Summary:

• Discussion on the latest new policy, the School Division’s Equity Policy encompassing diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Discussion on the capital improvement fund: Transfer from fund of $191,500 was requested to fund one new school bus ($117.5K) and upgrade the lights at High School stadium ($74K).
• No confirmed cases of the Corona-19 virus in Virginia.
• Joint BoS/School Board budget work session on 13 March.
• Discussion on the redistricting plan caused by the planned opening of the new elementary school in Aug 21.

Meeting Notes:

All members of the NKC School Board were present.

The meeting was called to order at 1802. There were approximately 23 citizens in attendance plus normal School Division staff. The meeting proceeded quickly through general member comments, recognitions, and approval of the consent agenda. The consent agenda was unanimously approved 5-0. There was no citizen comment period since no one wished to address the Board.

Discussion then turned to the latest new policy, the School Division’s Equity Policy encompassing diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Several good questions arose during the discussion to include how the policy’s success would be measured, what would success look like, what participant feedback methods for continual improvement were considered, and accountability. Mr. Meade was particularly concerned about the accountability aspect of the policy. Last month he spoke about the Division’s cell phone policy and the apparent lack of accountability. Presumably, he harbors those same concerns for this policy.

A quick discussion reference the capital improvement fund occurred next. Transfer from fund of $191,500 was requested to fund one new school bus ($117.5K) and upgrade the lights at High School stadium ($74K). The request was unanimously approved 5-0.
HR Director Ms. Pitts presented the results of the Instructional Personnel Report. The School Division is doing very well as over 98% of all classes are taught by licensed and properly endorsed instructional personnel. Regarding the Health Advisory Board, it was reported that there were no confirmed cases of the Corona-19 virus in Virginia.

The County Board of Supervisors (BoS) will be meeting on 9 March to discuss budget submissions for the FY 21 budget. There will be a joint BoS/School Board budget work session on 13 March. On 30 March, the School Board will hold a meeting and public hearing on the FY21 School Division budget. The School Division’s budget should be approved by 13 April and hopefully adopted by the BoS on 27 May.

The final discussion item was the redistricting plan caused by the planned opening of the new elementary school in Aug 21. The major takeaway was the revised timeline. Initially Superintendent Nichols proposed that the entire process including a final decision would be complete by Jul 20. He revised that position and advised that the schedule would slip 3 months with a decision promulgated by 5 Oct. The new timeline was necessary to ensure that the complex issues revolving around current imbalances in elementary building utilization and the need to account for future expected enrollment growth in the county were fully examined and analyzed.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 1915.

Prepared by Paul Ross

School Board Meeting Agenda: https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/nkcps/Board.nsf/Public
(Click Meetings, select 2 March 20, click Agenda)