUSSION THAT, UH, THERE WERE, UH, THERE WAS, UH, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT WORD TO USE IS, BUT I THINK THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT THE FACILITATOR MENTIONED AND SAID THAT IF THE BOARD SPECIFICALLY, YOU KNOW, INHERENTLY AS A BOARD DISAGREED WITH, WITH SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD SEND A SUPERINTENDENT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, UH, I, I BELIEVE THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION OR DISCUSSION, UH, AROUND THAT PIECE.
UM, AND SO I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS, UH, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE DIFFICULT DECISIONS, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, SOMETIMES I GET TO MAKE ONES THAT AREN'T, AND SOMETIMES I GET TO MAKE ONES, UH, THAT ARE, BUT REGARDLESS, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T MAKE THEM, UH, IN ISOLATION, RIGHT.
I HAVE CONSULTATION FROM, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, UH, TEACHERS I'VE CONSULTATIONS FROM, UH, UH, ADMINISTRATORS, PEOPLE WITHIN THE DISTRICT, UH, PEOPLE, UH, SOME PARENTS I HEAR FROM PARENTS, UH, AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE REALITY IS THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S NOT MADE JUST IN ISOLATION, YOU, YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND YOU TRY TO, YOU TRY TO WEIGH, UH, EVERYTHING IN FRONT OF YOU.
YOU KNOW, I, I CAN'T, UH, UH, REALLY WEIGH IN ON, UH, ON THE QUESTION THAT YOU ARE ASKING OF ME.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU FIND IT WITHIN YOUR HEART AND YOU FEEL THAT, UH, WITHIN YOUR WORK, UH, AS A BOARD MEMBER, THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD DO, THEN I WOULD SAY, YOU MAKE THAT DECISION FOR YOURSELF, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, I DO THE BEST I CAN DO AS A SUPERINTENDENT, GIVEN THE SCENARIOS IN FRONT OF ME, YOU KNOW, THAT PART THAT'S OUT OF MY REALM, THAT'S, THAT'S IN YOUR REALM.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU, I THINK, HAVE TO DECIDE FOR YOURSELF, DR.
RODRIGUEZ, THIS IS, THIS REPRESENTS YOUR DECISION THIS EVENING, CORRECT? WHAT'S THAT YOUR RECOMMENDATION TO OPEN VIRTUALLY THAT IS YOUR DECISION, CORRECT? THAT IS THE DECISION THAT WE HAVE ARRIVED AT, GIVEN THE METRICS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF US, GIVEN, UH, THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AND REVIEW, UH, IN TERMS OF, UH, THE, THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF NOT ONLY OUR STUDENTS, BUT EMPLOYEES AND STAFF, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU HEARD TONIGHT, UH, SOME THINGS ABOUT, UH, SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WERE ALREADY IN THEIR REOPENING PHASE, UH, AND DID REOPEN AND HAD, UH, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL, SEVERAL ISSUES ALONG THE WAY WE ARE, UH, CURRENTLY, UH, WE HAVE A HIGH INCIDENT RATE.
WE HAVE A HIGH POSITIVITY RATE THAT IS, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER DISTRICTS WHERE THE METRICS, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE HIGH, UH, THEY'RE DECLINING, RIGHT? WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THAT HERE IN FIVE OR SIX WEEKS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING THE OTHER WAY.
[02:55:01]
SO, SO I GUESS ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IN TERMS OF, THAT'S WHAT I SHARED IN MY SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT.AND, UH, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED, UH, THE SYSTEM IS, IS GOING TO NEED TO PREPARE, YOU KNOW, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE OPENING AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING THAT.
AND THEY'RE TRYING TO DO THAT.
PARENTS NEED TIME, UH, AS WELL, UH, TO, TO, TO MAKE PERSONAL, I THINK, DECISIONS THAT THEY MIGHT NEED TO MAKE AS WELL.
AND SO IT'S ONLY FAIR, UH, TO, TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION NOW, AND NOT IN THREE WEEKS OR FOUR WEEKS, IF THINGS DON'T GET BETTER, DR.
RODRIGUEZ, NO ONE HAS MADE A MOTION THIS EVENING TO REDIRECT YOU OR YOUR DECISION, YOUR DECISION SHOULD STAND AS IS WITH, OR WITHOUT BOARD ACTION.
I SUPPORT YOUR DECISION, MR. SMITH.
UM, UM, ONE THING THAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT MRS. ROBINS, YOU, YOU BROUGHT UP THAT, THAT WHEN, WHEN I SAID, UM, I ASKED YOU ABOUT POURING OF WATER ABOUT, ABOUT YOUR SUPPORTING, YOU SEE HOW YOU BROUGHT UP THE QUESTION ABOUT THE OTHER, UM, OTHER PARTNERS IN THE DISTRICT SUPPORTING, SUPPORTING THE, UH, HOUSING STUDENTS.
COULD YOU, UM, COULD YOU ELABORATE ON THAT A LITTLE BIT? I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEAN, WILLIAM.
COULD YOU, COULD YOU, COULD YOU TELL ME, WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION AGAIN? MY QUESTION WAS ABOUT, UH, HAD THE DISTRICT BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, RIGHT? YEAH.
AS MUCH, BASICALLY I WANTED TO GO AHEAD, BUT THAT WAS IT BECAUSE I HAVE RECEIVED CALLS FROM THE, SOME OF THOSE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THEN I PREFERRED THE MONTH.
AND, AND, AND, AND BASICALLY, UM, THAT, THAT IS, WHAT'S KIND OF CONCERNED ME WHEN YOU AND DEBBIE CAMPBELL WAS TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT THAT.
IT'S ABOUT OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH SOME OF THOSE, UH, WITH, WITH THE, WITH SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE.
UM, BECAUSE THE, THE, THE, IF MY, IF MY ROLE IS KIND OF SERVES ME, CORRECT, ARE POSSIBLY THINK THAT WE WOULD NEED TO BE IN AND BE CAREFUL HOW WE ENDORSED THOSE PLANS AS BOARD MEMBERS, BECAUSE MAYBE A DR.
RODRIGUEZ OR HIS LEGAL CONSOLE, YOU KNOW, UM, HELP THE BOARD AND MAYBE LET US KNOW, COULD WE POSSIBLY BE SUED IF, UH,
ALL OF THAT, IF THAT'S OKAY TO DO PRETTY MUCH, WELL, YOU MAY WANT TO GO YOUR LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, WHEN, OR YOU CAN CHIME IN IF YOU LIKE, BUT I, I WOULD JUST SAY, OR IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION, BUT I WOULD JUST SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, WELL, WE WOULD BE TRYING TO DO IS TO FIND OUT FROM THOSE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, UH, WHAT THEY WOULD BE OFFERING AND WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT THEY WOULD BE PROVIDING THE FAMILIES.
AND WE COULD SHARE THAT WITH FAMILIES THAT HAVE QUESTIONS, RIGHT.
AND, AND THAT, UM, THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, KNOW WHAT PLACES MIGHT BE THERE THAT MIGHT BE, UH, OFFERING SOME OF THAT TYPE OF SUPPORT.
AND SO, SO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITHIN THOSE LOCATIONS WOULD, WOULD BE, UH, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THOSE LOCATIONS? NOT, NOT SPECIFICALLY US, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU, LOOK AT ANY, YOU KNOW, I HEAR, UH, THE BOARD IN DISCUSSIONS OR CONVERSATIONS SEVERAL OFTEN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY GOT TO IT, OR SOMEBODY HAS A LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM.
ANYBODY CAN SUE ANYBODY FOR ANY AT, FOR ANYTHING THEY WANT TO.
THERE, THERE IS NO NOTHING TO PREVENT SOMEBODY FROM SHOWING SOMEBODY.
YOU KNOW? UH, BUT, BUT I THINK, UH, OUR ROLE WOULD BE TO FIND OUT WHAT IS AVAILABLE OUT THERE.
UH, SO THAT IF OUR FAMILIES ASK US WHAT, WHAT IS AVAILABLE OUT THERE, WE MIGHT SAY, HERE'S A LIST OF THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD ARE AVAILABLE OUT THERE FROM HIS COLLEGE.
WHAT SHOULD I COMMENT ON THAT?
[03:00:02]
MR. SMITH, DR.RODRIGUEZ, RIGHT? THAT ANYBODY CAN FILE A LAWSUIT.
WE DON'T, WE CAN'T PREVENT PEOPLE FROM DOING THAT, BUT WE CAN PROVIDE RESOURCES OF WHAT'S AVAILABLE ON THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT WOULD BE UP TO THE PARENTS ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO FOR HERE FOR THEIR CHILD.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T USE OUR ARE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT, THAT CURRENTLY SERVICE, YOU KNOW, OUR STUDENTS AFTER SCHOOL.
UH, ANYWAY, I BELIEVE IS THAT RIGHT? DARK STRADDLE.
RODRIGUEZ, THESE ARE PARTNERS WHO ALREADY HAVE RELATIONSHIP WITH FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THEM.
LEGAL COUNSEL DOES REVIEW THEM REGARDING THE LEGAL COMPONENT OF ANYTHING HAPPENING TO CHILDREN.
THE, THEY COVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INSURANCE THAT WAS QUITE, THAT IS REQUIRED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WHAT MRS. SMITH IS BRINGING UP WITH REGARD TO THE ONUS OF BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE POINT OF COBIT, IF SOMEONE IS INFECTED, THAT IS ACTUALLY IN SOME STATES RIGHT NOW, LOOKING AT LEGISLATION REGARDING THAT EVEN FOR SCHOOLS AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS TOO YOU'RE RIGHT.
IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THEY HAVE PUT OUT WAIVERS MAY NOT BE THE POINT OF, UM, A MODEL BY WHICH TO TAKE, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS BEING REVIEWED AT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
I MEAN, AT THE STATE SIDE AND AT THE WASHINGTON DC.
AND, AND I'M JUST PLAYING, I'M ALMOST, I'M, I'M, I'M PLAYING DEVIL'S ADVOCATE FOR THE BOARD BECAUSE I JUST WANT US TO BE, AND THE MEASURES THAT WERE TAKEN, AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING PARTNERS.
I, I HAVE NO, NO, NO BAD AND NO BAD FEELING FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE WANTING THOSE KIDS IN, BECAUSE I DEFINITELY DO APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE SOME OF THEM DEFINITELY COME FROM MY COMMUNITY FROM MY COMMUNITY, BUT HOWEVER, YOU'RE RIGHT.
ANYONE CAN SUE CAN SUE A BOARD MEMBER.
ANYONE CAN SUE THE BOARD, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BOARD IS TAKING FOR CAUTION SO THAT WE, THAT WE'RE NOT PUTTING OURSELVES AND, AND, AND, UH, IN HIGH END HOMES WAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY AVOID, THAT THAT'S ALL BECAUSE I'M SURE EVERYONE HERE WANTS OUR KIDS TO GET THE BEST, THE BEST PROVIDED SERVICES THAT, THAT, THAT THAT'S, THAT IS OFFERED IN THIS, IN THIS DISTRICT.
HOWEVER, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BOARD IS, IS, IS, IS ACTUALLY, UM, WE'RE ALL ON ONE ACCORD IN ONE PAGE, AND THAT WE, ON THE SAME SHEET OF MUSIC WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT WE'RE STANDING ON, WHEN, WHAT WE'RE ENDORSING AND WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON.
AND THEN THE THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH MY MAMA POINT.
AND I JUST MOVED ON TO, TO, TO MY, MY, MY NEXT, UH, MY, MY, MY, MY, MY NEXT THING WAS NOW THAT I KNOW IT WAS A D I'M SURE ABOUT IT ALREADY.
CAUSE IT WAS DEFINITELY A HARD DECISION, BUT I BELIEVE IN CONSISTENCY AND WITH, WITH THE BOARD REALLY NOT HAVING IT IN THEIR PURVIEW LIKE MRS. UH, MRS.
SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION BB BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I DIDN'T SUPPORT IT.
THE LAST TIME WE TWEETED BOTTLED UP AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT ABOUT SUPPORTING THE MOTION MOVING FORWARD.
AND SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS TO BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION BECAUSE OF THE, OF THE, OF THE SAME REASON.
AND YOU ASKED THE BOARD FOR CIVICALLY NOT TO TIE YOUR HANDS AND LET YOU MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS.
AND SO THEREFORE I SHALL NOT TIE YOUR HANDS.
AND I SHOW THAT YOU MAKE DECISIONS AND UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT, THAT YOU NEVER DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE.
SO WELL-MADE WELL-TAKEN, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THE BOARD IS CALLED TO VOTE ON A BOTTLE OF WATER ON HIS MATTRESS AFTERNOON.
UM, WHAT I UNDERSTAND, WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE MOTION IS THAT MS. SUBSCRIPTION MADE HASAN SUPPORT OF
IT'S THE SHERMAN'S YOU MADE IT EITHER YOU VOTE FOR IT, OR YOU DON'T SIMPLE AS THAT.
SO BEFORE WE VOTE, I JUST WANT TO SAY A FEW THINGS, UH, OBVIOUSLY FROM OUR DISCUSSION OF BOARD IS VERY DIVIDED ABOUT THIS, ABOUT THIS MOTION.
I DEFINITELY WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE THAT THIS DECISION WAS AND IS, AND WILL BE DR.
RODRIGUEZ SAYS, NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THIS VOTE IS, IT'S HIS DECISION.
I THINK, UH, IN MY MIND, THE MOTION IS EXPRESSING SUPPORT OF HIS POSITION.
I THINK HE DID A FABULOUS JOB IN, UH, LISTENING TO ALL THE INFORMATION, UH, VERY CAREFULLY GOING OVER EVERYTHING, GETTING INPUT FROM ALL THE, THE, THE, THE RIGHT, UH, UH, AGENCIES.
AND NO MATTER WHAT HIS DECISION IS, IT'S GONNA, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO OBJECT TO IT.
IT'S JUST THAT KIND OF DECISION THAT HE'S ALREADY EXPRESSED THAT.
[03:05:01]
SO THAT IS WHY I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE DECISION HE MADE.I'M NOT MAKING THE DECISION FOR HIM.
I DON'T THINK THE BOARD IS MAKING THE DECISION FOR HIM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO LEND MY SUPPORT BECAUSE I THINK HE MADE A FINE DECISION.
MAY I MAKE ONE, ONE LAST COMMENT? YES.
MANY OF US HAVE EXPRESSED OUR SUPPORT THIS EVENING.
WHY ARE WE TAKING THE EXTRA STEP TO FORMALIZE IT IN EMOTION? THAT IS A, THAT BECOMES A FORMAL BOARD ACTION WITH THE WORD DECISION IN IT.
AND WHETHER THE DECISION CAME FROM DR.
RODRIGUEZ AND STAFF OR NOT, BY MAKING IT A FORMAL BOARD ACTION, WE ARE ADOPTING IT.
I'M NOT AFRAID TO ADOPT THE DECISION I HAPPEN TO SUPPORT, UM, AND BELIEVE THAT IT'S THE CORRECT THING TO DO, BUT WE CANNOT HOLD DR.
RODRIGUEZ ACCOUNTABLE ONCE WE OWN IT.
WE CAN'T CRITICIZE, WE CAN'T PRAISE BECAUSE WE WILL NOW OWN THAT DECISION THROUGH FORMAL ACTION.
IT'S A TECHNICALITY, BUT I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE.
RODRIGUEZ KNOWS WHICH BOARD MEMBERS SUPPORT HIS DECISION.
THIS EVENING, WE'VE MADE THAT CLEAR AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE RESPECTFULLY, UM, EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS.
I THINK THAT'S ADEQUATE, BUT IN UPSET, MR. WILLIAMS, MOUNTAIN VIEW, I FIND IT A LITTLE DISCOURAGING THAT YOU KNOW, THAT THIS WAS A GOVERNANCE TOMORROW ON THAT WHEN YOU BECAME SHARE THAT WE PUSHED,
AND THE GOVERNANCE MODEL SPECIFICALLY SAID THAT IT'S NOT OUR JOB TO MAKE MOTIONS BASED UPON THE MOTION THAT STANDS BEFORE YOU TODAY.
AND THAT'S FREE AS USUAL AS A SHEAR TO SUPPORT THIS MOTION, KNOWING THAT WE ARE, THAT THIS MOTION IS I IS OUT OF ORDER, ACCORDING TO OUR BYLAWS.
AND ACCORDING TO THE NEW GOVERNANCE THAT WE ARE UNDER, I'M QUITE DISAPPOINTED THAT USED THAT TO SUPPORT HIS MOTION PUBLICLY BECAUSE I, EVEN IF I SUPPORT IT OR AS I WAS AGAINST IT, I TRY, I TRIED MY HARDEST NOT TO EXPRESS HOW I FEEL, BECAUSE THAT WAS WHAT I LEARNED TO TRAIN THAT WE WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO.
AND AS SHARE FOR YOU TO EXPRESS YOUR, YOUR, YOUR SUPPORT TOWARDS IT.
AND THIS WAS A GOVERNANCE THAT YOU WANTED AND THAT YOU FELT THAT YOU COULD WORK W A Y AS YOU COULD POSSIBLY, UM, CHEER THE BOARD UNDER, I'M JUST, I'M JUST, I'M JUST A LITTLE, I'M JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED THAT, AND A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT YOU, AS A CHAIR WOULD EXPRESS THAT AND HAVE A, HAVE A LOT OF THE BOARDS SHOULD BE VOTING ON THIS THIS AFTERNOON.
EARL CAMPBELL, CHRISTINA SQUADS.
DAVID'S DRIVEN JUROR KATHY ROBOT AND MEL CAMPBELL AND RICHARD GUYER.
THE TWO NOS ARE RACHEL WAS NASTY WILLIAM SMITH AND THE TWO ABSTENTIONS JOHN DOWLING AND JOANNE OR A CHEF.
SO WE'RE NOW ON, IS THAT YOUR LAST PORTION DR.
SO NOW WE'RE ONTO THE BOARD BUSINESS
[Approval of corrected 2020-20201 Academic Calendar]
ACTION WITH THE, UM, APPROVAL OF THE CORRECTED 2020, 2021 ACADEMIC CALENDAR.[03:10:03]
THANK YOU, DR.AT THAT TIME I PRESENTED A CALENDAR.
IT WAS VOTED UPON, AND I HAVE TO SHARE AT THIS POINT TO POINT TO CLARIFICATION, TO CORRECT TWO ERRORS UPON REVIEW ON DECEMBER 23RD AND LOOKING AT THE SEPTEMBER 22ND, THOSE TWO ITEMS WERE IN BIRDED IN THE PRIOR CALENDAR.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THE DECEMBER 23RD ORIGINALLY WAS IDENTIFIED AS AN HALF DAY WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MARKED AS A WEATHER MAKEUP DAY.
I WANT TO ALSO SHARE THAT IN FEBRUARY 1ST, FEBRUARY 1ST WAS ORIGINALLY IDENTIFIED AS A WEATHER MAKEUP DAY, WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY DURING CONVERSATION ON THE 28TH, I NOTED IT GOT INVOLVED IN QUESTIONING AND RESPONDING WAS NOT ABLE TO GO BACK TO THAT POINT.
AND I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TWO AREAS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO YOU AS THE BOARD.
I'D LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION DOWN TO THE MONTH OF JUNE WOULD RECOGNIZING THAT FEBRUARY 1ST IS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY.
AS I HAD SHARED EARLIER, THE END OF THE FIRST SEMESTER, ALLOWING OUR TEACHERS, WHO THEY HAD ASKED TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF TIME IN ORDER TO GET THEIR GRADES PUT TOGETHER AND PLAN THE WEATHER DAY WAS MOVED TO THE 18TH.
WE NEED THREE MAKEUP DAYS ON THE CALENDAR.
IF WE DO NOT USE THE JUNE 18TH WEATHER MAKEUP DAY, I WANT TO BE CLEAR TO SAY THAT OUR TEACHERS LAST DAY WOULD BE JUNE 23RD.
IF THE WEATHER MAKEUP DAY OF JUNE 18TH IS UTILIZED BRINGING THE 18TH OF JUNE AS THE LAST STUDENT DAY, THEN THE 24TH OF JUNE BE THE LAST DAY FOR TEACHERS ON THEIR CONTRACT.
IF YOU LOOK ONTO ROBIN WHERE YOU GO BACK TO AUGUST, BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO SHOW ONE THING THAT WE DID JUST SORT OF CLARITY FOR OUR TEACHERS THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER, UH, AUGUST 24TH IS STILL THE LEAP WEEK, BUT WE PUT IT INTO A GOLDEN ROD COLOR.
AND IF YOU LOOK IN THE NARRATIVE IN COLUMN ONE ON THE CALENDAR, IT ACTUALLY ALLOWS, IT ACTUALLY DEFINES FOR OUR EDUCATORS THAT THIS IS A VOLUNTARY PAID WEEK.
OUR LEAP MEMO IS BEING PREPARED TO GO OUT TO PRINCIPALS.
WE HAVE A PRINCIPAL MEETING FOR TOMORROW, SO WE CAN BE A LITTLE MORE DETAILED FOR THAT WEEK FOR OUR PRINCIPALS.
BUT AGAIN, I DO WANT TO SET FORWARD AND APOLOGY.
THERE WAS AN INVERSION ON THE DECEMBER ERA AND THE FEBRUARY ERA THAT I MADE MENTION TO YOU.
EVERYTHING ELSE ON THIS CALENDAR HAS SOME CORE REFLECTIONS OF THE TEACHERS WHO WENT THROUGH ACADEMIC COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS ALL OF THOSE WHO HAD ATTENDED OUR ACADEMIC MEETINGS HAD THIS TIME.
I'M OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE.
REVISED CALENDAR AS PRESENTED BY DR.
I'M SORRY, WHO SECOND IT, THANK YOU.
STRATUS, IS THERE ANY MORE CLARITY ON THE DUAL ENROLLMENT PIECE? DO WE HAVE ANY HANDLE ON, UM, AGAIN, OUR INCREASED ENROLLMENT COMMITMENT WITH TCL? NO, AT THIS TIME IT'S HIS OR SHAQ.
I WASN'T PREPARED TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THAT INFORMATION, BUT I
[03:15:01]
CAN PUT IT TOGETHER.WHERE SHOULD IT BE ON THE AGENDA? I W WORKED THAT OUT.
MA'AM IT IS ON MY NOTES TO FOLLOW UP.
YES, MA'AM AND THE ONLY REASON I'M BRINGING IT UP IS THE, UH, THE END OF THE FIRST SEMESTER AND, AND THE, AND THE POTENTIAL AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES THAT MIGHT PRESENT THERE.
YES, MA'AM THIS ORANGE CHECK I'M CURRENTLY CONDUCTING WEEKLY COMMUNITY WITH ALL PRINCIPALS.
WE HAVE AN ALL PRINCIPALS MEETING ON WEDNESDAYS, AND THEN WE HAVE, UM, GRADE LEVEL SPECIFIC OR LEVEL THE MEETINGS.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, AND SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH OUR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS THAT HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT, UH, WITH OUR POSTSECONDARY PARTNERS, IS THAT THEY ARE AS A GENERAL MATTER, WILLING TO WORK WITH US, GIVEN THE FACT THAT OBVIOUSLY COVID HAS REQUIRED THAT WE MAKE SOME AMENDMENTS TO OUR CALENDAR.
AND ALTHOUGH OUR CALENDAR MAY NOT NECESSARILY NECESSARILY OVERLAP WITH THEIRS, THEY ARE WILLING TO ACCOMMODATE OUR STUDENTS AS NECESSARY.
SO, UM, WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE FINITE ANSWERS FOR YOU AT THE MOMENT, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS, UH, WITH OUR POSTSECONDARY PARTNERS ARE UNDERWAY.
UM, MY QUESTION IS I NOTICED THAT, UH, THAT, THAT YOU, YOU POINTED OUT THAT DESCRIBES THAT THE 24TH THROUGH THE 28TH IS VOLUNTEER, UH, VOLUNTEER PAID FOR BEFORE PRINCIPALS OR IN STAFF, BY TEACHERS.
MS.
AND MY QUESTION IS, UM, HAVE, HAVE, WHAT ABOUT, WHAT HAVE WE DONE ABOUT PEOPLE WHO, WHO ON TWO 10 TO 60 AND TO 40, BECAUSE MY QUESTION IS, IS HOW, HOW ARE WE BEING FAIR TO THEM? BECAUSE I'M SURE THAT THEY ARE WORKING AT THIS TIME TOO AS WELL.
HOW WE, HOW, HOW ARE WE DOING WITHIN COMPENSATION OF THEM AND THEM COMING IN AND WORKING AS WELL AT THIS TIME? HOW, HOW, HOW ARE WE, ARE WE MISS MS. WALTON? YES.
MR. SMITH, YOUR QUESTION IS, ARE THE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T ON TWO 40 AND TWO 60 CALENDARS GIVEN THE SAME OPPORTUNITY AS THE TEACHERS TO WORK THAT WEEK? MY, MY QUESTION IS HOW ARE WE IN COW? ARE WE IN COMEDY AND COMEDY, A COMMENT, EXCUSE ME, ACCOMMODATING THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ON TWO 10, TWO 60 AND TWO 44.
THOSE DAYS THAT, THAT, THAT THOSE, THOSE DAYS THAT ARE ARE OF THE 24TH THROUGH THE 28TH, AND ALSO GOING THROUGH THE WHOLE CALENDAR WITH THE DIFFERENT TIMEFRAME, SENTENCING, AND SENDING THEM TO BE WORKING IN ROBIN, COULD YOU COME DOWN ON THOSE CALIFORNIA, PLEASE? THAT WAS SENDING THEM TO WORK INTO JUNE.
AND NORMALLY THEY WOULD BE, THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD NOT BE WORKING TO THE END OF JUNE.
THEY WILL BE WORRIED THAT THE CONTRACT BASE WILL BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
SO I'M, BUT I'M AWARE, I'M SURE THAT THEY ARE WORKING NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IS SUCCESSFUL.
SO I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW, HOW ARE WE ACCOMMODATING THOSE PEOPLE? WHO, WHO ARE, WHO OWN THOSE 200, TWO 60 PLAN TWO 49 TO 10 CONTRACTS? HOW THE CALENDAR NOW THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS THE ACADEMIC CALENDAR, THE TWO 60 AND THE TWO 40 STAFF MEMBERS HAVE THEIR OWN CALENDARS.
THEY DON'T WORK SPECIFICALLY TO THIS CALENDAR.
SO DURING THAT WEEK OF LEAP, THOSE CONTRACTED STAFF MEMBERS WILL BE WORKING ANYWAY, BECAUSE THAT'S A PART OF THEIR WORK CALENDAR.
SO THOSE CALENDARS ARE ALSO POSTED ONLINE, THEIR CALENDAR AND THEIR WORK DAYS ARE DIFFERENT THAN THESE WORK DAYS.
AND AS WELL, LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
UM, SO PRIOR TO THIS, TO THIS SUMMER, WHEN, WHEN FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON TWO 40, TWO 61 DAYS, WHERE THEY, WHERE THEY ALL ARE IN A, THE START OF AUGUST APPLYING THE TWO 60 A CALENDAR, PEOPLE WERE NOT OFF DURING AUGUST.
IF IT'S A TWO 40, THEY MIGHT'VE HAD FIVE DAYS OFF, BUT I DON'T HAVE THOSE CALENDARS IN FRONT OF ME, BUT THOSE CALENDARS ARE POSTED.
THEY DON'T HAVE VACATION DAYS PER SE.
AND IF THEY HAVE, IF THEY WANT TO TAKE DAYS OFF DURING SUMMER, THEY MUST USE THEIR ANNUAL LEAVE DAYS.
SO WE DON'T DESIGNATE WEEKS OFF FOR THEM.
THEY SELECT THEIRS BASED ON THEIR ABILITY TO USE ANNUAL LEAVE DAYS THAT THEY'VE EARNED.
BUT MRS. MRS. WALTON, BASICALLY WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT I LOST YOU.
BASICALLY ONCE WE'VE CHANGED UP THE CALENDAR, UH, FROM, FOR ME WORKING IN A DISTRICT, WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT THE, FOR THOSE COORDINATORS
[03:20:01]
AND EVEN SOME OF THOSE ADMINISTRATORS, UM, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE TIMEFRAME IS DIFFERENT.BUT ALSO EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY BE OFF AT TIME OR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME TO BE OFF, THEY ARE STILL WORKING BECAUSE WHEN YOU SPREAD, ESPECIALLY THOSE WERE THOSE PEOPLE IN, UH, THE, UH, SPED DEPARTMENT AND SOME OF THOSE, THE RIGHT LEVEL OF THOSE DIRECTORS PERIOD, BE THOSE DIRECTORS PERIOD, BECAUSE OF THE, OF THE FACT THAT THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS AND IMPORTANT MEETINGS TO BE DONE, UH, TO QUADS CONTRACT CONTRARY TO WHAT WE BELIEVE.
I'M SURE SOME OF THEM ARE STILL WORKING.
AND MY QUESTION IS, ARE WE CONVERSATING THEM FOR THE TIME THAT THEY ARE WORKING? OR ARE WE NOT? AND IF SO, HOW ARE WE COMPENSATING THEM? ARE WE GIVING THEM GREEN SHEETS? MY QUESTION IS, ONCE WE ADJUST THE CALENDAR, HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE WHO WORK THOSE DAYS AS WELL? OH, ABSOLUTELY.
IF YOU'RE ASKING IF THOSE PEOPLE ARE WORKING DAYS THAT THEY'RE NOT BEING COMPENSATED FOR THE QUESTION, THE ANSWER IS NO.
IF YOU ARE WORKING DAYS THAT ARE NOT A PART OF YOUR CONTRACT, YOU ARE PAID.
WE DON'T WORK ANYONE OUTSIDE OF THEIR CONTRACT DAYS WITHOUT COMPENSATING THEM.
SO IF THEY'RE WORKING, THEY'RE BEING PAID, CAN YOU TELL ME HOW THEY'RE BEING PAID? DO THEY DO GREEN SHIRTS, GREEN SHEETS, MR. SMITH, WE'RE TRYING TO VOTE ON THE MOTION.
THAT'S ON THE TABLE, THE ACADEMIC CALENDAR.
AND COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW THIS, WHAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE ACADEMIC CALENDAR? BECAUSE, BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT, THAT ME, SO POINTING TO ME, SUPPORTING THIS CALENDAR WITH, WITH IT WITHIN THE, AND THE WAY IT IS SET UP, I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE NOT ONLY DO WE MAKE SURE THAT, THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE SOLID CALENDAR, BUT ALSO WE HAVE, WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE, WE HAVE STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE ALSO PARENTS AND THAT WHO WILL, WE'RE ALSO TEACHERS AS WELL, WHO MAY, WHO MAY HAVE HAD THESE POSITIONS.
SO THEREFORE I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT ALONG WITH SETTING UP THIS CALENDAR, THAT WE ARE, THAT WE ARE BEING FAIR AND SENSITIVE AND OBJECTIVE, SO EVERYONE'S NEED.
AND THIS DISTRICT, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT JUST GETTING CALENDARS FOR THIS GUY WAS JUST NOT FOR THE STUDENTS TO COME BACK.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING, ONE THING IS ALL AROUND THE RALEIGH RAMIFICATIONS OF, OF, OF HOW WE TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
H HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS AND THAT WILL, AND THAT WILL, WILL, WILL PAY SOME POSSIBLY A WHERE THE, I SUPPORT THIS ROBOT.
I DON'T SUPPORT THIS, BUT I DON'T SUPPORT THIS OR NOT, BECAUSE I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REPRESENTING THAT THEY'RE, THAT THEY'RE BEING COMPENSATED AND THEY'RE BEING TAKEN CARE OF AS WELL, MADAM CHAIRMAN.
SO THAT, THAT'S HOW IT TIES INTO YOUR SCALP.
MR. SMITH, MS. WALTON, IF I UNDERSTOOD HER CORRECTLY ALREADY SAID THAT THE, THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT YOU ASKED ABOUT HAVE A DIFFERENT CALENDAR, ISN'T THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT CALENDARS.
240 DAY CALENDAR AND A 260 DAY CALENDAR TO PERTAIN TO THIS CALENDAR WITH, BECAUSE THIS IS THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR, SIR.
LIKE I SAID, LIKE I SAID, WELL, MA'AM, ARE YOU WILLING? ARE YOU RULING ME OUT OF ORDER? I'M ASKING YOU TO HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS PERTAIN TO THE ACADEMIC CALENDAR, BECAUSE THAT IS THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, SIR.
AND I BELIEVE MADAME CHAIRMAN, THAT MY QUESTIONS WERE PERTAINING TO THE CALENDAR.
AND THEN ONE JUST PRESENTS A CHALLENGE PRETENDED TO MR. SMITH.
I THINK MY, MY QUESTION IS WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND VOTE BECAUSE YOUR ACTIONS DON'T PERTAIN TO THIS CALENDAR LAST YEAR.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT, I'M NOT DONE.
PLEASE BRING UP THE VOTE POINT OF ORDER.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, POINT OF ORDER TO YOU, SIR, THAT YOU ARE OUT OF ORDER BECAUSE OF THE, BECAUSE THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE STOPPED ME FROM QUESTIONING MY I'M ASKING MY QUESTIONS TO MY CONSTITUENTS.
AND I'VE EXPLAINED THAT ABOUT FIVE TIMES ALREADY.
AND I SAID, I HAVE AN ADDITIONAL, I HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
ALLOW ME TO ASK SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
A MAN IS NOW OPENING DOWLING, AND I WON'T BE SUPPORTED THIS MOTION.
YEAH, IT DIDN'T COME UP ON MY, THERE IT IS.
I HAD TO REMOVE THE CALENDAR, EVEN THOUGH I JUST WISHED THAT THE CHAIR WOULD JUST TAKE HER FOOT OFF MY NECK AND LET ME BREATHE AND SERVE MY COMMUNITY.
AND I'M SICK OF YOU BEING OUT OF ORDER AND TALKING TO ME ANYTIME DURING THE BLINDING CHAIR, MADAM CHAIR, I SUGGEST WE RECESS AFTER THIS VOTE FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.
SO PEOPLE CAN CALM DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
I AM ABOUT TO CALM DOWN MR. SMITH.
[03:25:03]
YES, YES, YES.AND I DON'T HAVE IT POPPING UP ON MY COMPUTER ON FORT KNOX EITHER.
ONCE AGAIN, IT DID NOT COME ON MY SCREEN.
MADAM CHAIRMAN AND MY VOTE, NOT CASSIE I KIM CASTLE VOTED.
WHAT WOULD YOU, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOTE MR. SMITH? I LIKE TO VOTE.
AND I LIKE TO SEE IT ON MY SCREEN.
WHAT'D YOU SO BUSY PUTTING MEAT ON MY, ON MY MIC.
ARE WE DOING PUBLIC COMMENTS NOW? HE WAS ON MUTE.
SO YES, WHEN WE CUT, WE'RE GOING TO COME.
WE'RE RECESSING UNTIL NINE 35.
AND WHEN WE COME BACK, THERE'S ONE PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND THEN WE'LL AFTER THAT WILL BE, UH, THE RIVERVIEW CHARTER SCHOOL CONTRACT, PLEASE RECESS IS OVER.
SO ROBIN, WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED WITH THE
[Second Public Comments]
SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT.I HAVEN'T FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
IF YOU CAN ANNOUNCE YOUR NAME SO THAT WE KNOW THAT YOU AREN'T BEING HEARD.
SURE THIS IS DAVID COOK AND HELP THEM HIT ISLAND, CHAIR, AND BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS AT WORK TONIGHT.
AND I'M OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE VERY BRIEF.
RODRIGUEZ AND I SUPPORT THAT THE VIRTUAL LEARNING IS FINE.
AND I AGREE WITH THE IDEA OF TRYING TO PROTECT THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, BUT GIVEN THE FACT THAT PARENTS NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE, THERE'S GOING TO NEED BE FLEXIBILITY ON THE SIDE OF ADMINISTRATION AND TEACHERS.
AND THAT TYPE OF FLEXIBILITY IS GOING TO INVOLVE ALLOWING PARENTS TO PROXY THEIR KIDS DURING VIRTUAL LEARNING.
AND A LOT OF PARENTS WORK DAY JOBS, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THEM TO PROXY THEIR CHILDREN BETWEEN FIVE AND 10:00 PM.
SO THE FLEXIBILITY IS GOING TO LIE IN THE HANDS OF THE TEACHERS.
THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO BE AVAILABLE FROM FIVE UNTIL 10:00 PM FOR MANY FAMILIES.
AND IN SOME CASES THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO BE AVAILABLE BETWEEN 8:00 AM AND NOON AND BE AVAILABLE WITH SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS AS WELL.
SO THE FLEXIBILITY IS IMPORTANT.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S GIVEN THAT THOUGHT.
AND I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO PREPARE FOR THAT AND TO PREPARE TEACHERS TO BE AVAILABLE ON WEEKENDS AND IN THE EVENINGS.
I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING.
I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S HARD WORK AND WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THIS.
IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAT THE CHILDREN ARE NOT LEFT BEHIND IN THIS CONVERSATION.
AND THAT'S THE MAIN REASON FOR US TO LOOK AT A LONGER VIRTUAL LEARNING DAY.
AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND SACRIFICE.
[Approval of Riverview Charter School Contract – Alison Thomas, Director, Mary Jordan Lempesis, Riverview Charter School Board Chair, Alice Paylor, Attorney for Riverview Charter School, and Elizabeth Palmer, Attorney for Riverview Charter School]
WE'RE ON THE AGENDA DOWN TO THE ITEM TO APPROVE THE RIVERVIEW CHARTER SCHOOL CONTRACT.SO I'LL INTRODUCE ALISON THOMAS, THE DIRECTOR OF THE RIVERVIEW CHARTER SCHOOL AND ALICE PALER, WHO IS THE ATTORNEY FOR THE SCHOOL.
UM, THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO JOIN YOU THIS EVENING.
UM, THAT'S PALMER WITH RESONANT HAYGOOD WHO REPRESENTS RIVERVIEW IS ON AS WELL AS MARY DCIS.
UM, AND THIS EVENING, WE'RE REALLY JUST HERE TO ANSWER ANY OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS.
[03:30:01]
UH, RENEWABLE OF RIVER VIEWS, UH, CONTRACT CHARTER RENEWAL WAS BEFORE THE BOARD ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO.UM, AND SO THIS IS JUST THE FINAL COMPONENT OF SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL ALREADY PREVIOUSLY APPROVED WITH UNANIMOUS SUPPORT.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THE, THE CHARTER RENEWAL CONTRACT, UM, IS ACTUALLY KIND OF THE FINAL COMPONENT OF THAT RENEWAL PROCESS.
AND THAT'S THE DOCUMENT BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING.
AND WE'RE REALLY JUST HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE FOR US.
UM, PRIOR TO FINALIZING THIS CONTRACT, IT APPEARS THAT I HAVE A QUESTION, MR. MAL CAMPBELL AT BANK, WE SUBMITTED THREE QUESTIONS THAT WERE OF INTEREST TO THE BOARD.
I DON'T RECALL THE FINAL COMPONENTS OF THEM.
I TRIED TO PULL IT UP JUST A SECOND AGO, BUT I KNOW ONE OF THE QUESTIONS, ONE OF MY CONCERN WITH THE MATRICULATION OF THE EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS, AND I SAW A WAY YOU DID RESPOND BY SAYING 17.5% OF THE CURRENT EIGHTH GRADERS ARE MISSING FROM THAT.
WHAT WAS THE SIXTH GRADE CLASS? AND MY QUESTION TO YOU, AND YOU'RE NOT READMITTING IS GRADE STUDENTS.
SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU'RE LOSING? BUT I SAID WHEN EVERY SEVEN STUDENTS IN OUR CLASS PLAYED CLASS AFTER NURTURING THEM FOR SIX, SEVEN YEARS, FOR THE MOST PART, SOME OF THE TIMES, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'RE GONE AS HIS GRADE STUDENTS, WHICH, AND THAT MODEL IS GREAT STUDENTS REPRESENT THE LEADERSHIP STUDENT GROUP.
UM, SO CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY IT'S NOT IDEAL.
WE WOULD LOVE TO KEEP ALL OF OUR STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE.
UM, HOWEVER YOU'VE HEARD AS A MILITARY TOWN, WE HAVE A LOT OF FAMILIES MATRICULATE IN AND OUT OF RIVERVIEW THAT ARE RELATED TO MILITARY MOVES, BEYOND FAMILY'S CONTROL.
UM, SO AGAIN, THERE ARE LOTS OF REASONS THAT STUDENTS LEAVE OUR SCHOOL JUST LIKE THEY LEAVE OTHER SCHOOLS.
AND SO I'M NOT OVERLY CONCERNED.
THAT PARTICULAR NUMBER IS HIGHER, UM, THAN THIS PAST YEAR'S CLASS.
AND CERTAINLY THE SEVENTH GRADE CLASS APPEARS TO BE PRETTY STABLE.
UM, SO AGAIN, THIS IS A NEW CIRCUMSTANCE FOR US IS IT WAS ONLY A PRE 18 MONTHS AGO, SO WE'RE KIND OF LIVING AND LEARNING.
UM, BUT CERTAINLY WE HOPE THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO STAY THROUGH THEIR EIGHTH GRADE YEAR, BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THERE ARE LOTS OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE ARISE, THAT ARE BEYOND FAMILY'S CONTROL.
UM, AND WE'RE CERTAINLY RESPECTFUL THAT THOSE THINGS HAPPEN AND, AND HAVE A FAMILY'S DECISION TO LEAVE FOR WHATEVER REASON.
I, YOU KNOW, I HEAR THAT ANSWER, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE FOURTH GRADE WOULDN'T BE AS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE I'M SURE THOSE PARENTS ARE LEAVING FOR MILITARIES AND TO ORDER THIRD GRADERS, ET CETERA.
I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, YEAH.
WHAT IS YOUR OWNERSHIP OF YOUR, OF THE SCHOOL CULTURE THROUGHOUT THE ALL PARAMETERS OF THE GRADES? ONE TO EIGHT? I MEAN, THAT'S GOT TO STICK OUT TO ME 17% AND YOU SAID ABOUT THE SEVENTH GRADERS, BUT BY NEXT YEAR, AS EIGHTH GRADE CLASS, WHO'S GOING TO BE THERE.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT PERCENTAGE IS.
THAT'S THAT'S, I I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF THE QUALITY OF THE EDUCATION THAT'S BEING PRESENTED THERE.
AND I KNOW YOU HAVE A STELLAR REPUTATION, BUT THAT, THAT, THAT STICKS OUT AT ME.
AND I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS IT THE NIGHT, BUT I'D LIKE YOU TO LOOK AT TO THAT AND LET THE FINAL TOOTH MR. CAMPBELL, I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND WE WILL CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT AND CONTINUE TO KIND OF TRY AND EVALUATE THAT, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY WE DO HAVE FAMILIES LEAVE FOR MILITARY REASONS AND BEYOND AT EVERY GRADE LEVEL, WE JUST SIMPLY ARE REPLACING THOSE STUDENTS WITH STUDENTS OFF OUR WAIT LIST.
AND SO UNLIKE WITH SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE, SO AGAIN, IT'S JUST A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE DIFFERENT, UM, COMPONENT THERE, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN AND YES, ARE WE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND EVALUATE THAT.
THANK YOU, MR. GUYER, I'D LIKE TO EXPAND A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT MS. THOMAS SAID ABOUT MILITARY PEOPLE HERE.
ANY OF MY NEIGHBORS HAVE CHILDREN
[03:35:01]
IN RIVERVIEW, AND MANY OF THEM ARE MILITARY.ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT A LOT OF THE MILITARY POPULATION AND THE NORTHERN PART OF THIS COUNTY HERE ARE SENIOR MILITARY.
THEY'RE NOT A YOUNG, LESS ENLISTED MAN.
THERE ARE SENIOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS DRILL INSTRUCTORS.
THERE ARE CAPTAINS AND MAJORS THAT ARE PILOTS AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE OLDER CHILDREN THAT COME IN.
SO THEY COME IN LATER ON, UH, IN THEIR TIME.
AND SO I'VE KNOWN A NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT HAVE COME IN TO, UH, THIS SCHOOL IN THE FIFTH, SIXTH GRADE, FOURTH, FIFTH, SIXTH GRADE, AND THEN THEY WILL GET ORDERS AND HAVE TO LEAVE RIGHT AWAY.
SO THIS IS NOT SURPRISING HAVING A CHILD THAT WENT TO MILITARY SCHOOLS AND CIVILIAN SCHOOLS.
IT'S, IT'S WHAT YOU COULD EXPECT FROM THAT TYPE OF POPULATION.
THERE'S A DOCTOR THAT KIND OF GUY.
THE REASON I BROUGHT THAT UP IS WHEN I LOOKED AT THE REVIEWS FROM VIEW 18 MONTHS AGO, I SAW A SIGNIFICANT DROP OFF IN THE BLACK STUDENT POPULATION THAT IS GREAT AT, AND THAT WAS THE REASON WHY I BROUGHT THIS UP.
AND I'M SURE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BLACK, UH, MILITARY PEOPLE THAT'S PULLING THEIR CHILDREN OUT ALSO.
BUT MY CONCERN WAS JUST CHILDREN WHO WERE, BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER PLACE TO, TO COMPLETE THEIR EDUCATION IN THE COUNTY.
I DON'T HAVE THE STATISTICS ON THAT.
PERHAPS THE DISTRICT ALONE WITH IT WAS YOU CAN TRACE THAT TO SOME ELEMENT WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE THAT SITUATION.
ALRIGHT, MR. SMITH, UH, ACTUALLY, UH, MR. CAMPBELL, UH, SAID, WELL, I WAS GOING TO SAY ABOUT THIS BOB, ABOUT PRIOR TO THIS, BUT ALSO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT I DON'T THINK THAT 70% THAT WE HAVE 17% OF, UM, OF STUDENTS BEING, UM, UH, MOVING OUT OF THE DISTRICT.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAD IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, THAT WE HAVE THAT MUCH OF AVERAGE STUDENTS MOVING OUT OF THE, UH, DISTRICT AT ONE BY ONE TIME.
BUT MY QUESTION IS AS WELL AS, UH, MY, MY QUESTION IS WHERE'S THE MO WHEN THESE KIDS, UH, GET KICKED OUT OR WHEN THESE KIDS GET A WITHDRAW, WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO AT THAT, THAT THE GOVERNMENT GIVES US FOR THESE KIDS FOR APPROPRIATE, APPROPRIATE YOUR PURPOSE, UH, PER KID, WHERE DOES, WHERE DOES THAT MONEY GO AT? SO MR. SMITH, UM, NO, ONE'S KICKING ANYBODY OUT.
I CAN ASSURE YOU, SIR, BUT SHOULD THE FAMILY UP TO WITHDRAWAL THE MONEY GENERALLY FOLLOWS THE STUDENT.
SO IF THE STUDENT LEAVES RIVERVIEW AND GOES TO ANOTHER PUPAR COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL, THEN, THEN THAT MONEY FOLLOWS THAT CHILD BECAUSE RIVERVIEW STUDENTS ARE FUNDED ON THE PER PUPIL, BUT I THOUGHT I, UH, I WILL.
WELL, THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU HELPED ME UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE I WAS THINKING THAT IF THEY LEAVE A CERTAIN TIME OR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF THE YEAR, THEN THE MONEY STAYS.
EVEN IF THE KID, IF THE KID LEAVES, I THOUGHT THAT, THAT, AND MAYBE IF IT'S, IF IT'S AFTER DECEMBER OR SOMETIME AROUND THERE THAT THAT'D BE CHARTER SCHOOL WOULD KEEP THE MONEY IN THAT THE, THE KID WOULD LEAVE, BUT THE MONEY WOULD NOT FOLLOW.
SO THE ONLY TIME THAT THAT WOULD OCCUR IS IF THE CHILD LEFT BETWEEN THE 130 FIFTH DAY AND THE HUNDRED AND 80TH DAY.
SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE IN APRIL OR MAY IN ORDER FOR THAT TO OCCUR.
SO IF THEY LEAVE ANY TIME BEFORE THE 130 FIFTH DAY OF SCHOOL, WHICH IS USUALLY SOMETIME IN APRIL, UM, THEN THE, THEN THE MONEY FOLLOWS THE CHILD ALL THE WAY BACK TO JULY.
AND ALSO BY MY NEXT QUESTION IS, UM, UM, HOW, UM, HOW, HOW ARE Y'ALL TRACKING THIS WHILE WHERE THE STUDENTS ARE GOING? AND, UH, I HAVE, Y'ALL THOUGHT ABOUT TRACKING WHERE THE STUDENT IS GOING AND WHY ARE THEY LEAVING IF THEY'RE, IF THEY'RE LEAVING BECAUSE 70%, 15% 0.5% IS A, IS A ALARMING RATE TO ME.
AND, AND IT'S, AND IT'S, AND ESPECIALLY AT A, AT A SCHOOL OF Y'ALL MAGNITUDE, UM, WE DO PROVIDE AN EXIT SURVEY TO EVERY FAMILY WHO WITHDRAWALS, FOR WHATEVER REASON.
IT'S NOT A REQUIRED SURVEY, SO WE ONLY KNOW WHAT THEY DISCLOSE.
UM, AND SO CERTAINLY IF THE STUDENT TRANSFERS TO ANOTHER BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL, THERE'S A POWER SCHOOL FILE TRANSFER AND ALL OF THAT.
SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE SOME, UM, BUT SOMETIMES THEY TRANSFER OUT OF STATE SOMETIMES, RIGHT? SO IT'S JUST, UM, IF THEY TRANSFER WITHIN THE DISTRICT OR EVEN WITHIN THE STATE, WE CERTAINLY SEE THAT THROUGH POWER SCHOOL.
UM, AND WE DO OFFER A VOLUNTARY EXIT SURVEY FOR EVERY FAMILY, BUT AGAIN,
[03:40:01]
IT'S UP TO THEM, YOU KNOW, ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY COMPLETE.AND MY LAST QUESTION IS AS SIMPLE AS THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, AS, AS MR. CAMPBELL STATED FOR THE, YOU KNOW, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MINORITY STUDENTS, UM, YOU KNOW, LAST TIME I TALKED TO YOU, I DON'T THINK THAT YOU WERE SURE WHAT'S DID THAT, WHAT'S THE, WHAT WOULD, WHAT, WHAT WOULD THE DIVERSITY OF YOUR STAFF WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH QSU MAY WHO MAY BE, UM, A MINORITY EIGHTH GRADE KIDS WILL BE THE CLOSEST THING TO LEADERSHIP THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE.
AND IF A BROTHER OR SISTER WAS POSSIBLY IN THE FOURTH OR FIFTH GRADE OR SIXTH GRADE, AND THEIR BROTHER AND SISTER WAS IN THE EIGHTH GRADE, AND THE MOST TIMES YOUR EIGHTH GRADE IS HOW YOU LEAD LEADERS OR YOUR SCHOOL, LIKE, UH, FOR INSTANCE, AT ROBINSON WAS INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY.
THEY, FOR HIS, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS GET EXCITED BECAUSE THEY PLAYED SPORTS AND STUFF AS WELL.
SO WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT, A LOT OF THE EIGHTH GRADE IS POSSIBLY LEAVING, OR THEY'RE NOT THERE, THEN THEY HAVE NO ONE TO LOOK UP TO.
SO THAT IS ALSO A CONCERN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, THEY, WE ALL HAVE WAYS HOW WE, HOW WE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE AND HOW WE LOOK UP TO PEOPLE NOW, HOW WILL, WHAT GIVES US THE SAY, I WANT TO BE IN FOR IT, AND I'M GOING TO DO, WHAT DO I WANT TO BE LIKE THEM, BUT I WANT TO PLAY THE SPORTS THAT THEY PLAY.
SO THAT'S JUST A DEEP CONCERNING WHEN IT COMES TO MINORITIES AND ALSO WHERE THE MONEY GOES AND HOW THIS WORKS TO ME, THAT THIS IS VERY ALARMING.
AND I, WASN'T LOOKING FORWARD TO IF THIS COME BEFORE US AGAIN, THAT IT LOOKS A DIFFERENT THAN THAT.
IT LOOKS A BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TODAY.
I, WITH THIS CONTRACT MOVING FORWARD.
UM, I THANK YOU FOR BEING TRANSPARENT WITH US AT THAT.
YOU AS WELL FOR BEING TRANSPLANTED, MS. THOMAS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.
I MOVE THAT THE BUFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED THE CHARTER SCHOOL CONTRACT FOR RIVERVIEW CHARTER SCHOOL AND AUTHORIZED SUPERINTENDENT FRANK RODRIQUEZ TO EXECUTE THE TIME.
OKAY, MR. GUYER SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION MR. SHACK? HI ALLISON.
HOW ARE YOU? MA'AM I'M DOING WELL.
UM, ALISON, COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC, THE BOARD ALREADY APPROVED YOUR CHARTER, UM, WHAT THIS IS TONIGHT VERSUS APPROVAL OF THE CHARTER, NUMBER ONE, JUST FOR PUBLIC CLARIFICATION.
AND ALSO, WHAT DOES YOUR OPENING LOOK LIKE IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE US A BRIEF GLIMPSE OF THAT? SO BACK RIVERVIEW WAS ORIGINALLY JUST FOR PUBLIC RECORD.
RIVERVIEW WAS ORIGINALLY A PRE A PRE ABOUT B FOR COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION IN SEPTEMBER OF 2008.
AND THE FINAL APPROVAL WAS IN JULY OF 2009.
AND A CHARTER TERM IS A 10 YEAR TERM.
SO EVERY 10 YEARS WE COME BACK BEFORE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SEEKING TO RENEW OUR, UM, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU ALL.
SO WE CAME BACK BEFORE THE BOARD IN THE SPRING OF 2019 IN ADVANCE OF JULY, 2019, UM, PRESENTED A FEW AMENDMENTS IN RESPONSE TO CHANGES IN THE STATUTE THAT HAD OCCURRED BETWEEN 2009 AND 2019.
IN ORDER TO UPDATE THE AGREEMENT.
WE MADE A PRESENTATION AT THAT TIME, THE BOARD VERY GRACIOUSLY, UNANIMOUSLY ACCEPTED THAT, UM, AT THAT TIME.
AND SO OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 18 MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH YOUR STAFF AND HOURS, UM, TO GO IN AND POPULATE THE, UH, THE CHARTER SCHOOL CONTRACT TEMPLATE THAT IS PUBLISHED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
UM, AND SO AGAIN, WITH MS CARTLIDGES SUPPORT WITH MR. REGAL'S WITH MS. PALMER'S, MS. TAYLOR'S, UM, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GO IN POPULATE THAT THE RIVERVIEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECENTLY TOOK ACTION AND AUTHORIZED MS. LYNN PIECES TO GO AHEAD AND SIGN THIS AGREEMENT ON THE RIVER VIEWS BEHALF.
SO NOW IT'S, BEFORE YOU ALL THIS EVENING, UH, FULLY POPULATED IN RESPONSE TO THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED AND APPROVED.
AND SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE SEEKING APPROVAL ON THIS EVENING IS SIMPLY THE FINAL PIECE, THE FINAL COMPONENT OF THAT CHARTER RENEWAL PROCESS, WHICH IS THIS CONTRACT, UM, AS FOR OUR OPENING AT OUR MOST RECENT, UM, BOARD MEETING RIVERVIEW BOARD MEETING, UH, THE RIVERVIEW BOARD AUTHORIZED ME TO ADHERE TO STD GUIDELINES, UM, FOLLOWING SED, HEC TRANSMISSION INDEX.
SO WHEN THE TRANSMISSION INDEX IS HIGH TO, UH, SEEK TO PROVIDE THE BEST DISTANCE LEARNING PLATFORM POSSIBLE, WHEN THE S C D HECK INDEX IS MODERATE TO SEEK, TO IMPLEMENT A HYBRID MODEL, UM, ALLOWING FOR SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IN, IN MINIMIZING OR LIMITING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS AND STAFF THAT ARE ON CAMPUS AT ANY GIVEN TIME IN ORDER TO TRY TO CURTAIL THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 WITHIN OUR CLASSROOMS. AND THEN OF COURSE, WHEN BUFORD COUNTY REACHES A LOW INDEX TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH ONSITE LEARNING, UM,
[03:45:01]
IT'S STILL MAINTAINING CDC GUIDELINES AND ADHERING TO ALL OF THE PROPER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.SO THE RIVERVIEW BOARD WILL MEET AGAIN ON AUGUST 20TH, THURSDAY, THE 20TH, UM, AND WE WILL FINALIZE OUR PLANS THEN, BUT WE HAVE LET OUR PARENTS KNOW THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING THAT THE HECK.
UM, THE D HAT GOT BONDS AT THIS TIME IN, IN THE SED GABON'S AT THIS TIME.
SO THEY'RE AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE WATCHING FOR, UM, AND, UM, AND KIND OF MOVING TOWARDS, BASED ON, UM, DX, UM, TRANSMISSION INDEX AND THE STD GUIDELINES THAT WERE DISSEMINATED TO ALL SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS LESS LAST MONTH.
SO THANK YOU FOR ASKING, WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK THAT HAS NOT SPOKEN? ALL RIGHT, MR. SMITH? I WAS JUST LOOKING OVER MY NOTES AND I'M NOT SURE IF IT SAYS THIS IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL.
UH, THIS IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL, OR IS IT, OR IS IT JUST FOR, UM, CHARTER SCHOOLS AS WELL? UM, I WAS WONDERING, I THINK, I THINK MRS. CARS OR SOMEONE WHO THE QUESTION WAS ASKED BEFORE, UM, AFTER THE FIRST, AFTER THE FIRST 45 DAYS, NO MATTER WHERE THE ORIGINAL SCHOOL IS THAT THE MONEY STAYS THERE.
THE MONEY ADJUSTED ON THE 45 DAY AND THE ONE 35 DAY.
AND WHEN THE ADJUSTMENT IS MADE ON THE ONE 35 DAY, IT'S RETROACTIVE ALL THE WHITE BACKS, SO THE MONEY, SO THAT THE ALLOCATION TO THE CHARTER SCHOOL ADJUST ON THE 45TH DAY OF SCHOOL, AND AGAIN, ON THE 130 FIFTH DAY OF SCHOOL.
UM, SO AGAIN, IT, IT DOES ADJUST.
IT DOES ADJUST ON THE 45 DAY, BUT IT ADJUSTED AGAIN ON THE ONE 35 DAY.
SO THE ONLY WAY THAT WE WOULD KEEP REVENUE FOR A STUDENT THAT WAS ON OUR BOOKS WAS IF THEY WERE ON OUR BOOKS ON THE ONE 35TH, BUT LEFT THEREAFTER, THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY TIME THAT WOULD OCCUR IF THEY LEAVE ANYTIME PRIOR TO THE ONE 35 THAT'S CAPTURED IN THE ONE 35.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
HOW ARE YOU VOTING? ALRIGHT, MOTION CARRIES NINE ZERO ONE, THE ONE UPSTAIRS MR. SMITH.
UH, MS. THOMAS FOR APPEARING BEFORE THE BOARD TONIGHT TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AND THANK YOU ALSO FOR SENDING THE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF RIVER VIEW.
UM, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU ALL THIS YEAR AND BEYOND ALL THE BEST EACH OF YOU.
[Discussion of usages of proceeds from sale of Burroughs Avenue property]
TO DISCUSS DISCUSSION OF THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THE BURROWS AVENUE PROPERTY.UM, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW.
I PROVIDED A DOCUMENT AND THEN MOVE FORWARD REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE FUNDS OF THE PROCEEDS OF FORWARD THE BURROWS AVENUE PROPERTY.
UM, THERE IS, UH, A JULY 14TH, 20 BOARD MEETING.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED.
THE FOLLOWING MOTION WAS MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY TO THE HOLY TRINITY CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL IN THE AMOUNT OF 1 MILLION, 275,000.
UM, THE PROCEEDS ARE NOW BEING HELD IN ESCROW BY THE DISTRICT'S OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL AND TO THE FUNDING SOURCE, UH, TO BE IDENTIFIED IN WHICH TO DEPOSIT THE FUNDS.
UM, ACCORDING TO ADMINISTRATIVE RULE O S 19 A REAL PROPERTY, IT SAYS THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL APPLY THE PROCEEDS OF ANY SUCH SALE OF REAL PROPERTY AS DIRECTED BY THE BOARD.
THE BOARD MAY APPLY PROCEEDS IN THIS CASE TO EITHER THE GENERAL FUND OR THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.
AND, UH, I PROVIDED SOME ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES, UH, THROUGH OF EACH OF THOSE FUNDS.
UH, REALLY THERE IS NO, UM, NO WRONG ACTION HERE.
UM, THEY, THEY SERVE TWO SEPARATE PURPOSES
[03:50:01]
AND, UM, BUT THIS IS TRULY THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD.UM, AND SO IT SUCH TIME AS A DECISION IS MADE, THEN WE'LL DIRECT, UH, PROVIDE WIRING INSTRUCTIONS TO THE LEGAL COUNSEL WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE CLOSING, AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO WIRE THE FUNDS DIRECTLY INTO THE PROPER ACCOUNTS.
SO, UH, IT'S REALLY A PREFERENCE AT THIS POINT.
UM, AS FAR AS, UH, THE GENERAL FUND, UH, DEPOSITING IN THAT THOSE FUNDS ALLOWS A ONE TIME INCREASE IN THE FUND BALANCE.
IT ALSO INCREASES THEREFORE THE FUND BALANCE PERCENTAGE.
UH, IT ALSO HELPS TO RESTORE FUND BALANCE WHAT THAT WAS USED BACK IN 2019, UH, WHEN WE HAD A MAJOR SHORTFALL IN TAX REVENUE, UM, A DISADVANTAGE OF USING, UH, OF DEPOSITING INTO THE GENERAL FUND IS THAT, UH, ANY USE OF THOSE FUNDS WILL REQUIRE AN ADDITION OR AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET OR TO BE PUT INTO THE ORIGINAL BUDGET OF A NEW FISCAL YEAR.
UM, SO IT DOES REQUIRE, UH, THREE READINGS OF ANY AMENDMENT THAT WOULD NEED TO BE MADE.
SO IF IT WERE DEPOSITED IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDS, IT COULD BE HELD FOR FUTURE PURCHASES OR CAPITAL OR OTHER PURCHASES, BUT, UH, IT COULD BE USED FOR LAND OR ANY OTHER MAJOR ITEMS, UH, FUNDS CARRY OVER FROM YEAR TO YEAR, UH, AS, AS TO JUST BEING, UH, THEY'RE DESIGNATED INTO A SEPARATE, UH, AREA, UH, AND IT REQUIRES THE BOARD'S APPROVAL ONLY.
IT DOES NOT REQUIRE COUNTY COUNCIL'S APPROVAL TO USE THEM OUT OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDS.
SO AT THIS POINT IT'S REALLY A DISCRETION OF THE BOARD.
AND, UM, UH, MY RECOMMENDATION IS ULTIMATELY TO PUT THEM IN CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDS, CAUSE IT GIVES THE BOARD MORE FLEXIBILITY ON THE USE OF THOSE FUNDS AND
THANK YOU, MS. W CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK MADAM CHAIR, MR. CAMPBELL, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE MOVE THIS FUND TO CAP A FUTURE CABINET.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? OKAY.
NOW CAMPBELL, MR.
UM, THE TAX SOURCE FOR THOSE, I BELIEVE IS NON-RESIDENTS CAPITAL FUNDS ARE RESIDENTS AND NON-RESIDENTS.
SO ON THE BEHALF OF MY CONSTITUENTS, I WOULD WANT THIS MONEY TO GO INTO THE CAPITAL FUNDS BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THE VOTERS IN MY DISTRICT, UM, ARE TAXED.
I JUST HAD A QUESTION CAUSE I, UM, WHEN I, WHEN I SAW THIS AND I SAW THE DISADVANTAGE, I WAS A LITTLE BIT, UM, UNSURE OF WHERE THAT, AND DERIVED FROM THAT THE USE OF THESE FUNDS WOULD REQUIRE COUNTY COUNCILS, YOU KNOW, APPROVAL ON AN AMENDED BUDGET.
I UNDERSTAND HOW WE, UH, GET TO AN APPROVED BUDGET.
I WAS JUST WONDERING, UM, AND I WAS THINKING BACK TO PAST INSTANCES WHERE WE RECEIVED, YOU KNOW, AND E RATE AND DISBURSEMENT, AND THAT THOSE FUNDS WERE UTILIZED FOR SOMETHING.
AND I DON'T RECALL IF THAT REQUIRED, UM, ANY CERTAIN TYPE OF ALLOCATION LIKE THAT, OR UTILIZING A PROCESS OF GETTING THE BUDGET AMENDED.
SO I JUST WAS WONDERING WHERE, UM, WHERE THE LOGIC FOR THAT IS, OR WHERE THAT FLOWS FROM.
WHAT'S THE, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT? THE COUNTY COORDINATES THE COUNTY ORDINANCE ESTABLISHES THE GENERAL FUND, UM, BASICALLY HAS LANGUAGE THAT BASICALLY YOU CANNOT SEE THE FULL DISTRICT SHALL NOT EXCEED EXTENDED.
THE OPERATING FUNDS FUNDS IN EXCESS OF, AND RIGHT NOW THE AMOUNT IS $254 MILLION.
SO IN ORDER TO, UM, SPEND SOME, UH, SPEND THOSE DOLLARS OR DESIGNATE THOSE DOLLARS FOR A CERTAIN PURCHASE, UH, WE WOULD NEED TO INCREASE THAT TOTAL EXPENDITURE AMOUNT, AND THAT WOULD REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT OF BUDGET, THE TOTAL BUDGET AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURES.
IT, SO IT DOES BASICALLY USES, USES FUND BALANCE OR USES THOSE RE THAT REVENUE SOURCE OR IF IT'S IN A PRIOR YEAR OR USES THE FUND BALANCE.
SO THAT'S, UM, THAT GOES TO THE ORDINANCE.
[03:55:01]
DO HAVE THAT ACTUALLY PULLED UP AND I'M LOOKING AT SECTION THREE OF THAT, WHERE IT HAS ALL THOSE DIFFERENT APPROPRIATIONS, AND IT'S GOT A THROUGH F AND IT HAS THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS DERIVED FROM TAX COLLECTIONS, STATE REVENUES, FEDERAL REVENUES, OTHER LOCAL SOURCES.UM, SO IT WOULD BE UNDER A LINE ITEM F FOR FUN BALANCE.
IS THAT WHERE IT WOULD BE? UM, ACTUALLY I BELIEVE THIS STATEMENT, I DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I BELIEVE ABOVE THOSE FUNDINGS IS A STATEMENT OF THE TOTAL $254 MILLION OF EXPENDITURES.
UM, RIGHT ABOVE THE FUNDING SOURCES IN THE PARAGRAPH IMMEDIATELY PROCEEDING THAT R IS A STATEMENT ABOUT THE $254 MILLION OF EXPENDITURES.
AND, UM, I BELIEVE THAT'S THE LANGUAGE IN WHICH, UM, IT SAYS WE SHALL NOT EXCEED OR, OR IT'S APPROVED IN THE AMOUNT OF $254 MILLION.
IT SAYS AN AMOUNT OF 254, YOU KNOW, AND SOME CHANGE IS HEREBY APPROPRIATED TO THE BUFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION TO FUND SCHOOL OPERATIONS.
THIS APPROPRIATION IS TO BE SPENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SCHOOL BUDGET APPROVED BY COUNTY COUNCIL AND WILL BE FUNDED FROM THE FOLLOWING REVENUE SOURCES.
SO I'M TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE SALE AND THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE, WHAT REVENUE SOURCE IT WOULD FALL INTO UNDER THOSE THAT THEY'VE LISTED IN THE ORDINANCE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR ON THAT, ON THE TIMING OF THE YEAR, TIME OF THE YEAR IN WHICH WE HAVE IT.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE GET TO DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR OR SO, AND WE ARE AMENDING A BUDGET, UH, THE BOARD, UM, FOR PURPOSES OF CHANGES IN STATE FUNDING.
FOR EXAMPLE, THEN WE COULD ADD THAT, UM, AS A IT, TO THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THE 254 MILLION OF EXPENDITURES.
AND ALSO ADD THAT, UM, IF WE WERE TO DEPOSIT THE FUNDS IN THE OPERATING FUND, WE COULD ADD THAT AS A FUNDING SOURCE OR REVENUE AS A SEPARATE LINE ITEM SALE FROM PROCEEDS OF PROPERTY.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE WERE TO DEPOSIT IT IN GENERAL FUND THIS YEAR AND NOT MAKE THE CHANGE UNTIL THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR, THEN IT WOULD BE A USE OF FUND BALANCE CAUSE IT NO LONGER BE A SALE DURING THAT FISCAL YEAR.
SO WHAT I'M GETTING AT THOUGH, IS THAT PRESENTLY IN THE ORDINANCE AND IN WHAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY COUNTY COUNCIL, THERE IS NOTHING WITH REGARD TO THEM NEEDING TO APPROVE THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT IN THE ORDINANCE AND I DON'T SEE ANYTHING, UM, IN ANY LAW OR REGULATION WHERE IT'S REQUIRED.
AND I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE IT WOULD SAY THAT.
AND I TRIED TO GO BACK, I APOLOGIZE TO PREVIOUS ORDINANCES TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
AND I ALSO PULLED UP THE REGISTER OF DEEDS AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN THE SELLER OF ANY LARGE PIECES OF PROPERTY AND YOU KNOW, QUITE A LONG TIME.
SO I COULDN'T FIND ANY PRECEDENT FOR IT.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO BE VERY CLEAR ON IF WE ARE GOING TO PUT AN, I REALLY DON'T HAVE A FIRM STANCE IN WHICH, WHICH WAY I JUST DON'T WANT TO SET A PRECEDENT THAT MIGHT BE INCORRECT OF WHERE THOSE FUNDS CAN BE ALLOCATED IN THE FUTURE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS APPROPRIATION IS THE LEGAL ALLOWED LIMIT THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO IF YOUR INTENT IS TO SPEND UP IN THE CURRENT YEAR, WE WOULD NEED TO DO THAT APPROPRIATION.
AND IN ORDER TO ADD TO THE APPROPRIATION, IT WOULD NEED TO BE EITHER AMENDED, UM, OR INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL BUDGET FOR A FISCAL YEAR.
SO THAT'S MY INTERPRETATION OF THE LANGUAGE OF THE ORDINANCE.
UM, I'M WONDERING IF WE COULD MAYBE GET SOME LEGAL CLARITY FROM SOMEWHERE ON THAT, UM, IN THE FUTURE, JUST BECAUSE IT MAKES SENSE THAT COUNTY COUNCIL HAS, HAS, YOU KNOW, AUTHORITY OVER THINGS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH MILLAGE AND, UM, WHATNOT.
BUT WHEN WE SELL A PIECE OF PROPERTY AND IF WE WANT TO PUT THAT INTO OUR GENERAL FUND, I, I DON'T NECESSARILY SEE WHAT THE POINT IS IN GETTING COUNTY COUNCIL INVOLVED IN THAT ASPECT OF OUR OPERATIONS.
UM, IT'S NOT THE ASPECT THOUGH, PUTTING IT IN THERE.
IT'S ACTUALLY THE, UM, SO YOU CAN PUT THE REP,
[04:00:01]
IF YOU HAVE NO INTENT TO USE IT, YOU CAN PUT IT IN WITHOUT ANY CHANGE TO, UM, TO THE BUDGET.BUT IF YOU PLAN TO SPEND IT ON SOMETHING IN PARTICULAR, UM, THEN, THEN THAT REQUIRES AN ADDITION TO THE BUDGETED EXPENDITURE.
SO WE CAN, WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THAT AND GET SOME LEGAL COUNSEL ON IT.
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT IT'S ONLY IF IT'S GOING TO BE, IF WE'RE GOING TO LINE ITEM, IT IS WHEN WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE COUNTY COUNTY.
DID YOU CONSULT AT ALL, UM, WITH COUNSEL ON THIS OR NOT YET? UM, I SPOKE WITH MS. CARTLIDGE ON THE ISSUE, BUT, UH, REGARDING JUST, SHE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE SALE, UM, PROPERTY AND I DEALT PRIMARILY WITH THE FUNDINGS OUTSIDE OF THAT.
I HAVE NOT, UM, SOUGHT LEGAL COUNSEL.
I MADE AN INTERPRETATION BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE WITH WORKING IN THE BUDGET OVER THE YEARS.
AND WE WILL LOOK INTO IT MORE.
WHEN YOU GO BACK TO THE HERE'S THE MOTION MR. SMITH.
MY QUESTION WAS MADE BASICALLY, UH, IF YOU SAID THAT Y'ALL WERE GONNA LOOK INTO IT AND SHOULD WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, OR SHOULD WE ALLOW TO GET MORE CLARIFICATION UPON RACHEL'S UH, RACHEL IN JOANNE'S QUESTIONING? BECAUSE THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT KIND OF HAD ME ON, OF HAVE ME ON THE FENCE A LITTLE BIT.
THAT WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT WOULD POSSIBLY BE, UH, MRS. CROSBY AND, OR POSSIBLY MRS. COLLEGE, WHAT WOULD BE A RECOMMENDATION? MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE MOVED FORWARD WITH THE DEPOSIT INTO THE CAPITAL PROJECT PLAN.
THAT WAY THE BOARD WOULD HAVE THE DISCRETION TO SPEND THE FUNDS OR SAVE THEM FOR SOME FUTURE USE.
AND THEY WOULD FREIGHT FORWARD UNTIL SUCH TIME AS, AS THEY WERE USED FOR ANOTHER PURPOSE.
UH, AND I I'M ALSO, I APPLAUD, I APOLOGIZE, REALLY.
RODRIGUEZ, THANK YOU, MRS. CROSBY.
I DO APOLOGIZE FOR ASKING MRS.
WELL, I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT MS. CROSBY WAS SAYING IS THAT IT'S, IT'S QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S YOUR DECISION TO MAKE, THAT'S NOT MINE TO MAKE AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, I WILL, YOU KNOW, I WILL MOVE AS DIRECTED ON THAT.
HOLDING YOURSELF THEN GAMBLING, GAMBLING.
OR SHAQ ABSTAIN UNTIL FURTHER COUNCIL SMITH.
HOW ARE YOU VOTING? THANK YOU.
THE MOTION CARRIES, UH, SIX ONE THREE.
THE ONE NOTE IS MR. DALLIN AND THE THREE ABSTENTIONS OR SHACK WAS NEVSKY AND WILLIAM SMITH.
[Approval of use of funds for parliamentarian in-service]
APPROVAL OF USE OF FUNDS FOR PARLIAMENTARIAN IN SERVICE.AS THE BOARD MEMBERS ALREADY KNOW, THE BOARD HAS APPROVED AND POSTPONED OUR PARLIAMENTARIAN DISCUSSION TO THE AUGUST WORK SESSION, WHICH IS THE 14TH AND THE 15TH.
AND AT AGENDA SETTING, MEETING FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING, THE, THIS WAS ADDRESSED IN TERMS OF HAVING A PARLIAMENTARIAN IN SERVICE.
AND, UH, THE SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION, SPECIFICALLY TIFFANY RICHARDSON, WOULD BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE
[04:05:01]
VIRTUALLY AND THEREFORE WE WOULD NOT HAVE TRAVEL EXPENSES.AND SHE ESTIMATED THE INSERVICE TO BE APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF, EXCUSE ME, ONE AND A HALF HOURS TO TWO HOURS AT A COST OF $125 PER HOUR.
SO IT WOULD BE ROUGHLY $250 WOULD BE AN ESTIMATE.
UM, WE HAVE, IT WOULD COME FROM THE BOARD'S BUDGET.
IT WOULD BE A LINE FIVE, THREE NINE FIVE ZERO ZERO, WHICH BASICALLY IS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
AND AT THE END OF LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE HAD, UH, OVER $10,000 REMAINING IN THAT ACCOUNT.
SO WE DEFINITELY HAVE THE FUNDS FOR IT.
SO IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? OKAY.
AND THAT WAS EARL CAMPBELL? YES.
WHAT IS TIFFANY RICHARDSON BACKGROUND IN A PARLIAMENTARIAN EXPERIENCE? I KNOW SHE'S A LAWYER, BUT THAT'S RIGHT.
A LAWYER AND, AND, UM, SHE'S TAUGHT, SHE IS TAUGHT THE PO I BELIEVE THE PARLIAMENTARIAN, UM, PROCEDURE AT DIFFERENT SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATIONS.
I'M FAMILIAR WITH THAT BECAUSE I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN IN THE ROOM WITH HER WHEN SHE'S BEEN, UH, GIVING THE LECTURE, BUT I DON'T HAVE HER RESUME AVAILABLE.
I'M, I'M ON THE FENCE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE, UH, TO ME, THE COMPLEXITY OF WHAT WE DO IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
UM, I THINK THAT ANYBODY ON THE BOARD CAN LEARN EVERY, ANYTHING.
THEY NEED TO KNOW WHAT ROBERT'S RULES BY A LITTLE TRIP TO THE LIBRARY, GET A BOOK AND READ IT.
I REMEMBER SITTING WITH THE KERNEL GUY OR IN DECEMBER OF 2018, WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A PILOT MATERIAL AND HE SHARED THAT HE HAD, IN HIS VIEW, THE CHAIR SHOULD BE THE CHAIRS ON PILE AND MATERIAL.
OH, BUT I, OR I KNOW IT'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY, BUT NONETHELESS, UH, I DOUBT IF I CAN SUPPORT IT, MR. VINE, UM, YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS TRAINING.
UM, I KNOW THAT I'M LACKING, I HAVE READ THE BOOKS, BUT TO ME AS A HANDS ON EXPERIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEING AN EDUCATOR, I WOULD, UH, I WILL SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I COULD REALLY USE THE TRAINING MR. EARL CAMPBELL.
UM, AS FAR AS MRS. RICHARDS, SHE'D BEEN DOING THIS, I WOULD SAY OVER 10 YEARS.
RIGHT? MY, MY, MY COMMENT IS THIS.
WE DEFINITELY NEEDED, BECAUSE SEVERAL TIMES TONIGHT YOU COULD HAVE USED IT.
HI, HERE YOU, MR. CAMPBELL, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD.
HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU SERVED ON THE BOARD? I KNOW YOU MUST HAVE SAT THROUGH AT LEAST ONE OR TWO OF THOSE SESSIONS.
UM, I SUPPORT THIS FOR THE REMAINING BOARD MEMBERS NOW FOR MYSELF, CAUSE I WON'T BE HERE, BUT THE REMAINING IN ANY POTENTIALLY NEW BOARD MEMBERS, I THINK IT'S VALUABLE, BUT I'M SO DISHEARTENED AT THE MONEY WE SPEND ON OUR COHERENT GOVERNANCE TRAINING AND THE LACK OF, AND COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR SOME OF THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC.
IT WILL BE A POSITIVE WILL, WILL HAVE A LONGTERM POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE BOARD.
UM, THAT SAID, I THINK MINIMALLY, THE CHAIR SHOULD RECEIVE TRAINING.
GLADS CURRENTLY WHOEVER IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK THAT'S CRITICAL THAT THE CHAIR BE ABLE TO, UM, FACILITATE THE MEETING AND MINIMALLY THE REST OF THE BOARD WOULD BE ABLE TO READ AND GET UP TO SPEED OTHERWISE.
UM, SO ALL SUPPORTIVE FOR THE REMAINING BOARD MEMBERS AND FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS.
AND I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THE BOARD USES IT.
WELL, MY QUESTION WAS, UH, I WANT TO POSSIBLY A SHOP THAT I KNOW, I KNOW THAT THEY'RE THERE THEY'RE PROFESSIONAL PARLIAMENTARIAN,
[04:10:01]
UH, TEACHERS OR SCHOOLS THAT COME IN WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY BE A CERTIFIED PARLIAMENTARIAN.AND I WAS WONDERING IF WE WOULD HAVE SOMEONE TO COME IN, UH, BOSS POSSIBLY WOULD, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HAVING A, HAVING SOMEONE TO COME IN AND ACTUALLY CERTIFY EVERYONE ON THE BOARD TO ACTUALLY BE A PARLIAMENTARIAN.
SO MOVING FORWARD THAT WE WOULD KNOW THAT EVERYONE WOULD NOT ONLY BE, UM, UM, UM, ADEQUATE TO DO THE JOB, BUT THEY WILL ALSO BE CERTIFIED TO BE A PARLIAMENTARIAN.
AND THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT I WOULD WANT IN, I MEAN, YOU TO JUST HAVE TO HAVE HER TO COME IN AND TEACH IT, UH, IS GREAT, BUT ALSO TO HAVE HER TO COME IN AND TO HAVE SOMEONE TO COME IN AND ACTUALLY THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THEY DO TO ACTUALLY CERTIFY PEOPLE TO BE PARLIAMENTARIANS.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD SHOULD POSSIBLY LOOK AT AS WELL.
SO I WAS, I WOULD POSSIBLY THINK ABOUT, UM, W WELL, WHY, WHY DON'T WE LOOK AT POSSIBLY MAYBE CAN SOMEONE WHO HAS A PARLIAMENTARIAN SERVICES WHO CERTIFIED PEOPLE TO COME IN AND, UH, AND, AND MAKE THEM A CERTIFIED PARLIAMENTARIANS.
SO THAT, THAT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST SOMETHING I WANTED TO TALK TO THE BOARD THAT THAT WAS, UH, SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT ABOUT AS WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS CONVERSATION.
AND, UH, WHEN WE, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT AT AGENDA SETTING, SO, I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO POSSIBLY GET MY COLLEAGUES FEEDBACK ON WHAT, WHAT YOU, WHAT WOULD THEY THINK ABOUT THAT POSSIBLY? OR WHAT DO AUDIO BROKE UP IS THAT YOU GET, YOU SIGNIFY ME.
UM, MR. SHREDS, WHO, WHO CERTIFIES KIND OF LET ME CARRY, UH, FROM MY, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY, THEY, I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A SCHOOL THAT THEY CAN, THAT YOU CAN GO TO THEM.
THERE'S A COURSE THAT YOU CAN TAKE TO BE A PARLIAMENTARIAN.
IS THAT CORRECT? UM, FROM A VERMONTERS DAN, AND MAYBE, MAYBE MS. CARLOS COULD, WELL, IF DR.
RODRIGUEZ PROB POSSIBLY MOMMY WAS CALLED, IS, COULD SHE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT? SHE COULD POSSIBLY GIVE US SOME INSIGHT ON THAT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A CLASS OR A SCHOOL THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY, I THINK THAT YOU ACTUALLY GO TO AND THEY STARTED FIGHTING TO BE A PARLIAMENTARIAN.
THIS WAS WHAT I GATHERED ABOUT NOT LONG AGO WHEN I WAS LOOKING UP THIS INFORMATION, I'LL BE GLAD TO LOOK INTO THAT TOMORROW FOR YOU, FOR THE BOARD.
I'LL BE GLAD TO LOOK INTO THAT.
I WASN'T AWARE OF THAT, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE'S NOT A PROGRAM TO DO THAT.
SO I'LL, I'LL LOOK INTO IT AND I CAN REPORT BACK TO YOU.
I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK IF WE COULD VOTE ON THIS MOTION.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, BUT VOTING IS OPEN DOWLING, GNOME GAMBLE.
THE MOTION CARRIES A NINE ONE ONE.
NO IS DIALING WE'RE DOWN TO THE
[Discussion to have August 14-15, 2020 Board Work session in person and with electronic devices]
DISCUSSION TO HAVE THE AUGUST 14TH, 2020 BOARD WORK SESSION IN PERSON AND WITH ELECTRONIC DEVICES.AND IT WAS A, UH, THIS AGENDA REQUEST WAS BY TRICIA FIDRYCH A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND SHE'S NOT, UH, IN ATTENDANCE AT TONIGHT'S MEETING.
SO I'M GOING TO LET KATHY DRESS THIS BECAUSE SHE SUPPORTED HIS REQUEST.
SO, UH, BASICALLY I THINK WE JUST NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, MOVING TO IN PERSON MEETINGS WITH THE CAVEAT THAT, UM, THOSE WHO PREFER VIRTUAL WOULD STILL DO A VIRTUAL MEETING.
UM, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY SINCE THAT IS PART OF OUR PLAN, THAT WE'LL BE OFFERING OUR PARENTS ONCE THE METRICS WORK.
UM, AND WE CAN OPEN UP TO, I, I THINK THAT'S THE IDEA, BUT IT WOULD STILL BE AN OPTION OF DOING IT VIRTUALLY IF THAT'S HOW YOU FELT COMFORTABLE.
SO I'M JUST, I THINK WE JUST NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND SEE WHERE PEOPLE LIE.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHAT'S THE BENEFIT? ARE YOU ASKING ME?
[04:15:01]
YEAH.OH, WELL, I PREFER FACE TO FACE MEETINGS MYSELF.
I THINK IT'S THE BENEFIT IS, UH, I THINK THE MEDIUMS WORK BETTER FACE TO FACE THEN THAN VIRTUAL.
I I'D LIKE TO, UH, EVEN THOUGH WE'LL BE DISTANCED FROM OUR COLLEAGUES, I THINK IT DOES ADD A SENSE OF NORMALCY.
AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, SO DO YOU THINK THEY'D BENEFIT WOULD BE REALIZED IF HALF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING IT IN ZOOM AND HALF THE PEOPLE ARE SITTING IN A ROOM? I DON'T KNOW.
I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FOR DR.
RODRIGUEZ SAYS A WORK SESSION INVOLVED.
UH, WHERE USUALLY HAVE MRS. WALDEN AS CONFLICT, MR. ALLOTTING, UH, DR.
STRATA OR HER CREW, UH, AT TIMES MR. CHRISTIAN, UH, IF THIS GOES TRUE, WILL THEY FEEL ANY SUBTLE PRESSURE? NOT FROM YOU, BUT WILL THEY FEEL ANY SUBTLE PRESSURE ABOUT ATTENDING IN PERSON, EVEN IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT, OR THEY FEEL THAT THEIR SAFETY IS COMPROMISED? YOU START, I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE STAFF MEMBERS, INCLUDING, UH, AND, AND ON OUR TWO STAFF MEMBERS, MS. CHRISTIAN, BERRY AND MOLLY.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE THEM POTENTIALLY BURDENED WITH HAVING TO, UH, FEEL AS THOUGH THEY'RE, THEY HAVE TO LOOK GOOD BY ATTENDING IN PERSON, EVEN IF THEY DON'T WANT TO.
UH, I THINK, I THINK WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, UM, THE STAFF MEMBERS, WHICH ARE BEFORE YOU, UH, RIGHT NOW, UH, CAUSE IT'S, IT'S USUALLY SENIOR STAFF.
UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE HERE, UH, IN THE BUILDING, UH, DAILY, WE DO PRACTICE, UH, SOCIAL DISTANCES WITHIN, WITHIN, UH, WITHIN OUR DAY HERE.
UH, WHEN WE HAVE, UH, UH, MEETINGS, WE ARE QUITE FAR APART, WE ARE ALL WEARING MASKS.
UH, WHEN WE DO THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK, UH, IF THERE WAS SOMEBODY THAT WAS, UH, UNCOMFORTABLE WITH IT, UM, I WOULD ASSUME THAT, UM, THEY WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AS WELL TO PARTICIPATE, UH, FROM A DISTANCE.
MY THIRD QUESTION IS, DO WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO DO WAS HALF THE TOMB, HALF IN PERSON? UH, HOW IS THE PERSON I ASSUME GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE ROOM, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER ON THAT QUESTION.
MR. DALLIN, TOO, MARK SHEEHAN, WHO I BELIEVE IS ON THE CALL.
UM, UH, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY WE COULD HAVE THE ZOOM ON THE BOARD BEHIND THE MIMEO BOARD, UM, AND THAT WAY, UH, ONE CAMERA ON THAT BOARD FACING BACK INTO THE ROOM.
SO YOU COULD HAVE A SHOT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM FOR THE ZOOM CALL.
WHAT ARE ANY AUDIO ISSUES REGARDING FEEDBACK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? UM, THE BIGGEST THING IS IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, THEY SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ZOOM CALL.
WE WOULD ONLY HAVE ONE DESIGNATED DEVICE TO BE HOOKED TO ZOOM BECAUSE TANYA'S RIGHT.
YOU GET A LOT OF STATIC AND FEEDBACK WHEN YOU HAVE MULTIPLE DEVICES CONNECTING TO ZOOM IN CLOSE PROXIMITY.
I THINK I STILL HAVE THE FLOOR.
OH, MY LAST QUESTION IS, HOW DOES THIS BALANCE AGAINST SAFETY? I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE COMING DOWN WITH THIS VIRUS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING.
IT'S NOT A GUARANTEE THAT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE, I THINK HONESTLY, THAT THIS IS A SYMBOLIC GESTURE AND I THINK SYMBOLIC GESTURES ARE SOFTER MORE WORK.
AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT STAFF THERE, BUT WHEN YOU ALSO HAVE TO OPEN THE MEETING UP TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO ALSO BE INVITED IN, UM, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I MO THAT THE BOARDS MEETING FORMAT, MIRROR, UH, THE, UM, OPTIONS PRESENTED TO, UH, UM, OUR SCHOOLS FOR, UH, INSTRUCTION.
[04:20:02]
SECOND, IT, I SECOND THAT MOTION AS THE MAKER OF THE MOTION.I JUST WANT TO EXPLAIN IF OUR SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS WERE JEWEL.
I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE BOARD TO BE ALL VIRTUAL.
IF WE WERE OPENING AND HAVING A HYBRID, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A HYBRID MEETING IF WE ARE ONLY IN PERSON.
I THINK THE BOARD SHOULD MEET IN PERSON.
AND IT'S ONLY EVEN HANDED IN, I THINK, UM, THAT WOULD SATISFY THOSE WHO ARE FRUSTRATED THAT WE'RE MEETING VIRTUALLY.
UM, I THINK WE SHOULD MIRROR WHAT OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND STAFF OR RAS TO DO.
BUT JUST POINT A POINT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ABOUT THAT IS THAT THE DECISION ON THE SCHOOLS IS THE SUPERINTENDENTS.
SO THE SUPERINTENDENT WOULD BE DECIDING HOW THE BOARD MEETS.
SO I'M NOT SURE YOU WANT TO HOOK THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER.
I THINK IT'S KIND OF PREMATURE TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
I THINK WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THIS IN A MONTH.
I AGREE WITH THE BASIC PREMISE THAT, UM, THE, THE STORE SHAQ IS PUTTING FORWARD.
UM, I'M JUST NOT SURE WE WANT THE SUPERINTENDENT TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS FOR US RESOURCE CHECK.
UM, WE MADE THE DECISION TONIGHT WITH FORMAL BOARD ACTION ON DR.
SO, UM, I THINK IT'S PERFECTLY APPROPRIATE FOR US TO MIRROR OUR MEETINGS WITH WHAT WE SUPPORTED TONIGHT IN REGARD TO THE RE OPENING OF OUR SCHOOLS.
UM, I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A WIN, WIN SITUATION.
UH, W YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T MEET VIRTUALLY IF WE'RE FORCING TEACHERS AGAINST THEIR WILL AND STUDENTS TO MEET IN PERSON AND VICE VERSA.
I THINK THIS IS A, UH, A PERFECT COMPROMISE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR DECISION TONIGHT.
RODRIGUEZ, UH, BY TAKING FORMAL ACTION.
AND I THINK WE'RE, WE ARE IN CONTROL OF HOW WE MEET AS A BOARD.
I'D LIKE TO PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF SCIENCE.
THIS IS A HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS DISEASE.
IF IT'S NOT SAFE TO BE HAVING IN PERSON CLASSES, IT'S NOT SAFE TO HAVE A GROUP MEETING, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE CAN LET CERTAIN PEOPLE SUCH AS MYSELF OPT OUT AND DO IT SOONER.
I THINK IT'S A RESPONSIBLE AND WEAKENS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S POSITION ON THE VALIDITY OF NOT OFFERING IN PERSON CLASSES.
SINCE I HAVEN'T SPOKEN, I'LL SPEAK.
UM, I, I ALSO SUPPORTED, UH, TRICIA TRICIA'S, UH, UH, AGENDA ITEM.
UM, BUT THAT WAS A FEW WEEKS AGO AND, AND, UH, THINGS HAVE CHANGED SOMEWHAT IN TERMS OF, UH, THE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MORE AND MORE INFECTIONS IN OUR AREA.
I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS THOUGH, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT OUR SHOULD DESK SHOULD MIRROR NECESSARILY THE SCHOOLS AND THE REASON I DON'T THINK THAT IS ONE.
WE ARE, YOU HAVE A CHOICE JUST LIKE OUR STUDENTS HAVE, AND TEACHERS HAVE A CHOICE ULTIMATELY WHEN IT'S SAFE TO GO BACK TO IN PERSON MEETING OR IN PERSON SCHOOL.
BUT, UM, I JUST THINK THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT THE SAME AS A SCHOOL.
UM, IT'S JUST NOT, AND WE'RE NOT CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE MASKS.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
I PREFER IN PERSON BECAUSE I THINK ONE IS WHAT WE HAVE.
IT'S, IT'S A BETTER INTERACTIONS BETWEEN BOARD MEMBERS.
IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AS TESTY AND ALSO THE MEETINGS DON'T SEEM TO BE NEARLY AS LONG.
SO I DO THINK NOW MAYBE THAT THIS IS PREMATURE TO, TO HAVE THE WORK SESSION, UH, UH, IN PERSON OR IF, IF YOU WANT TO BE THERE IN PERSON, YOU CAN BE, BUT I STILL WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS MOTION.
UM, WHAT, SO YOU HAVE NOT SPOKEN THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT, UM, I DO AGREE WITH MR. SHACK, I GUESS I, YOU KNOW, WE DID, WE DID MAKE THE DECISION WITH SOME, UH, SOME PEOPLE ON THE BOARD DID VOTE AND THEN WE DID THE APP.
[04:25:01]
BOARD VOTED FOR PREVIOUSLY SIX, FOUR, UH, WELL, WITH THAT, WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, I WILL DEFINITELY SUPPORT THIS MOTION.AND ALSO IN MY COMMUNITY, THERE IS A SERIOUS CONCERN OF COVID-19 BECAUSE I KNOW OF AT LEAST, UH, FIVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS WITH OVER THE LAST, WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS OR SO, OR WITHIN THE LAST MONTH OR SO, THAT HAVE DIED FROM COVID-19 FROM MY COMMITTEE, I AS BEEN AFFECTED IMPOSSIBLY AND ALSO EVEN ODD DIRECT FAMILY MEMBERS OF MINE.
SO, UM, THE DISTANCE TO ME, THIS IS, THIS IS VERY, UH, IT'S VERY SCARY, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M ON THE HEAVY SIDE.
UM, I, I JUST, UH, I I'M, UH, I THINK THAT, I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD, THAT WE SHOULD BE, UM, MEETING IN PERSON.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD MERIT MERIT, BECAUSE WE DID TO MAKE THIS DECISION, UH, AS, AS A BOARD.
SO I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE, UH, MARRYING A MAIN DECISION THAT WE MADE EARLIER TONIGHT.
SO BASICALLY BASED, BASED UPON THAT, AND EVEN ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO DIED FOUR OR FIVE, I KNOW EVERY TIME I SAW THEM, THEY HAD THAT MASK ON.
SO IT'S A BIT CONCERNING TO ME.
I'M A LITTLE AFRAID OF COVID-19.
I KNOW MRS. FIDRYCH IS ABSENT AND THAT MAY BE THE DECIDING VOTE THIS EVENING.
AND PERHAPS, UM, THAT MAY BE THE REASON WHY SOME DON'T WANT TO GO AHEAD AND VOTE.
I DO WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT EVERY SINGLE BOARD MEMBER HAS AN OPTION ALREADY BY WAY OF OUR POLICY.
THAT SIMPLY WENT TO FILE A POLICY.
WE CAN CALL IN TO ANY BOARD MEETING WE WANT AT ANY TIME.
SO THIS IS A, UM, THIS IS A GESTURE MOTION TONIGHT TO SHOW THE PUBLIC THAT AS A BOARD, WE ARE WILLING TO DO WHAT THEY ARE BEING ASKED TO DO.
MADAM CHAIR, MADAM CHAIR, YOU HAVE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN THE PAST, REFERENCE YOUR PROFESSION IN CONVERSATION, IN DECISION MAKING ON THE BOARD OF LIVING, ASK YOU AS A PHYSICIAN, DO YOU FEEL IT'S JUST SHAVED DOT? I, I FEEL THAT IT IS IF THE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, OBVIOUSLY MR. DALIN, WHAT EVERYBODY'S, UH, UH, CIRCUMSTANCES ARE IN TERMS OF THEIR HEALTH.
I MEAN, I CAN SORT OF GUESS WHAT PEOPLE'S AGES ARE, BUT I DON'T KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A CHOICE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL I'M NOT ADVOCATING OR DECIDING FOR YOU OR, OR, UH, DAVID STRINGER OR MR. SMITH OR ANYBODY.
I THINK THE INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER WOULD BE THE ONE TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANTED TO COME AND BE IN PERSON OR NOT.
SO THAT WOULD BE MY ANSWER TO YOU, SIR.
SO THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR NOW DOES STILL ALLOW FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE THEIR INDIVIDUAL DECISIONS, CORRECT? ABSOLUTELY.
BUT LEADING IS CALLED EITHER PUBLICLY AND THEN YOU CAN OPT OUT OR, YOU KNOW, I GUESS YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE IN THE REVERSE JUST AS OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND PARENTS DON'T HAVE A CHOICE RIGHT NOW, OUR SCHOOLS ARE OPENING UP ALL VIRTUALLY.
SO WHAT THIS DOES IS MIRROR EXACTLY WHAT STUDENTS TEACHERS ARE BEING ASKED TO DO, BUT BY BOARD POLICY, TECHNICALLY, IF IT'S AN IN PERSON MEETING, WE CAN CALL IN BY PHONE.
WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THAT ABILITY AND UNLESS THE BOARD POLICY CHANGES, IT'S STILL THERE.
SO THIS IS A, UH, YOU KNOW, EMOTION OF SOLIDARITY WITH, WITH PARENTS, WITH TEACHERS, WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
THAT'S ALL THIS SAYS, ROBIN, CAN YOU OPEN VOTING? YES.
THE MOTION CARRIES SIX, FOUR, UH, THE SIX YESES, EARL CAMPBELL, JOHN DOWLING, JOANNA WORSHACK, KATHY ROBOT AND MEL, MEL CAMPBELL AND WILLIAM SMITH.
[Future Agenda Topics]
AGENDA TOPICS.WE'VE ALREADY DONE THE MS. SHACK.
[04:30:01]
HAS SUGGESTED THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND I'M GOING TO THROW MY NAME BEHIND IT AS WELL.RODRIGUEZ, HIS EVALUATION WOULD BE COMING UP AND, UM, WE WILL HAVE SOME CHALLENGES GIVEN THE STATE OF OUR WORLDS AND THE METRICS THAT THE BOARD APPROVED FOR DR.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
IT'S ONE OF THE BOARD'S PRIMARY JOBS.
WE'VE ALREADY DONE OUR SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN AND A SECOND, SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR.