[1:19] Good evening everyone. I hereby declare

[1:21] the Hampton City School Board meeting

[1:24] for Wednesday,

[1:26] September 2, 2026, open. At this time,

[1:29] Ms. Penny, would you please call the roll

[1:31] ?

[1:32] Mrs. Afonja.

[1:33] Present.

[1:34] Mrs. Cherry.

[1:35] Present.

[1:36] Dr. Banks-Gray.

[1:37] Present.

[1:38] Mr. Samuels.

[1:39] Present.

[1:40] Mr. Kilgore.

[1:40] Present.

[1:41] Dr. Woodhouse.

[1:42] Present.

[1:43] Dr. Mason.

[1:44] Present. Let it be recorded in the minutes that all

[1:46] members of the board are

[1:47] present. Now, before we continue

[1:51] with the rest of the meeting, I want to

[1:52] take a moment to swear in

[1:54] our student representatives.

[1:57] Give me just a second while I

[1:59] go over to the other microphone. Very good.

[2:22] Here we go. Very good. Thanks, Andy.

[2:25] Very good. Tonight we have the

[2:26] privilege and honor of swearing in

[2:27] three student representatives who

[2:29] represent the best of

[2:31] Hampton City Schools. I'll start with

[2:33] Sage Holden. Sage is a

[2:36] senior at the Law and

[2:38] Public Safety Academy, and in the

[2:40] Law and Legal Studies program at Bethel High

[2:42] School. She is passionate about advocating for and

[2:45] supporting her peers, amplifying

[2:47] the voice of young people in her community

[2:49] and beyond. She has been a

[2:52] senior ambassador for the academy,

[2:53] vice president of the

[2:55] African Students Association, president of the

[2:57] National Honor Society,

[2:59] vice president of the

[3:01] mathematics and science honor society, and more. And

[3:05] much more, that's the point. Outside of

[3:09] school, she serves as

[3:11] vice president of the Hampton 4-H Youth Club

[3:13] , ambassador for the

[3:15] Virginia 4-H Southeast District, a member of the

[3:17] Hampton Youth Commission, and was

[3:19] appointed by Governor Spanberger

[3:21] to the Virginia Education Student Advisory Board

[3:23] . She was recognized

[3:26] as one of the 20

[3:28] most outstanding young people under 20 in Hampton Roads. In the

[3:30] future, she would like to attend Spelman

[3:32] College in Atlanta, Georgia, to

[3:34] major in political science.

[3:36] Sage Holden, everyone.

[3:38] Very good.

[3:45] Next up, we have Alexis

[3:47] Copeland. Alexis is a junior

[3:50] at Hampton High School in

[3:52] the Health,

[3:54] Human and Financial Services Academy, in the

[3:55] Orientation program. She is a member of the

[3:58] Mathematics Honor Society, a

[4:00] volleyball and college soccer player

[4:02] , a senior ambassador, and a

[4:04] former vice president of the

[4:05] sophomore class. Outside of school, he

[4:08] enjoys Bible study, playing

[4:10] volleyball, crafts, going to the

[4:13] beach, and spending time outdoors. She

[4:15] plays a leadership role at

[4:17] Liberty Live Church, where she grows in her

[4:20] faith and works to encourage others her

[4:22] age to draw closer to God. She also

[4:25] enjoys helping with

[4:27] elementary school children at church and giving back to her

[4:30] community by picking up trash. After

[4:33] high school, she plans to attend

[4:34] a four-year university and

[4:36] major in psychology or

[4:37] child development. Its three

[4:39] main universities are

[4:41] Christopher Newport University, UNC

[4:43] Wilmington, and Liberty University. In the

[4:45] future, she hopes to become a

[4:47] child life specialist so she

[4:49] can make a positive difference in

[4:51] the lives of children and their families. Ladies and gentlemen

[4:53] , Alexis Copeland. And

[4:59] our student alternate to the

[5:02] board is Josiah Porter Jordan. Josiah, a

[5:11] dual-enrollment senior at Phoebus High School

[5:13] , is a student leader, entrepreneur,

[5:15] author, and community advocate

[5:17] dedicated to service and expanding

[5:18] opportunities for others. He

[5:21] serves as SCA class president

[5:23] , chairman of the board of

[5:24] directors, and was formerly

[5:28] Hampton City Schools' senior ambassador. Through his

[5:31] professional and civic experiences,

[5:33] Josiah has worked with organizations

[5:35] such as the Hampton Roads Workforce Council

[5:37] , Modern Realty Group, Hampton Youth

[5:40] and Opportunities, and the

[5:42] Hampton Commonwealth Prosecutor's Office,

[5:44] where he has collaborated on Operation

[5:46] Ceasefire and Victim Services.

[5:49] Recognized as one of

[5:51] Hampton Roads' 20 Under 20s, he has

[5:52] received multiple

[5:54] leadership and civic engagement awards,

[5:55] including recognition from the

[5:57] Governor of Virginia, both houses

[5:59] of the Virginia General Assembly, and

[6:00] community organizations. He is the

[6:04] founder of Nocturne Cinematics and author

[6:06] of "Still Standing: Survival Until

[6:09] Success". Josiah Porter Jordan. Now,

[6:19] at this moment I will administer the oaths,

[6:20] so please turn towards me and

[6:22] raise your right hand. And repeat

[6:24] after me. State your name.

[6:27] I, Josiah Porter Jordan,

[6:30] Very well. I solemnly affirm

[6:35] that I will uphold the Constitution of the

[6:40] United States

[6:41] and

[6:44] the Constitution of the Commonwealth

[6:45] of Virginia

[6:46] and that I will faithfully

[6:48] and impartially

[6:51] discharge the duties incumbent upon me as the

[6:56] student representative of the

[6:58] school board to

[7:01] the best of my ability. to

[7:02] the best of my ability.

[7:04] Congratulations.

[7:30] Yes.

[7:51] Oh, you...oh, come back. They want to

[7:52] take a picture. Wait. Oh. I was

[8:13] trying to get back to my seat to

[8:15] recognize their families quickly,

[8:17] but I guess I'll do it from here.

[8:19] So, if you are here supporting them

[8:21] as a mom, dad, aunt, uncle, sister

[8:23] or brother, please stand up.

[8:26] Neighbors. And I know that we also have

[8:34] some of their administrators here

[8:35] with us. So, if you are here

[8:37] representing any of your

[8:38] schools, you may also stand up

[8:39] . Congratulations. So, before I

[8:49] sit down, I'm going to give the floor to

[8:50] Sage to continue with our

[8:52] opening remarks at this time.

[8:55] Fine, thanks. Today we have Terry

[8:57] Daniel Gray Jr., a sixth-

[8:59] grade student from Kilgore Gifted Center,

[9:01] leading us in the Pledge of

[9:02] Allegiance. Terry, when you're ready.

[9:06] Please stand up. I

[9:11] pledge allegiance to the flag of the

[9:14] United States of America and to the

[9:16] republic for which it stands, one nation

[9:19] under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[9:22] justice for all.

[9:29] Thanks, Terry. I understand you have

[9:31] something prepared to share today.

[9:33] Mjm. As we begin a new school year,

[9:37] I would like to share a few words from

[9:39] Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

[9:41] Mjm.

[9:42] Let's do our job well, both the

[9:44] visible and the invisible. Build

[9:47] strong and secure today with a firm

[9:49] and broad foundation, and tomorrow will find its

[9:52] place in an upward and secure manner.

[10:02] Thank you. So, before you leave us

[10:04] today, I want to know some things about you.

[10:06] So, what's your

[10:07] favorite subject?

[10:08] My favorite subject is

[10:10] mathematics.

[10:11] Okay, great. What are

[10:13] some of your favorite hobbies

[10:14] outside of school?

[10:16] I like to play football and I like to

[10:18] play with my friends.

[10:21] Brilliant. Okay, so who do you have here

[10:23] supporting you today?

[10:25] I have my mom, my dad, my little

[10:28] sister, and my principal.

[10:31] Very well thank you. Could you please stand

[10:32] to be acknowledged?

[10:42] Thank you very much, Terry. You are

[10:43] welcome.

[10:48] Yes, thank you so much for joining us, and

[10:50] thank you to Mom and Dad for allowing him to be

[10:52] with us. I know he's been

[10:54] at school and could have been anywhere but

[10:56] here at a

[10:57] board meeting. So,

[10:59] thank you very much. Any comments from

[11:01] board members?

[11:03] Just one question.

[11:04] Mr. Samuels?

[11:06] Mr. President, since Terry

[11:07] mentioned that he's a footballer, Terry,

[11:10] could you please return to the microphone? So

[11:14] , who is your favorite soccer player

[11:15] ?

[11:16] Uh, Messi.

[11:21] Thank you. Thank you.

[11:24] Very good. The best of all.

[11:30] Thanks, Terry.

[11:32] Very good. Thank you so much. Before we

[11:34] proceed with

[11:36] tonight's agenda, I see...Where did he go?

[11:39] Former Mayor Donnie Tuck? Oh, it's in the

[11:42] back. Yes, former mayor Donnie Tuck

[11:44] is with us tonight.

[11:45] Thank you so much. The next item on the

[11:50] agenda is item 1.04, adoption of

[11:52] tonight's agenda. What does

[11:54] the board want?

[11:55] Mr. President, I propose the approval

[11:57] of the agenda as presented. I

[11:59] second the motion.

[12:00] It has been correctly proposed by

[12:01] Mr. Kilgore and seconded by Mr.

[12:03] Samuels that we approve tonight's agenda

[12:04] as presented. Any

[12:06] discussion? Ms. Penny, could you

[12:11] please put this to a vote?

[12:13] Ms. Ifonja?

[12:13] In favor.

[12:14] Mrs. Cherry?

[12:15] In favor.

[12:16] Dr. Banks-Gray?

[12:17] In favor.

[12:17] Mr. Samuels?

[12:18] In favor.

[12:19] Mr. Kilgore?

[12:19] In favor.

[12:20] Dr. Woodhouse?

[12:21] In favor.

[12:22] Dr. Mason?

[12:23] The motion is approved. Item

[12:25] two, consent agenda 2.01

[12:28] staff report 26-14. 2.02

[12:31] Approval by the

[12:33] school board of the minutes of the meetings

[12:35] of August 4 and 19, 2026. 2.03

[12:37] Exemption from mandatory attendance for

[12:39] religious reasons. 2.04

[12:42] School board consent for receiving

[12:45] donations in September 2026.

[12:48] What is the board's will?

[12:49] Mr. President, I propose the motion to

[12:51] approve the consent agenda

[12:53] as presented. I

[12:55] second. It has

[12:55] been correctly proposed by

[12:57] Dr. Woodhouse and seconded by Ms.

[12:58] Afonja that we approve

[13:00] tonight's consent agenda as

[13:01] presented. Any discussion? Ms.

[13:05] Penny, could you please put this to a

[13:07] vote?

[13:07] Mrs. Afonja.

[13:08] In favor.

[13:09] Mrs. Cherry.

[13:10] In favor.

[13:11] Dr. Banks-Gray.

[13:12] In favor.

[13:12] Mr. Samuels.

[13:13] In favor.

[13:14] Mr. Kilgore.

[13:15] In favor.

[13:16] Dr. Woodhouse.

[13:16] In favor.

[13:17] Dr. Mason.

[13:18] In favor. The motion is approved. And that

[13:20] brings us to point number three on the

[13:22] agenda, which is the awards. And

[13:23] at this moment, I will give the floor

[13:25] to Ms. Goral.

[13:29] Well, thank you, President Dr. Mason,

[13:31] Vice President Mrs. Jackson-Afonja,

[13:32] members of our school board,

[13:34] Superintendent Dr. Haynes, and members

[13:35] of our

[13:37] Hampton City Schools family. And I was going to ask

[13:39] Mr. Kilgore to come closer to the

[13:40] microphone, but he's already ready and

[13:42] attentive. So, it's coming this way now.

[13:47] Very good. So tonight

[13:49] Hampton City Schools is

[13:51] proud to celebrate our

[13:53] 2026-2027 elementary

[13:56] , middle, high school, and

[13:58] division-level teachers. So, to give some

[14:00] context, last spring

[14:02] we recognized our individual teachers of the

[14:04] year from each school and

[14:06] also 12 finalists. These

[14:08] finalists participated in an

[14:09] interview process with the division-

[14:11] level teacher of the year selection committee,

[14:13] and a team visited their

[14:14] classrooms to observe their

[14:16] teaching practices. At our

[14:20] Back-to-School Celebration of Excellence event that took place on

[14:22] August 14, we had the opportunity to

[14:23] announce our HCS 26-27

[14:25] elementary, middle, and high school teachers of the year

[14:27] , as well as our

[14:29] division-level teacher of the year. And

[14:31] we did it in front of more than 3,000 of

[14:33] our colleagues and honored them with a

[14:35] plaque and a banner. So, at

[14:37] this moment I'm going to call our

[14:39] three teachers of the year. If you could please come

[14:41] down and stand next to me on

[14:42] the podium. Congratulations to Mrs. Belinda

[14:45] Kirby, our

[14:46] HCS Middle School Teacher of the Year. Mrs.

[14:55] Tenisha Davis, our

[14:56] HCS year high school teacher. As well as

[15:03] Ms. Erin Miller, who is our

[15:07] HCS Elementary School Teacher of the Year and All Division Teacher of the Year

[15:09] . Our

[15:15] Teacher of the Year candidates are selected for

[15:17] their commitment to our students,

[15:19] their ability to inspire students of

[15:21] all backgrounds and abilities, their

[15:22] dedication to improving teaching, their

[15:24] collaboration with families and the

[15:26] community, their commitment to

[15:27] professional growth, innovation

[15:29] in teaching, their contributions to

[15:31] education, and the respect they have

[15:32] earned from their students, families, and

[15:34] colleagues. These exceptional educators

[15:37] present tonight have demonstrated a

[15:39] commitment to excellence in

[15:40] teaching and a passion for inspiring

[15:42] their students. So I'll take a

[15:44] brief moment to share a little bit

[15:46] about each of these educators, and

[15:48] we'll start with Ms. Belinda Kirby,

[15:50] our HCS Middle School Teacher

[15:52] of the Year. Ms. Kirby is a

[15:54] seventh-grade history teacher,

[15:56] correct? That's right, a

[15:57] seventh-grade history teacher at

[15:58] Lindsay Middle School. A native of

[16:00] Gloucester, Virginia, she has 3 years of

[16:02] experience in education, including 2

[16:03] years here at

[16:05] Hampton City Schools. For Ms. Kirby,

[16:08] teaching history is more than just helping

[16:09] students understand the past.

[16:11] She strives to help them

[16:13] recognize that history is made up

[16:14] of ordinary people who have the

[16:16] courage to make a difference, and that

[16:17] they too have the ability to

[16:19] help shape the future. She

[16:21] is grateful for the opportunity to

[16:22] be a part of her

[16:24] students' growth every day, and honored to

[16:25] represent HCS as our

[16:27] Middle School Teacher of the Year. Let

[16:28] 's give him another round of applause. I'm going to ask him to

[16:32] come this way so he doesn't trip

[16:34] on the steps.

[16:35] Mrs. Kirby, if you could join me on

[16:36] stage.

[16:48] Lindsay Middle School Principal Sherif Hicks

[16:50] described Ms. Kirby as an

[16:52] educator whose commitment to

[16:54] students is evident in everything she

[16:56] does. She said that she is the definition

[16:59] of someone who wears her heart on her

[17:01] sleeve. And she travels almost an hour to

[17:04] work every day, stays late,

[17:06] and is willing to do whatever it

[17:09] takes for her students. Her passion

[17:12] for children is contagious. And that he is,

[17:15] truly, an incredible human being

[17:17] . Let's give Ms. Kirby a round of

[17:21] applause as we recognize her as

[17:27] Hampton City Schools' 2026-2027 Middle School Teacher of the Year.

[17:29] Woohoo! And I'm going to ask him if he'd

[17:39] like to say something. Do

[17:43] n't know. I really don't like

[17:45] attention. Uh, but I'm very

[17:46] grateful. Thank you all so much for

[17:48] this honor. I am so pleased to

[17:50] represent my students and

[17:51] Lindsay every day. We have the

[17:53] most amazing students in Lindsay

[17:54] . Well, I'm very happy to represent them

[17:57] . So, thank you all very, very much

[17:58] .

[18:04] Very good. We'll leave Ms. Kirby on

[18:06] stage as we turn to

[18:08] Ms. Tenisha Davis, our

[18:11] HCS High School Teacher of the Year. Ms.

[18:13] Davis is a language arts teacher

[18:15] at Kecoughtan High School and is

[18:16] originally from Smithfield, Virginia.

[18:18] She has over 7 years of

[18:19] experience in education, including 6

[18:21] years in Hampton City Schools

[18:23] . For Ms. Davis, being

[18:25] named high school teacher of the

[18:26] year is much more than a

[18:28] personal recognition. He sees it as an

[18:30] opportunity to show his

[18:32] students what is possible for their

[18:34] future and help them recognize what

[18:36] excellence and leadership look and sound like

[18:38] . She wants her students to know

[18:41] that their ideas matter, that their voices

[18:43] have a place at the table, and that they are

[18:45] capable of achieving more than they ever

[18:47] imagined. For Ms. Davis, the

[18:49] greatest measure of her success will always

[18:51] be the students who leave her

[18:53] classroom believing in themselves and the

[18:54] possibilities that await them. Let's give

[18:56] a big round of applause to Mrs. Davis.

[19:01] Ms. Davis, will you join me on

[19:03] stage?

[19:08] Flowers.

[19:11] Kecoughtan High School's executive director

[19:13] , Dr. Dwayne Lucas, said

[19:16] that Ms. Davis's influence extends

[19:18] far beyond the walls of her

[19:20] classroom. Her commitment to

[19:24] excellence, her dedication to her

[19:26] students, and her willingness to serve

[19:27] beyond her classroom

[19:29] truly embody the spirit of

[19:30] Kecoughtan High School and

[19:32] Hampton City Schools. She

[19:35] exemplifies everyday greatness

[19:37] while constantly working to

[19:39] create growth opportunities for

[19:41] others. Let's give a big round of applause to

[19:44] Ms. Davis as we recognize her as

[19:52] Hampton City Schools' 2026-2027 High School Teacher of the Year. Would you like to say something?

[20:07] I am extremely grateful, as

[20:09] my students would say, to be honored by

[20:12] my colleagues and my

[20:14] students. I am grateful for the

[20:17] opportunity to give them a voice and encourage them

[20:20] to be the best they can be. So

[20:24] , thank you.

[20:29] Very well, and last but

[20:31] certainly not least, is

[20:33] our final honoree, Ms.

[20:35] Aaron Miller, our Hampton City Schools

[20:37] 2026-2027 Elementary Teacher of the Year

[20:39] and

[20:41] our HCS entire district Teacher of the Year

[20:43] . Let's give him a big round of

[20:44] applause. If you don't know Ms. Miller

[20:50] , she is a fifth-grade teacher at

[20:52] Armstrong School for the Arts and is

[20:54] originally from Hampton, Virginia. She has 17

[20:56] years of experience in education,

[20:58] including three of those years here at

[20:59] Hampton City Schools.

[21:01] For Ms. Miller, being named

[21:03] Teacher of the Year represents the

[21:05] relationships she has built with

[21:06] students throughout her career and the

[21:08] lasting impact educators

[21:10] have the opportunity to achieve. She

[21:12] believes that teaching is always about

[21:14] learning from her students and

[21:15] passing on the knowledge, encouragement,

[21:17] and opportunities that others have

[21:19] given her along her own journey

[21:21] . Teaching is how Ms.

[21:24] Miller gives back; she believes in children and

[21:26] reminds them that their voices, their

[21:28] stories, and their futures matter. She

[21:30] is especially grateful to know

[21:32] that her current and past students

[21:33] share this recognition and have

[21:35] played an important role in her

[21:37] journey as an educator. Let's give him

[21:38] another round of applause.

[21:43] Mrs. Miller. Very good.

[21:49] Armstrong School of the Arts Principal Dr.

[21:51] Tiffany Gaddy Suggs said, “

[21:53] Ms. Miller’s impact goes far beyond

[21:56] academics. She embodies the very

[21:59] best of what it means to be an

[22:01] educator. She teaches with high

[22:04] expectations, leads with love, faces

[22:07] challenges with strength, and gives

[22:10] children the gift of knowing that

[22:12] tomorrow is always another chance

[22:14] to succeed. Her impact is not

[22:18] measured solely by what her students

[22:20] learn academically, but by

[22:22] how they feel in her

[22:24] presence—supported, challenged, loved,

[22:28] and empowered to become their best

[22:31] selves. Let’s give Ms. Erin

[22:34] Miller a round of applause as

[22:36] we recognize her as

[22:39] Hampton City Schools’ 2026-2027 Elementary Teacher of the Year

[22:42] and Division-wide Teacher of the Year

[22:45] . Would you

[23:01] like to say anything? We can

[23:02] wait for that.

[23:03] Okay.

[23:05] That’s beautiful.

[23:06] Understood. I just want to say

[23:08] thank you. I am truly honored and

[23:10] blessed to be here

[23:12] representing HCS, and I plan to take this

[23:14] recognition as far as I can.

[23:16] So this isn’t the The end is the

[23:17] beginning. And well, just thank you,

[23:19] and I look forward to a great

[23:20] school year. And thank you, Dr. Suggs and Mrs.

[23:22] Richardson. And to my mother and my husband,

[23:24] thank you for being here.

[23:31] Before you return to your seats,

[23:32] we would like to ask any

[23:34] family members and special guests

[23:36] in the audience, your

[23:37] administration, and your colleagues to

[23:39] please stand for

[23:41] recognition. Thank you for being here

[23:43] tonight and for being part of the

[23:45] support system for these educators. You know. You

[23:52] know the long hours that

[23:53] teachers put in. You

[23:54] know the long hours that

[23:56] teachers put in every day for their

[23:58] students. Please know how much we

[24:01] appreciate our teachers and each and every

[24:02] one of you. Thank you very much.

[24:04] Let's give them another round of applause.

[24:38] Thank you. President Mason, that concludes

[24:44] our recognitions for tonight.

[24:46] Thank you.

[24:47] very much. Any comments from

[24:53] the board members? Very well.

[24:58] I repeat, thank you to your family members because I

[25:00] know that you put in many hours in

[25:02] connection with the work you do

[25:04] for Hampton City Schools

[25:06] . So, thank you all. Thank you for

[25:08] sharing your time with us, and

[25:09] congratulations again. Very

[25:12] good. Moving on, next

[25:14] are the reports from the superintendent and

[25:16] staff, and I'll now give the floor

[25:18] to Dr. Haynes.

[25:19] Thank you, President Mason,

[25:20] Vice President Jackson Afonda,

[25:22] board members, division leadership team,

[25:23] and Hampton community.

[25:25] As we continue under the

[25:27] 2026-2027 school year theme of "One

[25:29] Community, One Transformation,

[25:31] Excellence with Intentionality," in

[25:33] this afternoon's presentation, Ms.

[25:36] Kelly Gooch, our

[25:37] executive director of public relations and

[25:39] marketing, will share

[25:41] highlights from the opening of the

[25:43] 2026-2027 school year, from our

[25:46] early

[25:48] morning bus send-off to welcoming over

[25:50] 19,000 young people to our schools.

[25:53] The first day, of course, was

[25:55] filled with excitement, energy, and

[25:57] HCS pride. Here we go.

[25:58] Okay, you just did the

[26:00] presentation for me, sir. Right,

[26:02] good night again. I have the

[26:04] privilege this afternoon of sharing a

[26:06] special presentation as

[26:07] we celebrate the opening of the school year.

[26:09] 26-27 and highlight some of the excitement

[26:11] that helped us kick off another great

[26:13] year at Hampton City Schools

[26:15] . On August 14, nearly

[26:19] 3,000

[26:20] Hampton City Schools staff members

[26:22] gathered at

[26:24] Hampton University Convocation Center for

[26:26] our fourth annual

[26:27] Back-to-School Excellence Celebration,

[26:29] officially launching our

[26:30] 26-27 school year. Hosted by Sharon

[26:33] Radford and Heather VanHouten, the morning

[26:35] began with a welcome from

[26:37] School Board Chair Dr.

[26:39] Richard Mason, followed by

[26:40] Superintendent Dr. Raymond Haynes,

[26:42] who celebrated the accomplishments of our

[26:44] students and staff, including a

[26:46] projected on-time graduation rate

[26:48] above 98% and a dropout rate

[26:50] below 1%. He also challenged

[26:52] staff to continue our work

[26:53] as a community, a transformation

[26:55] , with a continued focus on

[26:57] intentional excellence.

[26:59] This year’s keynote speaker, Dr.

[27:01] Adolph “Doc” Brown III, brought his

[27:03] signature candor to HCS,

[27:04] delivering an engaging and

[27:06] inspiring message. to our staff as

[27:08] we prepared for the

[27:10] coming year. And, of course, it wouldn't be a

[27:12] celebration of excellence without a

[27:14] bit of friendly competition and plenty of

[27:16] school spirit. Our mascots

[27:18] took center stage for

[27:20] a parade and dance contest, with

[27:22] the Sims Spartans named champions,

[27:24] the Peak Squirrel winning

[27:26] Greatest of All Time (GOAT) honors, and the

[27:28] Craft Cub taking home the

[27:29] Best of the Best award. We also celebrated

[27:32] some of the outstanding individuals

[27:33] who make HCS such a special place,

[27:35] including our Support Staff

[27:36] of the Year and, as you just heard,

[27:38] our Teachers of the Year. It was an

[27:40] amazing way to bring our

[27:41] HCS family together, and we set the tone

[27:43] for a new year. Of course, this

[27:45] wonderful event wouldn't happen without an

[27:47] incredible team of people

[27:48] working behind the scenes. So,

[27:50] Ms. Robin Ruth and I want to extend a

[27:52] huge thank you to everyone who

[27:53] helped make

[27:54] this year's Celebration of Excellence a success.

[27:56] From our planning committee

[27:58] and volunteers to those who

[28:00] dedicated countless hours preparing

[28:02] the meeting of 3,000 HCS employees

[28:04] under one roof, including the

[28:06] excellent HU staff who helped us

[28:08] . A special thank you to our

[28:10] outstanding emcees,

[28:11] Ms. Sharon Radford and Heather Van Hout,

[28:13] as well as Christina Silverman,

[28:14] our HR event planner

[28:15] . And to everyone who

[28:17] helped with setup,

[28:19] activities, transportation,

[28:20] logistics, and the many details that

[28:21] an event of this size requires.

[28:24] We are also grateful to

[28:25] our transportation team for helping

[28:27] to safely move thousands of

[28:28] employees to and from the event.

[28:31] Next up. As we prepare to

[28:33] welcome students back, we

[28:34] also had a little fun

[28:35] reminiscing about one of our

[28:37] favorite back-to-school moments from the

[28:38] HCS archives. We decided to do a "

[28:40] Throwback Thursday" and went back six

[28:43] years to 2020. I know a lot of

[28:45] that sounds scary, 2020, but it was when

[28:47] we surprised our students and

[28:49] staff throughout the day with

[28:50] inspirational messages and

[28:52] special greetings from some secret celebrity guests

[28:54] . We put together a compilation of

[28:56] some of those memorable messages and

[28:58] the We shared it again on

[29:00] social media, where it was a huge hit.

[29:03] A lot has changed in 6 years, but the

[29:04] excitement that comes with the start of a

[29:06] new school year and the encouragement and support

[29:08] of our HCS community

[29:10] have certainly remained the same. Let's take a

[29:11] quick look back.

[29:21] Hey, what's up,

[29:22] Hampton City Schools students? I appreciate

[29:24] you guys giving it your all because you

[29:26] know this is still going to count.

[29:27] I want to wish you an amazing school year

[29:29] . I hope it's simply

[29:31] the best. I hope you learn a lot.

[29:33] I hope you grow as people.

[29:35] I wouldn't be where I am now without

[29:38] great advice and also without

[29:42] amazing teachers, schools, advisors, and counselors.

[29:45] Well, this is your friend Ice Cube

[29:46] talking to you. I hope you listen to my

[29:48] words. Yes, I'm talking to

[29:49] you. I hope you hear my voice, and

[29:51] I hope you take me seriously. I hope

[29:53] , even better, that you take your

[29:55] studies seriously and everything you have to do

[29:57] to get to the next level. I'm signing

[29:58] off. I'm done preaching. Your friend

[30:01] Ice Cube. Yeah, yeah.

[30:03] This video is for the students of

[30:05] Hampton City schools. Yay!

[30:08] From all of us at McKinney

[30:10] Bottom, we wish you a great

[30:12] school year and that you do your best.

[30:14] But I always like to say that being

[30:16] different can be awesome. You never

[30:18] know what different can bring

[30:20] . You're going to have so much fun learning

[30:22] new things, growing in new

[30:24] ways, and it's going to be fantastic. It's going to

[30:26] be a wonderful school year.

[30:28] But right now, I just want to talk to you

[30:30] with my voice, you know, because I'm so

[30:31] excited for the new school year.

[30:33] I want you to reach those goals. I

[30:35] want you to go out there and have an

[30:37] amazing school year.

[30:38] But as long as you stay positive,

[30:41] focused, and do your best, it'll be a piece of cake

[30:43] . You're

[30:45] doing amazing, and I know you'll

[30:48] continue to be great

[30:49] students in school. Study

[30:52] hard, work hard, and have lots of fun

[30:53] . Bye.

[31:02] Smiles from our

[31:03] student representatives, so I think

[31:04] you recognized some of those faces.

[31:06] Sage's face when Ice Cube appeared was

[31:08] priceless. Very good. Next

[31:11] slide. And while it's always

[31:13] fun to reminisce, we also wanted to

[31:15] create something Special to

[31:16] welcome our students,

[31:17] families, and staff back to the new

[31:18] school year. That's why Hampton

[31:20] City Schools creates a back-to-

[31:22] school video every year to generate excitement and

[31:23] officially welcome our

[31:25] community back to the new year. Our team

[31:27] at PEG TV once again lent their

[31:28] creativity to this year's production

[31:30] , helping us share the

[31:32] energy, spirit, and excitement of

[31:34] a fresh start at HCS. So,

[31:35] let's take a look at

[31:36] this year's welcome.

[31:40] Before the bells ring, before

[31:43] the doors open, before the

[31:45] first good morning, we remember

[31:47] why we're here, together, for the

[31:50] students and families who

[31:52] trust Hampton City Schools.

[31:56] The staff is simply

[31:57] outstanding. They are so kind, and, you

[32:01] know, they always manage to make me

[32:04] smile.

[32:06] Her name is Redding, and she makes me

[32:09] smile because, when we're

[32:12] doing something, she makes it fun.

[32:16] Not just for teaching, and not just for

[32:19] learning, but for making every

[32:21] moment count.

[32:23] Talking to my new teacher, learning

[32:26] new things, learning more

[32:28] math, preparing for my SOLs.

[32:32] I'm ready to see what

[32:34] There will be art projects in fourth

[32:36] grade because they always do

[32:37] fun things. They always do

[32:41] fun things, and I'm like, I'm

[32:43] ready to go to fourth grade.

[32:45] Well, I really like

[32:47] social studies because I want to be a teacher, and

[32:48] math. There's math in

[32:52] everything, and I just really like it

[32:54] .

[32:56] Every child, every family, every day,

[32:59] every opportunity counts because every

[33:02] student has potential, and together

[33:05] we help it grow.

[33:08] The reason I like

[33:10] science is because you can take

[33:11] science tests, and science tests are

[33:13] easy and fun, and

[33:15] social studies tests are

[33:17] fun and easy, too.

[33:19] Miss Paler, because if you raise

[33:22] your hand and ask for help, she'll be

[33:25] there to help you with anything you're

[33:29] struggling with.

[33:32] At Hampton City Schools

[33:34] , we lead with excellence and

[33:36] intentionality, and we do it in

[33:38] partnership with parents, caregivers,

[33:40] and our entire community.

[33:43] As one community, one

[33:45] transformation, let's make this year

[33:47] count. Let's keep what matters

[33:49] first.

[33:50] Welcome back,

[33:52] Hampton City Schools.

[34:02] We tried to get Dr. Haynes to move

[34:04] his We were all excited, but

[34:05] we only managed a smile. We managed a

[34:07] smile. So, last Monday,

[34:10] August 24, we

[34:11] officially welcomed over 19,000

[34:13] students for the start of the

[34:15] 2026-2027 school year. Our day

[34:16] began well before dawn, as

[34:18] Dr. Haynes already mentioned, at the

[34:20] bus lot, where

[34:21] school board members, division leaders,

[34:23] city officials, staff, and

[34:25] community partners gathered to

[34:26] cheer on our

[34:28] bus drivers and attendants as they

[34:29] prepared to head out on their first

[34:31] routes of the year. From there, the

[34:32] excitement spread throughout the

[34:34] division as students

[34:35] walked through our doors,

[34:36] reconnected with teachers and friends, and

[34:38] began another year of learning and

[34:39] new opportunities. WAVY TV 10

[34:41] joined us bright and early at the

[34:43] bus lot. Well, not that

[34:44] bright, really, but early nonetheless.

[34:46] And then they headed over to

[34:47] Craft Elementary School to capture the

[34:49] excitement of opening day and

[34:50] help us share the story of

[34:51] our first day with the community.

[34:53] Hampton Roads. It was a great day across

[34:54] HCS. Here's a look back at

[34:56] some of our favorite moments.

[35:30] Yes!

[35:35] Great job.

[36:40] And with a new school year comes a

[36:41] new season of our

[36:43] Hampton City Schools podcast,

[36:45] HCS Talks. And don't worry, Dr. Haynes,

[36:46] this isn't the new

[36:47] marketing material. We just made this for this

[36:49] presentation. We thought you might

[36:51] enjoy it a little. So now,

[36:52] entering its fourth season, HCS

[36:54] Talks continues to provide another

[36:55] way for us to educate, inform, and

[36:57] connect with our community,

[36:59] taking listeners beyond

[37:00] the headlines and into the people,

[37:02] programs, opportunities, and

[37:03] stories that make up

[37:05] Hampton City Schools. Throughout the

[37:07] year, listeners will hear

[37:08] conversations with students,

[37:10] teachers, staff, families, and

[37:11] community partners, as well as

[37:13] division leaders, on topics ranging from

[37:15] academics and

[37:16] student experiences to programs,

[37:18] initiatives, partnerships, and the work being

[37:20] done across HCS. New

[37:22] episodes will continue to be released on

[37:24] Thursdays during throughout the school year and

[37:25] will be available on all

[37:27] major podcast platforms. And I

[37:29] would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge

[37:31] Mr. Andy Foley and our entire

[37:32] PEG TV team for our back-

[37:34] to-school video, our first-

[37:36] day coverage, and our HCS Talks podcast, in which they

[37:38] have invested countless hours

[37:40] capturing and telling the story of the

[37:42] start of the school year. Their creativity

[37:44] and behind-the-scenes work

[37:45] allow us to share that HCS energy and

[37:47] enthusiasm with our entire

[37:49] community. So, ladies and gentlemen

[37:52] of the board, I believe these

[37:54] highlights give you just a glimpse of

[37:55] the excitement we have felt at

[37:57] Hampton City Schools as we begin this

[37:58] new school year. Our

[38:00] students are back, our

[38:01] staff is energized,

[38:02] our buses are running, and

[38:04] our classrooms are full. And as

[38:05] you can see from these pictures on the

[38:07] screen, we are quite

[38:08] excited about the year

[38:09] ahead. As one community,

[38:13] one transformation, we look forward to

[38:15] another year celebrating our

[38:17] students, telling the

[38:18] HCS story, and continuing our commitment to

[38:20] intentional excellence.

[38:22] And before I conclude this presentation Last

[38:24] night, we have even more

[38:25] exciting news to share, one that

[38:27] speaks not only to the work that goes on at

[38:29] Hampton City Schools, but also to

[38:30] the incredible people who make

[38:32] that work possible every day. We are

[38:36] incredibly proud to announce

[38:38] that Hampton City Schools has

[38:40] once again been named to

[38:42] Forbes’ list of

[38:44] America’s Best State Employers, marking

[38:46] the second consecutive year

[38:48] HCS has earned this distinction. The

[38:50] 2026 recognition was

[38:52] recently announced on August 13. This

[38:54] year, Hampton City Schools is one of only

[38:56] six public school divisions

[38:58] in Virginia to earn a spot on that

[39:01] 2026 list. Being recognized in both

[39:04] 2025 and now 2026 is

[39:05] especially meaningful because it

[39:07] reflects our ongoing commitment to

[39:09] creating a workplace where

[39:11] employees feel valued,

[39:13] supported, and have opportunities to

[39:15] grow. And I think what makes this

[39:17] recognition particularly

[39:19] special is that it reflects the voices and

[39:21] experiences of our employees—

[39:23] from compensation and benefits to

[39:25] our employee health and wellness center

[39:26] and

[39:28] employee pharmacy, professional learning,

[39:30] leadership development, and resources that

[39:31] support our staff in their work

[39:33] . HCS continues to invest in the

[39:36] people who make our

[39:37] schools successful. Being named a

[39:40] top state employer by Forbes

[39:41] for two consecutive years is something

[39:43] our entire HCS community

[39:44] can be proud of. It reinforces what we

[39:46] already know. Our employees are at the

[39:49] heart of everything we do, and by

[39:51] investing in them, we strengthen our

[39:53] ability to provide an

[39:55] exceptional educational experience for every child,

[39:57] every day, no matter the cost.

[39:59] So, congratulations to all of you and

[40:01] to Hampton City Schools. What a

[40:03] great way to kick off the 2026-2027 school year

[40:05] . And I'm done.

[40:12] Thank you, Ms. Cole. Excellent

[40:14] presentation. Any questions or

[40:15] comments from the board members? Have you

[40:20] recovered from that early morning

[40:22] , uh, at the bus terminal?

[40:24] No.

[40:25] Very well.

[40:26] Hardly.

[40:27] Very well, Dr. Haynes.

[40:30] Mr. President, for our

[40:31] final presentation tonight, Ms.

[40:33] Britney Branch, our Chief

[40:35] Financial Officer, will be presenting the

[40:37] June 2026 business and financial report.

[40:45] Good evening, President Mason,

[40:46] Vice President Vaughan, members of The

[40:48] school board, Dr. Haynes, and, of

[40:49] course, members of the

[40:51] Hampton community. Tonight, I'm pleased to

[40:53] present an overview of

[40:54] the June 2026 board report.

[40:56] Um, this report represents the

[40:58] pre-audited cumulative results of

[41:00] the school division for the past school year

[41:02] . Our total operating budget

[41:05] was $332.5 million, and

[41:08] we spent, or rather disbursed,

[41:11] $330.6 million. That's

[41:14] 99.5% of the budget executed. And that

[41:19] also means we

[41:21] underspent less than 1% of the budget.

[41:26] Payroll accounted for 76% of expenses

[41:28] , while non-salary items

[41:31] were 24%, and our

[41:33] instructional expenses accounted for 64% of

[41:35] total spending. You also have a list

[41:39] of the final transfers to and

[41:40] from the technology classification

[41:42] for the month of June. In addition, it's

[41:45] important to note that, regarding

[41:48] our revenue, the final income

[41:50] , including the fund balance,

[41:52] exceeded $333 million, and

[41:54] we ended the year with approximately

[41:57] $ $571,000 more than budgeted. And

[42:00] that was due to some

[42:01] additional revenue from

[42:03] state sales taxes for the month of June.

[42:05] And we learned that information when

[42:07] we received the final payment in July.

[42:10] So, included in the June report,

[42:12] as every year, you will find a

[42:13] reallocation memorandum along with

[42:15] the corresponding attachments to

[42:16] provide additional information.

[42:19] But our next step is to

[42:20] seek City Council approval

[42:22] to reallocate those funds

[42:25] from fiscal year 2026 to fiscal year

[42:27] 2027. And if it is approved, we also

[42:29] want to make sure we prioritize addressing

[42:31] any

[42:33] revenue shortfalls this current school year, if

[42:35] any, but if not, our

[42:37] priority will be to consider

[42:39] unique operational and instructional needs

[42:41] within the school division. And as I

[42:44] mentioned at the beginning, these are

[42:46] pre-audited results. So,

[42:48] there is a possibility that this will

[42:49] change because we went through an

[42:51] audit process with a third party. But if there are

[42:54] any changes, I'll be able to provide those

[42:56] updates to the board at a

[42:58] later meeting. And that concludes the

[43:01] board report of June 2026.

[43:05] Very well, thank you very much. Questions

[43:07] from board members? I see Mr.

[43:08] Kilgore.

[43:09] Uh, just a comment. It is

[43:12] absolutely impressive that, with a

[43:15] budget of over $330 million

[43:18] , they stay within 1%,

[43:21] less than 1% of that budget. That

[43:25] requires incredible supervision.

[43:28] So, thank you very much. Great job.

[43:31] Any other comments from

[43:32] board members? Excellent.

[43:36] Thank you.

[43:37] Dr. Haynes.

[43:38] Mr. President, that concludes the

[43:39] reports from the

[43:40] superintendent's staff.

[43:42] Very good. Then, we will move on to the

[43:45] points of deliberation and number

[43:47] five, in 5.01,

[43:49] ICID school board policy review.

[43:53] Excuse me. School year, school day.

[43:56] 5.02,

[43:58] IIAA School Board Policy Review, Textbook Selection and

[44:00] Adoption. 5.03,

[44:05] new KPA school board policy

[44:07] , notification to parents regarding the

[44:09] safe storage of

[44:11] prescription drugs and firearms. 5.04,

[44:17] JGDA School Board Policy Review, Discipline of Students

[44:19] with Disabilities. 5.05, New

[44:22] KP School Board Policy,

[44:26] Parent Rights and Responsibilities. 5.06,

[44:29] GCL School Board Policy Review,

[44:31] Staff Professional Development. 5.07,

[44:36] GCPD School Board Policy Review, Staff Layoffs. And

[44:40] 5.08, review of the

[44:43] GCG school board policy, probationary period and

[44:46] contractual status of

[44:48] certified employees. And we'll begin with Dr.

[44:51] Thompson.

[44:53] Good evening, President Dr. Mason,

[44:55] Vice President Jackson Aponte,

[44:56] board members, Superintendent Dr. Haynes,

[44:58] and Hampton community. I have the

[44:59] ICID policy, school year,

[45:01] school day, as well as the IIAA policy,

[45:03] selection, adoption and purchase of

[45:05] textbooks. There have been no new

[45:08] adjustments. Do you have any questions?

[45:13] Very good. Alright. Uh-huh. Mrs.

[45:20] Hatcher.

[45:21] Good night. I am here to

[45:23] present the KPA policy. Any

[45:32] questions?

[45:33] Any clarifying questions or anything

[45:33] for Ms. Hatcher? Very good.

[45:37] Thank you so much. Very good. And the

[45:39] remaining policies, Ms. Ruth?

[45:42] Yes. Good evening. Do you have any

[45:46] questions about GCL, GCPD, or

[45:50] GCG policy? There have been no changes since the

[45:52] last time we met.

[45:54] Yes.

[45:55] Any clarifying questions, Mr.

[45:57] Root?

[45:57] Not

[45:59] very well. Thank you so much. Very good.

[46:02] So, this brings us to point

[46:04] number six, points for action. 6.01

[46:08] , local plan for gifted students.

[46:11] 6.02,

[46:13] JCPF School Board Policy Review,

[46:16] Employee Suspension. 6.03,

[46:18] GDB School Board Policy Review,

[46:23] Support Staff Probationary Period. 6.04, new

[46:25] IK school board policy,

[46:27] academic planning and course selection. 6.05

[46:30] , new policy of the ILBC school board

[46:33] , College Board school program

[46:36] . 6.06,

[46:39] IAI school board policy, artificial intelligence.

[46:42] 6.07,

[46:45] EBB School Board Policy Review,

[46:46] Threat Assessment Teams. 6.08,

[46:49] review of the JED board policy

[46:51] attendance policy 6.09 new

[46:54] JLB school board policy

[46:56] information and guidance on

[46:58] financial aid 6.10 review of the

[47:00] JAG school board policy

[47:02] safety and protection of student

[47:05] athletes in extreme heat 6.11

[47:07] review of the

[47:09] JM school board policy emergency response and

[47:11] student safety. And what is the

[47:14] board's wish?

[47:18] Mr. President, I propose the approval

[47:20] of action points 6.01 through

[47:25] Support.

[47:26] Very well, it has been proposed by Mr.

[47:30] Kilgore and supported by Mr. Fagan that

[47:33] we approve items 6.01 to 6.11 as a

[47:35] whole. Any discussion? Ms. Penny

[47:40] , could you please put this to a vote

[47:42] ?

[47:42] Mrs. Afonja.

[47:43] In favor.

[47:44] Mrs. Cherry.

[47:45] In favor.

[47:45] Dr. Banks-Gray.

[47:47] In favor.

[47:47] Mr. Samuels.

[47:48] In favor.

[47:49] Mr. Kilgore.

[47:50] In favor.

[47:50] Dr. Woodhouse.

[47:51] In favor.

[47:52] Dr. Mason.

[47:53] In favor. The motion is approved. That

[47:55] brings us to point number seven,

[47:56] deliberation, first reading. 7.01

[47:58] Review of the

[48:01] EFB School Board Policy, Food Services

[48:04] ; 7.02 Review of

[48:07] school board policy GAH, GBA, CB, Conflict

[48:10] of interest and disclosure of

[48:12] economic interests; 7.03 BBFA

[48:15] School Board Policy Review

[48:17] , Conflicts of Interest and

[48:20] Disclosure of Economic Interests;

[48:23] 7.04 Review of

[48:25] GCBDG School Board Policy, Leave of

[48:28] Absence; 7.05 New

[48:31] School Board Policy JS,

[48:33] Extracurricular Activity Notifications; 7.06

[48:36] Review of the

[48:39] JG school board policy, withdrawal of students from the

[48:41] educational environment by

[48:44] teaching staff. 7.07 New

[48:47] School Board Policy JOB,

[48:49] Administration of Surveys and

[48:51] Questionnaires. 7.08

[48:54] School Board Policy Review,

[48:57] School Attendance Zone. Yes,

[49:00] school attendance zones. Oh, and the first one is

[49:03] with Mrs. Branch.

[49:06] Good evening again. For the

[49:08] EFB food service policy

[49:10] , this was an

[49:11] update to the VSBA. Much

[49:14] of the language was added only to

[49:17] reflect the language of the VSBA, not

[49:19] necessarily anything substantial, but

[49:21] I want to point out that we included, in

[49:23] accordance with the state code, the

[49:25] reporting of any unpaid

[49:28] food debt. Originally this wasn't

[49:31] included, but based on the

[49:33] video's direction, even if it's

[49:35] zero, they ask that zero be reported and that's what

[49:37] we reported. So I wanted to make sure that was

[49:39] reflected

[49:40] in our school board policy

[49:41] .

[49:44] Any clarifying questions for

[49:46] Ms. Branch? Very good. Thank you. Very

[49:49] good. The next three are with one,

[49:52] two, three. Yes, three of them are with Mrs.

[49:53] Ruth.

[49:56] Yes. Well, the GBACB policy, which is

[49:59] the conflict of interest

[50:02] and disclosure of financial interests policy

[50:06] for employees, and the BBFA policy,

[50:09] which is next on the agenda, the

[50:12] conflict of interest policy for

[50:15] school board members, have...

[50:18] Oh. Oh. Excuse me, everyone. They have been

[50:22] mirror policies for several years,

[50:25] at least 25, probably more.

[50:31] Recently, the VSBA underwent a

[50:33] significant rewrite based on

[50:36] some code changes and also

[50:38] to remove things from the policy that

[50:41] no longer needed to be there. And because

[50:46] of the rewrite, we are now

[50:48] decoupling that mirror policy.

[50:52] Therefore, for GBACB, which is the

[50:56] policy that exists today, we recommend

[51:01] that it be reviewed to follow the

[51:06] VSBA policy. And we also recommend

[51:09] changing the code of that policy. The

[51:12] VSBA code for that is GAH.

[51:16] So our recommendation is that

[51:19] the policy code be changed.

[51:22] The name of the policy will change a

[51:24] little, it will be shorter: conflict of

[51:27] interest of the employees of the

[51:28] school division. And we recommend

[51:32] adopting 100% of the

[51:36] VSBA policy. That recommendation also

[51:42] includes that it will no longer be a

[51:44] mirror policy of the BBFA, the

[51:47] next policy on the agenda. As I

[51:50] said, they have been mirror policies, which

[51:52] means they were exactly the

[51:55] same for a very, very long time.

[51:58] Again, there was a

[52:00] significant rewrite of the VSBA and

[52:03] we now recommend that

[52:05] Hampton City Schools' BBFA policy,

[52:10] School Board Member Conflict of Interest, match the

[52:13] VSBA policy. Good. And then, the

[52:21] final policy I have to

[52:23] present tonight is the

[52:26] GCBDG policy. That is our

[52:28] leave of absence policy. And this change is

[52:31] due to a modification in a

[52:34] state code requirement. Beginning

[52:42] July 1, 2026, any

[52:44] employee who is not eligible for

[52:47] family medical leave will be

[52:50] eligible for up to 125 days of

[52:53] potentially unpaid leave

[52:56] for any debilitating or

[52:59] life-threatening illness. And that is, that is

[53:10] the big, the big change. Again, it's

[53:13] a code change. The 125 days is

[53:16] something the division's leadership team

[53:18] has discussed. We decided to opt

[53:22] for 125 days. It matches the

[53:25] maximum number of days a

[53:26] full-time employee could

[53:28] be off on family medical leave

[53:29] . And because this leave

[53:32] is specifically for someone with a

[53:34] debilitating or life-threatening illness

[53:37] , it made perfect sense not to give them

[53:39] just 30 days of leave. Because if

[53:41] you know, if you have a

[53:43] debilitating or life-threatening illness, you will

[53:45] probably need more time.

[53:48] Therefore, the license itself is

[53:50] required by the code. We cannot

[53:53] make any changes regarding this. But

[53:55] if the board has any questions about

[53:58] the number of days, well, as a

[54:00] school division we have some

[54:02] leeway with that. The code does not

[54:05] prescribe how many days that leave should last

[54:07] .

[54:11] Any questions? Any

[54:12] clarifications? Madam President.

[54:14] Thank you, Mr. President. Do the 125

[54:16] days have to be

[54:18] consecutive days? Well, policy doesn't

[54:22] stipulate that. Normally, yes, it

[54:26] would be 125 consecutive days.

[54:29] This particular leave is not like

[54:31] family medical leave where

[54:33] you can be absent intermittently

[54:35] . So, if I'm receiving

[54:37] treatment and I have to be absent for a

[54:39] week, then I return to work for 3

[54:41] weeks and then I'm absent for another

[54:43] week. This will not be treated as

[54:45] consecutive. Because these are people

[54:48] who are not eligible for

[54:50] federal leave protected by the

[54:52] Family Medical Leave Act.

[54:54] OK. Thank you.

[54:55] Mhm.

[54:58] Very good. Anyone else? Very good.

[55:02] Miss Hatcher? Oh. Alright

[55:04] . Very good. Mrs. Hatcher.

[55:08] Good night. I have the JS policy

[55:11] on extracurricular activity notifications

[55:13] , and this is a new

[55:15] policy according to the Virginia code

[55:17] and the VSBA model, and it talks about

[55:18] the use of social media, and how it

[55:20] cannot be the only means of

[55:22] communication with students for

[55:24] the facilitation of

[55:25] extracurricular activities. So, this

[55:28] refers to our volunteers,

[55:29] our coaches, and any other

[55:31] teachers or staff who have

[55:32] after-school activities.

[55:34] So this is a sort of

[55:36] follow-up to the policy on

[55:37] cell phone use and social media use

[55:39] . The next policy, JG,

[55:44] is a 5-year review. There are

[55:46] some changes, mainly to

[55:48] improve readability and consistency

[55:50] according to VSBA policy. And

[55:53] also, the VSBA recommends avoiding

[55:54] some procedural issues that

[55:56] are not in the code and that we had

[55:58] included in our policies in the

[56:00] past; Those would be

[56:02] school-based procedures, not

[56:04] necessarily part of this policy. We

[56:06] also recommend the title. This

[56:09] policy used to be called teacher removal

[56:11] of students from class,

[56:13] and the last time we

[56:14] reviewed it, we said teaching staff,

[56:16] but honestly the code and the VSBA

[56:17] say teacher, so we felt we

[56:19] needed to go back to saying teacher. The

[56:25] JOB policy is also a new policy

[56:27] to align it with another

[56:29] policy they saw as a

[56:31] cross-reference, which was the KP policy on

[56:35] parental rights and responsibilities. This covers

[56:40] instructional materials and other notifications that

[56:42] parents should receive related

[56:45] to the surveys and assessments

[56:47] we conduct, physical exams,

[56:49] use of information, how we use it, and

[56:51] discusses some of the

[56:53] annual notifications. If you recall,

[56:57] we had a policy regarding notifying

[56:58] parents about the

[57:00] safe storage of medications and firearms

[57:02] . So, this goes hand in hand with that

[57:05] and simply documents what

[57:07] we need to share with parents. And

[57:11] finally, my last policy is the

[57:13] JC policy. These are the

[57:15] school attendance zones. This policy is being

[57:18] updated due to some

[57:20] new VHS policy requirements

[57:22] . And we also simply

[57:24] reviewed it thoroughly and made sure it

[57:26] fit our practices.

[57:28] You will see that we added that

[57:30] students from across the division

[57:31] will be entered into the lottery instead of the

[57:33] application mentioned here earlier

[57:35] for our magnet programs. And

[57:38] also, there's a note on page

[57:40] two; that's where the

[57:42] VHS information comes in. We are

[57:46] ahead of schedule, but starting

[57:48] July 1, 2027, there will be some changes

[57:50] regarding students being

[57:51] granted out-of-zone placements and

[57:53] how that affects their participation in

[57:55] sports and other activities, the

[57:57] VHSL activities.

[58:02] Any clarifying questions for Ms.

[58:04] Hatcher? Very well thank you. Okay,

[58:10] that brings us to point number eight,

[58:12] hearing any delegation or

[58:14] submission of any

[58:15] written communication or request.

[58:17] We have a speaker, so I'll ask

[58:20] Mrs. Penny to read the protocol.

[58:24] Citizens are invited to contact

[58:26] the school board regarding matters of

[58:27] public interest related to the

[58:29] school division.

[58:31] Speaker forms are available before the

[58:32] start of the meeting. If you wish to

[58:33] address the school board, please

[58:35] complete the form and submit it to the

[58:37] secretary before 6:45 p.m. m. of the

[58:40] day of the meeting. Each person

[58:41] will have 3 minutes to speak. At the end

[58:44] of your time, you will hear a bell.

[58:46] All comments should be

[58:47] directed to the school board.

[58:49] Speakers cannot give their time to

[58:51] others. Speakers should address

[58:54] the school board with decorum on

[58:55] policy issues.

[58:57] Comments should relate to

[58:59] agenda items or matters

[59:00] pertinent to the business or duties of

[59:01] the school board. Speakers' comments

[59:04] about individuals

[59:06] risk violating

[59:08] confidentiality laws or defaming the

[59:10] subjects of their comments. Neither the

[59:13] school board, nor the superintendent, nor the

[59:15] school administration will

[59:18] publicly respond to any comments made by

[59:20] the speakers about individuals. The

[59:28] submission of resolutions,

[59:30] declarations, proclamations,

[59:32] manifestos, awards, or other

[59:34] similar documents not originating under the

[59:36] auspices of the school board or

[59:38] administration is prohibited during

[59:40] the public comment period.

[59:43] The audience is asked to be

[59:44] respectful to all speakers.

[59:47] Public comments are the

[59:48] school board's opportunity to

[59:49] hear from the speaker. Since our

[59:53] purpose is to listen to you, the board will not

[59:55] engage in dialogue with the audience or

[59:57] whoever is on the podium.

[1:00:00] Matters requiring a response

[1:00:02] will be referred to the superintendent

[1:00:03] for investigation and response. The

[1:00:06] superintendent may report on

[1:00:08] such matters at a

[1:00:09] subsequent business meeting, as

[1:00:11] appropriate. The school board

[1:00:13] carefully considers your comments as

[1:00:15] we decide on the matters brought

[1:00:16] before us. We appreciate your attendance

[1:00:19] and contributions.

[1:00:21] Very good. Thank you. And we have a

[1:00:23] speaker request for tonight, and it's

[1:00:25] from former Mayor Donnie Tuck.

[1:00:35] Good evening, President Mason,

[1:00:36] members of the school board,

[1:00:38] Superintendent Dr. Haynes, and

[1:00:40] support staff. It is interesting, after

[1:00:42] about 14 and a half years, to hear the

[1:00:44] protocol read from this side of the

[1:00:45] podium. But having said that, uh, my name

[1:00:49] is Donnie Tuck, I am a resident of

[1:00:51] proud Hampton, and last Friday

[1:00:53] I was going to Smith Elementary School to

[1:00:56] read to the fifth grade classes. And upon

[1:00:59] entering the building, the first thing I

[1:01:01] noticed was the security guard,

[1:01:03] his name is Denzel Giles,

[1:01:04] bending down to tie a student's shoe

[1:01:06] . And I thought that was

[1:01:08] simply praiseworthy, so that's why

[1:01:10] I'm here. I know things like this

[1:01:12] happen throughout the school system on a

[1:01:15] daily basis, but I was there and

[1:01:17] caught it in the act, and I want you to be aware

[1:01:19] of that. The second thing is that,

[1:01:22] since I retired, I have more time

[1:01:25] for tennis, so

[1:01:27] last week I took this shirt out to wear and

[1:01:30] remembered that in June 2023 we had

[1:01:33] the ribbon cutting for the floating classroom.

[1:01:37] Today I went down and looked at that boat and it really does

[1:01:40] n't seem to have moved. And I was

[1:01:43] curious to know the status

[1:01:45] of the floating classroom. Thank you for your

[1:01:47] time.

[1:01:49] Thank you.

[1:01:50] Very good. So, the next point

[1:01:54] is number nine,

[1:01:56] information topics. 9.01 upcoming meetings.

[1:02:00] The next working session will be

[1:02:02] held at 6:30 on

[1:02:04] September 16th right here in Jones and the

[1:02:06] next regular meeting will be

[1:02:08] held at 6:30 on October 7th

[1:02:10] also here in Jones. 9.02 Other

[1:02:13] information topics. I'll start with

[1:02:18] you, Dr. Haynes.

[1:02:21] Thank you, Mr. President. As

[1:02:22] Ms. Gorham shared earlier

[1:02:24] , we officially welcome

[1:02:26] students for the 2016-2017 school year

[1:02:28] on Monday, August 24. And it was

[1:02:30] a great first day at all

[1:02:32] Hampton City Schools.

[1:02:34] They began before dawn, of

[1:02:36] course, at our transportation lot

[1:02:37] , where members of our

[1:02:39] school board, division leaders,

[1:02:41] city officials,

[1:02:43] HCS staff, Hampton Police Department

[1:02:45] , PTA representatives, and

[1:02:46] community partners continued what has

[1:02:48] become a very

[1:02:50] special first-day tradition, cheering on

[1:02:52] bus drivers and

[1:02:53] attendants as they headed out to pick up

[1:02:55] our youth for their

[1:02:57] new school year routes. From there, the

[1:03:00] excitement continued in our schools

[1:03:02] as students returned

[1:03:03] to classrooms, reconnected with friends

[1:03:05] and teachers, and began another year of

[1:03:07] learning and new opportunities. Of

[1:03:10] course, a special thanks to

[1:03:12] WAVY TV 10 for joining us bright and

[1:03:14] early at the transport lot, and

[1:03:17] then heading to Craft Primary School

[1:03:19] to capture the excitement

[1:03:21] as the students arrived for

[1:03:24] the first day. We thank WAVY for

[1:03:26] helping us share those

[1:03:28] special moments with the Hampton

[1:03:29] Roads community. Looking ahead,

[1:03:33] schools and offices will be

[1:03:34] closed this Friday, September 4th, and

[1:03:37] Monday, September 7th, everyone is

[1:03:39] smiling, for the

[1:03:43] Labor Day weekend. And September 18th

[1:03:45] is a planning day for

[1:03:47] elementary school teachers. On

[1:03:50] September 23, the

[1:03:52] Food and Nutrition Services Department

[1:03:55] will host its sixth annual

[1:03:57] food fair from 4:30 p.m. at 6:30 p.m. at

[1:04:00] Hunter B. Andrews School, Pre-K to

[1:04:03] 8. Information on how to

[1:04:05] confirm your attendance at the event will be

[1:04:07] sent via Peachjar in the

[1:04:08] coming days. And finally, on

[1:04:11] September 29, the Hampton County PTA will hold

[1:04:13] its first

[1:04:14] general member meeting of the

[1:04:16] school year at 6:00 p.m. at the

[1:04:17] Kilgore Center for the Gifted.

[1:04:20] Families are, of course, encouraged to attend and

[1:04:21] learn more about the important role

[1:04:23] the PTA plays in supporting

[1:04:25] our youth, schools, and families. We

[1:04:27] also encourage families, of

[1:04:29] course, to join their

[1:04:30] school's PTA and become an

[1:04:32] active part of the school community. That

[1:04:34] concludes the superintendent's briefing points

[1:04:36] .

[1:04:38] Thank you so much. Other points of

[1:04:39] information from

[1:04:40] board members? Very good. Anything from our

[1:04:45] student representatives?

[1:04:50] Well, I just want to thank you on

[1:04:52] behalf of all of us for the

[1:04:53] opportunity to serve and for allowing me to

[1:04:55] continue my service. It is an honor to

[1:04:57] be here once again, and

[1:04:59] I am also very grateful for the warm

[1:05:01] welcome last year that gave me

[1:05:03] the peace of mind to be here this

[1:05:04] year. So I am very grateful and

[1:05:07] excited to make a difference and

[1:05:09] have a unique experience that is

[1:05:10] even different from last year's.

[1:05:12] So, thank you very much.

[1:05:14] Very good. And I will say on behalf of the board

[1:05:18] , once again, congratulations and

[1:05:20] welcome to um, Josiah and Alexis. Did I

[1:05:23] say it right? I'll

[1:05:24] sit in the back with you. Let me try to

[1:05:26] make sure I have the

[1:05:26] correct name. Yes that's

[1:05:29] fine. Therefore, with no further

[1:05:31] information to present to this

[1:05:33] board, I declare the session adjourned.

Hampton City Schools - Hampton School Board Meeting - September 2, 2026

Transcript