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meeting of the Washington County School
Board to order. Uh first, I'd like to

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welcome everyone to tonight's Washington
County School Board meeting. I know

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there have been a lot of mixed feelings
and strong opinions surrounding the tax

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referendum, our CIP needs, and the
discussion about the possible

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unification of Patrick Henry and Holston
High Schools. With all of these

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conversations happening at the same
time, I understand how it can create a

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lot of confusion, concern, and
frustration.

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As a member of this board, we are also
citizens of this beautiful county. We

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live here. Our families are here. And we
care deeply about our schools and our

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community. But we have also been given
the responsibility of making some very

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difficult decisions about the future of
our schools. We may not have all the

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answers tonight, but we are committed to
listening. We will hear your concerns,

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look at the information, and carefully
consider all sides before making these

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important decisions. All I ask is that
we remember that we are all on the same

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team. We may not always agree, but we
can [clears throat] disagree

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respectfully.
We will respect respect each of you and

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I ask that you show the same respect to
us as we work through these difficult

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issues together.
With that being said, madame clerk, item

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1.02, determination of quorum. We have
seven members present.

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Now I'd like to ask Boy Scouts Flag
Guard Troop 222 from EB Stanley

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Wesley Barry and Ryan Wiseman to lead us
in the pledge of allegiance.

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» Please stand up for the pledge of
allegiance.

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I aliance to the flag of the United
States of America [clears throat] and to

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the republic for which it stands. One
nation under God, indivisible, with

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liberty and justice for all.
>> Please be seated.

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» Thank you.

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» Item 1.04. Now, we'll observe a moment
of silence. uh if y'all would please

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join me in a moment of silence to
[snorts] uh think about things that may

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have happened in our communities and
around the world and and any things that

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may be happening in your life. So,
please join me in a brief moment of

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silence.

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Thank you.
Item 1.05, approve the meeting agenda.

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» Mr.

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Motion by made by Rasnik, second by Dr.
Frederick to approve approve the meeting

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agenda. Is there any further discussion?
And none. All in favor signify by

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raising your right hand. Post likewise.
Motion carries. 70. Madam clerk,

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item two is student school board
representatives report.

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Kate, you want to go first?
>> Sure, I'll lead off.

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» All right. Hello everybody. My name is
Kaden Singleton. I'm the schoolboard rep

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for Abington High School, EB, and those
engulfed elementary schools. Um, so my

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report mainly I'm going to, you know,
discuss the things that happened last

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year at our school that were good and
things that are coming up for us this

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week. So, upcoming this week, we have
our homecoming dance and game. Our theme

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this year is Hollywood. Our SCA
announced that this past week, you know,

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it was my just my idea. You know, don't
tell them I said that, right? [laughter]

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But we will be playing Gate City, big
rival. Everybody come. It'll be exciting

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and it'll be right down there at 700
p.m. Um, what happened two weeks ago is

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we beat John Battle 62 to6.

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» [laughter]
>> But um last year in athletics we won I'd

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like to congratulate our volleyball,
girls basketball, and softball for

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winning their state championships.
That's a crazy feat. And I think I heard

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Mr. Grace say that has not been done
before potentially. So that's a huge

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feat for Abington to have. Um a couple
weeks ago we had our club day, our first

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club day where we signed up for clubs
and we had crazy turnouts and students

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joining clubs and already those clubs
have already done service project. I

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know my club, Families for Families, has
already done a food drive and raised a

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whole lot of food for people that'll
need it most. So, seeing these kind of

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good things happen out of these high
schools is great to see. Our one act

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team, which is our competitive theater
team, has just started these past two

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weeks, and they're already looking
incredible. So, I'm very excited to see

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where their season take them. The
marching band is set to do their first

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performances Friday, and they yet to be
seen by anybody but the marching band.

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So, pretty excited for that. So, make
sure to come to our halftime show to see

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that, too. And I'll wrap it up with
thanking Dr. Perent for including me on

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the capital improvement plan committee.
It's been cool to see the ideas that

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have been floated around from that. And
then I'd like to thank the school board

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and Miss Kumbo for allowing me the
opportunity to be a school board rep.

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So, thank you guys.
>> Then I'll start off where Kane left off.

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Thank you very much Dr. Perigen for and
members of the board for having me here.

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I'm Zim Moser, the representative from
Patrick Henry. And thank you Dr. Dr.

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Duncan and Miss Montzobias for this
wonderful opportunity. Well, it's a

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great day as it always is to be a Rebel.
Our football team is off to a wonderful

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start with a 1-1 record versus two class
2 opponents, including a big win Friday

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evening versus Lebanon. Our golf team is
off to a wonderful start as well and

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under the direction of our new coach,
Mr. John Hicks. Our cross country and

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volleyball teams recently hosted large
events at Patrick Henry. Coach Love

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directed the Becky Self cross country
invitational a couple of weeks ago and

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Coach Miller hosted the Patrick Henry
Invitational volleyball tournament. And

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for those of you who don't know the
Becky Self, it is big. It is huge. It

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takes over Emery and Glade. That's how
big it is. Um they finished, the

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volleyball team finished with a 22
record on Saturday, defeating Ji Burton

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and Southern Gap with a loss to West
Central and Happy Valley, but we don't

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talk about that too much. Both [snorts]
events brought many different schools

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from Southwest Virginia and East
Tennessee to Patrick Henry. And both

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events were highly successful. As we
mentioned, uh Patrick Henry has some

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wonderful new teachers this year. Uh and
they seem to really be enjoying uh being

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part of the Rebel Nation. We have Miss
McIntyre in our science department, Miss

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Harrison in Agg, and Mr. Keane in PE,
Miss L in business, and Mr. Carpenter is

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directing our marching band along with
Mr. Markham, who as you all know is

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completing his workout year. And we're
just so thrilled to have them. Um our

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esteemed and and Dr. D put this part in
the Scholastic Ball team. So, I promise

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I'm not bragging on myself. Our esteemed
state championship winning scholastic

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bowl team was recently invited to
participate in the prestigious Tennessee

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Scholars Bowl competition that will be
filmed at PBS Studios in Knoxville,

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Tennessee. So, that's a little publicity
for both Patrick Henry and Washington

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County. So, we love to see that. Then,
Patrick Henry's student council is

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stronger than ever. We are currently or
constantly working to serve the students

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of Patrick Henry as well as those in our
surrounding communities. We began the

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year by ensuring that our freshman and
new students had a seamless transition

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into Patrick Henry and they're doing
quite well. And we did this by offering

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campus tours and assisting with
orientation. At the end of August, we

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hosted a rumage sale at Mete Elementary
that brought the community together

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while simultaneously helping raise money
for Patrick Henry. We are currently

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working with Nicewonger Children's
Hospital uh in Johnson City to provide

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crayons and a coloring book to each
child and are in close contact with the

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coordinators at Nicewonger. We were on
the phone with them earlier today. So,

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just a little more about how Patrick
Henry is dedicated to helping the

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surrounding community as well. Other
than that, our one act team's off to a

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strong start like Cadence and our
homecoming theme is we will always love

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you Rebels because we just love Dolly
Park. So, uh that's that's how it's

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going at Patrick Henry and we can't wait
to get a great thing going.

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» I don't think TJ is
>> TJ is on his way. I think he got held up

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with band practice. Is that right? Yeah.
So, we can we can always squeeze him

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back in once once TJ gets here. Does any
board member have any questions for

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Caitlyn or Zen
>> comment? Mr. Chair, I just want to

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congratulate you for um and also thank
you for committing next year to serving

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as school board rep. Uh really excited
about um hearing about all the events at

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your schools and also want to commit you
on ser community service projects

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because again like I think that um being
able to give back to your community is

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so composable. TJ, what's up?
[laughter]

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» Just bad practice.
>> I know. I'm gonna talk to Mark Collins.

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[laughter]
>> Would you like to give a report and talk

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about everything that's I know don't
want to put you on the spot. They just

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finished with their reports. Would you
like to talk about all the wonderful

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things happening at John B?
>> So, Battle is doing some great things as

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we have uh started during the breakfast
hours. We have done something called

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battle bruise which in the breakfast
hours we serve coffee during uh of

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course like I said breakfast hours for
the 36th time but um it's basically just

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to give the kids like a little oomph of
energy throughout the school day and it

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it really does help with not only the
the energy side of things but it gives

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the kids kind of like a happy feeling to
come to school because a lot of the time

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you know they don't like school and of
course you know they like coffee, you

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know, sometimes get ice in it or
whatever. But that's that's a good thing

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that we've been doing. And um I would
probably say

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we're not really doing good in sports
right now, but [clears throat]

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we've never really [laughter] been doing
good in sports right now, but um our

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school is kind of uplifting our football
team. We had a uh I wouldn't say a pep

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rally, but we had a miniature pep rally
throughout the the hallways the other

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day.
Um it was a it was a good time. Normally

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I go home but I was there for it.
[clears throat] I was rooting on the

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team Thursday about battle but you know
and u yeah other things have been going

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on. A lot of um grades have been coming
up. Teachers have been you know talking

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a lot better about their students and
overall just

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I guess better environment. Um the kids
have been doing really good.

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Well, I want to say I know John Battle
has an amazing band

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» which are which are our best.
>> And also I think you have a couple

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really strong lady golfers.
>> Yeah.

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» And volleyball team's doing really well.
>> Yes, I think

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» that's like the only two
>> golf and volleyball.

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» Anybody else have any comments or
questions for our student reps?

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» Mr. Mr. Chairman, Zoom, when is the PBS?
>> Um, it is coming up at the end of

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October into bleeding into early
November depending on how well we do.

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So, end of October.
>> Congratulations on that.

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» Thank you very much, Mr. Bucket.
>> Who will you be competing against down

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there? You know,
>> uh, we'll be competing against other

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teams that have been invited from across
East Tennessee and probably the

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Knoxville area. Uh, we're
[clears throat] just lucky that they

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reached out to us Virginiaians asking us
to come. Anyone else from Virginia?

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» I don't believe so. I think we're the
>> Don't quote me on that. No, just us.

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Just us.
>> Just us.

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» Good luck.
>> So, Zen, is that the with last year's

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team or this year's team?
>> That'll be with this year's team.

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Awesome.

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» Well, thank you all and keep us informed
the rest of the year, too. Appreciate

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it. [snorts]
>> Uh, item number three, superintendent

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report.
>> All right. Well, um, so good job, guys.

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And I'll tell you, as y'all can probably
tell from their personalities, when we

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had all five of our school board reps in
the room at one time, it was uh it was

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pretty exciting. They're they they are
definitely have some personality and

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[clears throat] enjoy enjoy being with
them. Um so very quickly, I as early in

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the morning, I'll be heading out to DC
to present at the Stronger State,

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00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:08,959
Stronger Outcomes Conference. Um, I'll
be discussing our progress with uh with

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our partnership with the Appalachin H
Highlands Housing Partners, Wellspring

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Foundation, and then the other regional
school divisions in the Wellspring

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footprint about how we can improve our
instructional opportunities uh in the

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construction trades, build a stronger
workforce because I think we all know

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that there's a huge need for that uh
more construction employees in our in

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our region. and hopefully that will also
lead to more affordable housing options

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for families in our community too. So
really excited about the work that we're

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doing there and [snorts] we're going to
share that with other rural communities

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across the nation um tomorrow afternoon.
So it's going to be a a fast trip up and

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a fast trip back. I would also uh tell
you that of course you know our our

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theme for this year is to crush the box
and to think about all the things that

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we do and and to if we're if they're
working and they're they're they're

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doing well to stay after them. But if
there's ways that we can improve it to

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try to come up with new ways to do
things that make that the things that

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we're doing now even better. Our staff
is buying into that and we already are

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seeing some really exciting initiatives
uh [clears throat] already and we'll

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start sharing some of those at our board
meetings in the upcoming future. One of

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the things I think you ought to keep
your eyes out for is there's going to be

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a group of teachers who are going to
come together to develop a podcast to

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highlight uh those box crushing ideas.
And there's already a couple of those

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episodes in the planning process and
hopefully we'll get those rolled out

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either late fall or or early winter. And
then finally, uh we will we I think some

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of you were able to attend the
groundbreaking that we had at AON

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Elementary for the inclusive playground.
Senator Warner and other dignitaries

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were there and Senator Warner's office
put out a pretty a pretty good uh video

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here. We just like to share that with
everybody.

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We did something really cool. We did a
groundbreaking [music] for a new

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playground that's going to literally get
built in eight days and [music] met one

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family. They had twin kids. One had
special needs. Currently they [music]

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couldn't wait.
>> My name is Kayen Kissa. I am a fifth

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grader here at Adam Elementary. [music]
I also have my twin brother here with

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me. His name is Connor. Connor and I are
looking forward to spending [music] a

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lot more time in this last year of
elementary school. Playing as much

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together as we do at home. And it hasn't
always been easy to play with Connor

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00:14:28,399 --> 00:14:33,839
since there are places they can't get
to. Thank you to everyone who has made

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this playground possible.
>> Their twins were born at 27 weeks. At

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two weeks old, Connor almost died and
should have died, but the good Lord

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chose to save him. As we've gone along,
you see, boys are at very different

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ability levels. And their ability to
play and to have that normal twin

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00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:58,240
experience has been very limited. Connor
loves to play. He loves to slide. He

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loves to swing. With with a traditional
playground, that's very hard to keep him

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safe.
this playground is going to have the

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opportunity for them to play together on
it and then to make some wonderful

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memories. I I can't adequately tell you
how thankful we are for this. Thank you

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00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:20,639
so much to everyone [music] that made
this happen. We're really appreciative

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for their family and for all the future
families that get to come here and have

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their children play on.
>> Brandon, your comments were

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00:15:26,399 --> 00:15:33,519
extraordinary [music] and every family
has been touched by God in different

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ways. The ability twins play together,
share together. There's a lot that goes

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on inside a classroom, isn't there? But
quite honestly, there's an awful lot

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that goes on as well in a playground
where you get a chance to meet people

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and build those friendships that can
last a lifetime. The fact that the twin

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boys are now going to be able to have
this kind of activity together and not

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00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:57,399
separate is really extraordinary.

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really excited about these inclus

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00:16:06,399 --> 00:16:13,199
excited about these the groundbreings
we've had for the two inclusive

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00:16:09,519 --> 00:16:17,360
playgrounds. We have another uh request
into uh to Senator Warner, Senator

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Kane's office to do two more of those.
And of course on our CIP plan that we're

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00:16:19,839 --> 00:16:25,120
we're talking about later, we have
inclusive playgrounds planned for all of

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our all of our elementary schools. So
really excited to see those things come

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00:16:26,959 --> 00:16:33,199
to light, but also to see the impact
that it's going to have not just on on

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00:16:31,199 --> 00:16:37,199
the CLI family, but you know, families
that we have in our division now. That's

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00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:43,000
all I have. Happy to answer any
questions, Mr. Chair. Anybody got any

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questions for Dr. Far?

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00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:50,320
We'll move into public comment. Thank
you, Dr. Far.

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00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:56,440
Uh at this time I'll give if anyone has
not signed up that wishes to speak uh

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00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:56,440
the signup sheet is on the podium.

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00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:06,319
Dr. Wallace is giving that I'll go over
public comment which is item four on the

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agenda. Person persons desiring to
address the school board regarding

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00:17:07,679 --> 00:17:14,480
educational issues and policies under
the purview of the body's authority will

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00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:18,319
be afforded an opportunity to speak.
Those addressing the board are requested

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00:17:16,319 --> 00:17:20,959
to sign the form at the podium prior to
the opening of the meeting.

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00:17:19,496 --> 00:17:24,720
[clears throat] Each individual will be
allotted three minutes to address the

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00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:30,160
board.
A yellow flag will notify the speaker of

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00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:34,640
the end of two minutes.
A red flag indicates the speaker's a lot

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00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:39,039
of time has expired and the speaker will
be asked to stop. All portions of the

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00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:42,559
meetings are electronically recorded for
the purpose of being able to review the

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00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:46,960
proceedings
for clarification.

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00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:51,919
For clarific for further clarification,
please see the board school board policy

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00:17:49,360 --> 00:17:57,120
B DDHKD
public [snorts] participation at

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00:17:53,280 --> 00:18:01,840
schoolboard meetings. So
I do ask that we be respectful as I read

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00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:05,760
earlier tonight, not only to the board
and our employees and to each other when

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someone's speaking. You know, I think
this was said at Holston High School,

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00:18:07,120 --> 00:18:11,760
please, a lady said, "Hold your applause
so I can get my three minutes in." So

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00:18:10,559 --> 00:18:17,600
let's let everybody get their three
minutes in. Okay. Uh, I've got six

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00:18:14,559 --> 00:18:25,080
people signed up and the first is uh
Albert Howard.

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00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:25,080
Albert, if you'd like to come speak.

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00:18:33,360 --> 00:18:40,400
My name is Albert Howard. I am 13 years
old and vice president of the student

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00:18:37,679 --> 00:18:46,160
council association at Damas Middle
School. I disagree with the idea of cons

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00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:51,440
of consolidation between Holen High and
Patrick Henry High. This idea carries

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00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:57,440
many concerns to our students, teachers,
and our town. Many students already have

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00:18:55,039 --> 00:19:02,240
a long drive to our school and this idea
will make this much worse. And this also

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00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:07,760
means more maintenance for school buses,
more gas, and a lot more absences and

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00:19:05,120 --> 00:19:12,160
less after school activities. Did you
know that our superintendent proposed a

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00:19:09,919 --> 00:19:16,200
consolidation plan for Bristol, Virginia
public schools in 2018?

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00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:23,280
Just just a year after the plan took
effect, there was a 75% increase in

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00:19:20,799 --> 00:19:28,240
transportation cost. The transportation
budget went from 1.32 million to $2.3

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00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:32,480
million.
Why does this matter for Holston and

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00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:36,320
Patrick Henry? We are 19 times the
geographic area of Bristol, Virginia. I

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00:19:35,083 --> 00:19:42,720
[clears throat] believe transportation
should be closely examined before

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00:19:37,919 --> 00:19:49,600
consolidation savings are assumed. Also,
the town of Damascus was hit hard after

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00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:54,320
Helen. We have worked hard to rebuild
and consolidation would be a huge

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00:19:52,160 --> 00:20:00,720
setback.
Not too long ago, Dr. Perigan came to

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our school. He told us about the idea,
but he only told us about the new

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00:20:02,559 --> 00:20:10,480
football fields and stuff that appealed
to kids. Just like the sparkly carrot I

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00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:16,240
have dangling in front of of you. He he
manipulated me and my peers.

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00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:21,200
Not once did I hear a single good idea
about consolidation. At our schools, the

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teachers are more than just teachers.
They're onetoone tutors. When you don't

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00:20:23,120 --> 00:20:28,320
understand something, they stop to
explain it to you. At a larger school,

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00:20:27,120 --> 00:20:32,400
kids wouldn't get this kind of
education.

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00:20:29,919 --> 00:20:37,600
We have many new students who come from
larger schools in the area and they have

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00:20:35,039 --> 00:20:42,159
told me personally their stories of what
it was like at larger schools. They told

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00:20:40,559 --> 00:20:47,600
me what it was like being bullied for
every little characteristic on their

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00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:52,640
bodies. They talk about how our students
are happy and familyike and how they

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00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:57,840
thrive in this type of setting. I am
proud to say that I know everybody by

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00:20:54,640 --> 00:21:03,039
name and they know me. If I if we have
to consolidate, you will erase another

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00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:09,200
rural school and there there are always
an option for bigger schools for those

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00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:15,640
who want. But if we lost Holson High, we
lose so much more than just a larger

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00:21:11,919 --> 00:21:15,640
school can ever offer.

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00:21:16,159 --> 00:21:18,159
All

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00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:24,280
right, Sarah Steel.

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00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:33,039
» My name is Sarah Steel and I live in
Connor Rock and I'm here as a taxpayer.

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00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:38,400
I do have a kid that goes to Holston as
well, but my

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00:21:36,159 --> 00:21:46,720
what you had said earlier, uh, Mr.
Wilson, is is correct. This is such a

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00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:50,240
huge complex issue and you can't even I
don't know I this has been all consuming

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00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:55,120
since I found out about it and mainly
it's consuming in regards to

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00:21:53,290 --> 00:21:59,520
[clears throat] how fast proposing this
tax is. I'm not understanding why we're

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00:21:57,360 --> 00:22:08,400
rushing to do a special election for
this. Um we I haven't seen a comparison

301
00:22:03,679 --> 00:22:13,679
side by side. I am a 100% for a 1% sale
sales tax if it doesn't include

302
00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:17,520
consolidation because I don't know what
that looks like. I don't know what how

303
00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:23,679
much money is going to be spent on a new
building versus what's left over. Um and

304
00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:28,000
I don't think we should we should be
rushing this decision at all. Uh you

305
00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:33,039
guys need time to look and be able to
give us as taxpayers a side by side.

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00:22:31,039 --> 00:22:36,400
Tell us how great a consolidation would
be. Give us the numbers. Give us the

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00:22:35,039 --> 00:22:40,640
numbers if we didn't. Give us the
numbers if we consolidate within our own

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00:22:38,159 --> 00:22:44,080
community.
Someone like myself, I don't want my

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00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:47,600
children being on the school bus as long
as they're going to have to be if they

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00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:52,880
go to all the way to Patrick Henry. I
know they say that there's not a site

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00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:57,840
planned out or whatever, but I'm pretty
sure we all can probably agree it'll be

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00:22:54,799 --> 00:23:02,640
delayed. So, with that being said, I'm
I'm opposed to it

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00:23:00,559 --> 00:23:07,360
and because you guys haven't given us
enough information, but you want us to

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00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:10,400
go out and vote in March on something.
It's like, hey, let's pass it and then

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00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:15,120
we'll tell you what you're getting.
Well, I am not a fan of that. So, my

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00:23:13,360 --> 00:23:20,000
suggestion is why can't we wait till
November [clears throat] next election

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00:23:17,679 --> 00:23:26,080
cycle and not spend what is it like
40,000 to 60,000 for a special election

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00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:31,280
is the research I've done. So, with that
being said, and my time is up, let's

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00:23:28,799 --> 00:23:34,799
pause. Let's wait and let's get let's
get some numbers so that we know how to

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00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:38,120
vote.
>> That's all.

321
00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:46,200
» Mont Montana Strickland.

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00:23:47,916 --> 00:23:52,559
[clears throat]
>> Hello. [gasps]

323
00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:56,320
Sorry, guys. [laughter]
Good evening. Uh, my name is Montana

324
00:23:54,400 --> 00:24:00,000
Strickland. I live in Glade Spring and
my children attend Ray Valley

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00:23:57,679 --> 00:24:04,159
Elementary. I am a Washington County
parent, taxpayer, and citizen who cares

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00:24:02,159 --> 00:24:08,960
deeply about our schools and the future
we are created for every child in this

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00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:12,960
county. I am here tonight because I
strongly oppose the proposed Holston

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00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:17,840
Patrick Henry unification plan as it
currently stands. I want to ask the

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00:24:15,279 --> 00:24:22,480
board one simple question. Have we truly
stopped to ask whether spending more

330
00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:26,799
than 150 million on a high school that
will serve less than 9% of our current

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00:24:25,039 --> 00:24:30,240
students based on the current enrollment
is that the best investment for

332
00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:34,640
Washington County's children? That's a
whole lot of money on a little tiny

333
00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:39,919
piece of the county. It's a whole lot of
money because 150 million is just not a

334
00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:44,559
number on a spreadsheet. It is taxpayer
money. money that could repair roofs,

335
00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:49,039
replace outdated plumbing and mechanical
systems, address overcrowding, improve

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00:24:47,279 --> 00:24:53,279
classrooms, and meet the needs across
the county. We have schools like

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00:24:51,360 --> 00:24:57,200
Abbington Elementary, John Battle, and
Wallace Middle with significant needs of

338
00:24:55,200 --> 00:25:00,622
their own. Abington has recently
experienced an asbestous related

339
00:24:59,120 --> 00:25:03,919
incident during construction,
[clears throat] and Wallace Middle

340
00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:07,600
School was more than a century old, and
all three are overcrowded with future

341
00:25:05,919 --> 00:25:12,799
housing developments being built right
next to them. Yet, we are discussing an

342
00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:16,720
enormous financial obligation to build a
new school primarily for students from

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00:25:15,039 --> 00:25:22,480
two existing high schools. And that
totals roughly 600 kids between those

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00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:26,480
two schools. Kind of irrational, okay?
And the district has roughly 7,000 kids.

345
00:25:25,039 --> 00:25:30,799
That leaves a lot of those kids with
nothing because once this money is

346
00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:35,600
spent, it is tied up, okay, for like 20
years. Um, why? If the answer is that

347
00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:39,440
our children deserve better facilities,
then I agree. But don't all of our

348
00:25:37,679 --> 00:25:42,799
children deserve better facilities, not
just the students in the Holston Patrick

349
00:25:41,039 --> 00:25:46,720
Henry district. And I love Holston. I
went to Holston. But I think we have to

350
00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:51,279
look at this, you know, as the overall
picture. Who suffers when we dump all of

351
00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:56,159
that money over there? Who is left
behind? What repairs aren't addressed?

352
00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:59,760
Um why should one group receive a brand
new building while others continue

353
00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:04,799
waiting for basic repairs and upgrades?
And let's talk about price. If the uh

354
00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:08,320
project cost taxpayers roughly 150
million or more, including tens of

355
00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:12,320
millions in interest, we need to
understand the opportunity cost. What

356
00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:16,720
will we not be able to afford to build
because we choose this project? What

357
00:26:14,559 --> 00:26:21,200
will be delayed? What will have to wait?
What will students inherit decades from

358
00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:25,039
now because of this? This county has
already spent a few hundred,000 dollars

359
00:26:23,279 --> 00:26:29,200
to have these studies done by Thompson
and Linton that all said these schools

360
00:26:27,360 --> 00:26:35,520
can continue housing students for
another 60 years if the MEP repairs are

361
00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:40,240
made. The money will be there supposedly
in this tax to cover those MEP repairs.

362
00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:43,840
Why build one new school when you can
fix everything that we have in the

363
00:26:41,679 --> 00:26:47,440
county?
I strongly oppose moving forward with

364
00:26:45,919 --> 00:26:50,960
this until the board can demonstrate
publicly, transparently, and financially

365
00:26:49,120 --> 00:26:54,480
that this is the best investment for our
taxpayers dollars. I'm left questioning

366
00:26:53,360 --> 00:26:58,480
whether there are additional
consolidation plans that have not been

367
00:26:56,159 --> 00:27:02,640
fully disclosed. A hundred million
dollar plus schools serving two areas

368
00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:06,080
with declining populations raises
legitimate questions about enrollment,

369
00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:11,720
long-term planning, and whether it is
truly a rational investment. Thank you.

370
00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:18,279
Cameron Deusk.

371
00:27:19,919 --> 00:27:25,440
» My name is Cameron Deusk. I've been a
resident of Washington County, Virginia

372
00:27:23,279 --> 00:27:29,039
since 2009 and currently have four
children that I'm raising in the

373
00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:33,760
Damascus, Virginia community, attending
Ray Valley and Damascus Middle Schools.

374
00:27:31,279 --> 00:27:37,919
I was raised in Atlanta and chose this
area for my family due to the community.

375
00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:41,200
My great-grandfather was on the board of
supervisors for Washington County and my

376
00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:46,720
great-grandmother was a teacher at the
Rock School in Damascus. The town is not

377
00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:49,520
dying and Holston is not failing. It is
well researched and documented that

378
00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:53,440
there are significant benefits to
smaller class sizes and that increased

379
00:27:51,279 --> 00:27:57,679
per pupil expenditures yield higher
graduation rates and higher test scores.

380
00:27:55,919 --> 00:28:01,120
While the issue of consolidation should
take these facts into consideration, it

381
00:27:59,520 --> 00:28:05,600
seems that financial reasoning has been
cited for the need for consolidation.

382
00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:08,640
Just to complete MEP projects for the
high school facilities that would remain

383
00:28:07,039 --> 00:28:12,960
open, either as high schools or middle
schools, it would cost over $94 million.

384
00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:16,640
This does not even touch the elementary
and middle schools that are in need of

385
00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:19,760
improvements and upgrades. The firm that
you contracted to complete the

386
00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:22,559
facilities assessments determine the
following needs and costs. I'm not going

387
00:28:21,120 --> 00:28:26,720
to go through each one, but it's
between$2 to10 million for all of the

388
00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:31,120
schools
um in that study. Just for those

389
00:28:29,039 --> 00:28:37,640
schools, not counting the central office
and the many other bit um school

390
00:28:33,039 --> 00:28:37,640
facility buildings, that's 31,833,43.50.

391
00:28:38,399 --> 00:28:45,440
This also does not include the cost of
the many upgrades and plastic grass

392
00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:50,000
promised area schools. If the proposed
1% tax is expected to generate 200

393
00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:53,679
million and the proposed unified high
school and CTE center cost approximately

394
00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:59,000
100 million, your facilities assessments
just for those buildings listed above

395
00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:59,000
requires 126,556,442.99.

396
00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:06,080
Where's the additional money for all
these other projects coming from? Before

397
00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:09,600
even breaking ground on any projects,
the tax is not projected to generate the

398
00:29:07,919 --> 00:29:12,720
amount of money that is needed per your
facility's assessment. Your facilities

399
00:29:11,679 --> 00:29:17,679
assessment [clears throat] also state
schools are in quote safe and fair to

400
00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:21,600
good conditions.
My opinion, one, slow down. There's no

401
00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:25,440
need to waste taxpayer money on special
election and push these projects through

402
00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:28,880
immediately. Put the 1% tax on the
November ballot. I am personally in

403
00:29:27,039 --> 00:29:32,720
favor of the 1% tax. It generates money
from non-W Washington County residents.

404
00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:36,000
I am not in favor of spending half of
that budget on consolidation that is

405
00:29:34,720 --> 00:29:39,679
unnecessary and financially
irresponsible for the entire county.

406
00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:44,880
Two, collect the tax and spend the money
on all county schools and facilities

407
00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:47,760
that are in need. Three, if per pupil
costs are such a concern, there are

408
00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:51,600
several [clears throat] options.
Redistrict appropriately, disallow uh

409
00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:56,240
school transfers, or change the current
school grade model. Additionally, what

410
00:29:54,080 --> 00:30:00,799
would the cost per pupil comparison look
like if athletic facilities, field

411
00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:05,120
houses, and playgrounds were taken into
consideration for that calculation? Rule

412
00:30:03,679 --> 00:30:07,840
school closures happen, and this is
generally due to a failing town or

413
00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:10,880
failing school. neither of which is
happening. There are industries and

414
00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:13,679
homes coming to Bristol and having in
areas and with more people working

415
00:30:12,159 --> 00:30:17,360
remotely and able to choose where they
live. Neighborhood schools are a high

416
00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:20,960
priority with the amount of money going
into Damascus, especially after the

417
00:30:19,279 --> 00:30:25,039
flood. This is a step in the wrong
direction. Quite literally, put the tax

418
00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:27,760
on the ballot and take consolidation off
the table, support community, and be

419
00:30:26,640 --> 00:30:31,360
financially responsible with our
taxpayers money. Why would you close the

420
00:30:29,679 --> 00:30:36,760
most successful school in the county? It
simply does not make sense. If it's not

421
00:30:33,039 --> 00:30:36,760
broke, don't fix it.

422
00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:45,080
Austin Stanley.

423
00:30:49,120 --> 00:30:54,240
Good evening, members of the school
board. I'm asking you to reconsider the

424
00:30:52,559 --> 00:30:57,840
proposed consolidation of Patrick Henry
and Holston High Schools. Not because

425
00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:01,360
our high schools do not need the
investment, but because consolidation is

426
00:30:59,679 --> 00:31:05,520
enormous and permanent solution to
problems that may have better answers.

427
00:31:03,679 --> 00:31:09,840
First, we need to be realistic about the
financial commitment being discussed. A

428
00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:14,399
1% sales tax is being presented as an
alternative to a 15 cent property tax

429
00:31:12,159 --> 00:31:18,320
increase, but it does not guarantee that
property taxes will not be increased

430
00:31:15,840 --> 00:31:22,960
later. I have seen this firsthand living
in Kirksville, Missouri. In 2024, the

431
00:31:20,799 --> 00:31:28,240
school district passed a $33 million
bond promoted as a no tax rate increase

432
00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:32,880
measure. Just two years later, the
district held a hearing to increase its

433
00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:37,120
property tax levy. The reason is simple.
Building a facility is not part of the

434
00:31:34,559 --> 00:31:41,120
expense. We have to operate, maintain,
staff, heat, cool, and transport

435
00:31:38,799 --> 00:31:45,120
students for it for decades. And sales
tax revenue is not guaranteed. We are

436
00:31:43,519 --> 00:31:50,640
talking potentially taking on
approximately $200 million in debt. That

437
00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:55,279
debt payment remains whether the economy
is booming or in a recession. Tourism

438
00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:59,600
can decline, consumer spending can fall,
people can shop online or across county

439
00:31:57,120 --> 00:32:03,120
lines. If sales tax revenue does not
meet projections, where will the money

440
00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:06,960
come from? Ultimately, the burden comes
back to the taxpayers. But my greatest

441
00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:10,399
concern is what consolidation would cost
to our communities. Patrick Henry and

442
00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:13,840
Holston are simply not buildings where
students attend class. They are

443
00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:17,360
community anchors. Friday night football
games, basketball games, concerts,

444
00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:21,519
graduations, meetings, and school events
bring people into Glad Spring and

445
00:32:18,799 --> 00:32:25,279
Damascus areas. Those people stop at gas
stations, eat at restaurants, visit

446
00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:28,480
stores, and support local businesses.
When you remove a high school from a

447
00:32:26,799 --> 00:32:32,240
rural community, you remove more than a
school. remove activity, identity, and

448
00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:35,360
one of the things that make the
community attractive to young families

449
00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:39,600
around here. And most importantly,
consolidation is not our only option.

450
00:32:37,519 --> 00:32:44,320
Before asking taxpayers to approve a new
tax and committing this county to a

451
00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:48,080
massive centralized product, show us a
serious comparison of the alternatives.

452
00:32:46,559 --> 00:32:51,760
What would it cost to renovate and
modernize both Patrick Henry and

453
00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:56,640
Holston? Could improvements be phased
over time with the full long-term consol

454
00:32:54,960 --> 00:33:00,240
cost of consolidation including
transportation, utilities, maintenance,

455
00:32:58,559 --> 00:33:04,399
staff and site development, and future
operating expenses. Our students deserve

456
00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:08,799
excellent facilities, but they also
deserve adults willing to make careful

457
00:33:06,240 --> 00:33:11,440
decisions transparently and with an
understanding that schools do not exist

458
00:33:10,159 --> 00:33:15,120
separately from the communities they
serve. Once Patrick, Henry, and Holston

459
00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:18,559
are gone, we can simply not bring them
back. Please do not make a permanent

460
00:33:16,720 --> 00:33:23,200
decision until every responsible
alternative has been seriously and

461
00:33:20,880 --> 00:33:26,640
reasonably and publicly considered.
Please preserve Patrick Henry, preserve

462
00:33:25,279 --> 00:33:31,039
Holston and preserve the communities
that depend on them and if it's okay

463
00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:38,519
with the board. I do have a packet that
I created if it's okay to hand that out

464
00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:38,519
to be passed around to look at.

465
00:33:47,440 --> 00:33:50,840
Cindy Fields.

466
00:33:53,760 --> 00:33:59,919
» Good evening. I'm Cindy Fields. My
family has been a member of the Patrick

467
00:33:57,279 --> 00:34:04,399
Henry community since the first freshman
class when the school opened. I

468
00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:10,960
graduated in 87 and have had three
children there on scene from 2011 to

469
00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:15,200
2024. For 13 years, we as a family have
done just about every job that you could

470
00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:19,679
think of to support our schools. And
today, we are still supporting them. All

471
00:34:17,679 --> 00:34:23,440
this to say that if there's one thing
that I think these communities are

472
00:34:21,599 --> 00:34:28,159
unified on, it's that everyone loves
their communities. They support their

473
00:34:25,280 --> 00:34:32,320
schools. Over the last few weeks, I have
read, listened, and pondered the best

474
00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:36,800
way to look at this because I believe
that Dr. Perigan has crafted a plan

475
00:34:35,040 --> 00:34:41,200
because he wants to offer the best for
the students. And I believe that you,

476
00:34:39,280 --> 00:34:45,760
the board, serve because you want the
same thing. I've served in a number of

477
00:34:43,919 --> 00:34:50,480
executive leadership roles throughout my
career, almost 35 years, where you often

478
00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:55,520
must make tough decisions and lead
change. And I understand this is a tough

479
00:34:52,720 --> 00:35:00,000
topic. But I and many others have many
questions and concerns. When you want to

480
00:34:58,079 --> 00:35:04,240
make a change, you must first clearly
identify the need for the change. We

481
00:35:02,400 --> 00:35:08,320
have heard multiple reasons, but it
seems reasons are given. In the next

482
00:35:05,920 --> 00:35:13,040
statement, the reasons don't make sense.
The next step is to include your

483
00:35:10,079 --> 00:35:17,920
stakeholders in the process of looking
at possible solutions and carefully

484
00:35:14,960 --> 00:35:21,839
studying all aspects of the challenges.
You know, I enjoy keeping up with what's

485
00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:26,560
happening in the area. I enjoy social
media, but I have not enjoyed over the

486
00:35:24,320 --> 00:35:31,200
last few days hearing from people that
we have become the comedy of the region.

487
00:35:28,960 --> 00:35:35,440
I've honestly been terrified that as I
scrolled I would accidentally like one

488
00:35:33,119 --> 00:35:40,320
of the many name calling memes that have
circulated. I don't agree with that. Dr.

489
00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:44,560
Eie Stanley must have been a part of the
decision in the early 70s to follow the

490
00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:48,800
crowd in building our open classroom
elementary schools.

491
00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:52,480
A decision that took most teachers only
one day to decide that was the worst

492
00:35:50,800 --> 00:35:58,160
idea ever and the school system then
felt uh spent years putting those walls

493
00:35:55,440 --> 00:36:02,000
back in. There is a big movement to
consolidate, but I encourage us as

494
00:36:00,160 --> 00:36:06,800
leaders and as citizens not to just
follow the crowd, but to really study

495
00:36:03,680 --> 00:36:11,119
our problems before we jump into this.
This is more than an enrollment issue

496
00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:17,280
and one that all leaders and citizens
need to address if we're to maintain a

497
00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:20,640
successful local economy. No one can
truly predict the future enrollment, but

498
00:36:19,280 --> 00:36:24,640
we can predict that if the wrong
decision is made, decades of unborn

499
00:36:23,119 --> 00:36:29,040
children will have to live with it in
many ways. I appreciate all of you.

500
00:36:26,960 --> 00:36:32,880
There's no comparison to the quality of
our buildings or the access to programs

501
00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:38,400
that our children have as compared to
other localities. Dr. Perigan, I don't

502
00:36:35,599 --> 00:36:42,640
believe that you deserve horns. But I do
believe that we all can agree that the

503
00:36:40,480 --> 00:36:47,280
strategic delivery of this plan has gone
horribly wrong, pitting neighbor against

504
00:36:44,960 --> 00:36:51,839
neighbor. I think you can put that
yellow hat back on, though, and I think

505
00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:55,680
that we can all fix this. I propose that
the board step back, slow down, and

506
00:36:53,839 --> 00:37:01,280
create volunteer work groups from each
community, including Abington and Battle

507
00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:06,240
because they have a large subdivision
coming. Together as volunteers, I

508
00:37:04,240 --> 00:37:11,200
believe we can work together to come up
with some solutions and study the plans.

509
00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:16,800
Thank you.
>> Thank you.

510
00:37:14,079 --> 00:37:24,110
Okay, that's all that I have signed in
for public comment.

511
00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:24,110
So we will move now. [clears throat]

512
00:37:27,760 --> 00:37:36,480
We'll move into our back into our
meeting with the consent agenda. I have

513
00:37:33,119 --> 00:37:41,086
items 5.01 through 5.08. Is there any of
these that need to be pulled and looked

514
00:37:37,920 --> 00:37:43,106
at closely or
[clears throat]

515
00:37:44,400 --> 00:37:50,560
motion to approve by Mr. Bucket, second
by Dr. Frederick. Is there any further

516
00:37:48,720 --> 00:37:54,160
discussion?
Hearing none. All in favor signify by

517
00:37:52,079 --> 00:37:59,240
raising your right hand. Opposed?
Likewise. Motion carries 70. Madam

518
00:37:56,240 --> 00:37:59,240
clerk.

519
00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:08,640
Item number six, 6.01 through 6.12.
Uh, first reading policies for

520
00:38:06,640 --> 00:38:12,240
consideration. Is there anything there
that anybody wants to pull or look at or

521
00:38:10,400 --> 00:38:18,320
discuss?
>> Mr. Chair, uh, the, uh, volunteer coach.

522
00:38:17,599 --> 00:38:21,480
It's
>> I say

523
00:38:23,599 --> 00:38:27,480
action.
>> Got you.

524
00:38:30,079 --> 00:38:33,920
» I'll make a motion to approve.
>> I second.

525
00:38:32,560 --> 00:38:40,320
» All right. Motion by Mr. Henderson,
second by Miss Nichols to approve item

526
00:38:35,440 --> 00:38:44,400
6.01 through 6.12 on first reading. Is
there any further discussion?

527
00:38:42,800 --> 00:38:47,280
Hearing none. All in favor, signify by
raising your right hand.

528
00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:55,280
Likewise, [clears throat]
motion carries 70.

529
00:38:50,400 --> 00:39:00,240
» Item seven, action items. Item 7.01,
>> professional staff, athletic coaches,

530
00:38:58,160 --> 00:39:06,160
too. Yeah. I I just like to say I'm I'm
I'm for this policy. Uh the one thing I

531
00:39:03,520 --> 00:39:12,880
would like to to say is this. I think
our head coaches have the right to have

532
00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:18,400
those volunteers if they need them. if
it doesn't [snorts] supersede the

533
00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:23,359
numbers that they need in coaching. But
uh the uh there are c certain situations

534
00:39:21,520 --> 00:39:27,760
where they they need those volunteers.
Of course, they're not getting paid. Uh

535
00:39:25,680 --> 00:39:34,240
and they're they're there for a good
reason. I think the the old policy we

536
00:39:31,200 --> 00:39:38,320
had uh it was similar like for travel
ball coaches and stuff like that that

537
00:39:36,480 --> 00:39:42,800
were trying to come in there and take
over and maybe had some of their kids on

538
00:39:40,560 --> 00:39:50,800
the team. So, I think as long as the
head coach has the uh has the autonomy

539
00:39:46,160 --> 00:39:55,760
to to uh direct those those coaches and
uh put them in the right position and

540
00:39:53,119 --> 00:40:00,119
they need to be uh I'm for that policy.
I just want to make sure that they

541
00:40:00,320 --> 00:40:07,839
» Anybody else have any questions or
concerns on item 7.01 through 7.03?

542
00:40:06,079 --> 00:40:11,040
» Mr. Wilson, I I think we probably ought
to allow Dr. was to present each of

543
00:40:09,920 --> 00:40:14,880
those items. They're a little bit
different. Present those. We had pulled

544
00:40:12,880 --> 00:40:17,200
those off for that purpose. Sure.
>> Yeah.

545
00:40:15,440 --> 00:40:18,720
» Hold on, Miss Anderson. Do you have
>> I will wait to

546
00:40:18,240 --> 00:40:20,240
» Okay.
>> for number two.

547
00:40:19,520 --> 00:40:27,040
» Go ahead, Dr.
>> Sure. U these are both GC-R and R-R1,

548
00:40:25,359 --> 00:40:31,359
which are actually regulations. Just so
you know, by our policy, regulations can

549
00:40:29,760 --> 00:40:35,520
be approved by superintendent.
Typically, we we have taken those before

550
00:40:33,200 --> 00:40:38,400
the board historically, I should say. Um
but they by policy, they can be

551
00:40:37,200 --> 00:40:41,680
approved. That's why it's on here for an
action item tonight because we thought

552
00:40:40,079 --> 00:40:46,400
it might need to be approved and put in
place. So, just thought I'd share that

553
00:40:43,440 --> 00:40:49,839
with you. In the first one, GC-R, really
what you have is a list of, if you

554
00:40:47,920 --> 00:40:53,359
remember last year, we added some middle
school positions. So, the chart has been

555
00:40:51,920 --> 00:40:58,400
updated, but really [clears throat] the
biggest change in GC-R is under

556
00:40:56,079 --> 00:41:01,520
volunteer coaches. I figure if you know,
we talked about this at length, but if

557
00:41:00,319 --> 00:41:05,200
we're going to allow those individuals
to work potentially one-on-one with our

558
00:41:03,119 --> 00:41:09,280
kids, we basically have two layers of
background checks. Volunteer background

559
00:41:07,280 --> 00:41:13,040
check is a pretty thorough check, but it
does just goes through B checks. Um, as

560
00:41:11,760 --> 00:41:16,160
an employee, you have to go through a
fingerprint background check and then

561
00:41:14,560 --> 00:41:22,480
you also have to go through child
protective services. So, we we rewrote

562
00:41:19,119 --> 00:41:25,920
we rewarded what those coaches will have
to go through. It'll just be the

563
00:41:23,520 --> 00:41:30,000
coaches, not chapters. That that part of
the policy or regulation will stay the

564
00:41:28,079 --> 00:41:33,440
same. The coaches now that are going to
be volunteers will have to also go

565
00:41:31,920 --> 00:41:35,680
through the full background check. So,
that is a little bit of a change. I

566
00:41:34,720 --> 00:41:39,680
wanted to make sure it's a little bit of
a financial responsibility there. I

567
00:41:37,200 --> 00:41:43,520
think it goes from a $19 B checks to
it's about $40 for the two of those

568
00:41:41,839 --> 00:41:46,000
background checks, but we felt like the
opportunity is going to be there. We

569
00:41:44,480 --> 00:41:50,480
kind of do this across the board,
student teaching, things like that.

570
00:41:47,440 --> 00:41:53,920
Anytime students are going to be uh or
adults are going to be one-on-one with

571
00:41:51,760 --> 00:41:56,240
our students, we we prefer they go
through the full background check to

572
00:41:55,040 --> 00:42:00,640
make sure there's nothing on background
check. That's the biggest thing in GC-1

573
00:41:58,800 --> 00:42:04,800
or GC-R.
Uh GC-1

574
00:42:02,880 --> 00:42:08,480
or GC-R-1
is very similar. It's in the same vein.

575
00:42:06,720 --> 00:42:12,319
It's kind of our procedures for
volunteer chaprons. And so all those

576
00:42:10,880 --> 00:42:16,079
procedures are in place. None of that's
really changing. You really got to flip

577
00:42:13,920 --> 00:42:19,920
to the very end to see that we took a
couple things out I thought were just

578
00:42:17,839 --> 00:42:23,200
didn't make sense. Uh for example, the
coach must hold preseason meeting with

579
00:42:21,520 --> 00:42:26,240
parents, guardians, and athletes. That's
head coach's job. That's not really an

580
00:42:25,040 --> 00:42:30,000
assistant coach and certainly not a
volunteer coach's job. But the big uh

581
00:42:28,640 --> 00:42:33,680
bullet that was removed there is that
volunteer coaches may not coach their

582
00:42:32,240 --> 00:42:38,160
own child in their sport of
responsibility. That part has been

583
00:42:35,680 --> 00:42:44,000
removed from the regulation. So that's
the biggest changes that you have.

584
00:42:41,440 --> 00:42:48,480
» Mr. Chairman, if I can add the the
reason that we brought this change is

585
00:42:45,920 --> 00:42:52,720
the issue was brought up. Dr. OS met
with our high school principles and

586
00:42:50,240 --> 00:42:55,520
athletic directors and they uh they
believe [clears throat] that that's what

587
00:42:53,760 --> 00:42:59,520
served their athletic departments best.
We've had this policy for several or

588
00:42:57,200 --> 00:43:03,520
this regulation for several years now
and they uh all of our principles and

589
00:43:01,839 --> 00:43:07,119
athletic directors agreed that it was
time to to change that to open up more

590
00:43:05,599 --> 00:43:09,520
opportunities to have additional coaches
with our ads.

591
00:43:09,200 --> 00:43:12,960
M
>> Anderson,

592
00:43:10,319 --> 00:43:16,560
» I understand that once voted on and
passed this becomes effective as

593
00:43:15,920 --> 00:43:23,040
tonight.
>> Yes, ma'am. So as Dr. Wall said earlier,

594
00:43:19,680 --> 00:43:27,040
regulations truly by our board policy, I
can just make those regulations, approve

595
00:43:25,200 --> 00:43:31,440
those regulations, notify you of them.
Historically, our board adopted

596
00:43:28,880 --> 00:43:34,319
regulations just like policy. So there's
not a requirement for the first or

597
00:43:32,825 --> 00:43:37,920
[clears throat] second reading, but to
stay along with that same practice of

598
00:43:35,839 --> 00:43:43,119
having board approve regulations. We're
recommending that be read and approved

599
00:43:40,160 --> 00:43:47,359
on first reading. And so yes, and and
and as a result of that, effective

600
00:43:45,359 --> 00:43:51,920
tonight. Yeah. need to approve each of
these separately though. Yes, sir.

601
00:43:49,200 --> 00:43:56,720
» So, let's go to item 7.01, which is
GC-R-

602
00:43:53,599 --> 00:44:01,720
profofessional staff athletic codes.
>> Mr. Chair, make a motion to approve

603
00:43:58,720 --> 00:44:01,720
seven.

604
00:44:02,480 --> 00:44:08,880
» I had a motion by Dr. Frederick, second
uh by Mr. Pucket. Uh is there any

605
00:44:06,880 --> 00:44:12,640
further discussion?
Hearing none. All in favor signify by

606
00:44:10,319 --> 00:44:19,440
raising your right hand. Post likewise.
Motion carries 70. Madam clerk, item 7.0

607
00:44:16,240 --> 00:44:24,400
02 is file GC-R-1.
Chafferon volunteer.

608
00:44:22,160 --> 00:44:28,400
» Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion to approve
file GC-

609
00:44:26,640 --> 00:44:31,359
R-1.
>> Second.

610
00:44:29,520 --> 00:44:37,119
» Motion made by Mr. Henderson, second by
Miss Raznik to approve file GC-R1. Is

611
00:44:34,960 --> 00:44:40,000
there any further discussion?
Hearing none. All in favor, signify by

612
00:44:38,640 --> 00:44:46,560
raising your right hand. Oppose.
Likewise. Motion carries. 70. Madam

613
00:44:42,560 --> 00:44:51,040
clerk. Now item 7.03, 03 which is PPE
public private education facilities and

614
00:44:48,400 --> 00:44:54,640
infrastructure act
talk about that Dr. Perry.

615
00:44:52,079 --> 00:44:59,440
» Yes sir Mr. Chairman uh last year I want
to say it was in December this board

616
00:44:56,240 --> 00:45:04,800
approved the ability to use PPE as a
procurement procedure. Um now what the

617
00:45:02,800 --> 00:45:09,839
next step in that process is to approve
those guidelines. We have uh we've been

618
00:45:07,359 --> 00:45:14,000
working with Maguire Wood uh out out of
Richmond who are the Virginia's expert

619
00:45:12,160 --> 00:45:17,599
on public private education or public
private partnerships to make sure that

620
00:45:16,000 --> 00:45:21,040
we have the right guidelines in place.
And so that's what you have before you

621
00:45:19,040 --> 00:45:26,560
tonight. This will be a regulation to
that PPE policy. And what PPA does, it

622
00:45:24,880 --> 00:45:30,240
gives you an alternative to the standard
procurement process instead of the

623
00:45:28,319 --> 00:45:33,359
typical you've got to go out and you got
to go procurement for an architect and

624
00:45:32,400 --> 00:45:36,560
then you've got after you get an
architect, you got to get those plans

625
00:45:34,560 --> 00:45:40,800
and then you got to go out the and have
procurement for the construction part of

626
00:45:38,880 --> 00:45:44,560
it. This brings architects and
contractors together and they can also

627
00:45:42,720 --> 00:45:49,359
bring in financers if they if they would
like. They can also bring in uh you know

628
00:45:46,800 --> 00:45:53,040
the public public entities to be a
partner in that. And so it opens up a

629
00:45:51,040 --> 00:45:57,119
whole lot of creative opportunities for
how you go through a construction

630
00:45:55,119 --> 00:46:02,000
process. Whether it's a small project or
a large project, it gives you that

631
00:45:58,640 --> 00:46:08,560
opportunity. Schools, utilities are are
able to do that. The uh the pin um the

632
00:46:05,359 --> 00:46:11,839
train station um um was built using
that. And [clears throat] anyway, so

633
00:46:10,079 --> 00:46:16,079
it's not just for schools, it's also for
public utilities. Uh you can have either

634
00:46:14,079 --> 00:46:20,160
an unsolicited proposal or you can
actually solicit proposals. It can work

635
00:46:18,240 --> 00:46:23,280
either way. And then it goes through
different phases. You have a conceptual

636
00:46:21,599 --> 00:46:27,119
phase where you get some general ideas
and you get a more detailed phase and

637
00:46:25,440 --> 00:46:32,560
then you work into a comprehensive
agreement. Uh, one of the the really

638
00:46:29,520 --> 00:46:36,720
great things about a PPA, it allows you
to negotiate whenever you're building

639
00:46:35,119 --> 00:46:42,720
you have a project going on, it allows
you to negotiate a guaranteed maximum

640
00:46:39,520 --> 00:46:45,359
price. And so if if you request change
orders and make that price go up,

641
00:46:44,160 --> 00:46:49,440
obviously you have to take care of
those. But if something happens because

642
00:46:47,119 --> 00:46:53,440
materials go up or there's delays that
that are not controlled by the owner, uh

643
00:46:51,920 --> 00:46:57,920
whoever it is that's building that
project has to to you know provide the

644
00:46:56,000 --> 00:47:02,960
guaranteed m maximum price that was
agreed on in the beginning. It also is

645
00:46:59,920 --> 00:47:07,599
an encouragement for uh the owner and
for the builder to uh have a plan ready

646
00:47:06,000 --> 00:47:11,680
to go in the beginning and not to make a
lot of change orders because you also

647
00:47:09,200 --> 00:47:15,119
will negotiate is if you stay under that
guaranteed maximum [clears throat] price

648
00:47:13,119 --> 00:47:19,280
that there's a share of the savings and
so that encourages the contractor to

649
00:47:17,520 --> 00:47:23,839
come in under budget but it also
encourages the the owner not to cause

650
00:47:21,839 --> 00:47:27,920
the project to go in the budget as well.
So, uh, this gives us a lot of

651
00:47:25,839 --> 00:47:31,599
additional opportunities as we go
forward. And, um, again, I recommend

652
00:47:29,839 --> 00:47:35,960
that the board approved these guidelines
to follow up with our PPA approval.

653
00:47:37,760 --> 00:47:41,319
» What's the board's feeling?

654
00:47:41,760 --> 00:47:48,400
» I move to approve the PPA guidelines as
presented.

655
00:47:46,160 --> 00:47:53,359
» Motion. Is there a second? I'll see.
Motion by Miss Nichols, second by Mr.

656
00:47:50,079 --> 00:47:57,440
Pucket Pucket to approve the PPE uh
guidelines. Is there any further

657
00:47:54,880 --> 00:48:01,440
discussion?
Okay. None. All in favor signify by

658
00:47:59,119 --> 00:48:05,359
raising your right hand.
Likewise. Motion carries 70. Madam

659
00:48:03,680 --> 00:48:09,200
clerk.
Item number eight, presentations and

660
00:48:07,200 --> 00:48:14,880
discussions. 8.01 is committee
appointment by the chair. And at this

661
00:48:12,560 --> 00:48:19,440
moment, I would like to appoint Miss
Debbie Anderson to our CIP committee.

662
00:48:17,839 --> 00:48:25,119
Thank you for being willing [snorts] to
serve on that.

663
00:48:22,400 --> 00:48:29,839
I know we have numerous meetings coming
up and that's one of the committee

664
00:48:26,559 --> 00:48:34,720
meetings. I think somebody ref
we've done that. Uh we've had two

665
00:48:32,079 --> 00:48:40,400
meetings already and uh from community
members and and and and

666
00:48:37,520 --> 00:48:46,720
well students and educators and board
members and everybody apart. So, uh,

667
00:48:44,319 --> 00:48:52,079
we're working on that diligently to to
put I think there's 40ome individuals on

668
00:48:49,760 --> 00:48:59,280
that committee and trying to put all
these ideas together and to do what's

669
00:48:54,640 --> 00:49:04,760
best for our entire county. So, 8.02
is conceptual facilities plan. Dr. Bar,

670
00:49:08,079 --> 00:49:11,920
» you can pull up the plan.
>> I got it right there.

671
00:49:10,480 --> 00:49:16,319
» Oh, I was looking at the other screen.
I'll put I'll put on both sides.

672
00:49:13,200 --> 00:49:19,119
» All right. No, no, no. That's uh I'm I'm
right eye. So,

673
00:49:17,119 --> 00:49:23,839
» I got you. I got you. All right.
>> Uh Mr. Chairman, members of the board,

674
00:49:21,040 --> 00:49:29,280
just wanted to provide a quick update to
the conceptual plan that we've put

675
00:49:26,079 --> 00:49:33,359
together that is connected to um the re
the potential new revenue stream that

676
00:49:31,680 --> 00:49:37,920
would be made available if citizens of
Washington County were to approve a

677
00:49:35,359 --> 00:49:43,119
referendum to increase our retail sales
tax by 1%. Now, this is just because

678
00:49:41,200 --> 00:49:46,480
this is um you know, there's some things
on this list that wouldn't be there if

679
00:49:44,800 --> 00:49:50,559
we didn't have a new revenue stream, but
this the potential for a new revenue

680
00:49:48,319 --> 00:49:54,880
stream opens up a lot of opportunities.
Some of the things that you'll see on

681
00:49:51,920 --> 00:49:59,280
here are currently on our uh five-year
CIP plan, but a lot of these things are

682
00:49:56,880 --> 00:50:03,839
not on that because we don't have the
current revenue based on what what's

683
00:50:01,839 --> 00:50:08,160
coming into the county currently to do
some of these uh projects that we we

684
00:50:06,079 --> 00:50:12,000
would love to do, but we just don't have
the revenue to do it. The sales tax

685
00:50:09,839 --> 00:50:16,559
referendum, if approved by the voters,
would open up that opportunity. Um, you

686
00:50:14,640 --> 00:50:21,200
know, and so it was mentioned that this
is moving really fast. I I would say

687
00:50:18,559 --> 00:50:24,559
that I think in the coming weeks that
this is really going to slow down

688
00:50:22,400 --> 00:50:28,079
tremendously. Uh the reason it's going
so fast is, you know, a whole lot of

689
00:50:26,640 --> 00:50:32,720
things coming together at the same time.
A late budget approved um by the general

690
00:50:31,040 --> 00:50:37,520
assembly that allowed the opportunity
for the sales tax referendum uh along

691
00:50:35,440 --> 00:50:41,040
with the about the same time that
happened, we got the draft plan from

692
00:50:39,359 --> 00:50:46,079
Thompson and Linton. Since then, we've
got the the full uh the full report from

693
00:50:43,839 --> 00:50:49,280
Thompson and Linton. Uh then we had a
joint meeting with the board of

694
00:50:47,040 --> 00:50:53,440
supervisors uh who then at that point
requested that not only that we have a

695
00:50:51,680 --> 00:50:58,319
plan together before they consider the
sales tax referendum but also uh wanted

696
00:50:56,160 --> 00:51:02,800
to see that if at least the
consideration of consolidation was going

697
00:51:00,720 --> 00:51:06,000
to be part of that plan. And so that
happened about a month ago tonight. I

698
00:51:04,400 --> 00:51:10,000
think August 8th is when we had our
joint uh our joint meeting with the

699
00:51:07,520 --> 00:51:14,559
board of supervisors. So I can certainly
agree uh with that that this has been

700
00:51:12,640 --> 00:51:18,559
like drinking out of a fire hydrant. a
lot of information has gone out quickly,

701
00:51:16,240 --> 00:51:21,680
but I think uh you know kudos to our
community to being willing to come to

702
00:51:20,079 --> 00:51:26,240
the table and have these conversations.
Uh I've had several meetings outside of

703
00:51:24,480 --> 00:51:30,079
the school division. We've al also had
several internal meetings. We've brought

704
00:51:28,400 --> 00:51:34,800
people together as Mr. Wilson as you
said earlier from every facet of our

705
00:51:32,240 --> 00:51:39,839
community. Uh whether it be uh our the
county administrator and their office,

706
00:51:36,720 --> 00:51:43,680
students, uh you know, uh employers from
our region uh or right here in our area.

707
00:51:42,240 --> 00:51:48,079
So we've brought a lot of folks together
to look at the plan and make suggestions

708
00:51:45,599 --> 00:51:52,960
to the plan and that plan has definitely
morphed over that period of time. Uh but

709
00:51:50,720 --> 00:51:56,319
the plan it addresses the mechanical,
the electrical and the plumbing needs

710
00:51:54,960 --> 00:52:00,880
that have been identified by the
Thompson Linton study. It also

711
00:51:58,640 --> 00:52:05,440
identifies new construction and then of
course potential consolidation which

712
00:52:02,800 --> 00:52:09,520
we've heard a lot about this evening. I
will say it's very important to keep in

713
00:52:07,680 --> 00:52:13,680
mind that this is only a conceptual
plan. This board does not have a vote

714
00:52:11,599 --> 00:52:17,599
scheduled on any part of this plan
anytime in the near future. I think the

715
00:52:15,440 --> 00:52:21,839
board of supervisors uh according to
their agenda. We'll be talking about the

716
00:52:19,520 --> 00:52:26,960
sales tax referendum this evening. And
so, you know, it is again the request of

717
00:52:23,920 --> 00:52:32,160
this board to have um the sales tax
referendum come up uh in in a spring

718
00:52:29,200 --> 00:52:37,440
election so that we can um be part of
this amazing opportunity that Virginia

719
00:52:34,160 --> 00:52:42,800
has. 47 other school divisions are or
localities have this referendum on the

720
00:52:40,240 --> 00:52:47,040
November ballot and there are sever
several other divisions that plan to do

721
00:52:45,280 --> 00:52:52,319
it next year. Some as part of a special
election and some as part of the

722
00:52:49,040 --> 00:52:56,319
November election. But it is um this is
a conceptual plan for the board of

723
00:52:54,160 --> 00:53:00,720
supervisors to know that we do have a
plan that we have community input on the

724
00:52:58,240 --> 00:53:05,040
plan so that they can make a an initial
decision about whether or not that they

725
00:53:02,960 --> 00:53:08,960
want to put the sales tax referendum on
an upcoming ballot. And so I think after

726
00:53:07,280 --> 00:53:13,280
that decision is made, we're going to
have a lot of time as a community to

727
00:53:11,119 --> 00:53:16,640
slow down and to answer many of the
questions that you heard in the public

728
00:53:14,720 --> 00:53:21,359
comment session tonight because I know
even members of our own board uh have

729
00:53:18,960 --> 00:53:24,880
several questions about uh you know the
financial part of it, the transportation

730
00:53:23,119 --> 00:53:29,359
part of it. There's definitely a lot of
questions that need that h have been

731
00:53:27,280 --> 00:53:33,520
asked that still need to be asked and
that definitely need to be answered. And

732
00:53:31,359 --> 00:53:37,520
I think uh once the decision about the
sales tax referendum is made by the

733
00:53:35,280 --> 00:53:42,240
board of supervisors, that'll give us a
lot of time to sit down, stand up, come

734
00:53:40,319 --> 00:53:47,040
together as a community to talk about
each each of those issues. Um I will say

735
00:53:45,040 --> 00:53:50,480
that the conceptual plan that you see
there is much different than the very

736
00:53:49,119 --> 00:53:54,559
first one that we've released. And
that's because as we've had community

737
00:53:52,319 --> 00:53:58,240
input, we've made changes to the plan.
We've adopted the timing of the plan,

738
00:53:56,640 --> 00:54:02,079
how we're going to how we would propose
that you pay for each of the projects,

739
00:54:00,319 --> 00:54:09,839
where they fall on that timeline, and
have even added some things to that

740
00:54:04,640 --> 00:54:15,119
timeline as well. Um the so and so I'll
just very briefly go over that plan. Of

741
00:54:11,920 --> 00:54:19,920
course, this is on our our um capital
improvement plan. No matter what, safety

742
00:54:17,280 --> 00:54:24,319
vestibules, we still have five of those
out of our 16 schools that still are yet

743
00:54:21,920 --> 00:54:27,359
to be done. and those will those will
stay on our plan and we'll take care of

744
00:54:25,680 --> 00:54:31,760
that with our general operational budget
whether or not uh this the the sales tax

745
00:54:30,000 --> 00:54:36,559
referendum is approved. So that is our
number one priority above everything

746
00:54:34,319 --> 00:54:40,240
else. You know nothing makes our schools
more safe than our school resource

747
00:54:38,079 --> 00:54:44,000
officers and they are we having those in
every building definitely make it safe

748
00:54:42,160 --> 00:54:47,920
but the safety vestibules that we've
added at most of our schools now are

749
00:54:46,160 --> 00:54:50,960
definitely a big deterrent too and will
at least slow down the bad guys if

750
00:54:49,520 --> 00:54:55,760
they're trying to go in in at that
entrance. Uh we've we also a very big

751
00:54:54,319 --> 00:55:00,319
instructional need and we've talked
about this multiple times. Evie Stanley

752
00:54:58,079 --> 00:55:05,119
has the largest band out of even all of
our high school bands in the county and

753
00:55:02,319 --> 00:55:09,200
they are crammed 250 some I don't know
>> 263

754
00:55:06,079 --> 00:55:13,200
» 263 um so that that's their numbers this
year and and we really don't have a

755
00:55:11,440 --> 00:55:17,359
space large enough for them. We don't
have closet space large enough for them.

756
00:55:15,440 --> 00:55:23,599
And so building a band room for EB
Stanley estimated at $2.2 $2 million is

757
00:55:20,559 --> 00:55:27,119
um is um at the top of the list as well.
And then STEM labs and science labs, our

758
00:55:25,599 --> 00:55:31,760
high school science labs are in
desperate need of an an overhaul. Uh

759
00:55:29,520 --> 00:55:35,119
STEM labs are are needed in our
elementary and our middle schools as

760
00:55:33,119 --> 00:55:40,720
well as our science labs. And so that
has made it to on the list. We mentioned

761
00:55:37,680 --> 00:55:44,160
earlier the inclusive playgrounds. We we
have two of those funded already. We

762
00:55:42,720 --> 00:55:48,160
potentially have two more of those
funded. And so I think the decision at

763
00:55:46,160 --> 00:55:50,880
that point is do we go ahead and wait
for the federal government because those

764
00:55:49,680 --> 00:55:54,480
are coming through congressional
earmarks and we know how slow the

765
00:55:52,880 --> 00:55:58,480
federal government can work sometimes. I
think a decision will have to be made is

766
00:55:56,319 --> 00:56:02,160
do we continue to wait on the earmarks
to cover that or do we go ahead and bite

767
00:56:00,720 --> 00:56:06,480
the bullet and and pay for that with
some of the proceeds from the sales tax

768
00:56:03,839 --> 00:56:10,480
revenue. And then, you know, one of the
things that throughout all the meetings

769
00:56:07,839 --> 00:56:14,319
that we've had, regardless as it's a
meeting with the local tea party or the

770
00:56:12,079 --> 00:56:18,400
League of Women Voters or if it's a a
comm the community meeting that we had

771
00:56:16,000 --> 00:56:23,280
in the Damascus area last week, one of
the things that we've had the most

772
00:56:20,079 --> 00:56:26,640
support for is a constructionbased CTE
center. And so, that is definitely on

773
00:56:24,960 --> 00:56:30,559
the list. That that is one of the things
that I'll be presenting about in DC

774
00:56:28,319 --> 00:56:34,480
tomorrow. uh the partnership that we
have to increase building trades not

775
00:56:32,640 --> 00:56:38,960
just in Washington County but all over
southwest Virginia. And so and then that

776
00:56:36,960 --> 00:56:43,760
also leads to the discussing the
potential unification of Patrick Henry

777
00:56:41,520 --> 00:56:48,240
High School and uh and Holston High
School. And so we uh you know will

778
00:56:45,680 --> 00:56:51,520
continue discuss that that would uh that
would be a decision that is made way

779
00:56:49,760 --> 00:56:56,079
later with plenty of notice and plenty
of input um from our community and also

780
00:56:54,559 --> 00:57:01,599
from the the school board and board of
supervisors. And so all along that time,

781
00:56:59,440 --> 00:57:07,040
we would also be improving our high
school athletic facilities there. Uh,

782
00:57:03,520 --> 00:57:10,640
you know, in 2004, we had a a pretty
significant building project that went

783
00:57:09,040 --> 00:57:13,839
all across the division. You know, if
you look at the additions that were

784
00:57:12,319 --> 00:57:18,640
added on to our elementary and middle
schools that was a result of that

785
00:57:15,280 --> 00:57:24,720
facility plan back in 2004. The only
remaining large items from that 2004

786
00:57:21,760 --> 00:57:29,119
plan are our auxiliary gyms. About that
same time, uh, girls basketball moved

787
00:57:27,200 --> 00:57:33,760
from the fall to the winter and has
caused a huge, uh, huge scheduling

788
00:57:31,760 --> 00:57:37,040
nightmare for our high schools and for
our middle schools, too, as they try to

789
00:57:35,200 --> 00:57:40,880
schedule those gyms to try to get folks,
uh, or all of our athletes opportunities

790
00:57:39,040 --> 00:57:46,880
to do that. So, improving those athletic
facilities, looking at the multi-purpose

791
00:57:43,440 --> 00:57:50,240
out outdoor services as well. And then
sometime at the end of this, you know,

792
00:57:48,240 --> 00:57:54,559
this past year, we we reszoned our
transportation zones. And in some areas

793
00:57:52,640 --> 00:57:59,040
where we reszoned, we've saw significant
increases and and leveling of our

794
00:57:56,640 --> 00:58:03,200
schools that were overcrowded. Uh at
other schools, we've seen minimal

795
00:58:00,960 --> 00:58:07,839
impacts even though that we uh we have
seen some changes in those enrollments,

796
00:58:05,040 --> 00:58:11,359
but minimal impacts. And so before this
year, Greenale and Valley uh Greenale

797
00:58:10,079 --> 00:58:16,799
Elementary and Valley Institute
Elementary had really small enrollments

798
00:58:13,599 --> 00:58:21,200
below 300 each. And so now based on the
the new transportation zones that we've

799
00:58:18,880 --> 00:58:25,520
seen those enrollments uh increase very
significantly. So that doesn't mean

800
00:58:23,680 --> 00:58:29,839
they'll stay that way. And so I think
you know sometime in the next three or

801
00:58:27,280 --> 00:58:33,280
four years we need to revisit uh the see
what the enrollments are looking like at

802
00:58:31,520 --> 00:58:37,440
at Greenale Elementary and Valley
Institute Elementary and depending on

803
00:58:35,599 --> 00:58:41,760
what those enrollments look like make a
decision based on that as well.

804
00:58:40,400 --> 00:58:45,599
And then five years from now, we've
we've heard also mentioned tonight the

805
00:58:43,760 --> 00:58:51,119
new neighborhood that is being built
down on King Mill Pike. Um the that

806
00:58:48,880 --> 00:58:54,319
ground is broken and there's a lot of uh
infrastructure being built and

807
00:58:52,559 --> 00:58:59,119
potentially by Christmas having five
homes uh ready to move into potentially

808
00:58:57,040 --> 00:59:03,680
up to 70 homes by the end of the school
year going into next year. And then in

809
00:59:00,960 --> 00:59:10,480
five years at the end of that cycle,
they would have if all the homes go in

810
00:59:06,319 --> 00:59:14,079
on time, 323 new homes. uh beside of one
of our our high schools, sorry, one of

811
00:59:12,640 --> 00:59:20,799
our elementary schools with the largest
enrollment. And so at that point, we

812
00:59:16,960 --> 00:59:25,280
need to in 2030 2031 need to take a look
at the enrollment again in that area.

813
00:59:23,119 --> 00:59:30,559
The Bristol area has pretty uh
significant pretty consistently over the

814
00:59:28,079 --> 00:59:35,200
last 10 years had small increases in
enrollment. Last year all four uh Valley

815
00:59:33,280 --> 00:59:40,799
Institute, High Point, Wallace, and John
Battle all four had slight increases in

816
00:59:37,359 --> 00:59:44,799
enrollment. uh this year uh Battle did
and Valley did. Of course, High Point

817
00:59:42,640 --> 00:59:49,839
did not because we transferred th those
the zones there and Wallace had a short

818
00:59:47,359 --> 00:59:53,119
uh small decrease in enrollment. But if
that trend continues, the new

819
00:59:51,200 --> 00:59:56,880
neighborhood comes online, obviously at
that point, we would need to look at the

820
00:59:54,640 --> 01:00:01,119
enrollment trends there too. And so then
as you look at the other um you know 11

821
00:59:59,520 --> 01:00:04,319
schools that we haven't talked about in
that you've got our plan would be and

822
01:00:02,960 --> 01:00:08,640
we've worked with Thompson and Linton
since the report came out to kind of

823
01:00:06,400 --> 01:00:11,920
take those MEP needs and space them out
over the next 27 years

824
01:00:10,720 --> 01:00:16,720
» 25 plus
>> yeah 25 years plus and um putting the

825
01:00:15,119 --> 01:00:20,240
most urgent ones at the front of the
list and and working our way down

826
01:00:18,240 --> 01:00:24,400
through the end of it thinking that you
know if we have a goal that we try to

827
01:00:22,240 --> 01:00:28,960
get try to get all of our schools don't
do all of the MEP needs But do the MEP

828
01:00:27,200 --> 01:00:33,040
needs it gets us to where our schools
are approaching 100 years old. So

829
01:00:31,119 --> 01:00:36,559
there's more I think I'll get the
numbers wrong but there's several

830
01:00:34,799 --> 01:00:40,079
thousand or a few thousand schools
across the entire Commonwealth and

831
01:00:38,480 --> 01:00:44,400
there's only a handful that are over a
hundred years old. I mean it'd be great

832
01:00:42,079 --> 01:00:48,240
if we could get 130 years out of each of
our schools. But that is just that's not

833
01:00:46,720 --> 01:00:53,200
what history has told us. That's not
what trends have told us. And so I think

834
01:00:50,160 --> 01:00:58,640
if we plan, you know, for 2046 when if
this sales tax referendum is approved,

835
01:00:55,520 --> 01:01:03,040
when that sales tax would uh sunset,
then at that point we've we've uh helped

836
01:01:01,040 --> 01:01:06,480
those schools get to that point and new
decisions can be made about what what

837
01:01:05,040 --> 01:01:11,200
needs to be the future of our our
building process then too. And so if you

838
01:01:08,799 --> 01:01:17,599
look all along the line beginning in
2026 2027 at the top uh we we would

839
01:01:14,640 --> 01:01:22,000
start immediately taking part of the uh
estimated $10 million of annual uh

840
01:01:20,880 --> 01:01:26,160
revenue [clears throat] and applying
that towards the MEP needs. Uh as we

841
01:01:24,400 --> 01:01:30,720
build the safety vestules we would do
that as well uh paying cash for that.

842
01:01:28,720 --> 01:01:37,040
The STEM labs the even the band room at
EB Stanley the science labs paying cash

843
01:01:33,359 --> 01:01:40,240
for those as we go. Again, I the board
of supervisors will also tell you the

844
01:01:38,720 --> 01:01:46,319
financial adviserss who made that
projection estimated $10 million as a

845
01:01:43,599 --> 01:01:51,280
conservative estimate. They also did not
include any increases over the next 20

846
01:01:48,799 --> 01:01:56,079
years. But if you look at the history of
our sales tax revenue uh in Washington

847
01:01:53,760 --> 01:02:00,240
County over the last decade, it's 2 to
4% every single year that those revenues

848
01:01:58,079 --> 01:02:04,079
are going up. And again, I agree with
Mr. Barry and the board of supervisors

849
01:02:01,839 --> 01:02:08,640
and those financial adviserss that we
need to budget conservatively as we're

850
01:02:06,319 --> 01:02:12,079
thinking about that. But also know that
if we look at history and what those

851
01:02:10,240 --> 01:02:17,040
trends tell us unless we have another
great recession which some of us lived

852
01:02:14,799 --> 01:02:20,799
through and when we were we were in
principles in buildings that that that

853
01:02:18,720 --> 01:02:24,720
great recession was was definitely you
know a whole another world and a whole

854
01:02:22,079 --> 01:02:29,040
another ball game. But I do I do think
that we can follow this plan and then

855
01:02:27,040 --> 01:02:32,960
once you get so if you're building a CT
center or if you're building a

856
01:02:30,319 --> 01:02:36,559
consolidated or a unified high school,
obviously you'd have to take bonds out

857
01:02:34,640 --> 01:02:40,559
for that. And then as you're looking at
the uh athletic improvements, whether it

858
01:02:38,400 --> 01:02:46,240
be auxiliary gyms or or what have you,
then you could look at a combination of

859
01:02:42,960 --> 01:02:52,400
a a bondpay as you go process there. And
so that's a quick summary um about what

860
01:02:49,280 --> 01:02:56,000
where the plan is today. Uh Mr. Wilson,
you you you saw that very early. You I

861
01:02:54,480 --> 01:03:01,359
think you'll agree that that is very
different [laughter] than the plan we we

862
01:02:58,319 --> 01:03:06,319
put out two and a half three weeks ago
and I think it'll continue to change as

863
01:03:03,359 --> 01:03:11,760
we move forward. The in the meantime um
we have also contracted with Welen

864
01:03:08,480 --> 01:03:15,599
Cooper uh from the from UVA. They do us
enrollment projections for the entire

865
01:03:13,520 --> 01:03:19,440
Commonwealth of Virginia, but we've
contracted with them to get an

866
01:03:17,599 --> 01:03:24,160
up-to-date enrollment projection for the
county as a whole first and foremost.

867
01:03:21,520 --> 01:03:28,319
and then also for each individual high
school attendance area. And so they'll

868
01:03:26,240 --> 01:03:32,160
begin that process September 30th for
whatever reason. That is the kind of the

869
01:03:30,079 --> 01:03:36,720
day that we say that's our hard count
for enrollment. So once those September

870
01:03:34,319 --> 01:03:41,200
30 numbers are, Weldon Cooper will begin
their process and I think we'll have a

871
01:03:38,480 --> 01:03:44,799
full projection from Welding Cooper. Not
just about our county as a whole, but

872
01:03:43,200 --> 01:03:48,240
what does it look like in the John
Battle? What's projections for the John

873
01:03:46,880 --> 01:03:51,440
Battle attendance zone? What's the
projections for the Abington attendance

874
01:03:49,760 --> 01:03:55,039
zone? what's the projections for the
Holston attendance zone and what are the

875
01:03:52,960 --> 01:03:57,920
projections for the uh Patrick Henry
attendance zone. So, we'll have some

876
01:03:56,319 --> 01:04:02,720
really good information that'll help
make this conversation that we're having

877
01:03:59,920 --> 01:04:06,720
more robust and and um you know help us
make better decisions about how we move

878
01:04:04,319 --> 01:04:11,200
forward. The other thing is we are I
hoped that by today I would have our

879
01:04:08,559 --> 01:04:17,680
first quote. We obviously will get
financial advice as well about the this

880
01:04:14,079 --> 01:04:22,880
option uh other options as well. So, I
we're expecting to get two quotes this

881
01:04:19,599 --> 01:04:25,520
week about a financial team that does
one of the the ones that I've talked to

882
01:04:24,240 --> 01:04:29,359
so far. I've got another meeting
tomorrow, but one of the ones that we've

883
01:04:27,520 --> 01:04:33,760
talked to already, this is one of their
specialties. They go into localities

884
01:04:31,280 --> 01:04:38,160
where consolidation is being considered.
And um they look at your transportation

885
01:04:36,319 --> 01:04:41,920
costs, they look at your staffing cost,
they look at, you know, the cost to

886
01:04:39,760 --> 01:04:45,839
build, they look at the opportunity cost
that you either leave leave on the table

887
01:04:43,839 --> 01:04:49,440
or that you miss. and then they provide
a recommendation about what the best

888
01:04:47,440 --> 01:04:55,200
option moving forward is. And what I
like about the one company that we I've

889
01:04:53,200 --> 01:04:59,119
talked to already is they gave me an
example of a report they gave a a

890
01:04:57,119 --> 01:05:02,799
division where consolidation was
considered but it wasn't recommended.

891
01:05:01,359 --> 01:05:06,880
And they've showed me another report
where consolidation was recommended and

892
01:05:04,960 --> 01:05:13,760
it it followed through. And so I think
having an unbiased expert provide

893
01:05:09,440 --> 01:05:17,440
financial analysis on this plan and two
or three other plans uh not just you

894
01:05:15,920 --> 01:05:21,280
know this is not the only plan that will
be considered as we move forward. I mean

895
01:05:19,200 --> 01:05:25,280
we'll look at multiple plans and we'll
have a financial analysis on those

896
01:05:22,960 --> 01:05:28,720
multiple plans. So I do think there is
going to be a lot more information. uh

897
01:05:26,880 --> 01:05:33,280
we've given um we've been very
transparent with the information we've

898
01:05:30,160 --> 01:05:37,359
provided so far, been very open to take
additional input and hopefully we'll

899
01:05:35,039 --> 01:05:41,760
continue to get input and and make this
plan better. What I would love to see is

900
01:05:39,680 --> 01:05:46,640
additional recommendations. You know, if
this is a good idea, let us know. If

901
01:05:44,480 --> 01:05:50,079
it's a terrible idea, let us know that,
too. But then give us give us another

902
01:05:48,400 --> 01:05:53,520
option of what you think might be a
better idea. And I promise you, we'll

903
01:05:51,599 --> 01:05:58,880
we'll look at it and give it give it due
consideration. And um you know I do I

904
01:05:56,720 --> 01:06:04,079
think that this plan will continue to
grow and to evolve and to get better.

905
01:06:02,319 --> 01:06:07,839
And
um that's it. That's all that I have to

906
01:06:06,480 --> 01:06:13,039
share. Happy to answer any questions
about the plan or about the process or

907
01:06:10,720 --> 01:06:15,520
about the uh the welding cooper study or
the financial analysis that we're

908
01:06:14,400 --> 01:06:20,319
looking to have.
>> Mr. Chair, I know this board's all about

909
01:06:18,400 --> 01:06:23,440
people.
>> Yes, sir.

910
01:06:21,039 --> 01:06:28,079
» All right. Talk with the timeline. I
know we don't know on the new one, but

911
01:06:25,359 --> 01:06:31,440
what was the timeline on our uh grants
that we got from Senator Warren and

912
01:06:29,599 --> 01:06:34,480
Senator Kane? You remember
>> we we've already got the the the grant

913
01:06:33,520 --> 01:06:37,920
for two of those,
>> right? What was that timeline? We we in

914
01:06:37,359 --> 01:06:43,359
the uh
>> it's it took about two years for us to

915
01:06:40,319 --> 01:06:47,119
submit. Now, if you you hear the federal
government talk about continuing

916
01:06:44,640 --> 01:06:51,280
resolutions or approving a budget, every
time there's a continuing resolution,

917
01:06:49,200 --> 01:06:56,799
our request gets pushed down. In order
for that uh request to be granted, the

918
01:06:54,079 --> 01:07:02,319
final federal budget has to be approved.
And so that, you know, in my opinion, uh

919
01:06:59,440 --> 01:07:06,240
you know, you're looking at $350,000 per
inclusive playground. With the $10

920
01:07:04,400 --> 01:07:10,400
million that I think at least we'll be
generating annually at the sales tax

921
01:07:07,839 --> 01:07:14,319
referendum. My recommendation would be
to go ahead and and and to mark those

922
01:07:12,720 --> 01:07:18,559
off the list and get them done.
>> About that

923
01:07:16,240 --> 01:07:23,680
board is
Yeah. Any other questions or comments?

924
01:07:23,039 --> 01:07:26,880
Mr. Ras,
>> I just want to follow up on what Mr.

925
01:07:25,280 --> 01:07:31,200
Henderson was saying. Have they actually
programmed and started? Where are we at?

926
01:07:29,039 --> 01:07:33,680
» Well, that was a ceremony. So, uh
>> I know he was saying we could get it

927
01:07:32,640 --> 01:07:36,720
done in eight days.
>> And once they get started, it'll be

928
01:07:34,960 --> 01:07:40,400
eight days. Dr. Wallace, I think Friday
or Monday is the hope is this they

929
01:07:39,039 --> 01:07:43,680
should Yeah, we were hoping they would
be there maybe today. Some of the stuff

930
01:07:42,559 --> 01:07:47,680
coming in got delayed. They're going to
try to bring it all in one work on them

931
01:07:45,839 --> 01:07:52,559
a little bit simultaneously at the same
time. So, um, but he said probably

932
01:07:50,559 --> 01:07:57,119
Friday at the latest Monday start, but
once they break ground, it'll go quick.

933
01:07:55,440 --> 01:07:59,920
» And I think that since he promised that
to Senator Warner and he asked for

934
01:07:58,640 --> 01:08:02,960
updates, I think they're going to have a
little bit of pressure on it to he he

935
01:08:01,920 --> 01:08:07,039
flat out promised he
>> That's right. He did.

936
01:08:06,079 --> 01:08:11,177
» Dr. Frederick,
>> can uh you review a little bit because

937
01:08:09,280 --> 01:08:14,640
the questions come up several times
[clears throat] about why our board had

938
01:08:12,640 --> 01:08:19,040
recommended to the board of supervisors
and some of our joint finance meetings

939
01:08:16,880 --> 01:08:22,719
to look at putting this on the ballot in
the spring versus next November.

940
01:08:22,312 --> 01:08:28,480
[clears throat]
>> Yes, ma'am. Um so, as I mentioned

941
01:08:25,120 --> 01:08:34,000
earlier, 47 localities have it on the
ballot in November. that is I mean the

942
01:08:32,319 --> 01:08:38,239
architects and the building contractors
that serve schools in the Commonwealth

943
01:08:35,520 --> 01:08:43,440
Virginia I think are a little caught off
guard by you know what would that look

944
01:08:39,759 --> 01:08:46,480
like if all 47 of those pass and so we
know that there's going to be additional

945
01:08:45,040 --> 01:08:51,359
localities that are waiting for the
second year to do that as well and so

946
01:08:49,199 --> 01:08:57,040
the reason that I recommend the spring
election is for a couple reasons but

947
01:08:54,319 --> 01:09:00,239
financially the sooner we we couldn't
get all the information and have this

948
01:08:58,560 --> 01:09:04,719
process and get a plan together, get
community input. We in order to get on

949
01:09:02,319 --> 01:09:08,159
the November ballot, we would have this
November ballot, we would have had had

950
01:09:06,400 --> 01:09:12,560
to have everything done by like August
12th. And there just wasn't time to do

951
01:09:10,400 --> 01:09:17,040
that. And so we knew that we needed to
postpone it. But we didn't want to wait

952
01:09:14,960 --> 01:09:22,000
till the next November because then
you're behind 47 other potentially 47

953
01:09:19,839 --> 01:09:27,279
other school divisions. Anybody else
that does a special election and you

954
01:09:25,040 --> 01:09:32,480
know you're in line right beside anybody
that has on next November's ballot. If

955
01:09:29,759 --> 01:09:38,560
you look at the cost of increase, we
just got a report um this past week

956
01:09:34,799 --> 01:09:42,880
about the increase in one quarter of um
you know projects went up if you started

957
01:09:40,960 --> 01:09:47,520
a project here versus at at the end of
the next quarter and the increased cost

958
01:09:45,199 --> 01:09:52,640
to that is substantial and and you know
$30,000 I think would be the cost of a

959
01:09:49,679 --> 01:09:55,840
special election. what we would lose and
what we could actually put into our

960
01:09:53,920 --> 01:10:01,440
building buildings by waiting an
additional six months or two quarters uh

961
01:09:58,239 --> 01:10:05,120
would be far far far more than the 20
thou $30,000 that we' paid for a special

962
01:10:03,760 --> 01:10:09,760
election. And so that's that's the
reason for it. The other thing too is

963
01:10:07,120 --> 01:10:14,800
you know it makes it a an issue on its
own. I mean the issue then becomes well

964
01:10:13,040 --> 01:10:19,920
two things. It's are are you interested
in the sales tax and are you interested

965
01:10:17,679 --> 01:10:24,880
in in improving school facilities? and
it doesn't get caught up in the middle

966
01:10:21,840 --> 01:10:26,960
of other um potential referendums like a
bill. You know, for example, this

967
01:10:25,920 --> 01:10:31,080
November, there's three other
referendums that are on the ballot.

968
01:10:34,239 --> 01:10:41,360
Any other questions or concerns? Dr.
Prison, thank you and thank your team

969
01:10:38,560 --> 01:10:45,199
for working on this uh as we've asked
you to do as well as the board of

970
01:10:42,560 --> 01:10:48,800
supervisors has asked you to do. And we
really appreciate all the time. It's

971
01:10:47,199 --> 01:10:53,199
like you said, like we've all said, it's
going to take some time and and we've

972
01:10:50,960 --> 01:10:56,800
got a lot of individuals putting input
on this as well as community. So, we'll

973
01:10:55,600 --> 01:11:00,400
see how it all shakes out.
>> Thank you very much.

974
01:10:59,120 --> 01:11:05,800
» All right. Item number nine, new
business. Is there any new business that

975
01:11:01,920 --> 01:11:05,800
needs to come before this board?

976
01:11:08,560 --> 01:11:20,320
Hearing none update by the board.
Start with Miss Nichols.

977
01:11:16,800 --> 01:11:24,320
Thank you, sir. Um, so good evening. Uh,
I want to begin and I want to

978
01:11:21,920 --> 01:11:28,800
acknowledge that, you know, tonight's
meeting did come at a time when emotions

979
01:11:26,480 --> 01:11:31,920
have been running high and the
discussion surrounding the potential

980
01:11:30,159 --> 01:11:36,080
consolidation of two of our high schools
has sparked passionate opinions

981
01:11:34,239 --> 01:11:41,840
throughout the community. And I totally
understand why these decisions impact

982
01:11:38,880 --> 01:11:45,440
students, families, staff, alumni, and
literally the future of Washington

983
01:11:43,360 --> 01:11:49,360
County. and people care deeply and
that's reflected in the turnout and the

984
01:11:47,280 --> 01:11:54,320
engagement tonight and I'm really
thankful for each of you being here. Uh

985
01:11:52,480 --> 01:11:58,560
I want to be really clear that community
input matters. It matters to each of us

986
01:11:56,560 --> 01:12:03,920
that serve on this board and public
dialogue matters and honest disagreement

987
01:12:01,600 --> 01:12:08,480
matters and in fact they're essential to
effective decision makingaking. We

988
01:12:06,000 --> 01:12:12,719
welcome differing viewpoints and people
who ask hard questions and engage in

989
01:12:11,040 --> 01:12:17,760
vigorous debate about the future of our
schools. Um but you know as uh it's been

990
01:12:16,239 --> 01:12:21,360
pointed out in public comment the last
couple of days we've seen a lot of

991
01:12:19,199 --> 01:12:26,400
anonymous social media posts, a lot of
misinformation, personal attacks, even

992
01:12:24,159 --> 01:12:31,199
AI generated images targeting central
office staff and other individuals like

993
01:12:28,159 --> 01:12:37,760
my beloved Taylor Swift. Um but in all
seriousness um uh you know these folks

994
01:12:35,199 --> 01:12:39,360
are doing the job they were hired to do.
These employees

995
01:12:38,420 --> 01:12:44,800
[cough and clears throat] do not run for
elected office but the folks sitting

996
01:12:41,280 --> 01:12:47,600
here in this dis have um the folks at
central office are professionals that

997
01:12:46,400 --> 01:12:51,280
are serving our students [clears throat]
and our school division. And yes

998
01:12:49,679 --> 01:12:55,520
everyone has a right to express their
opinions and advocate for the future

999
01:12:52,960 --> 01:12:59,440
they believe is best for our schools. Um
but with the that right comes a

1000
01:12:57,120 --> 01:13:04,719
responsibility to engage honestly and
respectfully and um attacking people and

1001
01:13:02,880 --> 01:13:08,239
the misinformation and target of
employees and private citizens. They

1002
01:13:06,320 --> 01:13:14,159
don't strengthen our community or
advance us to constructive solutions on

1003
01:13:11,440 --> 01:13:17,679
how to solve these problems. So if we
truly want to create positive change, we

1004
01:13:15,920 --> 01:13:23,199
got to engage with each other with
honesty and respect and accountability.

1005
01:13:21,199 --> 01:13:26,880
Um, and yes, like some of those AI
images and stuff, yes, they uh generate

1006
01:13:24,960 --> 01:13:32,560
the clicks and the controversy, but they
don't build trust or solve problems or

1007
01:13:29,600 --> 01:13:37,120
that's not modeling the behavior for our
students that we want. Um, you know, we

1008
01:13:35,199 --> 01:13:40,960
expect from them. I mean, students get
in trouble for online bullying all the

1009
01:13:38,800 --> 01:13:45,600
time and like, you know, even it's uh in
our consent agenda, we just approved

1010
01:13:42,880 --> 01:13:50,080
like that it's anti-bullying month. And
so I mean definitely we need to model

1011
01:13:47,199 --> 01:13:53,920
the behavior um for because they're
definitely watching us. Um and I also

1012
01:13:52,640 --> 01:13:57,679
want to address what I believe has
become a point of confusion in our

1013
01:13:55,760 --> 01:14:03,199
community. The discussion surrounding
the potential school unification and the

1014
01:14:00,320 --> 01:14:09,440
proposed 1% sales tax referendum. In my
mind they are not the same issue.

1015
01:14:06,640 --> 01:14:14,480
While many people have connected the two
I strongly believe they need to be

1016
01:14:11,600 --> 01:14:19,199
evaluated separately. The 1% referendum
is not a vote on unification. It's about

1017
01:14:16,960 --> 01:14:23,440
creating a dedicated funding source for
capital improvements for the entire

1018
01:14:22,000 --> 01:14:28,159
county and it's going to benefit
students all across Washington County.

1019
01:14:26,080 --> 01:14:33,120
Um
so, uh I really feel that they deserve

1020
01:14:30,400 --> 01:14:37,040
to be, you know, viewed separately and
regardless of where someone stands on

1021
01:14:35,040 --> 01:14:40,960
future organizational discussions, the
facility needs that we have in each of

1022
01:14:38,960 --> 01:14:43,920
our buildings are real. Students
throughout the county deserve safe,

1023
01:14:42,480 --> 01:14:48,000
modern, functional learning
environments. Whether it's the remaining

1024
01:14:45,920 --> 01:14:52,159
of the safety festivals, improvements to
John Battle, you know, for us them to

1025
01:14:50,320 --> 01:14:56,239
have a wrestling room, Wallace Middle
School to have auxiliary gym, Evie

1026
01:14:54,080 --> 01:14:59,360
Stanley to have a band room, the new CT
centers that we need so desperately to

1027
01:14:58,159 --> 01:15:03,920
provide better career pathway
opportunities for all of our students.

1028
01:15:01,760 --> 01:15:08,880
Um, these are investments that's going
to benefit all of our students and our

1029
01:15:06,080 --> 01:15:12,320
communities countywide. So, um, as we
move forward, I really hope that we can

1030
01:15:10,239 --> 01:15:15,199
have two separate conversations. One
about the long-term structure of our

1031
01:15:13,760 --> 01:15:19,840
schools and the other is about meeting
the facility needs that exist right now.

1032
01:15:18,000 --> 01:15:26,159
When we fuse those discussions together,
I think we really risk losing sight of

1033
01:15:23,120 --> 01:15:29,760
both. So, while we may disagree on the
path forward, I believe we're united in

1034
01:15:28,239 --> 01:15:33,440
one common goal, and that's providing
the best possible opportunities for our

1035
01:15:31,600 --> 01:15:36,560
students here in Washington County. And
they, as I mentioned, they're watching

1036
01:15:35,040 --> 01:15:42,080
how we conduct ourselves, and they
deserve to see adults model respect,

1037
01:15:39,600 --> 01:15:47,840
integrity, and thoughtful disagreement.
And um I'll get off my soap box now. And

1038
01:15:45,199 --> 01:15:51,520
on a more positive note, um uh it was a
tremendous honor to participate in the

1039
01:15:49,679 --> 01:15:55,280
commemoration of Bill and Betty Brooks
at our first football game of the

1040
01:15:53,600 --> 01:15:58,640
season. Their contributions left a
lasting mark in our community, and it

1041
01:15:56,800 --> 01:16:02,320
was wonderful to see so many people come
together to celebrate their legacy. And

1042
01:16:00,159 --> 01:16:07,600
thank you, Mr. Chair, for joining me. We
had a great evening. Um, and uh, also I

1043
01:16:06,239 --> 01:16:11,920
want to encourage my fellow board
members and education advocates to

1044
01:16:09,920 --> 01:16:15,600
participate in the legislative uh,
advocacy conference in Charlottesville

1045
01:16:13,760 --> 01:16:19,600
on September 17th. It's an important
opportunity to engage in the lawmakers

1046
01:16:17,520 --> 01:16:23,920
and discuss the issues that directly
impact our schools, staff, and our

1047
01:16:21,199 --> 01:16:27,840
students. And uh, lastly, I do want to
thank everyone who's taken time to be

1048
01:16:25,679 --> 01:16:31,760
involved in this process and who uh,
came and who spoke this evening. Whether

1049
01:16:29,920 --> 01:16:35,120
we agree or disagree on any particular
issue, our shared commitment to the

1050
01:16:33,679 --> 01:16:38,159
children of Washington County must
remain at the center of every

1051
01:16:36,239 --> 01:16:43,280
conversation, every decision we make.
And I know that we as board leaders, I

1052
01:16:40,400 --> 01:16:46,719
mean, um, every decision that we make is
like we are thinking of that's the heart

1053
01:16:45,199 --> 01:16:50,080
of every decision of the students,
what's best for all students here in

1054
01:16:48,239 --> 01:16:54,159
Washington County. Thank you,
>> Mr. Anderson. Mr. Sure. I got one

1055
01:16:51,840 --> 01:16:59,120
question to ask about that uh battle
cheer Trojan Yale. Which are you or Miss

1056
01:16:57,520 --> 01:17:03,920
Nichols going to do that?
>> Well, let Adam did. I got horn play Mr.

1057
01:17:02,480 --> 01:17:07,520
Brooks.
>> Yeah, we are playing a recording of

1058
01:17:05,520 --> 01:17:12,159
Billy at every ball game. So,
>> thank you, Mr. Sher. I was going to

1059
01:17:08,800 --> 01:17:16,480
bring it up. Mr. Brooks was a good great
mentor of mine as well. And I really

1060
01:17:14,800 --> 01:17:22,880
appreciate you and Miss Nichols doing
what y'all did down there. And Mr. King.

1061
01:17:19,360 --> 01:17:27,840
I knew Jimmy and Mr. Brooks were real
good friends. But uh I want to thank

1062
01:17:24,800 --> 01:17:32,080
everybody coming out tonight. Uh we're
this board is transparent. I don't want

1063
01:17:30,320 --> 01:17:36,000
anybody to think that we're doing
anything behind closed doors. That

1064
01:17:34,400 --> 01:17:39,840
that's not going to happen. I'm not
going to be a part of it. I can tell you

1065
01:17:38,159 --> 01:17:43,600
that right now. If that if that's
happening, I'm not going to be a part of

1066
01:17:41,440 --> 01:17:49,679
it. And I'll blow the whistle on it. I
will. Uh it's not going to happen. And

1067
01:17:46,960 --> 01:17:54,800
uh uh I appreciate Miss Fields your
statement about the uh the uh Facebook

1068
01:17:52,320 --> 01:17:59,360
and things. Uh and you know the people
that get on his Facebook and they don't

1069
01:17:56,560 --> 01:18:03,679
put their name or uh or send send a
letter. They don't sign the letter. I'm

1070
01:18:01,600 --> 01:18:08,640
going to tell you I don't put any any uh
snuff in that. Uh I'm I'm man enough and

1071
01:18:06,640 --> 01:18:13,199
I know these folks on this board uh
they're they're professional enough. If

1072
01:18:10,719 --> 01:18:17,760
you ask have have something to ask us or
our staff here at the central services,

1073
01:18:15,520 --> 01:18:22,640
come to them and ask them. They they
will answer your questions and they

1074
01:18:19,360 --> 01:18:26,480
won't give you the runaround. Uh and uh
I really appreciate, like I said,

1075
01:18:24,640 --> 01:18:32,400
everyone coming out tonight. I'm a
Patrick Hendry graduate. Uh and a proud

1076
01:18:29,440 --> 01:18:36,640
proud Rebel. By golly, we didn't win as
much when I was up there. [laughter]

1077
01:18:34,719 --> 01:18:43,280
we were playing on a lot of bigger teams
with that. But anyway, uh I I'm proud of

1078
01:18:39,760 --> 01:18:48,159
my school, my my alma m. And uh I just
want to tell you folks that uh we're

1079
01:18:45,440 --> 01:18:52,159
here to do what's right by our students,
not just at Patrick Henry, not just at

1080
01:18:50,560 --> 01:18:55,440
Wholesome, but ma'am, all over the
county. I I really appreciate your

1081
01:18:54,320 --> 01:18:59,840
statement about that [clears throat] as
well. And uh we want to do what's right

1082
01:18:58,000 --> 01:19:04,719
by all of our students and all of our
schools or we shouldn't be on this board

1083
01:19:02,000 --> 01:19:11,840
right now. tell you that right now. Uh
and uh a couple things that I want to

1084
01:19:07,600 --> 01:19:18,400
mention. Uh Tuesday, September the 15th
at 5:30 at the Hydroscap Community

1085
01:19:14,640 --> 01:19:23,360
Center in the gym. Myself, Dr. Perigen,
and Mr. Pucket are going to be over

1086
01:19:20,239 --> 01:19:28,800
there uh for a little town hall and he
he's he's want to hit every area. So

1087
01:19:26,239 --> 01:19:32,640
that'll get Brumley Gap, Haiders Gap,
Poor Valley, and Red Hill. How many

1088
01:19:31,120 --> 01:19:38,800
people can know where Red Hill is
besides me? Okay, there you go. So, but

1089
01:19:36,480 --> 01:19:43,679
anyway, that'll get all those folks over
there. Uh thanks to Dr. Duncan, Miss

1090
01:19:41,520 --> 01:19:48,880
Pucket, and Miss Burke. Uh they're going
to send out uh uh invitations to all

1091
01:19:46,719 --> 01:19:53,679
those families over there. And we hope
to to see those folks over there next

1092
01:19:51,440 --> 01:19:57,679
Tuesday night at 5:30. And Miss
Anderson, I didn't get a chance to get a

1093
01:19:55,520 --> 01:20:02,480
hold of you today when I found this out.
Mr. Gobble has got a date. You may

1094
01:20:00,000 --> 01:20:06,640
already know it. He's got a date for,
and correct me if I'm wrong, he said

1095
01:20:04,400 --> 01:20:13,280
this prom was going to be Reach for the
Stars or something like that. The name

1096
01:20:08,800 --> 01:20:20,000
of it, our special uh prom on November
the 7th at EO, Miss Rasnik, we're going

1097
01:20:17,199 --> 01:20:24,480
to have our special ed prom. Is that
right? I'm sorry, Dr. Stanley. Is that

1098
01:20:22,560 --> 01:20:26,880
correct? Is that Reach for the Stars?
What was

1099
01:20:25,280 --> 01:20:30,960
» I think you're right.
>> Okay. Well, don't name it just because I

1100
01:20:29,280 --> 01:20:36,159
said it [laughter]
anyway, but it's Reach for the Stars. It

1101
01:20:33,520 --> 01:20:42,080
It'll incorporate all of our special
needs students in the county uh I guess

1102
01:20:39,600 --> 01:20:48,400
of a high school age, whatever to come
in and have their own prom and uh

1103
01:20:45,040 --> 01:20:54,800
they're going to uh have uh music, have
different things that they can do. Uh

1104
01:20:50,880 --> 01:21:00,320
myself, um Miss uh Anderson, uh Mr.
gobble. Uh we uh contacted some folks

1105
01:20:57,920 --> 01:21:05,760
for donations, for food, things of that
nature. It's it's going to be a great

1106
01:21:02,239 --> 01:21:12,880
time. Uh and uh uh we're and then it's
like our unification games we had uh

1107
01:21:08,880 --> 01:21:17,840
down at the uh the track. Uh I'm I'm
really a stickler for uh helping our

1108
01:21:16,000 --> 01:21:24,719
special needs kids because I did have a
special needs son when uh when

1109
01:21:21,520 --> 01:21:29,840
he he was 21 when he passed away. But uh
uh I'm I'm a I'm back to special needs

1110
01:21:27,360 --> 01:21:34,080
and our special ed department here. But
uh so that that's going to be November

1111
01:21:32,239 --> 01:21:39,679
the 7th. We'll get some times and I'm
sure we'll get invitations out Dr.

1112
01:21:35,840 --> 01:21:43,520
Stanley uh and things of that nature. So
Mr. Chair, that's that's about all I

1113
01:21:41,440 --> 01:21:45,440
got. I talked longer than Dr. Brley when
he's on this board.

1114
01:21:44,696 --> 01:21:49,120
[laughter and clears throat]
>> Thank you, Mr. Mr. P.

1115
01:21:47,120 --> 01:21:54,320
» Thank you, Mr. Chairman. if we have any
time left. [laughter]

1116
01:21:51,520 --> 01:22:00,159
Uh again, I'll echo their comments. We
have received a lot of input from

1117
01:21:56,800 --> 01:22:05,679
community members. Um a lot of in
opposition, a lot in favor of that the

1118
01:22:02,719 --> 01:22:11,199
discussion. Uh and as they said, if if
we are approached respectfully and

1119
01:22:08,560 --> 01:22:15,760
professionally, we will have dialogue.
Uh you know, we all have received some

1120
01:22:13,600 --> 01:22:20,000
anonymous messages, whether it be social
media or what what have you. Uh, I can't

1121
01:22:18,480 --> 01:22:25,520
speak for all the other members, but I
won't respond to those. Uh, I'm glad to

1122
01:22:23,280 --> 01:22:29,679
talk to anybody. I won't have, sometimes
we won't have any answers. Sometimes I

1123
01:22:26,960 --> 01:22:37,679
won't have many at all. Uh, but I'm glad
to talk and, uh, listen and, uh, take,

1124
01:22:33,520 --> 01:22:40,639
uh, feedback back to our board. Um, I've
tried to respond to all of them. There's

1125
01:22:39,199 --> 01:22:44,159
some so long I'm going to have to take a
little bit. I'm not a fast reader, so

1126
01:22:42,400 --> 01:22:47,280
it'll take me a while to read some of
the longer ones, but I I will try to

1127
01:22:46,000 --> 01:22:52,800
respond.
as I can and and really, you know, my my

1128
01:22:49,840 --> 01:22:57,600
biggest point, as Miss Nichols said, is
these really are two two different

1129
01:22:55,199 --> 01:23:02,480
topics. Uh you can't combine them
together and and have a have an accurate

1130
01:23:00,320 --> 01:23:06,800
conversation. Uh and I've tried to
spread that, try to get people off

1131
01:23:04,239 --> 01:23:11,360
social media, uh to talk with Dr.
Farajin, to talk with us, go on the

1132
01:23:08,880 --> 01:23:17,600
school website, has a ton of
information. Um, but at the same time,

1133
01:23:15,280 --> 01:23:23,360
if it had been crickets from Damascus
and Glade, I would have been concerned

1134
01:23:20,880 --> 01:23:28,000
in other ways. So, I'm glad there's
feedback. I'm glad there's emotion and

1135
01:23:25,920 --> 01:23:32,960
there's pride and, you know, I fully
respect that. I'm a Glade I'm a Glade

1136
01:23:30,480 --> 01:23:36,639
guy, PH guy, and you know, this is this
is a hard discussion for me as well, but

1137
01:23:35,199 --> 01:23:39,600
you know, it's one that, you know,
whether or not we feel like it should

1138
01:23:38,239 --> 01:23:43,360
have happened years ago, it's got to
happen. And we're not we're not can

1139
01:23:42,159 --> 01:23:47,199
kickers. We're not going to kick
problems uh down to the next generation.

1140
01:23:45,760 --> 01:23:51,840
We're going to we're going to face them
and work together and build consensus

1141
01:23:49,600 --> 01:23:58,400
and come up with the best solution we
can. So I do appreciate the feedback. Um

1142
01:23:55,840 --> 01:24:04,000
and as far as school reports, uh I did
attend Metabuse's uh back to school

1143
01:24:01,040 --> 01:24:08,719
batch. Uh I don't know how they do it.
Goodness gracious. Uh uh they did

1144
01:24:07,280 --> 01:24:12,480
separate the kids, got them out on the
playground, fed them snacks and wired

1145
01:24:11,040 --> 01:24:16,400
them up for the parents while they were
getting educated about what was going on

1146
01:24:14,159 --> 01:24:20,320
in school. And when I was walking to my
car, it wasn't med flight. I can't

1147
01:24:18,239 --> 01:24:24,719
remember the name, but pardon me for
that, but the helicopter did come in and

1148
01:24:22,880 --> 01:24:29,920
got them even more jazzed up before
sending them home. So, we do appreciate

1149
01:24:26,880 --> 01:24:34,800
them participating uh in that. And uh
the after school program at Med View is

1150
01:24:32,320 --> 01:24:41,040
packed to the gills. 125 kids with a
waiting list. So that's great. And the

1151
01:24:37,679 --> 01:24:47,520
safety vest school been best. We've been
following that along. It's it's going

1152
01:24:42,880 --> 01:24:53,199
well. Looking good. And
Glade Middle kicked off the schoolwide

1153
01:24:50,159 --> 01:24:56,320
reading uh program. So anxious to see
how that goes. And Zen, thank you for

1154
01:24:54,800 --> 01:25:00,800
your report on the high school.
Congratulations to to all of those

1155
01:24:58,400 --> 01:25:06,840
especially this class this classic
that's exciting stuff we watch all

1156
01:25:07,920 --> 01:25:17,520
» I just want to state that this has been
an incredibly hard week

1157
01:25:14,320 --> 01:25:21,360
filled with a lot of emotions
and it has been one of the most

1158
01:25:19,600 --> 01:25:29,440
difficult
that I've ever had to go through but I

1159
01:25:24,639 --> 01:25:34,639
am proud of our community.
Sometimes we know that things are not

1160
01:25:32,880 --> 01:25:40,400
easy.
But with a heavy heart and a very heavy

1161
01:25:38,560 --> 01:25:46,000
heart,
I'm trusting

1162
01:25:42,400 --> 01:25:53,840
that with time
and understanding

1163
01:25:48,400 --> 01:26:01,280
and given correct answers and directions
and our community

1164
01:25:56,480 --> 01:26:10,080
being a part of possible
other decisions that will understand why

1165
01:26:06,000 --> 01:26:14,960
this path is necessary. I'm proud of our
community

1166
01:26:11,600 --> 01:26:22,880
and I know they've had a hard week as
well. I'm thankful that my children

1167
01:26:19,040 --> 01:26:27,520
have allowed me to continue as school
board member

1168
01:26:24,719 --> 01:26:34,400
uh because I love
you all and I love being a part of this

1169
01:26:31,199 --> 01:26:39,040
board. Thank you.
Mr.

1170
01:26:36,880 --> 01:26:43,600
Mr. Paul
um I do [clears throat] just wanted to

1171
01:26:40,960 --> 01:26:47,280
say that um as Mr. Pucket said I am
trying my best to read all the emails

1172
01:26:45,199 --> 01:26:51,520
that come through. I am not responding
to them. I am letting our chair but did

1173
01:26:49,600 --> 01:26:55,199
want to let everyone know that as I get
chance I'm trying to read read through

1174
01:26:53,280 --> 01:26:59,360
them as he stated some of them are very
lengthy. Um, so please know that I also

1175
01:26:58,080 --> 01:27:02,639
want to echo everything that's already
been said, but I really want everyone to

1176
01:27:01,120 --> 01:27:05,520
know that spoke tonight that I do
appreciate you and I appreciate you

1177
01:27:04,000 --> 01:27:09,120
being respectful coming into this
meeting. I didn't know what to expect. I

1178
01:27:07,679 --> 01:27:13,679
don't have social media, but I have a
teenage son and co-workers who shows me

1179
01:27:11,120 --> 01:27:16,239
what's posted and based on the things
some of the things that have been

1180
01:27:14,719 --> 01:27:19,760
posted. I didn't know what to expect
tonight. So, I appreciate you all that

1181
01:27:18,320 --> 01:27:24,560
are here tonight. You have been very
respectful to us and you have brought

1182
01:27:21,920 --> 01:27:27,520
true concerns and needs to us. Um, and I
just want you to know that I appreciate

1183
01:27:25,920 --> 01:27:30,480
that. As it's already been stated, we do
want to make the best decision for our

1184
01:27:29,040 --> 01:27:33,679
communities. [clears throat] I think
that there are things that have to be

1185
01:27:31,600 --> 01:27:37,440
looked at at both ends of the spectrum.
Um, but this is just the beginning of

1186
01:27:35,760 --> 01:27:41,040
conversations and I know as it's already
been stated, it's felt rushed, but this

1187
01:27:39,360 --> 01:27:44,960
please know this is the beginning and
things did happen faster than we had

1188
01:27:42,880 --> 01:27:49,040
wanted that to happen, but we are
listening. Um, and hope that as Debbie

1189
01:27:47,600 --> 01:27:53,120
said at the end of the day, you know, we
can come to a final agreement of what's

1190
01:27:51,520 --> 01:27:56,880
best for our schools. But just
appreciate you all tonight and just like

1191
01:27:55,040 --> 01:28:01,280
I said, I can't repeat enough you all
being respectful here tonight. It's been

1192
01:27:59,040 --> 01:28:04,639
a while. That's all.
>> Dr. Frederick,

1193
01:28:02,560 --> 01:28:09,199
» I want to echo my fellow board members
comments and that um I really do

1194
01:28:06,480 --> 01:28:13,199
appreciate you all coming out and um
having taught in Damascus for eight

1195
01:28:11,360 --> 01:28:17,840
years, I know the community there and
love it and have former students that

1196
01:28:15,360 --> 01:28:23,600
are now have parents and it's not
possible because I'm not that old, but

1197
01:28:20,321 --> 01:28:28,960
[laughter] but I will. Um but I do
appreciate you all um and know just how

1198
01:28:25,760 --> 01:28:32,719
tight your community is and um and I I
repeat what my fellow board members have

1199
01:28:30,560 --> 01:28:36,960
said. Nothing's been decided. The only
thing that's been decided is that very

1200
01:28:35,040 --> 01:28:42,239
late in the summer, we found out about
this referendum and we've been trying to

1201
01:28:39,360 --> 01:28:48,560
navigate how to go about um making that
possible for our community. And so, um

1202
01:28:45,040 --> 01:28:52,800
we've been usually summers are kind of
quiet for boards. It has not been that

1203
01:28:50,800 --> 01:28:56,719
way this summer. Uh it's been very very
busy summer, but I think there's a lot

1204
01:28:55,120 --> 01:29:00,880
of opportunity that could come with this
referendum um for all of our schools.

1205
01:28:58,960 --> 01:29:04,880
And I look forward to hearing more of
your comments and thoughts on that

1206
01:29:02,560 --> 01:29:08,480
because the more dialogue we have, the
more brains we have in the room, the

1207
01:29:06,400 --> 01:29:13,600
better the ideas will be and that will
only serve our students um in the future

1208
01:29:10,960 --> 01:29:18,960
um in the best way possible. Um on that
note, Mrs. Raznik and I we did um meet

1209
01:29:16,480 --> 01:29:24,239
with uh all of our schools that our our
constituents feed into. So I think we've

1210
01:29:21,360 --> 01:29:28,639
been to four four schools at this point.
uh Waga, Abington Elementary, I was

1211
01:29:26,960 --> 01:29:33,679
there just briefly and then Evie
Stanley, Abington High, the CTE Center,

1212
01:29:31,280 --> 01:29:38,800
just to hear from uh their
administration and kind of really to

1213
01:29:35,920 --> 01:29:42,960
show us, let our eyes see where some of
the issues and concerns were in the

1214
01:29:40,880 --> 01:29:47,600
buildings and that was very, I think,
eye opening for both of us. And we also

1215
01:29:45,360 --> 01:29:51,199
asked them to prioritize things like
what are the critical needs that you

1216
01:29:49,520 --> 01:29:56,080
need to have met, you know, most
quickly. Um and and so that that was

1217
01:29:54,159 --> 01:29:59,040
just very informative because we're in
the schools and everything, but

1218
01:29:57,679 --> 01:30:02,639
sometimes when you're in there quick,
you don't notice some of the things that

1219
01:30:01,040 --> 01:30:06,320
folks that are in those buildings every
day see. So, I want to I want to say

1220
01:30:05,120 --> 01:30:10,719
thank you to the principles and
assistant principles that toured with

1221
01:30:08,400 --> 01:30:15,760
us, the teachers that spoke with us and
um giving us that time to see some of

1222
01:30:12,880 --> 01:30:21,840
our facility um needs.
Um, I will also uh say that um one of

1223
01:30:19,600 --> 01:30:25,440
the things that we heard at every school
was Mr. Baldwin's a rock star.

1224
01:30:24,772 --> 01:30:29,760
[laughter]
Uh and and honestly, I think what

1225
01:30:28,000 --> 01:30:34,560
impressed me was just how clean our
schools are. Like our custodians, our

1226
01:30:32,400 --> 01:30:40,239
maintenance staff, they do an amazing
job. You know, a month into school, the

1227
01:30:36,719 --> 01:30:45,199
floors still shine. Um and uh that just
speaks a lot to the care that our staff

1228
01:30:42,560 --> 01:30:49,600
give to our facilities. And so shout out
to your folks, Mr. Baldwin and and you.

1229
01:30:47,920 --> 01:30:54,960
Every all the principles know they can
call you and he'll say yes.

1230
01:30:53,360 --> 01:30:59,679
He always says yes.
>> That's good. [laughter] That's good. We

1231
01:30:57,520 --> 01:31:05,120
like clean schools.
>> Um but um also just on an Abington note

1232
01:31:02,639 --> 01:31:08,800
this week, homecoming week. So not only
is that for Abington High, EB's got a

1233
01:31:07,040 --> 01:31:12,960
lot going on. Abington Elementary's got
a lot going on. Waga has a lot going on.

1234
01:31:11,440 --> 01:31:18,080
There's dress up days, there's
carnivals, there's everything to all

1235
01:31:15,360 --> 01:31:22,960
culminate this Friday night um at the
Falcon Stadium for uh our homecoming

1236
01:31:20,719 --> 01:31:29,280
game with Gate City. Should be a great
game. Um and um I will also say I heard

1237
01:31:26,880 --> 01:31:33,679
about this uh podcast, but one of the
cool things that we got to see at

1238
01:31:31,440 --> 01:31:38,320
Abington High was a new media room that
I know Miss Hope has been helping them

1239
01:31:35,920 --> 01:31:42,960
on, but they actually have the equipment
there to do podcasts. and I really love

1240
01:31:41,120 --> 01:31:47,040
listening to Mr. Gobble's podcast, but
I'm looking forward to these other

1241
01:31:44,239 --> 01:31:51,040
podcasts that will will be produced with
our students and our staff. Um, that's

1242
01:31:49,199 --> 01:31:54,719
just a great opportunity and one more
thing that we do here in Washington

1243
01:31:52,560 --> 01:31:59,199
County to provide opportunities to our
students. So, thanks Miss Hoke for

1244
01:31:56,960 --> 01:32:06,400
stepping in there in an instructional
role and uh and that's all I have.

1245
01:32:02,480 --> 01:32:10,228
» Thank you, Dr. Frederick. Uh,
I have also been reading numerous emails

1246
01:32:08,639 --> 01:32:14,320
and responding as quickly as I
[clears throat] possibly can myself and

1247
01:32:11,840 --> 01:32:19,760
Dr. Persian and we'll continue to do so.
I know I went to Holston High School the

1248
01:32:16,000 --> 01:32:22,800
other night and and what a turnout. You
should be proud of your community,

1249
01:32:20,960 --> 01:32:27,520
Debbie.
As we're proud of [clears throat] and

1250
01:32:24,960 --> 01:32:32,159
you know, uh, listening to everyone,
that's what we've got to do.

1251
01:32:30,159 --> 01:32:37,280
We've got to listen to everybody to make
an educated answer uh and a solution.

1252
01:32:35,760 --> 01:32:40,639
So, that's exactly what we're going to
do. I know things have moved fast. We're

1253
01:32:39,040 --> 01:32:44,080
trying to slow it down as much as we
possibly can. A lot of that is not our

1254
01:32:42,320 --> 01:32:48,239
fault, but it is it's the cards we've
been handed and and we're having to move

1255
01:32:46,080 --> 01:32:50,320
with them. So, that's what we're doing
to make sure everything gets

1256
01:32:49,360 --> 01:32:54,560
accomplished that needs to get
accomplished for our county, for the

1257
01:32:52,800 --> 01:32:58,159
kids, for the employees of the school
system, and for the citizens. We want to

1258
01:32:56,639 --> 01:33:02,080
provide the very best that we can
possibly do. I can speak, I think, for

1259
01:33:00,320 --> 01:33:05,840
everybody on this board. There's not a
person on this board that doesn't care

1260
01:33:03,199 --> 01:33:09,040
about our kids or our communities. Uh
we're on this board because we wanted to

1261
01:33:07,440 --> 01:33:13,120
make a difference. That's why we ran for
office, every one of us, all seven of

1262
01:33:11,040 --> 01:33:17,040
us. And and that's what we try to do. We
listen to our constituents and we do

1263
01:33:14,480 --> 01:33:20,639
what we think is best for the entire
community and the entire county. And

1264
01:33:18,880 --> 01:33:23,520
that's what we'll continue to do. you
know, some [clears throat] things some

1265
01:33:22,080 --> 01:33:27,520
things haven't been talked about in a
long long long time. But, you know, you

1266
01:33:25,920 --> 01:33:31,040
can't only not talk about something for
so long. And, you know, we got to have

1267
01:33:29,360 --> 01:33:34,960
discussions. We got to have the
discussions to figure out the solutions.

1268
01:33:33,199 --> 01:33:38,239
And so, I look forward to many more
discussions to figure out these

1269
01:33:36,159 --> 01:33:42,880
solutions. But, as Miss Nichols and Mr.
Pucket alluded to, we've got to try to

1270
01:33:40,239 --> 01:33:48,800
keep the tax referendum and and and the
CIP needs sort of separate. Uh, I think

1271
01:33:45,600 --> 01:33:53,679
those got pushed together
sort of by our board of supervisors

1272
01:33:50,719 --> 01:33:56,639
urging us to do so and and you know
we're all elected officials and I'd like

1273
01:33:55,360 --> 01:33:59,760
to keep our board our board and the
board of supervisors board of

1274
01:33:57,760 --> 01:34:04,000
supervisors and I'm going to advocate
that our board make our decisions and

1275
01:34:01,760 --> 01:34:07,920
and and you've got my word on that. I'm
not afraid to make enemies where I need

1276
01:34:05,440 --> 01:34:11,679
to make them. So, uh, you know, we've
got a a lovehate relationship there. You

1277
01:34:10,480 --> 01:34:14,800
know, that's where a lot of our funding
comes from. So we've got

1278
01:34:13,360 --> 01:34:20,000
» it's so love.
>> It's so love. [laughter] Yeah. So but

1279
01:34:17,040 --> 01:34:23,440
you know that's
we're going to work very hard to get to

1280
01:34:22,080 --> 01:34:31,120
the right answer. I can promise
everybody that they can that and little

1281
01:34:27,040 --> 01:34:35,360
not in on John Battle. Uh TJ uh varsity
girls just beat Gate City in the first

1282
01:34:33,120 --> 01:34:38,480
set 25. So it's looking promising for
the volleyball. [laughter]

1283
01:34:37,120 --> 01:34:40,800
» TJ's going to have a hard time with the
volleyball team.

1284
01:34:39,120 --> 01:34:45,600
» He is have a hard time volleyball team.
I better watch my daughter.

1285
01:34:42,800 --> 01:34:51,239
never was really good at volleyball.
>> Yeah. But

1286
01:34:47,440 --> 01:34:51,239
with that being said,

1287
01:34:52,239 --> 01:34:58,719
I think I look forward to the to the
continued conversations that we need to

1288
01:34:56,480 --> 01:35:04,159
have in this community and and so we
come to our educated answer. So that

1289
01:35:00,719 --> 01:35:08,239
being said, uh Madame Clerk, update to
the board by the superintendent.

1290
01:35:06,239 --> 01:35:14,600
» Well, as Miss Nichols indicated, there's
several workshops, conferences, and

1291
01:35:09,920 --> 01:35:14,600
webinars coming up. listeners on that.

1292
01:35:14,719 --> 01:35:20,639
» Thank you.
Before we do the resolution to end open

1293
01:35:19,360 --> 01:35:24,480
session, I would like to thank again
everybody for coming out tonight. It

1294
01:35:22,400 --> 01:35:27,920
means a lot. It means a lot to our board
and and if you do have questions or

1295
01:35:26,239 --> 01:35:31,679
concerns, please email us or call us.
Our emails are on the website. Be more

1296
01:35:30,239 --> 01:35:36,400
than happy to answer a good email, but
like most have said, I'm not on social

1297
01:35:34,080 --> 01:35:41,280
media, so if you try any social media,
my wife shows me some of the posts which

1298
01:35:38,880 --> 01:35:45,600
I don't really care for. So I I just
stay away from social media. So that

1299
01:35:43,040 --> 01:35:48,080
being said, uh is there a resolution to
end open session?

1300
01:35:46,639 --> 01:35:51,760
» Mr. Chair, I make a motion that the
board convene in close session after a

1301
01:35:50,239 --> 01:35:56,159
5m minute break for the purpose of
discussing the following matters is

1302
01:35:53,280 --> 01:36:00,920
authorized by section 2.2-3711A
of the code of Virginia. Section

1303
01:35:57,920 --> 01:36:00,920
2.2-371182

1304
01:36:01,600 --> 01:36:08,880
request for release from compulsory
school attendance and religious

1305
01:36:04,719 --> 01:36:13,760
exemption 2026 2027 cases 18 through 19
section 2.2 2-3711A1.

1306
01:36:12,320 --> 01:36:18,080
Discuss performance of specific
individuals. Consider employment of

1307
01:36:15,520 --> 01:36:22,480
specific individuals. Consider transfer
of specific individuals. Consider

1308
01:36:19,840 --> 01:36:26,080
resignation of specific individuals.
Consider specific individuals with

1309
01:36:24,080 --> 01:36:30,239
non-eing assignments to receive coaching
supplement only and subject to one VHSL

1310
01:36:28,560 --> 01:36:33,520
approval and two within number of
positions approved for coaching.

1311
01:36:32,719 --> 01:36:38,480
» Second.
>> Motion made by Mr. Raz, second by Mr.

1312
01:36:35,280 --> 01:36:43,280
Henderson to end open session. Is there
any further discussion

1313
01:36:41,120 --> 01:36:49,040
hearing? None. All by raising your right
hand. Likewise, uh we'll reconvene in

1314
01:36:47,040 --> 01:36:52,040
close session and after a 5m minute
Thank