The legislative audit and policy committee meeting for February 18th 2025. Um, we always begin with public comment but there are no in-person public comment speakers for this evening. So we will move on to our first agenda item which is item 3.01 approval of the December 17th 2024 draft minutes. May I please have a motion to approve the December 17th. 2024 meeting minutes. So moved, thank you Ms. Donna here, or Miss Donna Hugh. I'm
may have a second second. Thank you, miss chernoff, all those in favor, please raise your hand and say, I I I seeing none opposed the motion passes unanimously with all committee members present, We will now move on to our discussion items for this evening tonight. We will begin with item 4.01, the legislative update this update, aims to inform the LMP committee and the loud and community on the landscape, important issues and potential impacts of Bills, currently being considered in the G General Assembly session. John
Sutton coordinator for government relations, will be presenting Mr. Sutton the floor is yours. Thank you. Madam chair, much appreciated to you and the committee. Um I I'll I'll get I'll get right into it. Uh it's been a full week of committee hearings uh for the 2025 regular session. Um, the Virginia General Assembly focused on uh this week on reviewing legislation approved by the opposition chamber, with the deadline to report bills. From uh, committees presented. Last Monday. And adjournment,
approaching next Saturday, February 22nd legislators are working swiftly to conclude all of their business and business and finalize, a unified budget to send to the governor's desk. The conferees uh, have been named And they're, they're getting together to work out the differences between the house and the Senate uh versions of the budget Bill. Uh, specifically, the Senate comfrey has has led by, uh, Louis Lucas. Uh, and the house is led by, uh, Luke, uh, Torreon. And so, uh, that should be, it
should be a very interesting, uh, wrap up this week to see how that uh, progresses. I think there's a general optimism that both sides can reach a consensus before the adjournment on the 22nd. There is always uh, obviously notable examples, uh of differences including, uh, included included in language in the Senate and the house, uh, budget. And while there are several projects throughout Virginia that are received, uh, Universal and and generally accepted funding, um, they're still working, uh, as as
we're meeting today on those, uh, on those particular, uh, those conferees are continuing to meet some of the highlights, uh, of The lcps priority legislation, which I thought was, uh, important delegate Martinez, uh, House Bill 1769 related to Chronic absenteeism was turned into a work group, uh, to be led by the Department of Education, uh, chairman, uh, van valkenburg of the public education subcommittee, uh, like, uh, the purpose behind the bill.
But felt that it would be, uh, a disincentive for school divisions. To try to keep parents from pulling their kids out of school, the bill, uh, as amended reported from the Senate Education Health committees by a vote of 13 to 2. Um, and uh, if, if you're interested in seeing that uh, language, I'd be more than happy to forward. Any language that you're interested in seeing, uh, to you. After, uh, this meeting, uh, delegate researchers, uh, House Bill, 1936 related to the, uh, Department of Education, creating an index for professional
development training passed out of the Senate education and health committee, unopposed, and was referred to the Senate finance committee and Appropriations uh, delegate uh, Creed Deeds. A lot of that bill is a great idea and made a motion to report the bill, which was uh really, really good for delegate reer. The committee subsequently passed it unanimously. Um, and again, I can send you that language, I'll be more than happy to send the committee that language, uh, to you, uh, after, uh, after this discussion.
The uh, House Bill 2053. The literacy audit bill. Delegate research, literacy audit Bill reporter from the Senate education uh uh and health committee. Was also referred to the to the Senate finance. And as a reminder, the auto was changed to a self audit. Uh, to offset the, uh, fiscal impact on the bill. And while there was relatively a small relative fiscal impact of about 50,000 dollars on the bill that was favorably, uh,
uh, forwarded 10 to 4. So that's that's, uh, that's positive as well. Um, I'm gonna highlight something, um, that Seems out of place but but believe me. It's it's not just want to let you know that the Fairfax Casino legislation died. Um, that included. Localities educ, uh, excuse me, include Fairfax, Kyle, uh, County among the localities eligible uh, for Casino development. The reason I brought that up is because casinos tend to be a motivator for some communities to
increase opportunities for educational support and Educational Funding. And that was, that was pretty significant because it kind of lays the groundwork for, uh, communities to really reassess whether they, whether they want to go through the process, uh, of of putting casinos in their, in their, Uh, in their areas solely, for the purpose of of, uh, attacks attacks incentive for school funding. Uh, Portsmith was a good example. Uh they have a they have a an
an agreement with that particular casino to, I think it generates upwards of 15 million dollars for for their School Division. But with that comes, a lot of a lot of issues. And and so the Fairfax Casino legislating legislation dying. I thought that was significant to, to let you know, just in case, you know, you were, you were interested in whether communities other surrounding communities were laying the groundwork for that. Uh, I think, uh, I think following the official adjournment on Saturday, uh, the focus will shift to the governor who may
propose recommendations, uh, or veto legislation. Uh, it's as simple as that, uh, the reconvene session, uh, where the general assembly will continue the governor's actions, uh, is safe. Uh, is set for April 2nd. Um, and so there we have the the update uh, I did, I did want to also point out that a house. Bill 2686 was amended by the Senate and passed 14 zero. Uh that requires school boards to create a policy with the criteria
necessary for students uh great uh 5 through 8 to enroll in advanced and accelerated mathematics. Um it sets a minimum criteria. It also requires local school divisions to send data, uh, to uh the Department of Education annually. And then the uh, doe will post that on their website. So is that progresses and gets more? Uh, It gets more fleshed out over the next couple days. I'll certainly be more than willing to let the uh, the committee
know uh how that's going to uh impact uh, impact. This particular division. and I believe that's it for the legislative update on my end unless you have something else that you would like to Well, thank you, Mr. Sutton. Um, are there any questions or comments from the committee? No, um, thank you so much seeing none. Um we'll move on to our next item which is 4.02 legislative activities timeline. Um, this update reviews the timeline of various legislative activities in 2025, through 2026 and
establishes. The timeline for development of the 2026 lcps School Board, Um, excuse me, Loudoun County School, Board, legislative program again, Mr. Sutton, um, will be presenting. Um, the floor is yours. That's me again. Excellent. um, first of all, uh, some takeaways, this year's, uh, Session. Uh, We've really been given a preview of what I would describe as sort of a new normal for the session. Uh in other words a a heightened increased operational Tempo.
And what I mean by that is the tempo forces us into being very prescient and I identifying key deadlines key legislative actions. Analyze the progress of of priorities. You know, it forces us to uh, create a shorter step in in, um, Consulting with our relative. Uh, With our stakeholders and basically ensuring that all necessary steps are included within the appropriate time frames and considers factors. That may lead to something as as as overcoming future
legislative hurdles. my my point today was that given the increase of uh the increased Pace sort of our needs, and the needs of this division, I'm hoping with with your help. And your blessing that after the session ends, we the committee uh, with the committee's help, we can we can review and update our current legislative calendar the review. I think ensures that the calendar process remains effective, it remains efficient, and accessible, and I think as calendars are now increasingly updated rapidly. And as online platforms.
That we're using are faster and faster and more effective. I think there's a need to sort of adapt our what I would call our more traditional legislative processes to better accommodate these needs. And I'm hoping to work obviously with the committee with your blessing, on these processes, I think again we can improve the legislative calendar improve, transparency for all involved, accountability and participation. And I believe, ultimately it leads to more informed decision-making on the part of all of us and it creates a more streamlined inclusive and responsive system
that pretty much benefits, all our needs. So I'm hoping uh you can give me permission to start that process and work with the 3 of you to and and and are obviously our professional stakeholders here to to work on that uh over the next couple months if that's okay with you. Thank you. Mr. Sutton. So um is it fair to say that a reasonable takeaway from that? Is that we should start on this as soon as possible? Uh well I mean I mean I I I will start as soon as you tell me to start, um, well, I
I certainly feel comfortable with that. I'll ask my colleagues on the committee. Are there any questions or comments from the committee? No. All right. Well thank you Mr. Sutton um, Next, uh, we will move on to our final discussion item for tonight. Uh, 4.03 Office of the auditor general activities timeline Mr. Ahmad Woods. The auditor general will review the audit activities plan for the coming year with the committee. Um, Mr. Woods, the floor is yours. Thank you. Good evening, Madam chair members of the committee. Uh,
today, I'd like to present a quick schedule of the upcoming oag activities and key dates for uh, 2025. Here's a quick look at the major events, um, the timeline for the first half, as well as some key dates beginning in August, Starting in February 18th at the next lap committee or this is the today's committee meeting uh, starting April 29th. Uh, to committee meetings from now, we will provide our oag quarterly update and we'll present the status of our current audits as well as our current status.
Followed it by May 27th. We will present the oag draft audit plan, to give you all a quick view or to give you guys. A time to go over and plan for our 2026. Audit plan. In June 27th. We will take, uh, we will take action here in the committee to approve that plan. If we are ready for that plan to be uh, presented and approved. Once that plan is approved, we will present that plan for the fiscal year, 26, audit committee to the full board at
its June 24th board meeting. Beginning in the second half starting in August. Uh, we will prepare our oag. Quarterly update, will we will provide that update for audit activity. Um, following April through August. Followed by September. We will present our oag annual audit report uh here first followed by a full report uh provided to the full board in December of 2025 order. I'm sorry, October.
is when we'll, uh, present the Annual report. That annual report will go to the full board. I see it's not really up here but once it goes to Oh, I apologize. It is on there. Just, uh, getting my uh, eyes confused there. So, on September, we will present the annual report to the committee, and we will follow that up by presenting that, uh, annual report to the full committee. We will end the year in August in December uh with the oag quarterly status.
Thank you. And if you guys have any questions, I'm more than happy to answer them. Thank you, Mr. Woods, um, any questions or comments from the committee? No. Okay thanks. Um with that. We will move on to our information items, beginning with item 5.01, policy 2510 School, Community Communications and Community involvement. This policy defines the 2-way, communication strategy between the school board and the community. Um, this policy is being brought before the committee in response to inquiries made at the school board. Retreat regarding
reviewing, the protocols around member newsletters and uh, School allocations Um, Miss Natalie, Allen chief of communications and Community engagement will be presenting Miss Allen. The floor is yours. Thank you all. Um, so really just like Mrs. Chandler said, we are bringing this forward just to kind of start a conversation. Um, as you all know, the school board is who drives policy. And there were conversations around especially um section D of this policy related to school, board members, electronic newsletters, and so we just
wanted to bring this forward to see if there was an appetite for changes um, Etc. And you know, to really just open a discussion related to if there were any needed changes because this policy was updated in 2021. And so we're close to it being on the 5-year cycle. Anyway, and figured, you know, since it was brought up we might as well have a discussion here. And thank you, Miss Allen. Um, are there any comments or questions from the committee? Mr. Knopf. Thank you, madam chair. Um and thank you. Miss Allen, I
appreciate you bringing this forward in response to the conversation that we had at The Retreat. Uh, personally, I feel pretty comfortable with where we are with our newsletter. Protocols, I appreciate so much and literally had no idea how much goes into the staff side of making sure that we have everything running and getting 1 out once a month. Is, is a task. So I know that that is definitely involved in terms of sending it to other districts. I mean, or districts within they're posted on our website. Each 1
that we have people have access to finding them. Um I know multiple board members use their social media as a platform to spread their newsletter if they might have followers from other districts. Um, and for me, personally, I really do want my constituents to read what's going on in Leesburg. And so, I feel that having 8 more newsletters, a month in their inbox could be cumbersome. So, I am comfortable with where we are with. This um and I feel like we have checked all those boxes but that is my opinion. Thank you, Miss chernoff.
Um, Miss Donahue. Thank you, chair Chandler. Um, I also am appreciative that, um, staff has put the effort into responding to the concerns that were raised at our Retreat. Uh, and I, I don't know that I'm in the best position to be giving feedback since as the atlar member, I have the entire County anyway. um, but uh, that being said, I, I I sympathize with my fellow members who expressed concerns over.
The confusion that may result in the public of who is my school board member when problems arise. Um, but I do have a little bit of concern about some of the red line language in the added paragraph uh on pages, 113 to 121 um again, I don't know that I'm in the best position because everyone is my constituent but um you know, starting with things school board members will be responsible for responding to Communications received from those constituents residing within their respective voting
districts. I have a couple of concerns there 1 is. So if a board member is not responding to inquiries from a constituent, does that mean that board member is going to be subject to discipline by the rest of the board? Because that is Something that happens on occasion, right? If a board member is not following policy. That would be a concern. Um, and, Also. I mean, sometimes constituents choose intentionally to reach out to board members who are not for their District,
because they either have a personal relationship with that member or because other reasons, they just because of a committee issue because they might have a reason, or they, they might think that a certain board member would be more receptive to an inquiry about a particular issue than a different board member. Um, and I'm, I'm just curious, like, how those kind of situations would fit into, uh, to this To this language that we have here. I mean, those things being said, I agree, 100% with Miss chernoff. Like nobody
wants 9 more newsletters, a month in their inbox and like we're all we all have kids and lcps like I agree. I don't want 9 more um 9 more of Although that's an interesting thing because I don't get as an aside. The district that I live in for voting purposes, is not the district where my kids go to school. So when the newsletters go out, I receive my own and I receive the dis, dis, I received the newsletter from the board member, who is the member for the district, where I live correct, which
is not Where my kids go to school, right? And I still haven't actually figured out how I get that newsletter because I would like to receive that news. So you ask us and we can make that happen for you so I can make that happen for you. That's not a problem. Um so so happy to do that but that's that's correct. So I did confirm um, that we use the, the locator function. And that's as far as the websites are concerned as well, that was part of the discussion. Um, I did kind of myth bust the piece about if you have special
permission, a special permission student um that you're listed on the website, that's not true. Um, I don't know, that might have been previously true, I'm not sure maybe historically, but not on, you know, we've changed to a, um, A new website platform. And when that shift, um, happened, we made sure that the folks who were listed the school board members, who are listed are those who represent those schools and there is overlap. So it's not just 1 School Board member sometimes. Like, they're are times where
correct a lot of times there are 3 so because, um, correct. Um, so our at-large member Miss Donnie who's listed on every, uh, page. But typically, there are 2 to 3 board members. Because there are a lot of schools who have overlapping Lines related to voting districts. And West, you want to mention the red line piece that it came from. Dr. Rashid Or if clear. Sure for additional context. Um I believe this in
particular, uh, it was responsive uh to Dr. Rasheed's um, comments made at the January 24th, 2025 Retreat to provide, uh, Clarity to both board members and community members regarding board members response to Communications received by their constituents, uh, specifically with reference, to those board members listed on school websites. And if I could ask 1 follow-up, um, Miss Allen related to My statement that I don't get my the newsletter for, where
my kids go to school. Is there is there a way for members of the community who do not have children, who are current students to sign up to receive newsletters if they would like to do. So, I mean, many of us make the links available through our social media, but if there are individuals, who would like to receive the newsletters directly to their email, inboxes they're an opportunity or Avenue for them to sign up for that. So, it's not as simple as a subscribe button to that point. Basically, because what we do is take
just like it says, in the policy we take, um, The location of, you know, for example, elonian district and every school that is in elonian, District gets um sent Mr Chandler's newsletter, for example, but all that to say, if a parent uh, raises the question and wants to be sent that newsletter, I do believe there. There's a way for us to make them part of that list, but we would need them to
physically request that of us, which I know, is kind of a cumbersome process that said, every single newsletter is available on the school division's website. So, every single newsletter that Miss shernoff has sent out is available on um, her page on the website so that might be a place where even if they're not getting it directly to their inbox, they're very easy to access. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Donahue. Um, I will also add, um, I agree
with my colleagues in terms of the volume of News letters, um, it's consistently feedback that I received for my constituents is that they appreciate our efforts at communication and would like them to be perhaps a little bit more streamlined. Um, so as to focus on the pertinent information and not to overwhelm sure more than anything. No, I think there's that that people are genuinely happy to see. Um, The increased efforts at at clear and
and concise communication, um, but would not probably incur be um, happy to receive more, got it just based on and what I've heard from my constituents. Um, that said I, um, do find Miss Donna Hughes question about a consequence to be an interesting question. Um, Mr. Allen, is there any perceived legal consequence? Thank you, madam chair. I, I don't think any legal consequence, or any consequence at all is contemplated and
this policy, um, perhaps, uh, Alternative language, such as are generally, expected to respond to. Um I I do hear Miss Donna Hughes uh concern and that will be responsible for physiology. Um so but that that's up for um discretionary um wordsmithing by by the committee. Thank you for that Mr. Allen. I, I often will come back to the idea that, of course. Every every elected official is
accountable to their constituency and will face consequences at on Election Day, should they choose not to be responsive, um, but I do appreciate that con or that, um, Clarification and I I would love to hear from the committee if that, um, proposed language would be something you'd like to see. Um, before we bring this back for action. I think it would be helpful. So just so I school board members are generally expected to
what we're thinking, what? Mr. Allen just shared. Mr. Allen Uh, just as a clarification. Yes. Uh well that's what I offered as an alternative or consideration. Agree. Before we Turn off, I see. Yeah I wanted to just add to this because there's also something that's really not said here, which is something that I know we've talked about in board norms and it did briefly come up at the retreat a little bit also. Um, and I apologize, I was kind of thinking that this was a subset under the newsletters but this is a whole
separate section e. So now I now I'm realizing this is emails and other ways that people might communicate with us. And I am very grateful to miss Donahue for her comments because it made me immediately. Think there are just instances where people reach out to different people. I mean, I'm getting a ton of emails right now about the grading policy because that's very prevalent to the work that we're doing in committee. A lot of those people do not reside in my district, um, and I am freely responding so because they're coming directly to me. Um, so I think that
they're also Needs to be some definition or if we're I just don't want this language to feel like this is the only thing that you can communicate about. Because I know that we have talked about when it comes to the full board. You know, the chair often responds on behalf of the board and and I believe it was Dr. Dean to raise that, as maybe something, we might want to revisit. And and I know I struggle with those lines as well at times. Um, Miss Allen and I talked I been invited out to a program to talk about restraint and seclusion this Friday and all of us were invited but I had
time in my schedule so I reached back out um and if I were not allowed to do so that would that would be weird. It's It's honestly. So I'm I'm wondering too if we just need a little bit more spec best. Oh, I'm going to try. Yes, thank you. Um, on that in terms of defining what Communications we're talking about that, it's not only limited to our voting districts and that sometimes there are outside People that I, you know, Dr. Rasheed did mention like
they're all of our people, you know, like we care about everyone in the district, we're making decisions on behalf of them. So I would agree that this needs additional work. I was thinking about it in terms of newsletters, and I was pretty comfortable with that thinking. Leesburg would probably be the only people that would reach out, but that makes more sense. Well, can I ask I mean? Um, I think I think, right? So I Just give me a question. Um, the piece about, you know, The websites and things, obviously.
We can take care of operationally that's easy and it's already. The case. Um, but you know, as long as the school board kind of gives us that thumbs up related to how it's already being done. I think it makes sense, and we can kind of Bust that myth that we talked about. Um or I think the other option was potentially listing all Board members and it sounded like in the room that that probably wasn't the best idea. Anyway, and if you were to go to visit any school's website, while
those board members are listed, if you click, it takes you to a page where you can also contact the full board if you so choose so you as a constituent have options So you know who your representatives are. But if you you know, wanted to talk about the grading policy or something like that, you could say email the full board. Um, so that folks know You know, what you're what you're thinking about as a constituent. I I appreciate that um feedback and I I think it is an it's it's interesting to contemplate. Um, and I, I'm not sure
I would want to put anything into policy that could a future board, that might choose to have different forms. different forms. Um, in much the same way that our board has agreed to a certain set of norms. Um, and I, you know, I think those are all matters of respect and protocol, um, that should be more flexible. Um, so that I guess is something that the committee members can consider before we bring this back for Action. Um, if we want to improve on this
section in any way or strike in it, unless, Um, I do appreciate especially um the willingness to oh I'm sorry Dr. Bergen Uh, no, I I'm I'm just joining in on the conversation. What I recall might have been the Genesis for this paragraph. Was at the retreat. As I'm new to to Loudoun County. There were some board members saying why am I listed on so many different websites? And I think what we were trying to do was get
some clarity about which school websites, each of you would be listed on So if it's in your voting district, you would be listed on the school website. If it's not in your District right now, I believe our practices. If you have 1 student who's on Special permission. That's what. Yeah, that's what was stated. That's what they thought, but that's not accurate. Okay. So how what is? How is a board member listed on school websites? Other than, than their voting district. That's the only way they're listed on a school level. Well, I'm not interested. Yes. So we use um the school,
locator function. Okay. Um, And who like as far as you know, who represents that that school, that's who's listed on the website at this, current time. I don't, I was curious. So that's, I went back to my team to just double check on that related to the special permission permission piece. And it might have been a practice with a previous School website. Because the other thing to remember, is that before we changed over, um, to the new system, the new division website and the new school
websites. Um, It was not consistent. So schools were very much in charge of their own site. It was templated, or it has become since then templated. So, there's a template for the footer. That so that might be something that happened in the past, but it's not current practice. Okay, so we've addressed the administratively but maybe we don't need to address. and if you all in agreement, don't have really a dog in the fight. I'm just I think that's why I recall from the conversation. How that ended
up maybe trying to be captured in policy but we don't feel like there's a need to capture policy. As long as this will live in the future administrations and future boards as an understanding. of districts change, um, the board of super That 1 did it go. But it's blue. It's not it's blue. Oh there we go. Yeah just took a minute. Thank you for your patience. Everyone. Well we deal with our technical challenges. Um At the beginning of this decade, the magisterial districts
in Loudoun were changed after the census, and the goal was to make the the population concentration more equalized so that everybody would approximately have between 50 and 55,000 constituents in each magisterial district The school district lines may have been drawn along more Geographic um considerations and that may be where the disconnect occurred. Um, I know for myself personally, I have a tiny piece of delegate. Martinez is, um, District, um, which is just outside of, what's
traditionally been Algonquian. And that means that I have a set of schools that are in Ashburn. Um, I definitely represent those constituents but it's probably confusing to the Greater Community to have me listed on that website. Um, just an interesting component of the conversation. Um, and that's a great example though. We've I mean with, um, for example, with the Henrietta Lacks, um, in Watson Mountain, Ribbon cutting. So we were like, wait, there are multiple School Board Representatives? Who should talk, you know, in those kinds of things and it's exactly, you know, anecdotal
stories like that, that we're talking about, Right, exactly exactly. Um, I do feel that since uh Dr. Rasheed brought forward the suggestion that I would really like to um have a conversation with her offline to make sure that the any proposed changes that we bring forward are in line with what she was hoping to see in terms of this conversation. I just I think that it would be valuable to make sure um and uh be very interested to see uh how this conversation continues to progress.
Um, with that said, are there any more questions or comments from the committee? No. Um then we will move on to uh 5.02 policy 2320, uh school health Advisory Board. Um this policy establishes guidelines for the school health Advisory Board and Miss Allen. Um, we'll be presenting again. Oh I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Okay, it might be wrong on here. I'm not I might have read it wrong on the agenda and that's fine.
We're so lucky to have a Miss Allen and Mr Allen and we'll be happy to hear, right? No relation, right? Um, from this hour this evening. So with that Mr. Allen, the floor is yours. Thank you, madam chair. This policy comes before the committee today upon its 5-year review which would be pursuant to school board policy 2540 um which uh otherwise needs to be completed by November 2025, given the last time that this policy uh was updated was November 2020 before
you this evening you have 3 proposed revisions from staff for the committee's consideration. The first item is a clarification on line 11, which specifies that the reference uh, there to board members, pertains to members of the school health Advisory Board rather than the school board. the second item also offers a clarification specifically with respect to the requirement under the Virginia, Freedom of Information Act that any person appointed to a public public body or extension. They're up. She'll be provided
copy of the Virginia, Freedom of Information Act within 2 weeks, following their appointment, and for members to read and become familiar with the provisions thereof. It just offers that clarification. Um, and that's a requirement under, the Virginia, Freedom of Information Act, And with respect to the final item in reviewing this policy from a legal lens, the office of division Council reviewed the policy in tandem with Virginia code section 22.1 to 75.1, which is the Virginia Statute that provides that each
School Board. May establish a school health Advisory Board and in doing so we noted that the applicable code section provides that the relevant procedures, a school health Advisory Board recommends to a school board, should take into consideration the size and Staffing of this schools. And therefore we proposed tracking such language from the code and inserting that language online's 28 and 29. Happy to entertain any questions. Thank you, Mr. Allen are there any questions or comments from the committee?
No, not for me either. Um well, thank you so much. Um, With no further discussion and without objection, these information items will return as action items next month, just real quickly. If you wanted more time related to the communications policy, we have plenty. So if you decide that, you know, you need more time to just make it an information item again or whatever. Oh sure um I just wanted to clarify that. Okay, thank you, Miss Allen. Any considerate. Okay. Um, all right, with that we have
completed the items on our agenda for this meeting. Is there any new business? Okay. You cheer Chandler. Uh, I wanted to follow up on some discussion that we had at our previous full board meeting regarding student Behavior discipline appeals which currently under our current policy is are heard only by members of the sbat committee and that is uh, is arranged that way under policy 2310.
2310 which establishes the Committees. So as I mentioned at at our previous board meeting, I was curious if there is an appetite among my colleagues, um, to make any potential changes to that system. Um, I can Envision potential reasons why we should leave it as it is, um, but I can also in and I don't know what the reason is. Why It is that way in Loudoun? Um, I'm aware that some
districts follow the same procedure and others. Don't others. Um hear those appeals on a rotating basis, as we currently hear our administrative appeals uh and I can Envision some reasons why it might be good to. Have the opportunity for the rest of the board members to be able to sit on those Appeals. And my understanding is that Miss label has gone to great efforts to try and accommodate uh allowing other board members to sit on those discipline appeals when possible. Um, but that is at her discretion um, under the terms of
current policies. So uh, I wanted to initiate the conversation of is there Do my colleague have thoughts on? Should we keep that system in place as it is? Or should we consider making some changes? That's my new business. Anaheim. I'm always open to having a conversation. I think um the question it comes down to for me is whether or not students. um, receive the most just outcomes if there is consistent leadership on the committee with this approximately the
same people serving or if um rotating the committee members members brings a fresh. I I I I don't know if staff has the ability to sort of offer us any context in that that maybe we can look A little further, a field. Thank you, madam chair. I'm happy to, uh, take a stab at this from when I recall from Miss, uh, scanland. Um, resuscitation at the school board meeting on Thursday night. Um, I personally in order to see have any
institutional knowledge as to how that came to be aspects practice. But uh, I I think with regard to the subject matter um, that aspect committee deals with um and in terms of looking at the policies they're very familiar with and with and enforcement of the policies or student discipline. that might be some thought, um, and the other thought, um, from 1 consider is that it provides a consistent lens um, for the application of the discipline, um, Appeals
Thank you, Mr. Allen I'm sure enough on this matter of new business. Yes thank you. Madam chair. Um thank you for bringing it up, Miss Donahue I actually am very open to this dialogue. I think the way that we handle the point that you made about special permission um and just how much I know speak for myself. How much I learned from that process about the policy of special permission in order to be able to make informed decisions, going forward? And I think that that would apply to the school board with the discipline
policies. Uh I would like that experience, I think there could be some value in rotating it I also acknowledge that there's probably also value which I think Warrants a conversation, amongst us further. And I would really love to to bring those different parties who are involved in those processes to the table so that we could have the experts and we could really hash it out. I don't know if it would be a just a discussion or if we would actually just review it through a policy or however you want to do that. But I'm, I'm fully supportive. I think, I think it's a dialogue worth having, for sure. Um, as we are
starting to now rotate on and and have a chance to see what that's like. So, Well if if we're in agreement I would be amenable to having this on as a discussion item at the next meeting and we can see if we can talk through the right path forward. Okay. And then Mr. Enough new business. Yes, thank you. Madam chair. Um, I have mentioned this on the deis a couple of times and it is sort of a personal internal struggle that I am having in terms of how regulations relate to policy and
what the processes are and Protocols are, or should be. If there is a lack of those things for us as a school board, a specially, as it relates to new policy, and new regulations that are developed for the first time. Um, I know that the board we get updates on what regulations there are and what those updates are. Um and then I believe after that is sort of been reviewed by the school board for a certain amount of time, then those go public and our operationalized for me. Um,
Thinking about policy and what I've learned over the last year. There's there's a lot of interpretation of policy. We we have Mr. Allen for a reason. Um sometimes I'll think think this is clearly falls under this policy and, you this is a violation of that policy and then as I do more digging because I am not a lawyer, um, it really turns out that it isn't and so I think there is some kind of oversight that I would like to see and I would like to gain Clarity on that process in terms of how we can have
oversight. I'm not looking to get in the Weeds on every regulation, as we do with policy. I do not think that, that is our lane. Um, clearly we have our superintendent, who can execute those things, um, at a high level. But I think when what I'm wondering is, what is the process? And how does the public know about regulations and how do our Educators know what these regulations are and how those things are going to be operationalized and how it might affect them and their classrooms and the different different things that are coming out. So, um, We've also had conversations on the school board where?
New regulations have been updated in tandem with policies and then there's times where that doesn't happen. So I guess I'm just also asking to see if there's an appetite. I I did look through policy to see if policy 2010 where it talks about our Authority and powers and duties, as a school board could be a place for in section c, there could maybe be a subsection bullet that just talk Addresses, what regulations are and how they work? Um, a little bit more clearly, but it could also be a discussion
or work session in the future that involves all the staff and how they do regulations, because I'm not quite sure. I know what happens after that, baton has passed. So really, just looking for my own Clarity and to make sure that we have a consistent process for how the board is involved with regulations. Well, um, I would be happy to weigh in. And again, as always I'm always up for a discussion. Um, what I find myself struggling with, in terms of coming to terms with this conversation? Is whether or not it's appropriate for
this committee or if it would be better served as a full school board, work session? Um, just because it's not as if regulation only originates here, um, so that I mean that's my initial reaction to it but um, have also found especially in in HRT when something that's that's procedural is presented um where we might not necessarily have a deep knowledge or context. It's it's very helpful to have the opportunity to learn about it. So,
um, I could see it going either way, um, but for the, Benefit of time and efficiency, it might be more efficient to do it as a work session with the whole school. That's just my, my personal opinion. But that's I would be amenable to that. I'm just sort of looking for an Avenue for us and like I said, I was looking more at the policies that apply to this committee and 1 of them does outline that, you know, our job is to revise and adopt policy. So I thought maybe a subsection in there
because there is a bunch of bullets but maybe we can look at it and decide but I I wanted to put it on the table as something that I'm sort of wrestling with. But I would be more than happy if we can find space in a full board meeting. Um I know that's also an issue for our crew. Um so so yeah, but I would be open to that as well because it obviously affects all of us. And I do think as its rolling out in our different committees, different standards are being set for different committees. And I want to make sure that that's Equitable and fair to every board member. And that there's a process that we have to follow that makes
sense for us consistency. Yeah. Right across the across the board. Um would you like to bring forward the policy that what um and I'm sorry the board is is it 2010? Um, to work on in committee, it would require your support. So I would be supportive of that. Okay, yeah, so we can put that on. Let's start there as a discussion item for next month as well. Perfect 2010. That's all. All right. Well, seeing no further, new business. Um, the meeting is adjourned. Thank you for coming out and be safe going home.
Testing testing. 1 2, 1 2. Yeah. let me see if they, um,