I was wondering about that at about seven. Seems like there's such a such a hot Let's take the mics to the Test one, two, three, test. One, two, one, two, three, four. Check. Test. One, two, three.
Check. Test. One, two. Check. One, two, three, four. Check. One, two, one, two, three, four, five. Yeah. to order the Charlottesville City School Board joint work session with city council. Today is Thursday, February
9th, 2026. It is 5:00 p.m. Colleagues, can I have a motion for remote participation for Miss Lisa Torres as she is in Washington DC today meeting with our senators. >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Miss Bryant?
>> Yes. All in favor? >> Yes. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Thank you. >> All right. Madame clerk, will you call the role, please?
>> Madam Chair Bryant >> here. >> Birds >> here. >> Cooper >> here. >> Here. Meer >> here. >> Miss Richardson present. Ed Torres.
Thank you. >> All right. Now, >> uh, thank you for the city council role. We, um, Madame Clerk, um, we were Jen Flesher was going to call in. Is do we know if she's on?
>> She She's on. >> Hey, um, Jen has requested to participate um virtually. Um, Jen, did you want to tell us your location and and why you want to
participate um in this manner? >> I am in Costa Rica. I am on vacation this week. >> I did give her the option of, you know, not, you know, relaxing, but she's dedicated and and and so we won't be
taking any votes today. Um, madame clerk, will you please call the role? Councelor Fleer >> here. >> Councelor Ashin. Vice Mayor Ash. >> Councelor Payne. >> Councelor Snope
>> here. >> Mayor Wade >> here. >> Mr. Mayor, I think we have to officially vote Miss Flecher to participate virtually. >> So, can I get a motion to allow Jen to participate um virtually? >> So, moved. >> Second.
>> It's been moved and properly second. Any discussion? All in favor, please say yes. >> Yes. >> All oppose, please say no. Thank you. Um, Madame Chair, is your your meeting? >> All right. Thank you, Mayor. May I get a motion to approve our
proposed agenda? Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> And all in favor? >> Yes. Any opposed? All right. Thank you. And I will turn it over to Dr. Gurley. Thank you. Good evening.
Um before I get started, um before I get started, I just want to um make a few remarks. Um I want to uh provide an update um to everyone. Well, and first thank you. Um I know people who are watching online probably can't see, but
there are a lot of people assembled here. So, thank you all for your attendance. Um I want to provide you an update. Um I am pleased to say that um we had a meeting today with CA and um and they will um they're going to go
ahead and bring our tenative agreement to a vote um for its support with the bargaining unit in time for the board to approve its uh budget on February the 19th. Um that agreement would give a 10
and a half% raise to support professionals. um each for the next um 3 years. And that's truly something that I do want to celebrate. Um I sincerely u want to thank um Miss
Gillicanin and Miss Taylor um for our meeting today. I think it was um a meeting that was filled with a lot of cander um just genuine um support for um the bargaining unit and it also just
allowed us to get back on the same page. Um we are in a brave new world of collective bargaining. Um, I know that I personally did not go to school for it and I know that uh my colleagues and Miss Gillicanin and Miss Taylor echo that same thing that it's just uncharted
waters for us. Um, and then there will be some difficult moments. Um, and but we are going to get through them and we will always do those together. And I think that it's important to remember that we all want the same thing. We want
great schools for our children, which we know depends on um the work of our amazing support staff. So, with that being said, I'm going to um jump into our presentation, our budget work session. Uh if you have been following
our budget presentation, um some of these slides um are the same. um and I'll move through them um not quickly, but council if you have some questions uh feel free to ask your questions as we go through um the presentation. Uh feel
free to stop me. Uh next slide, please. Uh just want to start by um giving kudos to our finance team. Uh during the winter break, I believe it was, we were informed that uh once again Charlottesville City Schools received
the meritorious um budget award for the um budget development process. And I think that um it just reflects this award just reflects the hard work of a lot of people between the finance and the communications team. Next slide,
please. There's a statutory requirement that uh requires the superintendent to present a balance budget to um to the school board.
Next slide. Our budget priorities. Um just a reminder that we um go through a very comprehensive budget priorities process that pro um that process consists of listening to various stakeholder groups
um via our PTO VR PTO uh surveys. So we get a lot of input in developing the budget priorities and then we compile them uh using um some coding methods to see what the reoccurring themes were.
You see here our um budget priorities for the 2627 school year. Next slide please. We um use those priorities to align them to our strategic plan. So what you will see is the priorities are located at the
bottom. Um and then our strategic plan is located at the top. Next slide please. Revenue. Next slide. Fiscal year um fiscal year 27 is a new
bianial for the um for the state. Um the state has rebenchmarked the local composite index which is um our ability which is the locality's ability to pay. CCS um peaked during the bianial year uh
with a um with a LCI of 77.02%. For the fiscal year 27 the um LCI decreased um.37. So the LCI is now um 76.6. 66 um%.
This change coupled with our um with our ADM will reflect a decrease um will this will reflect a decrease in funding for the school division. So because the LCI went down and um the enrollment went
down just slightly, we will um see some decreases in um in state monies. Next slide, please. Um just this just shows you some comparison. There are 134 school
divisions um in Virginia um and there are nine that have the maximum LCI of 80. And then Charlottesville City Schools um is number um 10th is number n
um number 10 um out of all of those. And so this does put us well above the state average. The state average for LCI is 41.18 um%. Again, a high LCI reflects a strong
local ability to pay, resulting in significantly lower state education funds relative to other school divisions. Next slide, please. This just shows some enrollment trends.
Um we attended a conference and they provided this slide and we wanted to include it for people um because sometimes people are ask where are the students going and so we just want to make sure that um everyone understands
that our enrollment trends are reflective of what's happening across the state. Um the state did peak um the state enrollment peaked in FY23 and then started a modest decline in 25 and it is
projected in FY26 that it will sharply decrease and fall off in FY um 28. Next slide please. Um this shows our enrollment trend which
um again it has some of those same features of the state enrollment trends. Um our uh ADM stabilized over FY24 and FY25. However, in FY26, the fall membership
did decline by 86 students um from 4443 uh in uh FY25 to 4357 in FY26. Um and this again as I said is consistent with statewide trends.
um enrollment projections are reflective in low birth rate um population mobility and then the um shift in family enrollment choices that occurred over the pandemic. Um I know the state u reported that there was an uptick in
homeschool homeschooling um during the the pandemic. Next slide please. Um so budget impact on CCS. Um what does this mean as far as funding for CCS? the enrollment projections um from September
the 30th reduced the statewide aid to the school division um by um 167 million and we are estim we're estimating state revenue to decrease
um by 57,772. um their VRS had a rate change and the governor's budget um and the governor's proposed budget included that. We applied the lower rate. So, initially, if you were watching our presentation
back during um December, we were projecting a much higher um a much higher VRS rate. And so since that time we have gone with a lower which um has helped us um with balancing our budget.
Um and then we've also incorporated um vacancy savings from positions that may have gone um unfilled. The current governor's budget proposes a 2% salary increase for SOQ positions.
However, CCS is um However, CCS um as I mentioned earlier, we have included um in it a um 5.5% increase for licensed personnel and we
have also included um we've also included back into the presentation the um licensed personnel with 10.5% for support um professionals. Next slide please.
So let's talk about where the money goes. So um of course as we talk about often education is primarily a people business. You will see in this donut that 72% um of the FY26 budget goes to salaries
and benefits. Um and then the next largest expenditure is contractual service um for uh maintenance and transportation. Uh so when we look at this uh when we look at this slide in terms of personnel
allocation um it shows that majority of our personnel um are located and um instruction at 75%. 14% of personnel are um uh 14% of the
personnel are school-based like our custodians, nutrition workers, um admin, tech, um administration makes up 12% of our personnel and this is this includes IT, finance, human resources,
coordinators, etc. Next slide. uh during one of our conversations and I think this is um extremely important for our counselor um for city council um to take note um Miss Asherin um initi I'm
always reminded of all her questions when she started on city council. So, I want to make sure that um as we're advocating um because that's what we're doing. as we're advocating that you understand um as a council what it takes to run a school division. Um we've added
this slide since the presentation first began because the state says that um based on their SOQ um based on their SOQ um formula, the state says that we only need 312 positions to make this school
division work. Um if you look at that next column you will see that we employ 579 people within this. So we are well above the state at well above what the state
says we should be funding and probably on any given day I always say it probably feels like we could use a hundred more people. um because and again that's just nodding to that the state formula for funding schools for
personnel is antiquated and so when you point out um things I know we've been talking about um for example instructional assistance the state says that we only need 12 instructional assistants for the entire school division um
yes um again so might have a job in comedy Um the state says we only need 12 positions for instructional assistance. We employ 82. Um so what you all have to understand is that
that means the state is only paying us for 12 out of the 82 positions. Um the same thing when you look at like school counselors, the state says we need 13, we employ 30. Remember what's in the soq
column is what the state funds us for. Anything else we have to that's what we come to our city and say we need some help to uh we need help in funding this area. So it takes a lot for the school divisions to work. Um and I think that
this is the hard work. This is the the part that um as we talk about like what needs advocacy, this is the this is the part that um we spend a lot of time talking with I talk I have a lot of conversations with um
Mr. Sanders. This is what we have a lot of conversations with the um with the city about is there's a big gap in terms of what the state says we should have and what they fund us for and then what actually needs to happen to make the
school division work. Any questions before I move on counselors? All right. Um >> what I've learned that makes the school system work is a lot of acronyms. >> Yes. a lot of a lot of acronyms. >> Thank you for explaining them to me
every time. >> Yes. Yes. Um based on our conversations um based on our conversations um that we had um earlier with CA, I don't feel that we need to spend any time on option A. I think that we move on to um we move
on to option B. Please next slide. Um okay. Um so based on um based on our what's going to be currently proposed to um proposed to the city, you will um you
will see that we already have um an agreement with licensed personnel that has an annual increase of 5 a.5%. Um and you see that um that's roughly $2.7 million.
Um the next slide is um and this is based on our conver no same slide please. Um the next the the that next line where it talks about um collective bargaining for
our support personnel. This is where we've had the conversation relative to um you know the bargaining unit will vote on um we'll vote on the um the contract the the um collective
bargaining contract before we bring back the final budget on the 19th and pending all those things. We we're saying that we're our ask um of you all is to fund that fund the 10.5%
salary increase for instructional personnel. I'm sorry for support personnel. My apologies for support personnel and that has a um cost of 1,375 um,000 and that's what you see located on that
second line. Um the administrative staff, we're proposing a salary increase of 3% which is a just the step the step and a half plus the one and a half% raise. And then you see our um health insurance increases
um which are located there. Any questions from um counselors regarding that? All right. If not, we'll keep moving. Um here um you see um we have some here
you see we have some um personnel savings from reconfiguration. Um and so it resulted in um 10 FTEES um generating about $1.1 million in savings. Um these positions these are
positions that are being eliminated not people. um these positions that are being re um that are being eliminated. Uh we are um we are um ending one principal position, an assistant
principal position, um seven teaching positions that are being eliminated and um a guidance secretary position that's um being eliminated. Um and we worked um our staff has done the work with um anyone who needed to be relocated
throughout the school division. And again, these are positions and um not people. Um some additional savings is when we built the um when we built the budget for this school year, we included the retention bonus that the Walker staff is
getting this school year. we will be able to um redirect those funds uh for the upcoming school year. And then we had some vacancy savings of about 1.4 million about 1.38
um million dollars and we will be able to actualize that um in our um next budget. Any um you was there a question? I'm sorry. Pass the mic down to Miss Bryant so they can hear at home.
Yeah, you gota for some reason you have to tap it very lightly. >> Oh, there we go. Thank you. >> Um, thank you for your presentation. Um, my question was a clarifying one. Um, I want to be clear that my own position,
at least I can't speak for the board, was that I thought that we were moving forward with the 10.5 from the start anyway. like I thought that that was our position and I know it's definitely what I've supported from the start. I guess my question is just so that we don't
repeat the cycle of miscommunication and um unnecessary I guess drama around it. Um how can we make sure that those deadlines are clearly communicated and what are we
expecting for that ratified contract from the CA? Well, we'll um we're going to have some followup. I mean, I think what the position that I heard from everyone on the board was that the board was at the board was advancing the 10 and a half%, >> right?
>> Um I think that there are some things that we can continue to work through. Um that we can continue to work through together. Um I don't I think it doesn't require any fingerpointing. Um I just think that it requires
>> Yeah. the the process the process is brand new for everyone and um I think that there are a lot of learn lessons learned. I can I know that I can speak on our end that there there are a lot of lessons learned and and and equally I think it works the same way on both
sides. >> Well, I asked the question because the the questions that I raised on Saturday were about what did we need to do to get to this point and that was unclear to me. Um, so my question on Saturday was, hey, like I'm uncomfortable with the language that's being put out around
this. I'm uncomfortable with the communication um, from our end, unfortunately. And how do we ensure that if that doesn't happen again and now today we're saying we are 100% moving forward with the 10.5, correct? Like
what are those stipulations? That's what I need to know clearly. >> No. So I would say that what we what we came to an agreement today is what needs to happen to get to the 10.5 is is that the um bargaining unit would need to
vote on their con would need to vote on their contract. Okay. I think in the absence of you know I think the the legal the legal parts um in the absence of I think that that's where some of the I think that's where some of the
disconnect um was happening. Mhm. And I mean, and my question is though, when should we expect that though? Just so that we're not like Yeah. Like what's the date? What's the timing? >> Well, I don't know what when they're voting, but what we uh in our conversation today, we know that it's
happening before it's going to happen before the 19. It's going to happen before the 19th. was just so that we're clear, you know, so that we have like clear expectation from our end because that like was a bit surprising to me that we even had like this dilemma
because I always thought that the contract would be ratified in time. So, I don't want us to be saying deadlines are missed if we're not clear about what those deadlines are. So, I'm just asking for the record what they are so that we can we can't hold expectations if we're
not clear about them. Yeah, and I think that's where we as a board can do some work, acknowledge that um to be very clear and diligent about exactly what our budget calendar looks like, exactly what the expectations are, when those
dates are, and then our collective bargaining team communicates with CA. The board is saying, if you don't get it to us by X date, that's that's the drop date. we need a ratified contract by drop date. And so I think that is the
work that the board can do in communicating with Dr. Gurley and our collective bargaining team to just be very clear. And while there were some communications about that, about what that looked like, it it kept moving
forward despite an initial date. And so we need to be very clear about that. We need to be very upfront and make sure that we're having clear and consistent communication and conversation about that so that there's no gray area and that we move forward with a budget that
says that is >> her mic on now it's on. um echoing back what uh Ziana u Miss Bryant had um just um spoke about is like a date. Do we have like a
date with what if we are to vote on the budget on the 19th? Um when would we have that contract ratified so that we have like a date set that we can look forward to so that we don't come to the 19th and we still don't have a contract that's ratified. >> I'll check in. I I feel fully confident
based on our conversation today it's happening. What I can do is I can communicate with you with the school board in right in writing. Once I do a check-in with Miss Gillicanin and and with Miss Taylor, we can check in tomorrow. Um maybe that I think they're
kind of nodding that they will have the dates and then at least tomorrow that will give you an an idea of when they're planning to come to the table to um bring the contract before the bargaining unit. Yeah, I think what I'm sitting with, um, if I may, is like we cannot,
you know, make, uh, communications saying that, you know, things weren't met on time if that isn't the case. >> I I don't want us to do further harm to our staff. Um, and I I'm not the only
person who feels this way. I want to be clear like I feel like everyone wants to support our staff and I can't speak on everyone's behalf. So, please excuse me saying everyone, but I want to state here for the record just because we're
on this topic like we support our staff like and we do not want these types of miscommunications to happen again. And I know we all kind of share that like that perspective, but like we do have to follow whatever protocols are outlined.
And I think as a new board member, that's helpful for me to know what those protocols are so that if we're going to say we want to hold ourselves or you know our staff accountable to to do that collective bargaining agreement um properly, like I just need us to be very
clear. So I'll look forward to that email. Dr. Gurley, thank you for all of your work on this. Thank you for all the time you've spent on this, but and I just want to make sure that like we're so clear so that we never have to go through what we've gone through over this weekend again. Um because I believe
that it definitely has has done some harm on on everyone's perspective and I I just don't want it to happen again. And so I just want us to before we end this meeting be very clear about what we can expect as board members to receive.
Thank you, Miss Bryant. We'll go ahead and move forward here. I miss I don't know how you turn it on. >> All right, next. Um, what the Oh, next slide. Uh, next slide. This shows our city
maintenance and transportation um city maintenance and transportation contracts. Um, and what you see here is, um, there's a maintenance increase, uh, there's a maintenance increase, which will be about $232,000.
Um, and bringing the entire bringing the annual amount to about $5.5 million. And then the transportation increase will be about $238,000 which will um bring the annual
transportation amount to about 4.8. >> Dr. G. >> Yeah. Regarding the transportation increase, does that include enough money and or a change in the staffing strategy for the people transportation to ensure
we have a our full set of bus drivers? Now, Miss Powell can speak to it. >> I think Thank you, Mr. Um that number is based on the increase just with a status quo because we have
not yet been able to work out what the optimal solution would be to rectify the chronic vacancy strategy. Um, that's still in conversation. So, that number um just contemplates the current model which still has those 30hour positions
in it. I'm hopeful that we'll be able to come back to the board with a proposal that will change that, but we're still working through those details. So, this is the number at this time. >> Okay. So, we expect this number to probably go up, but again, that will help ensure that we're always going to
have all the bus drivers we need, right? So, the reason that this is taking so long is we're trying to work through what's the most cost-effective way to address the need and get the right number of full-time positions um and get them and just get the model that we need to fill
our needs and eliminate the vacancies. Um yes, there will likely be an additional ask around that, but there's also some potential cost savings that come in with the way that I hope we solve the the problem. Thank you.
>> Next slide please. Um this slide um this slide rem um remains uh the same since we met. Um just to point out that we are expanding programs that uh were in our program of studies such as the health
and medical science position becomes a full-time FTE. um the agriculture um the agricultural um program, the vet science teacher will also be an agger uh at CHS making that a full FTE. The um
gifted teaching position at CHS will um become a whole position. So that that position uh will be the lead gifted um specialist. Um we you see the three stars beside the
bilingual instructional assistance. We um initially had presented a budget that had one that was split. Um the board through this process wants to um wants to emphasize the importance of that
work. So through some of the recent work we've been doing um want to include the four pos uh want to include the four four positions um that currently exist outside of the um outside of the one at
Walker which goes away because Walker goes away. Um yeah, so those were the changes since our um last update. Next slide please. So um we can skip um slide um option A from our budget because it's not
applicable at this time. Uh we have um option B which shows um so to our city counterparts our um our ask um our ask is $2.9
million um getting close to $3 million. Um but this is our ask what which includes the things that we've discussed as it relates to um our personnel costs through collective bargaining and our um
increased ask so that we can support our um those bilingual positions which are currently uh which are currently grant funded. Um, and then this just shows the remainder of our budget um of our budget
calendar. Um, we have a meeting um slated for it's on the book for Thursday. I'm not sure that it's needed. Um, but the um budget approval is next Thursday. Um, that meeting will happen
um next Thursday, February the 19th. and then we will bring you all the budget on March the 3. >> All right, mayor. Is there any questions on your side? >> Uh, so um Sam, before I ask counselors for
um comments, do you have do you have anything to say? Uh so what I can advise at this moment is uh based on where we are in the crafting of the city budget uh we are feverishly working towards balancing the budget. Uh be delivering that budget
message to council on March 2nd. Uh it has been a tough process for us this year a little bit tougher than it has been in prior years. At this moment, we have $2 million baked into the budget for an increase for the school's ask. Recognizing fully that the ask was going
to be more than that. Um, based on our original December meeting, which the number was around 6 million, we're now at 2.9. Uh, council has been provided at least awareness that that is the number that Dr. Gurley and the board has been working towards. U, I think we still
have a few final decisions. Miss Hamill and I are working through this week specifically trying to get to a place of balancing as close to balance as we possibly can. And if we have to have any further conversation with council in regards to increased revenues, then they'd be able to uh have that
conversation with us or I will simply bring forward the budget balanced to whatever degree that I can get it balanced and point out to you what is not in it for then that final decision to be made. So that's just helping everybody understand where we are at this present time. Uh and of course if
you all give me the direction now, I will make the decisions now. So uh we can either do it now or do it in the next couple weeks. >> Thank you. Before we go on, um Jen, do you have any questions from afar? >> No questions. Thank you.
I don't see her moving her. >> Okay. >> If you want to speak to her, tell her unmute. I can't. >> That's That's good. We We'll try to reach out to her. So, I'll start um with other counselors. Lloyd, do you have any questions or comments at this time? >> The the one question or the one comment
that I would make is two comments. First is that uh among the people in this room, counselors probably know the least about the issues that we're confronting today simply because of the way the
process works. We haven't seen anything from the schools until tonight. We haven't seen what the city manager is working on. And that's not to be critical. It's simply to explain the process. Um the one thing we know is that uh I the one point that I I would
like to make sure that everybody realizes is that counselors realize that by all measures uh we are already pretty close to the most that we would want to be taxing ourselves. If you look at all of the
different ways in which we tax ourselves and the the sort of the fiscal stress monitors and so on. We don't have a lot of extra room. And as we look at schools and dealing with the homeless population
and dealing with affordable housing and dealing with transit, there are a lot of important needs and needs that I think almost everybody in the room would acknowledge to be important needs and how we're going to end up balancing all of these things. I will be uh looking forward with great anticipation to Mr.
Sanders juggling act. >> Excuse me. That's all I got. >> Thank you. Um, Michael, do you have any comments? Uh, >> so I guess for for city council really the relevant um
decision is, you know, 2 million versus 2.9 million. um for as we're developing our budget on the city side, when is that next date again in which we'll see increased data about revenue collection to learn whether
we're either lower or higher than current projections? >> Uh a quarterly report uh council the next February meeting. Um it'll be part of your packet. We're not planning right now to do a specific a formal
presentation. Um, and then we probably won't have anything else until after the proposed budget. >> But would there be additional information before we adopt a finalized budget? >> Yes, there'll be probably at least another month, if not two, of revenues
to use to look at the trends. Mhm. I just think that'll be obviously, you know, um important new data to figure out, you know, where we're at in terms of balancing it and figuring out where we are. >> Um, another question is the
CEA contract. There was the 10.5% salary increase, but there were other components to it as well. Is this $2.9 million request inclusive of everything within it or just the salary increase? the 2 uh I'm sorry. Yeah, the 2.9
million is inclusive of everything that's in the current uh draft collective bargain and agreement. >> Okay. Um, I guess the the only other
comments I'd offer things I've said in the past, it's I think it's frustrating for for everyone when we're going to have to adopt our budget on the city's end before the general assembly finalizes their budget, which is not the case in Al Marl and many other Virginia
localities. So, you know, maybe the state budget make things better, maybe it makes things worse. Maybe there's no change. But having complete information, I think, would help city council make the best decision we can, and we're just not going to do that because we're not able to because of our city charter. Um,
which I think is just frustrating. Um, and this is a point, um, you know, board member Bryant made, but would echo it. I know for us in the city, we're new to collective bargaining. Um anyway, just know I know we've you know we've had lots of negotiations for the
first time in a right to work state. There's a lot of new things around it. um on the elected side and the staff side and we've gone through a process with you know atu who are here along with others and the conversations have not always been easy um by any means but
I think you know sticking to that process whereby um the discussions continue um if there's a disagreement that can't be mended then it goes to a neutral arbitrator for a factf finding and then if there's still disagreement at that point it comes to city council
for a final decision I sticking with that process I just I think has been successful for the city and and not um circumventing that and we just offer that um I know it hasn't been easy for us as from an elected perspective um but I think it's been
productive and we've gotten to good fair outcomes for the workers that also acknowledge the reality um you know of our our budget situation as a city um but that's all I have for now. Thank you, Natalie. >> Uh, just to clarify, I did check in with
Jen and she's good for now. >> Okay. >> She's okay to be stuck on mute at the moment. Um, uh, first I do want to acknowledge and appreciate that a late Friday email with um with unexpected news was probably a tough way for most
folks in this room to spend their weekend. and the time and the energy that I'm sure you all put into um interacting with your networks, calling and um and lobbying with each other and to school board was probably extensive.
We also had or at least I had several calls um this weekend as well. And so I want to thank all of you. do I want to thank the school board members for um their time for all of you for your time um because it's it's it's a lot to ask
um on over a weekend one that's supposed to be uh for a lot of us about somewhat of a holiday. Um, and so I I'm glad that we were able to open this meeting with the um announcement of a
step towards resolution. Um, but I do want to thank you all for the time and the energy that you all spend this weekend and note that it is um it is appreciated and it is noticed. Um, as to questions about um the the
budget, um I really hope we can find that extra $900 and some,000 because it has been impressed upon me from uh from various angles about the um the value that our instructional
assistants and other uh non-licensed members of the school uh teams um have and how much value they add and the tough kind of market out there. There's um a lot of places they could work. They
choose to work here. They often commute in from far distances. Um and bringing their wages up to to better compete with other localities, but also help move forward to a livable wage is very
important. Um, we want to provide the best education we can for our our kids and um, having qualified, compassionate, um, people in there helping every day is is vital. So, um, I really hope we can
find these these extra dollars. Um, knowing that on council we we have a couple of levers we can pull to find the money. Um, and that's state regulated. We have four taxes that we can do. Um, as councelor
Snook mentioned, we are reaching our fiscal stress level, which means we can't really raise them much more and still have it make sense to the community for what the the money that they're spending and and what we're getting out of it. So, um there's kind of that zero sum
scarcity mentality sometimes where um people think that's all we can do, but we have another option which is expand the amount of people who are contributing to that tax base instead of just continuing to pull more and more out of the people we have. Um that's a
le a fifth lever we have which is let more people be a part of the community to help pay for the folks that are here. So, that's something we're working on at our level. But in the meantime, we have to think about how we can we can raise some more revenue. Um,
sorry for for what that might end up looking like um in the short term. But the benefit is that we do get, you know, to support our staff at the schools to support our kids. Um, I I've had, like I
said, several conversations already, so I feel like I do understand a lot of the features that are described in this budget. Um, one of the things that I I really liked hearing about was the um, health and medical sciences teacher position becoming full-time and having
that kind of pathway to um, to work that is unique um, in our school system. and uh some of the other features on this budget request list are are interesting and exciting and and cool for um our school district to have. So, I don't
really have any major questions. Thank you for for listening to that and again, thank all of you so much for um your time and effort and energy. >> Um thank you, Natalie. I appreciate your comments and I concur with you that it wasn't the the ideal way to um spend the
weekend, but I'm glad that you know we're able to come to a compromise um city um city schools and the and and the collective bargaining team. I I think that that is one of the things I love about this community is that we're able
to to come together and address difficult um um issues. Um we all want what's best for for the children, for the students. And you know, for 16 years when I was on on the school board, sitting in your seats, I
we I put together these budgets and these timelines and things, but never with the collective bargaining um component. and um the staff that you know we're proposing to um support um you know for
a day and a half um earlier this year I mean in September in the school year I actually um was a substitute teacher in Tallwood and um Trailblazers and ironically I because of positions like
this I thought better um because of a conflict of interest that I shouldn't substitute anymore But what I did see in that day and a half is the importance of the IAS in the classroom. I could not have um existed that you know that day
in that day and a half without the IAS. So they just have a critical role not just helping me out telling me where everything even though someone who been through the schools for years was so much I didn't know and they and they were able to to help take the students
to different assignments and and and pull outs and things like that. So I'm glad that this budget um addresses that. um it's a critical part of what we do and who we are and um and I'm glad that we're able to move forward. I'm going
to, you know, also um as we get into the depths of our budget discussion um be requesting that we find that extra $900,000 as well. Um, I think that it's it shows our support for um um really
critical parts of our um classroom and and how we're able to um move this district forward and ultimately um the city forward. Um so um I'm very glad and I think that we you
know during situations like this we went through many of these things when we went through our first collective bargaining a couple of years ago and you know next time you're going to find it's going to be um not easier because this is some difficult um decisions. every
decision we make, you make and we make has a dollar sign to it. And um we're trying to get more people here with more housing and thus more revenue. But in the meantime, things are, you know, we're we are we're going to have to make
some tough decision, but that's why you elected all of us to be in these positions to make those difficult decisions, and we're prepared to do it. We love um this community, at least um I'm sure I speak for others that the the
the engagement in this community is what we're known for and um um we appreciate the the input. So, um I only had one question
concerning the budget and and that was um a the gifted four-time teacher at Charlishville High School. >> So, I thought that um that you know when they got to by the time they got to high school at that point they were in the um
AP classes or or honors. And so, what is that? What does that position look like? What what do they >> Sure. So the um there's currently someone in that role and he is um point4 um so he's still um so remember that um
with our current model u and this is before you step before your time leaving the board. Uh we changed our gifted model um that encompasses um a little over 80% of our student population. Um, so he does a really good job of
supporting our students in their advanced placement work. Um, he does a lot with their um, essay writing. Um, and so he does that position does a lot pushing in. We are also revamping that
current position because right now the um duties of the lead gifted teacher um is kind of farmed out um throughout the school division. U so we we're bringing that position back whole so that it can
um so that that teaching it can all resonate within one lead teacher. Um so that person will be this will be the specialist for the school division. >> Thank you. Um are there um other questions?
Michael, did you have any other >> just um so I know on the city side we haven't you know finalized a draft budget but where things are now what is the gap of how large the imbalance is?
So, what we're working on right now is uh we started the budget process. We were a little over $13 million out of balance. We've done a number of things based on uh information that has come in. Miss Hamill's been able to pull various levers to get things as closely aligned as we can. We're down to a
little over 4 million. Uh we actually met today. We have a series of things that will get that number very very low. Uh but the things that we don't have in that calculation is this $900,000 difference in what the school's ask is versus the $2 million that is in the
budget. We also don't have the transit investment that council has identified you would like us to make which is $1.4 million for the city share. The county will cover the other part and we're trying to determine if everything else is now covered. That's what we have
until Friday to work out because we have to begin our process of going to print for what I'll be prepared to present on the 2nd. >> And um you know for tonight the options are 2 million2.9 million $900,000 is roughly
the equivalent of one cent increase in the real estate tax. Is that correct? >> One cent is 1.2 million. And when you just ballpark, if you factor in the what's taken away from that from the real estate tax relief
programs, do you get to about 900,000? >> Uh, probably right around there. Maybe a little bit more. >> Mhm. Um, so yeah, I mean, I would say I'm sure on your end you're looking at everything you can do in terms of
reducing spending and >> covering vacancies. I think for council I would just say I mean I think there's expenditures we can at least think about um in terms of you know investment decisions like the uh
downtown mall street team. I think that's over 1 million a year. I mean that's that's a decision to fund that instead of teacher salaries as a priority. Um, but I would I would just say I think one of the things we're going to have to look at is is the real estate tax. Um,
we've increased our most regressive taxes and we are at about the max statewide for the meals tax, but our real estate tax is lower than it was in terms of the rate than in the early 2000s. And when that was reduced by, I think 10 cents, that's created a
long-term structural challenge for the city. And that's the tax we've touched the least. And I think um you know we're going to have to confront if we're going to fund these priorities that has to be in the conversation. Um and again none of our taxes are perfect, but it is at
least the most progressive tax that we have the option to do and comes with that real estate tax relief program. But um we'll get into that as as the budget progresses. But I would agree with what other said in terms of um you know funding you know teachers
positions is the bedrock of the school system and obviously is a critical priority. >> And if I may I just want to quick follow up on that. Um the four levers that I mentioned earlier that we have to to pull are the real estate tax, personal
property tax, lodging tax and um meals tax. And technically statist, you know, the the property tax is the um least aggressive. However, in our community where there's over 60% of our residents are renters,
that tax is very easily passed on to those renters. So, that's something we need to be cognizant about as well. other other questions, comments for council. So, we're just kind of
beginning our pro uh our budget process as um but we we have many opportunities for city council for public engagement. You can continue to email us. Um but we have um great communication with the the
school board and um so we will you know that will um continue. So um madame chair I turn it back over to you. >> Thank you mayor. Thank you city council members. Um, I think it truly is the
hope of the board that we can move forward um with board administration and our union leadership just with that clarity about our roles, timeliness when things are due, accountability because I do agree with my colleagues that our
staff does deserve fair compensation for the work that they do um and the processes by which that happens. And so I'm hopeful that we can share some more good news later in the week. Um, with that, we're going to move on to comments
from members of the community. And if you have not signed up yet, please do so. And we will get public comment underway. As a reminder, you have three minutes. Please come to the microphone, state your name and your address, and I will
get sheets from our clerk. Again, if you have not yet signed up, please make your way to the podium. Sorry. And we will start with Bryce Estus. >> Good evening. Um, my name is Bryce. >> Just one moment. Mr. Cuomo is getting our Okay, thank you.
>> The drama of going first. Um, I am not a city res resident. I'm actually a second grade teacher at Trailblazer Elementary. Um, I'm here to speak tonight in support of our school support staff and also the CEA. The people impacted by the email last Friday are the people who keep our
schools functioning every day. Our custodians spent a week clearing our school sidewalks after the snow and ice, coming in on snow days and doing physically demanding and dangerous work so that our buildings could reopen safely. Our instructional assistants work tirelessly alongside teachers to
support students who need additional help. And our nutrition staff ensures students have nourishment that they need in order to learn and thrive, including on snow days to reduce the strain at home. We quite literally couldn't do our jobs without them. So, thank you to
everyone who's here who does those jobs. I am so happy for today's update that the support staff will receive the 10.5% raise. However, I'm deeply concerned by the district's communication that the issue occurred due to the CEA not
bringing a revised contract to vote. That message left out critical context. Uh we've learned that the CA repeatedly attempted to clarify unclear contract language and that those attempts went unanswered. Framing this outcome as the union's failure rather than the result
of unresolved communication felt misleading and unfair to the workers affected. The tone of that communication was also shocking. It read as though the responsibility was being shifted away from the district and placed squarely on the union, creating a narrative that scapegoats the CEA rather than
acknowledging the full situation. That doesn't feel transparent and it doesn't feel respectful. In addition to these concerns, I'm also concerned about staffing decisions at the school level. Um, my class size will increase substantially next year. Dr. Gurley told us that our goal in the coming years is
to close the achievement gap for black learners. And our current first graders learn in small class sizes with IIA support. Next year, it will just be me and a room full of diverse learners. And under these conditions, I will not be able to provide as much scaffolding, as
much differentiation, and individualized support, especially as we adopt new math curriculum. Larger class sizes and fewer supports do not close gaps. They widen them. I'm hopeful that we can work together to brainstorm ways to mitigate these the impact of these big changes.
I've been proud to work for a district that claims to be on the front lines of supporting educators during a time when people are leaving the profession. Sorry, I'm so nervous. I'm not a good public speaker. Children are a lot easier to talk to. >> Okay. >> I've been proud to work for a district that claims to be on the front lines of
supporting educators educators during a time when people are leaving the profession in record numbers due to growing demands and diminishing support. Um the way that these decisions were communicated undermines that support and commitment. I urge the board to fully fund the proposed budget, to engage in
good faith negotiations with the CEA, and to honor the commitment that was made to our support staff. These workers deserve fairness, respect, and transparency, and not to be caught in the middle of pre of preventable breakdown in communication. Thank you. >> Thank you,
Tama Hensen. >> All right, Shemica Henen. Shemica Henson. All right. Abigail Johnson. Oh, she's coming. Thank you. Will be Abigail Johnson and Michael Savatira. Hi. So, I'm Shemica Henson. I'm an IA at
Jackson Valley Elementary School. Um, November 25th of 2024, I came into work, clocked in early, doing my job as I do every day. I had an employee uh come in and tell me that my truck was on fire. They had nothing to do with me. I was at
work doing my job. I sent the email out asking if there was going to be any type of assistance that I could get. Wasn't a thing. I sent that to uh Miss Pal and Dr. Gurley. Only Miss Pal responded.
which I took that kind of personal because as superintendent I feel like you should have been there for your people the way that you tell us that you're grateful for us. Um this event has been heavy on my mind. I've tried to let it go. It's hard to do. Um
after this fire, my vehicle was a total loss. My vehicle was paid for. This is transportation to get my kids to school, from school, and personal life in general. Emotionally, this comes with a lot of stress, not just for me, but for my husband because he makes the payments on
this vehicle because I work full-time for Charlottesville City Schools and I don't make enough to pay for anything. A community member did a GoFundMe for us to help me and co-workers that this incident affected. But Charlottesville City School did nothing, including the superintendent should have that should
have shown more support for their employees. After the incident, I and our co-workers still showed up to work and professionally did our jobs regardless of my feelings, our feelings in general. Here we are, February 2026. Months to
now, year has gone by, and it feels like this incident has never occurred. Not one time did the superintendent or anybody from central office or the city of Charlottesville ask if the people affected needed anything or what they can do to help. We work for
this division. There's been messages stating, "Oh, let's help our families whose food stamps are being withheld. Let's recognize our staff with royal recognition. Now, there's a football field that just been redone. When will the division start supporting their staff? Thank you, Miss Hudson. Abigail Johnson.
Abigail Johnson. And next up will be Michael Selvet here. And then Alex Hinsman. >> Hi. Um, just pulling up what I wrote so that I can remember what I need to say. Um, my name is Abigail Johnson. I'm a
first grade teacher also at Jackson Via and I'm a union rep at my school. I'm here today asking desperately that you pass a budget that will fund the 10 and a half% raise so that our staff can have a living wage. I am incredibly proud to be a part of the Charlottesville
Education Association or CEA. I joined just my second year of teaching and became a union rep that year as well. Early in my teaching career, I knew how important the CA was and making sure that all educators have real power to advocate for their needs and the needs
of their students. The CA was involved with advocating for Charlottesville City Schools during the decision regarding the FBI building. The CA has created a community for me and so many others. A community that clearly shows up for each other so that we can all be in better
school environments and be better for our kids. The CEA bargained for a contract that improved my material conditions and those of the people that I support. And it was working to do the same for our support professionals.
To hear our school board say anything remotely disparaging about its local union raises major concerns for me as a CCS teacher. Unions serve to help meet the needs of the people that they represent. To have a school board and superintendent
communicate in a way that is at odds with this does not make me or my colleagues feel supported. Working in a district that is not advocating for the needs of its educators is not a choice many people will continue to make. A district that
is willing to present false information to undermine the work of our union, as our school board and Dr. Gurley did on Friday, is not a district that serves to meet the needs of our staff and students. This is the kind of leadership we are
seeing on a national level and it is not one I want our local government to mirror because it negatively impacts the real material needs of our community. 3 and a half% is not nearly enough of a race for our support staff. It doesn't reflect the value of the work they do and it is not enough for them to live
on. I have been told by many of the ESPs in my building things like I can't afford to pay my phone bill so my phone's cut off. I couldn't afford gas to get to work, so I had to call out. I cried while paying rent this month. Or I can't come to the joint session because I have to work at my other job. The
question, sorry, our staff need this raise. That is not a question. The question is whether or not our city council and school board will work to ensure that the members of our community have what they need to survive. My ask is that the school board issue an
apology for the way that it communicated with its staff about the CA on Friday and that our city council fund the 10 and a half% so that our staff can have a living wage. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Johnson. Michael Saviter
and then Alex Hinsman. >> Good evening. My name is Michael Salvatier. I um I've been a teacher at Trailblazer for the last 16 years and I am the vice president of the Charlottesville Education Association. I have my own thoughts about this the
decision that was made by somebody to hit send on that email um and the disrespect that it that it brought and the apology that we deserve. But I'm going to use this time actually to read a letter from one of our IAS at our school which I think is a a more important voice for us to hear right
now. Um so the letter reads and she is not here because she is working another job. Dear school board city of Charlottesville local CA and others I have struggled deeply with the emotions involved in writing this message but I
feel compelled to speak honestly and clearly. I am often asked why continue working there and giving so much of yourself if you can't make ends meet. My answer has always been simple. I love what I do and I believe in the difference I make by doing it. When when
collective bargaining first began, I admit I was skeptical. I did not hold much hope initially. That changed when I began hearing from people people who truly know me, people who understand my work and who recognize my value. Because of them, my optimism grew. And for the
first time in a long while, I felt hopeful and even excited about what might come from this process. That is why the most recent letter was so shocking. It quite literally knocked the wind out of me. My immediate reaction was disappointment and anger rooted in the feeling that I am neither
appreciated nor valued. I am in my 27th year with CCS and have no intention of stopping anytime soon. I love my job. Perhaps that dedication is being taken for granted. I am one of many employees who give their all every single day only to feel
dismissed by the very individuals who claim to see and support us. After 27 years with CCS, I am still working full-time here and full-time at another job, a situation I have maintained for more than 5 years. At my second full-time position, I earn as much as I
do at CCS after nearly three decades of service. That reality does not make sense, nor does it feel right. I also want to address directly the letter sent last week. I read it multiple times and its tone was deeply troubling. It came
across as unprofessional and appeared to shift blame onto individuals who have consistently gone above and beyond those who devote countless hours to supporting both staff and students without hesitation. The CEA members have sacrificed family time, rest, and personal well-being to simply ensure
that hope and support remained possible for others. I was disappointed by both the approach and the illusion presented in that communication which was not only hurtful but also reflected poorly on our division. I want to acknowledge CA and express my appreciation for their
continued advocacy and support for everyone. Their willingness to listen to truly hear our stories, our needs and our hopes has mattered. I would not take back a single minute of my 27 years of service. I am proud of the work I do and
of the colleagues who show up every day giving far more than what is asked of them. We are valuable. We deserve to be treated as such. Please remember this. Our value is not defined by you. However, your actions clearly
communicate whether or not you value us. >> Thank you for your comments. >> Respect respectfully, Denise R. Maui. Thank you so much, Alex Hinsman. Thank you, John.
Hello, members of the school board, city council, and Dr. Gurley. My name is Alex Heinsman, and I'm a parent of two kids in Charlottesville City Schools. Um, my youngest had a hard time in kindergarten, like crying every day, hard time. And the person that got them
through it was an instructional assistant. Sat with them, held their hand, took them to lunch, made them want to go to school every day. And one time I tried to stay after and grab her and kind of tell her how much she was doing for us and how much she meant to us. And
she was like, I got to go to my second job at Kroger, which pays more. The 10.5% raise that CA negotiated with CCS is the bare minimum that she deserves. And the district's attempt to wrigle out
of that promise and blame the union is frankly shameful. And we all saw it. I love Charlottesville City Schools. My kids love their school. And I'm asking city council to fully fund this budget and take care of the people that take such good care of my kids.
Thank you, Christine Espazito. And then Emily Kingsley, Christine Espazito, and then Emily Kingsley and Terry Stip. Good evening, city council, schoolboard members, and Dr. Gurley. My name is Christine Espazito. This is my 26th year
teaching in Charlottesville City Schools and I live in the city. One of the many CCS t-shirts I own says, "We are the village." A village takes care of its people. All of its people. I am a teacher, but I can't effectively do my job without our school support
personnel. Instructional assistants, CSAs, custodians, cafeteria staff, admin techs, and other SSPs ensure we have the time and space to teach. Their value to this division is priceless. I ask city council to fully fund Dr. Gurley's
budget, which includes a 10 and a half% raise for the people who make up the backbone of our CCS village. If we are truly better together, advocating for that backbone should be seen only as taking care of our village. Fingerpointing is never helpful or productive. It was pretty jarring to
hear how the school board supported and appreciated its staff on Thursday and sent that email on Friday. I'm looking forward to moving forward as a village that remembers that we are truly better together. >> Thank you, Emily Kingsley. And then
Terry Stip and D Nelson. Uh my name is Emily Kingsley. I am a sixth grade English teacher at Walker and a member of the union. Um and I have two things that I want to speak to tonight. Uh, first I just want to echo
the call for city council to fully fund the CCS budget, including the 10.5% raise for all ESPs. Um, and to that end, I have a brief statement to read on behalf of one of my co-workers, um, a
custodian named Air who works here at Walker. Um, so this is these are his words. He said, "I've worked at Walker for three years. I'm supporting myself, my kids, my parents, and my brother who all live with me. The 10.5% raise would help me out a lot. I'm struggling to pay
my bills and rent. I work double. I work Saturday and Sunday at another job. If we got the raise, I might not have to work on the weekend as well. So, those are words from one of my co-workers here. And that is just one example um that speaks to the necessity of the
raise and is also a testament to the incredibly hard work of Shannon Gillicanin, Jessica Taylor, and the rest of the CEA bargaining team because it is their dedication and hard work that have gotten our ESPs so much closer to the
compensation they deserve. And on that note, uh the second thing I want to talk about tonight is echoing what others have said, uh the very clear anti-UN rhetoric in last Friday's all CCS email. And honestly, I'm just kind of baffled
by the thought process behind the communication. It created so much confusion without providing any answers or context for what was really going on. I cast blame on the union as if they just decided to give up on ESPs when the
reality couldn't be any further from the truth. And in fact, the whole reason for the delay was because of the bargaining team's insistence on protecting the interests of the entire unit and ensuring that the contract was indeed equitable for all. I am in full support
of the union and the bargaining team and we will keep showing up and pushing to create the school community that we all want and deserve, one that's just, equitable, and transparent. Thank you. >> Thank you, Terry Spike.
And then Dean Nelson and Lethia Howard. Hello. Uh, my name is Terry Stipe. I am a 19-year music teacher at Sunrise. I am the building representative for Sunrise and I'm a proud Charlottesville City Schools parent of an amazing sixth and
ninth grader. I do want to begin by expressing gratitude to Dr. Gurley for a budget for presenting the budget that does honor the 10 and a half% raise for our support professionals as we originally bargained. Thank you for taking the step towards a living wage
and fair compensation. As a parent, as an educator, and as a co-orker, I am relieved our schools are stronger and more stable when the people who keep them running are respected and supported. At the same time, I need to
speak honestly about the harm caused by last week's email to staff and families. That message placed blame on the CEA and by extension on workers collective voice. The whiplash was real. Support
professionals were publicly praised all over our social media days earlier for their backbreaking work clearing the snow and feeding students all week only to then receive an email telling us that their bargained rays had effectively
been taken away and that someone else was at fault. The contrast eroded morale and trust across our entire school community. I do not support anti-UN rhetoric or communications from our elected
officials that pit educators against one another or undermine trust in the collective bargaining process. The impact reaches far beyond the bargaining table. It affects relationships, relationships, stability,
and ultimately our students. Our students deserve adults who model cooperation, accountability, and repair. I am hopeful that honoring the 10 and a half% raise reflects not only the right outcome, but a renewed commitment to
working together. and I urge city council to fully fund our budget so that we can actually be better together. Thank you. >> Thank you, De. Nelson, D. Nelson, and then Miss Howard, Lethia Howard, and
then Sydney Reed. Hello everyone. I just wanted to come up here and say the 10 and a half% raise will be good. Uh person like myself, I work here full-time. I do part-time at the YMCA and I also have a part-time business that I run as well. And we're
not coming here asking for this just to be asking if people could come and see what we do on a daily basis. As a CSA, I'm not only a CSA, I'm a custodian. I'm a I aid. I'm a nurse. Whatever it takes to get it done. When the principles
When the principles are in their meetings all day and nobody's available who has to deal with the situation. No admin are available. The CSA takes care of it. When the counselors there all tied up and everything, who's on duty? The CSAs. We become a counselor. We
don't have the education or the training in that, but we fill in those spots and help out much as we possibly can. And the custodian staff, I've seen them become CSAs, counselors, building relationships with the staff, nutrition staff, everybody. We're all in it
together. So, this race will be good and I like to see everything stay the same, get a raise, days stay the same, and all that other good stuff. >> Thank you, Miss Howard. and then Sydney Reed.
Hello board members and city council. I just wanted to take a few minutes to speak on why it is critical for the city to support the school for city I'm sorry for the city to support the school board by adjusting the budget. So the ESPs are granted the contract the collective bargaining team worked so hard to
achieve and make history. As a member of the bargaining team myself, I can say this process required a great deal of time, effort, and commitment. This work was done with a purpose, fairness, and the future of both our employees and our students in mind. This is an opportunity
for us to come together and move forward together in support of the contract. So today, I asked the city council to fund the 10.5 increase so our staff can earn a living wage. Many ESPs are working two jobs just to make ends meet. That kind of strain
affects not only the individual, but their families as well. Especially during times like these, everyone deserves the opportunity to spend time making memories with their loved ones, not missing those memories because they are forced to work a second job after a full day in our schools. This raise will
make a meaningful difference not just for the mental well-being of our ESPs but for the security and health of the families too. Thank you for your time and consideration. >> Thank you Miss Howard. Sydney Reed and then Asa Shennik.
Hi, my name is Sydney Reid. I am a special education instructional assistant in the LEAP program at Jackson Via Elementary. Um I just wanted to say that I am grateful that we are moving towards uh the
the budget as we thought we were getting. Um the email Friday was not only hurtful to many IAS and other support professionals but it was hurtful to the members of the CA who worked very
hard to get us that um agreed upon decision. So, I would like to hear an apology at some point, but if that is not an option, I am at least glad that you heard how we
feel. Thank you. >> Thank you, Asa Shenik. And this will be our last speaker of the evening signups. Thank you. >> Hi, I am a sixth grade math teacher here at Walker. Um, and I am planning on
moving to CMS next year. And I believe that we are better together, all of us. During the beginning of year staff professional development this August, Dr. Gurley presented the keynote address, what we face, we can change. He called us to name the problem. We are
disproportionately failing our students of color and most of all our black students. Those students, especially our most marginalized and most vulnerable students, cannot succeed unless they are fed, unless they are safe, and unless they are in a clean and tidy building
and unless their families who work here in the city schools are supported and paid fairly. I'm a six. We have staff who can't pay their phone bills, replace their cars, which were destroyed on school grounds while they were doing their jobs, or
afford their healthcare premiums. I can't do my job without them. I can't teach students without their work. I urge the city council to fully fund this budget. I know that you are still trying to find the money for a 10.5% raise.
That's a bare minimum for the people who allow our students to succeed. I'm a math teacher. I know that money comes from different pools, and I know that we can't just swap things out for one another. But Dr. Gurley, I would like to remind you that last year you
received a raise which brought your salary to over $212,000. You don't worry about your phone bill because you have a $100 monthly stipend in your contract. You have a car paid for by the school board. If it were
destroyed, it is schoolboard property and they would replace it. Your premiums, your healthcare premiums are fully covered in your contract, unlike most of us workers whose premiums are only partially covered by city council. Your leadership and your expertise are
essential. You are important for our work here, but so is every one of our support staff. We cannot do our job without you, and we certainly cannot do our jobs without them. Once we are all fully compensated, then we will all be better together for
our students. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Meeting is ajourned.