[0:05] Good evening.
[0:10] Could we all please stand for
a moment of silence followed by
[0:12] the pledge of allegiance?
[0:38] Okay.
[0:41] Madam Clerk, could you
please call the roll?
[0:44] Yes, ma'am.
[0:46] Chair Spall? Present.
Vice chair Jones? Here.
[0:51] Missus Siebert?
[0:53] Missus Stevens? Present.
Missus Brescia? Present.
[0:58] Miss Brown? Here.
[1:00] Miss Miles? Here. Thank you.
Madam chair, we have a quorum.
[1:04] Great.
[1:04] Doctor Newman, are there any
additions or deletions to the agenda?
[1:08] No, ma'am. Okay.
[1:11] Chair, I move that the school board
of the city of Manassas approve
[1:14] the public meeting
agenda as presented.
[1:17] Second.
[1:20] I have a motion by Ms. Stevens,
seconded by Ms. Doctor.
[1:24] Jones,
[1:26] that we approve
the public agenda.
[1:28] Any discussion?
[1:30] All those in favor?
Aye. Any opposed?
[1:34] It's a six o vote.
[1:39] We will move to board
committee reports.
[1:44] Anybody have a board
committee report?
[1:46] Chair, I do.
[1:47] Great. Thank you. Thank you.
[1:49] The policy committee meeting
will be tomorrow, Wednesday,
[1:52] June twenty fourth at
three PM at central office.
[1:56] The VSBA has issued approximately
sixty policy updates,
[2:00] several of which require board
approval by the end of July.
[2:03] During last week's retreat,
[2:05] we discussed creating a more
user friendly approach to
[2:07] presenting policy updates to
the public, one that is clear,
[2:10] accessible, and
easy to understand.
[2:13] At tomorrow's committee meeting,
[2:14] we'll begin brainstorming
practical strategies to improve
[2:17] implement this improved format.
[2:20] Thank you much.
Any other reports?
[2:25] Okay.
[2:27] The next item is
the consent agenda.
[2:29] These items are considered
routine and may be approved by
[2:31] a single motion unless a board
member requests an item to be
[2:34] removed for a
separate discussion.
[2:36] Can I get a motion?
[2:38] Chair, I move that the school board
of the city of Manassas approve
[2:41] the consent meeting the
consent agenda as presented.
[2:45] I
[2:47] have a motion by miss Stevens,
[2:48] seconded by miss Brescia that
the school board of the city of
[2:50] Manassas approve the
consent agenda as presented.
[2:53] Is there any discussion?
[2:55] All in favor? Aye. Any opposed?
[2:59] That is also a six o
motion, miss Garza.
[3:03] We'll now move to
discussion as agenda.
[3:08] Oh, I sure did. I'm sorry. Okay.
[3:12] At this time, we welcome members of
the public who wish to speak about
[3:15] services, policies, and affairs of
the city of Manassas public schools.
[3:20] Because we have an
agenda to complete,
[3:22] we ask that comments be
limited to three minutes.
[3:24] We appreciate the time
you've taken to be here,
[3:26] and we treat public comments
as a public hearing and do not
[3:29] engage in conversation
with speakers.
[3:31] The lack of an immediate
response to your comments
[3:33] should not be taken as a
lack of interest or concern.
[3:36] Please be respectful
when presenting your comments.
[3:38] Do we have anyone
signed up? Okay.
[3:43] Anybody want to speak? Okay.
[3:46] Great.
[3:48] Now we're going to move on
to the discussion agenda,
[3:51] and the first item
is accountability.
[3:54] Doctor.
[3:54] Jennifer Casada, executive director
of accountability and finance,
[3:58] will present an update on the
process and timeline for the
[4:01] development of our
new strategic plan.
[4:05] Thank you, doctor Casada.
[4:08] On.
[4:11] Alba, it's not.
[4:15] I
[4:16] can tell you when
too if you want.
[4:18] I'll start.
[4:20] Good evening, chair
Spall, vice chair Jones,
[4:22] school board members,
and doctor Newman.
[4:23] Tonight, I will be providing an
update on the process and timeline for
[4:26] the development of the new
strategic plan to the school
[4:29] board and the public.
[4:32] We're gonna switch.
[4:40] Alright.
[4:41] The purpose of tonight's
presentation is to provide the
[4:43] board and the public with an
update on the process MCPS is
[4:45] using to develop the
new strategic plan,
[4:47] which will launch next July,
so July of twenty twenty seven,
[4:50] and cover fiscal years twenty
eight through thirty two.
[4:53] I'll cover the process we're
using and some themes that have
[4:55] emerged thus far.
[4:56] I will discuss the components
that currently exist in our
[4:58] plan and what will be included
in the structure of the new plan.
[5:01] I will conclude by sharing
the timeline and next steps.
[5:04] It's an important to note at
the outset outset that MCPS
[5:06] will be maintaining the same
architectural metaphor with
[5:09] student academic success
supported by pillars.
[5:12] At the outset
of the development process,
[5:14] we engaged a strategic
plan steering committee.
[5:17] This committee is a
representative group from
[5:18] across all schools
and central office.
[5:20] The group was brought together first
in December of twenty twenty five.
[5:24] In December, the group reviewed the
existing MCPS vision and mission
[5:26] statements and identified a set
of potential core values that
[5:29] have been considered
by additional groups.
[5:31] This spring, they provided input
into key components and potential
[5:34] structure after reviewing examples
from other school divisions.
[5:37] This group will continue to
review drafts and provide input
[5:40] throughout the fall.
[5:42] This spring was phase one
of the development process.
[5:45] Over the course of the spring,
[5:46] we collected data from a
variety of stakeholder groups.
[5:48] I met with principals and
assistant principals during
[5:50] their respective
regular meetings.
[5:52] We met with multiple
central office departments,
[5:54] and we discussed the strategic
plan at cabinet meetings.
[5:57] Also held teacher and school
based support staff focus groups.
[6:01] The invitations to these focus
groups were provided through
[6:03] principals to all staff.
[6:04] These sessions were extremely helpful
in the development of the new plan.
[6:08] Each group reviewed the vision
and mission statements and
[6:10] provided feedback.
[6:11] Each group also looked at one
or more pillars to provide
[6:13] insights and meaningful sorry,
[6:15] insights into potential
indicators of success or
[6:17] success metrics.
[6:18] Finally, each group identified
barriers to success for more students.
[6:23] As the school
board members know,
[6:25] I provided an update on this process
at last week's school board retreat.
[6:28] In addition, school board members
reviewed and provided input in division
[6:31] and mission statements.
[6:32] School board members also
engaged in an activity aimed at
[6:34] narrowing and defining a
set of core values for MCPS.
[6:38] Across all groups so far,
some key themes have emerged.
[6:41] Overall, there is support for
maintaining the structural
[6:43] concepts and pillars.
[6:45] Later in the presentation,
[6:46] I will discuss how the new
iteration of the plan will go
[6:48] deeper with each pillar.
[6:50] One theme that has emerged
is that the culture of caring
[6:52] pillar needs a new name
to focus on climate and
[6:54] environment as well as to
be more inclusive of staff.
[6:57] Consensus is that this this
strategic plan has given M. P.
[7:00] S. A better common framework
and language than in the past.
[7:03] A big theme is that consistency
and alignment are critical to
[7:06] the success of the plan.
[7:07] This means consistency with
the implementation of strategic
[7:10] priorities, consistency
across schools,
[7:12] and consistency in alignment
among departments and between
[7:15] departments and schools.
[7:17] Another theme is that clearer
objectives and metrics for
[7:19] success are needed.
[7:20] I will discuss what this will look
like later in the presentation.
[7:22] And finally, a universal theme is
that the language in the plan needs to
[7:25] be more accessible
to the community.
[7:27] It's free of jargon as possible and
be as clear and concise as possible.
[7:32] As I mentioned earlier,
[7:34] all groups with which we've
worked have provided input into
[7:37] the vision and
mission statement.
[7:38] Initial feedback on both is that
they are too wordy and redundant.
[7:41] In particular, feedback on the
mission statement is that it is
[7:44] confusing and convoluted.
[7:45] For the vision statement,
[7:46] interest in broadening
the vision to be about all
[7:48] students, not just
graduates with shared.
[7:50] Of course, the goal is to
get all students to graduate,
[7:52] but the vision is about what
we would want to create for all
[7:55] our students along that journey.
[7:57] As I shared, the school board provided
input into the vision and mission
[7:59] statements at their retreat.
[8:01] This input along with the input
previously gathered will be
[8:03] used to generate drafts for revision
new vision and mission statements.
[8:06] Over the summer, the school board will
review and provide further input on
[8:09] these draft vision and mission
statements as well as core
[8:12] value statements.
[8:12] These drafts from the school
board will be shared with the
[8:14] community for input
during the fall.
[8:18] The new plan will
identify will I'm sorry.
[8:20] Will include a set of
identified core values written
[8:23] into value statements.
[8:24] These values will be another
way initiatives, efforts,
[8:26] successes can be linked
to the strategic plan.
[8:28] Currently, the plan has a
set of belief statements.
[8:31] A few of these will remain,
[8:32] but a set of easily
recognizable core values will
[8:35] help the plan become infused
into everyday efforts.
[8:37] To identify the the values,
we followed this process.
[8:40] First, the steering committee
brainstormed and identified a
[8:43] large set of potential values.
[8:44] Multiple groups have narrowed
the list through sorting and
[8:46] ranking exercises.
[8:48] The list will be further
narrowed this summer,
[8:50] and a set of value
statements will be written.
[8:52] The school board will review
this set of value statements
[8:54] and provide feedback.
[8:55] Surveys will be conducted
in the fall with stakeholder
[8:57] groups, including staff,
students, parents,
[8:59] and community that will include
ranking of these values.
[9:02] And then the final set of
core values will be included in the
[9:04] new strategic plan.
[9:07] Strategic plans tend to have
some common key components.
[9:10] They may have different names
and look different if you look
[9:12] at different plans,
[9:13] but this table shows how
those key components, what they are,
[9:15] and whether they exist
in the current MCPS plan.
[9:18] Vision and mission, our
current plan has these,
[9:20] and they will be revised for the new
plan as we've discussed already tonight.
[9:23] Core values, our current plan does
not have identified core values.
[9:26] We have belief statements.
[9:27] The next plan will have a set of core
values as we've already discussed.
[9:31] Goals. Our current plan
has aspirational targets.
[9:34] We will have these in
the new plan as well.
[9:36] Key components and goal
areas. These are our pillars.
[9:38] We will continue having the
pillars in our next plan,
[9:40] but the names may
change slightly.
[9:43] Strategies.
[9:43] We have strategic priorities
by pillar in our current plan.
[9:46] The new plan will have enhanced
specificity for strategies
[9:49] under each one.
[9:50] And performance
indicators and metrics,
[9:52] our current plan does not
have identified performance
[9:54] indicators spelled out for
the pillars and strategies.
[9:57] The new plan will have this
added layer which will help us
[9:59] in tracking progress.
[10:02] So this slide shows the general
hierarchical structure for the new plan.
[10:06] So vision, mission, and values.
[10:08] This section of the plan will
include the vision and mission
[10:10] statements and the set of
core values, which as I said,
[10:12] will be infused throughout
the pillar sections as well.
[10:15] Student academic success,
[10:16] this section will include goals and
aspirational targets at the macro level.
[10:20] We'll also include information
about our aligned systems and
[10:22] define operational strategies
that support all of the pillars.
[10:26] And then each pillar will
have a goal statement,
[10:28] strategic priorities with
supporting strategies,
[10:31] and performance metrics,
[10:32] tentatively being called
building blocks to support the
[10:35] architecture metaphor.
[10:36] In order to make the plan more transparent
and accessible to the community,
[10:39] we're gonna be developing an
interactive strategic plan website.
[10:42] We'll be able to highlight efforts
and initiatives under each pillar.
[10:45] We're also gonna be developing
a strategic plan document that
[10:48] will be parallel and structured
to the budget and CIP documents,
[10:51] as well as communication flyers
that will be public facing.
[10:54] Graphics will be updated and
modernized, so stay tuned.
[10:58] Okay.
[10:59] This slide shows the timeline
and next steps for the
[11:01] development of the plan.
[11:02] And although they go in order,
some of it is is iterative.
[11:05] So over the summer,
as I've said,
[11:07] we're gonna build an initial
draft of the structure based on
[11:09] the input received thus far.
[11:11] The steering committee and
school board will provide input
[11:13] and feedback on the draft.
[11:15] Specific strategies and
performance indicators are
[11:18] gonna be developed
for each pillar.
[11:19] Surveys and focus groups will
be conducted in the fall with
[11:22] stakeholders, staff, students,
parents, and community.
[11:25] The school board will be engaged
throughout the fall at work sessions,
[11:28] and then a draft will be
finalized by the cabinet in
[11:30] late fall, early winter.
[11:31] The goal is to present the
plan to the board in January of
[11:34] twenty twenty seven.
[11:35] We then need to hold a public
hearing and then have the
[11:38] school board approve the new
plan in early February twenty
[11:40] twenty seven to coincide
with the next budget cycle.
[11:45] Thank you for your
time this evening.
[11:48] Thank you, doctor Susada.
[11:49] That was a thorough explanation
both last week and tonight.
[11:53] And, this new strategic plan
promises to be really refined
[11:56] and targeted, and the addition
of core values and KPIs,
[12:00] I think, is gonna be
huge. Anybody else?
[12:05] Miss Brescia.
[12:07] I'm grabbing my
water. Yes. Go ahead.
[12:09] So
[12:12] I just wanna be clear
on the community
[12:17] opportunities because
surveys were mentioned,
[12:20] but then also on that
second to last slide,
[12:22] focus groups were mentioned.
[12:24] So focus groups, I'm using
as a catch all phrase.
[12:26] We're gonna try and use
what we've done so far.
[12:28] I'm glad you asked
that question.
[12:29] The process we've tried to
use is use existing structures
[12:33] where people are
already coming together.
[12:35] So we have a lot of
parent advisory groups,
[12:37] SEAC is an example, to be able
to go to meetings like that.
[12:41] But then we also can the public
hearing is another way people
[12:45] can come in person,
[12:46] but we will do targeted things
for the for community members
[12:49] to be able to participate in
person as well as the surveys
[12:52] are really designed to provide feedback
on a draft as well as
[12:56] particularly with the core
values since they're new.
[12:58] Okay.
[12:59] So most members of
the general public,
[13:01] if there is someone out there in the
general public who wants to weigh in,
[13:05] their best first bet and best
opportunity is gonna be in the survey,
[13:08] and then their next opportunity is
gonna be the And we will advertise yes.
[13:11] So we don't have dates or
anything for those things set
[13:13] for the fall, but that will
all be communicated out.
[13:15] But the the survey will be
available to anyone who wants
[13:18] to complete it.
[13:19] There'll be various versions for staff
and the community and and students.
[13:24] But that's a way that anyone
can express their opinions,
[13:28] and then we'll have
opportunities that will be
[13:30] advertised, for other
in person opportunities.
[13:32] Gotcha. The public hearing is
fairly late in the process.
[13:36] Yes.
[13:37] That's an that's a
[13:39] statutory requirement.
[13:40] So that is not that is like
your last chance when you
[13:43] really see after we
present the actual draft,
[13:46] then people are
coming and saying, oh,
[13:47] I don't like this or oh, I
really in in support of it.
[13:50] And so but that's not where you're
giving the meat of your feedback.
[13:52] So this will all
happen before that.
[13:54] So if if there is someone
watching out there who wants to
[13:57] be engaged in the process,
[13:58] don't wait for the
public hearing.
[13:59] Like, there will be surveys.
[14:00] And we will add that we will advertise
those things early in the fall.
[14:03] Okay. Good. Thank
you. That's it.
[14:08] Ms. Stevens? Yes. Thank you.
[14:12] You started to mention
[14:14] a website.
[14:16] Can you I know you're
very early in the process,
[14:19] but can you possibly give me a
little bit of Of my vision for that?
[14:23] Yes.
[14:23] Your vision for that.
[14:24] Non as a non, like,
website person.
[14:26] So my vision is and from
looking at lots of research
[14:29] with other places,
[14:30] so I want the strategic plan
to be something that is more
[14:33] living and breathing.
[14:34] One of the reasons we like the idea
of the core values and having, like,
[14:37] icons for those is we can
link them across across the various
[14:40] parts of our existing website.
[14:42] But having a website where you
would click on a pillar and
[14:45] you'd be able to see videos or
stories about certain things,
[14:48] it allows us to highlight.
[14:49] It allows us to say
provide information.
[14:51] What is a cycle that works?
[14:53] And go into those things and
have it all under structure of
[14:55] the strategic plan.
[14:56] So it wouldn't just
be a document, right,
[14:58] that's linked on a page.
[14:59] It would be Interactive.
[15:00] Interactive in a
way where you can,
[15:03] get more information and allows
us to use it to tell our story
[15:06] and, highlight things.
[15:07] So now when you
envision the website,
[15:10] I wanna make sure you and I
are envisioning the same thing
[15:11] because, you know,
[15:12] my brain goes Is that
something you're going
[15:15] to start getting up before
putting together before the
[15:18] strategic plan is
approved in February?
[15:21] Is that something people can
look to throughout the process
[15:24] to see how the process is going?
[15:26] Question. So some
of that will occur.
[15:28] So they'll we'll
set up the shell,
[15:30] but most of the interactive
pieces won't come until after,
[15:33] but there will be that's
where you can go and see.
[15:35] We will post versions. We will
post links to the surveys.
[15:38] We will we will set start
sending people there,
[15:40] but it'll really become its
full thing once it's approved.
[15:43] Okay. Yep.
[15:44] And so we'll going back
to what miss Brescia said,
[15:47] will this be will
they'll where excuse me.
[15:49] Will there be a feature within
this website where people
[15:53] can participate, maybe provide
thoughts, provide comments?
[15:58] So there'll be yes.
[15:58] So when I say surveys,
[15:59] there'll be links to ways
people can provide feedback
[16:02] that'll be featured
on the website,
[16:03] and we'll advertise those through
all the typical typical channels.
[16:07] And then once I envision this
not just for the launching of
[16:10] the plan, but over the course
of the five years, right,
[16:12] there'll be dashboards and
progress because having these
[16:15] indicators are gonna allow us
to show progress in real time
[16:18] in a variety of ways,
not just, you know,
[16:20] test scores at the
end of the year.
[16:21] So we'll be able to have
those kind of dashboards will all be
[16:24] part of this website.
[16:26] Yeah.
[16:26] I think I think that's really
great because although we we
[16:29] are using the strategic
plan and we're following the
[16:32] strategic plan and we have
updates to the strategic plan,
[16:35] it doesn't feel
like it's a living
[16:38] artifact, so to It
feels, for many people,
[16:41] like this piece of paper that
you're just referring back to.
[16:44] But I think if it's built into
an interactive website that
[16:47] people can see, that anyone
can go to to see where we are,
[16:51] what we're doing, what
the progress looks like,
[16:53] I think that's going to be very
helpful to the public especially.
[16:58] That's the goal. I look
forward to seeing that being developed.
[17:01] Thank you.
[17:02] Anybody else?
[17:04] Ms. Miles.
[17:06] So I noticed that you put
on there that we're gonna be
[17:08] engaging during work sessions.
[17:11] Are these gonna be separate
work sessions like our budget
[17:13] sessions are separate, or
they're gonna be included
[17:15] during our work sessions,
our normal work sessions?
[17:18] So, that is, of course,
[17:21] that is up to you.
[17:22] You have existing
work session time,
[17:25] so however you
prefer to to do it.
[17:28] So my goal would not be to
create additional meetings for
[17:31] you, but it would
be touch points,
[17:33] along the way using
ideally, again,
[17:36] your existing meeting structure
should the board find that acceptable.
[17:40] Okay.
[17:40] And the other question is,
[17:41] I know like miss Brescia
said about the surveys,
[17:44] the focus groups, will we get
updates on how those are going
[17:49] Yes. Along the way? Okay.
[17:50] That's kind of what the
at the work sessions,
[17:52] you'd be getting synthesis
of here's what we've heard.
[17:56] Here's where we're at.
[17:57] Here's changes that are being
recommended as drafts proceed.
[18:00] Okay.
[18:02] And the public hearing is that
going to be during a regular
[18:05] school board meeting,
[18:07] or is that going to be at a separate
date in a separate location?
[18:10] Typically, the public hearings
are scheduled as like through us
[18:14] through a school board meeting,
[18:15] it would be the in between one
between when we present it just
[18:18] like we do for the budget.
[18:19] Again, that's a that's a statutory
requirement that is just kind
[18:23] of a last chance
effort for for comment.
[18:27] Yeah. So that would be an
existing board meeting.
[18:29] In addition to that, the
surveys, the focus groups,
[18:31] and the public hearing, are we
will we have translators for
[18:34] our families who
speak other languages?
[18:36] How will we, make
sure it's equitable?
[18:39] So, any survey would be tran
would exist in other languages,
[18:45] and then anything that we would
do that was targeted to parents
[18:47] in the community that
was in person, we would,
[18:50] I'll work with communications
to make sure we have that.
[18:52] Okay.
[18:53] And especially for
the public hearing,
[18:54] if there's a parent
who wants to share,
[18:56] will we be able to have a
translator on hand so that way
[18:59] we can understand what Yes.
[19:01] Okay. Thank you.
That's all I have.
[19:03] Thanks.
[19:05] Anybody else?
[19:07] Thank you very much,
Doctor. Casada. Thank you.
[19:12] I don't even know what
to do. It's six nineteen.
[19:16] It's time for board
member comments.
[19:19] Miss Stevens, you're up.
[19:21] Thank you.
[19:22] I think this is the first
time I'm going first,
[19:24] so it's very unusual.
[19:25] I'm I'm not used to being first.
[19:28] So because I usually listen to
what everyone else has to say,
[19:31] and that tells me what
I still need to say,
[19:32] but being the first person to
speak will get to separate.
[19:34] So
[19:36] last week's retreat was an
important opportunity for self
[19:39] reflection, thoughtful
and sometimes difficult
[19:42] discussions, and meaningful
updates across our division.
[19:45] It allowed each board member to
gain a deeper understanding of
[19:48] how well our division is
performing and the work being
[19:51] done to make it stronger.
[19:53] One highlight for me was the
update on alternative education,
[19:57] specifically evening school
and the Pathways program.
[20:00] Both have demonstrated
encouraging success.
[20:03] In Pathways, two
students graduated,
[20:05] representing nine percent
of those enrolled.
[20:08] In evening school, which
serves seventy four students,
[20:10] thirty four students graduated
in May and another eighteen are
[20:13] expected to graduate
by the end of July.
[20:16] These outcomes reflect our
division's strong commitment to
[20:19] student success and our belief
that every student deserves the
[20:23] opportunity to learn,
grow, and achieve.
[20:28] Thank you. Ms. Brown?
[20:31] I would be really brief,
[20:32] but I just wanted to mention
that thank you for making
[20:35] comments about the retreat.
[20:37] And today in the consent
agenda, we actually approve,
[20:41] the priorities and the number
one priority is to have our
[20:45] schools on track.
[20:46] And this will take investments
not just from families,
[20:49] but also our whole community,
and it will also take,
[20:53] city council and school board
collaboration and continued dialogue.
[20:58] And tonight, to show our
commitment to this priority
[21:02] in the consent agenda,
[21:04] we approve over ten million
dollars in contracts and
[21:06] operational expenditures
that include, technology,
[21:10] international teacher
recruitment, transportation,
[21:12] maintenance, and utilities,
just to mention a few.
[21:15] So we are all committed,
[21:17] and I think we're gonna
be seeing some changes.
[21:20] I also like to congratulate or
[21:24] give, just a little
bit of a shout
[21:27] out to students who are
attending summer school session.
[21:31] I know that, in Prince
William, where my employer is,
[21:34] I spent the last two
days working with students who
[21:37] started their school,
summer session, today.
[21:42] And, that also is a commitment
for families to make
[21:46] sure that your students
continue to learn and grow
[21:49] through the summer months, but
it's also a huge commitment for
[21:53] teachers and staff who
go above and beyond,
[21:56] to give a little bit extra to
all of our families and students.
[22:00] So thank you to everyone
in every district,
[22:02] particularly this district, who is
doing that for all children.
[22:06] And, so I think that's
all my comments for today.
[22:11] Thank you, Ms. Brown. Ms. Miles.
[22:14] Thank you. Yes.
[22:16] Last week, we, went on
our school board retreat,
[22:18] and we discussed lots of things.
[22:21] We got some updates on
quite a few departments,
[22:25] which was very enlightening.
[22:27] And seeing the retention rates
of our teachers and how many
[22:31] teachers are excited to bring
friends to our school district
[22:35] was very encouraging.
[22:36] I also enjoyed the heavy discussions
that we had on our priorities,
[22:42] and I think that if you will look
at our school board priorities,
[22:45] you will be very encouraged to
see that we came up with three
[22:48] very sound priorities for, our
school board to get behind.
[22:54] In addition, I hope everyone is able
to come out to our joint session on
[22:58] Thursday so you can kind of
learn a little bit more about,
[23:01] that as we present it
to the city council.
[23:05] And I wanted to give a shout
out to all the fathers,
[23:09] grandfathers,
stepfathers, mentors,
[23:11] father figures who make a
difference in the lives of our
[23:13] children and community.
[23:15] On Sunday, we celebrated Father's Day
and the men that show up with love,
[23:19] guidance, patience,
unwavering support.
[23:21] I know that without, a
strong father figure,
[23:25] my dad in my life,
[23:27] I would not be the
person I am today
[23:30] From whether it's you're
helping with homework,
[23:32] cheering from the sidelines,
attending school events,
[23:35] or simply being a
steady presence,
[23:37] fathers play an invaluable role
in helping our students thrive.
[23:40] And as a school board member,
[23:41] I know that strong families
and supportive adults are essential
[23:44] partners in education.
[23:46] I know it's the summertime, but,
[23:48] without those, mentors
or father figures in your
[23:52] life, students
sometimes go astray.
[23:55] So I really appreciate all that
you're doing to invest your
[23:59] time, your wisdom, and hearts
into raising the next generation.
[24:02] And I hope that you
enjoyed your Father's Day.
[24:04] That's all that I have.
[24:05] Thank you.
[24:05] Thank you, Ms.
Miles. Ms. Brescia.
[24:07] Thank you.
[24:08] Everybody is so eloquent,
[24:09] so I'm not going to
belabor any points.
[24:10] But the one thing I do want to
add is to publicly recognize
[24:14] and thank our clerk, Ms.
[24:15] Garza, who, she hates
public recognition.
[24:19] We're going to do it anyway
because you deserve it for
[24:21] handling that retreat so well,
[24:23] and especially considering all of
the hurdles that came up in your way.
[24:26] Logistically, actually, a
very successful retreat.
[24:30] And you give so much
of yourself to us,
[24:33] and you do so much for us.
[24:34] So I just wanted to take this
moment to thank you for a
[24:37] successful retreat.
[24:41] Please forgive me. Very nice.
[24:44] Thank you, miss Brescia.
[24:44] Doctor Jones.
[24:46] At the Obama presidential center
opening, Obama stated, quote,
[24:50] the single most powerful word
in our democracy is the word we.
[24:55] We, the people, we
shall overcome. Yes.
[24:58] We can. The word is owned by
no one. It belongs to everyone.
[25:02] Oh, what a glorious task we
are given to continually try to
[25:06] improve this great nation
of ours, end quote.
[25:10] The moment I heard these words,
[25:11] I knew I wanted to share
the power of the word we.
[25:15] As we close out the twenty five,
[25:17] twenty six school year and
move into the twenty six,
[25:19] twenty seven school year, let
us intentionally use the word
[25:23] we more often.
[25:25] We reminds us that our
greatest successes come through
[25:28] collaboration, shared
responsibility, and collective
[25:31] responsibility.
[25:32] Many well known quotes
reinforce the power of teamwork.
[25:36] John Haywood wrote, many
hands make like work.
[25:40] An African proverb, if you
wanna go fast, go alone.
[25:44] If you wanna go
far, go together.
[25:48] Maddie Stepapuk,
unity is strength.
[25:50] When there is teamwork
and collaboration,
[25:53] wonderful things
can be achieved.
[25:55] Helen Keller, alone
we can do so little.
[25:58] Together we can do so much.
[26:00] And mother Teresa, I can
do things you cannot.
[26:03] You can do things I cannot.
[26:05] Together we can do great things.
[26:07] As educators, families,
students, and community
[26:10] members, we have the unique
gifts and we have unique gifts
[26:13] and perspectives.
[26:15] By embracing the power of we,
[26:17] we can continue building
schools and communities where
[26:20] everyone contributes
and everyone succeeds.
[26:23] Together, we educate.
Together, we achieve.
[26:26] Together, we make a difference.
[26:29] Thank you, vice chair.
That was very nice.
[26:32] Before we adjourn,
[26:33] I'd just like to leave our
community with a bit of
[26:35] encouraging news from Richmond.
[26:36] Yesterday, the general assembly
has approved a budget package that
[26:39] is expected to receive final
approval from the governor in
[26:42] the near future.
[26:44] While our staff is still
reviewing the final details,
[26:47] and we will have more to share once
the budget is officially enacted,
[26:51] The legislation contains
several provisions that are
[26:53] expected to positively
impact our school system.
[26:56] The Commonwealth's investment
in public education reflects an
[26:59] understanding of the challenges
school divisions are facing
[27:01] across Virginia from recruiting
and obtaining exceptional
[27:04] educators to meeting the
increasing academic, social,
[27:07] and emotional needs of students.
[27:09] We anticipate that some of
those investments will benefit
[27:12] our division directly.
[27:14] I don't wanna spoil all
the details tonight,
[27:15] but I'm excited about what this
could mean for our students,
[27:18] our staff, and our community.
[27:19] Once the governor takes final
action and our team completes
[27:22] its analysis,
[27:23] we will forward we look forward
to sharing exactly how those
[27:26] changes will be
reflected in MCPS.
[27:29] As always, I'm grateful for our
partnership between our local
[27:31] community, our
elected officials,
[27:33] and the Commonwealth as we
continue working together to
[27:36] provide every student with the
opportunities they deserve.
[27:39] Thank you, and have a wonderful
evening. I get a motion.
[27:44] Chair, I move that the
school board meeting adjourn.
[27:47] Second.
[27:50] I have a motion by miss Stevens,
[27:52] seconded by miss Brown that the
school board meeting adjourn.
[27:54] Is there any discussion?
All in favor?
[27:57] Aye. Any opposed? That's
six o, miss Carson.
[28:01] Thank
[28:03] you, everyone.
[28:04] Congratulations. Record time.