Prince William County Public Schools

School Board Meeting of June 6, 2018

Select this link to view the agenda on the Electronic School Board webpage.

Select this link to watch the School Board meeting on PWCS-TV.

The Prince William County School Board recognized sixth-grade student, Eugene Bartholomew III, from Benton Middle School, for his introduction of Dr. Anthony Muhammad at the "Closing the Achievement Gap" seminar on May 16, 2018.

The Gravely Elementary School "Gravely Groovers" performed.

The School Board Approved:

• Submission to VSBA of the four proposed legislative positions for inclusion in the 2019 VSBA Legislative Positions Handbook;
• The appointment/reappointment of individuals to the Career and Technical Education Advisory Council for a two-year term effective July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2020;
• Recognizing September 17 as "Citizenship Day" and the week of September 17 through September 23 as "Constitution Week";
• The contract award for the replacement of two new boilers at Osbourn Park High School to Capitol Boiler Works, Inc., in the total amount of $575,999;
• The contract award for the new equipment maintenance and repair to Interbuild, Inc., dba Fuog/Interbuild, Inc. in the total amount of $379,114.00;
• The contract award for geotechnical engineering and testing & inspection services to WDP & Associates Consulting Engineers, Inc., and ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC;
• The contract award for wetland environmental engineering services to Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., and A. Morton Thomas and Associates, Inc.;
• Recognizing October 10 as "International Walk to School Day";
• Granting the requested easement to Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative to install street lights at Kim Graham Lane and Rixlew Lane. The lights will provide additional lighting for Ellis Elementary School and Stonewall Jackson High School. The Chairman and Clerk are authorized to sign any necessary documents pertaining to the easement, subject to approval as to form only by the Division Counsel;
• The resolution requesting that the Prince William Board of County Supervisors transfer $6,000,000 in proffer funds in support of the School Division's need for the acquisition of land for the 14th high school;
• April 2018 payroll in the amount of $56,000,849.20 as shown on the recapitulation sheet, pursuant to Virginia Code § 22.2-122(C);
• The School Board meeting minutes for May 16, 2018;
• The School Board meeting minutes for May 23, 2018.
• The recommended revisions to the 2018-19 "Code of Behavior." A PowerPoint was presented along with a list of the Revision Committee meeting attendees on February 15, 2018;
• The Development Impact Statement to the Prince William County government about the impact the Dominion Valley Country Club Proffer Amendment will have on the School Division by allowing the amendment of two locations within the Residential Planned Community for 55 additional townhome units;
• The Development Impact Statement to the Prince William County government about the impact the Devlin Road rezoning will have on the School Division. The Development Impact Statement was revised with the most current student enrollments and projections. It also includes an additional proffer by the applicant;
• The Development Impact Statement to the Prince William County government about the impact the Crossroads Village Center will have on the School Division by allowing rezoning for the development of 79 townhouse units; and
• The Prince William County School Board participate in cultural training and a summer retreat for the School Board.

Citizens' Comment Time:

Citizens addressed the School Board on the following topics:

• Transportation concerns;
• Bull Run Middle School food drive and project-based learning;
• School counselor and student ratios;
• Independence Nontraditional School bookkeeper;
• Intercounty "Students Helping Students" fundraiser;
• Prince William Education Association grants;
• Special Education concerns;
• Gang PSA and Opioid PSA;
• Concussion training;
• Recess change;
• Prince William County Public Schools website;
• Mental health awareness and student safety;

Student Matters:

Kate Arnold, student representative, congratulated her fellow graduating members of the class of 2018.

In Ms. Arnold's final address to the School Board and community members she requested a review with the School Board and Dr. Walts to discuss the student representative role in coming years. She suggested

that the School Board appoint next year's student representatives as soon as possible in order for her to counsel them for their upcoming duties.

Ms. Arnold thanked the School Board for allowing her to represent the students of Prince William County as a part of the Board, and the Edward L. Kelly Leadership staff for all their help.

Finally, Ms. Arnold spoke on the importance of students working with their future representatives to have their voices heard.

Student Spotlights:

• Timothy Clem, a third-grader at Bennet Elementary School, recently placed 14^th in the nation at MathFest.
• Emily Yeh, a sixth-grader at Parkside Middle School, recently won first place, playing piano, in the top division of the Virginia state-wide Mary Smart Competition.

Zaki Panjsheeri, alternate student representative, thanked those in the community and schools who have attended recent graduations. Mr. Panjsheeri also gave advice to rising seniors as they enter summertime before their senior years. Mr. Panjsheeri wished students and staff a memorable summer, and thanked the School Board and community for allowing him to participate as an alternate student representative.

Magin Sanchez, alternate student representative, spoke about his experience with the School Board in the past year. Mr. Sanchez recognized student organizations that took initiative with an aim to provide a world-class experience for other students. Mr. Sanchez thanked Kate Arnold for her leadership, and the School Board for the opportunity to participate as an alternate student representative.

Policies:

• First Reading - no action is required on first readings:
  • Revision of Policy 351, "Reporting, Investigating, and Prosecuting Fraud, Embezzlement, and Other Financial Irregularities." Click to view Justification. Click to view the current policy with proposed revisions.
• A discussion of revisions to policy and regulations in compliance with House Bill 1044.

Staff Presentation Topics:

• Special Education Advisory Committee PowerPoint on the 2017-18 Special Education Advisory Committee Annual Report;
• Implementation of increased elementary unstructured recreational time;
• Progress Report on the 2018 Energy Management Program;
• Resolution commending Kate Arnold, C.D. Hylton High School senior, as the first-ever non-voting student representative to the School Board, and Zaki Panjsheeri, Patriot High School senior and Magin Sanchez, Potomac High School senior, as alternates.

Superintendent's Time:

Dr. Steven L. Walts, Superintended of Schools, made the following announcements:

• Allow me to start off by recognizing our School Board student representative and alternates.
  • I know the Board will be recognizing them shortly, but let me add my thanks to Kate Arnold, and to alternates Zaki Panjsheeri, and Magin Sanchez.
  • I wish you much success in your journey toward a promising future.

• Three Benton Middle School students brought home awards from the Virginia Junior Academy of Sciences Research Symposium at Longwood University. More than one thousand research papers were submitted.
  • Eighth-grader Nico Morgan earned second place in the Ecology category.
  • And seventh-graders Arman Lateef and Tony Bright earned the top prize in Plant Sciences and Microbiology. Their winning project was entitled, "From Waste to Wealth: Making Millivolts from Microbes!"
  • Congratulations to them.
• Four students from Woodbridge High School are celebrating their Cappie nominations for theater productions: Applause goes to: Ella Baumann, Mark Gonzales, Sadie Sullivan, and Miriam Elhadidi.
• Two ensembles from Colgan High School have been selected through an audition process to perform at the Virginia Music Educators Association Conference to be held in November. Both the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Chamber Ensemble Choir were chosen as two of the top performing ensembles in the state of Virginia. Congratulations to choral teacher McKenna Stenson and director of orchestras Ben Bernstein, and their students.
• Our homegrown Virginia STAR program recently received an outstanding partnership award from Virginia Beach City Public Schools.
  • Virginia STAR began in our own Forest Park High School and is now a state program coordinated by SPARK. It is now in 70 schools in 44 districts.
  • VA STAR teaches students to refurbish surplus computers and hardware from government agencies and private companies.
  • It has made thousands of devices available to schools, organizations, and families in need, and given students tremendous technology experience in the process.

• Nine of our schools earned blue ribbons from the Virginia Music Educators Association. It recognizes excellence in band, orchestra, and choral performance, and is the highest award given to music programs in Virginia.
  • Congratulations to Gainesville and Marsteller Middle Schools;
  • And to Battlefield, Colgan, Forest Park, Osbourn Park, Patriot, Stonewall Jackson, and Woodbridge High Schools.

• It's no surprise that other School Divisions are recognizing the benefit of the work that's led from PWCS.

• I had the privilege of attending School of Excellence celebrations at Bristow Run and Henderson Elementary School. Congratulations on your academic achievements.
• And, of course, it's graduation time. I attended the PACE East senior ceremony, PACE West senior luncheon, The Governor's School at Innovation Park senior ceremony, and graduations for Colgan, Hylton, and Osbourn Park High Schools.

• Congratulations to all the Class of 2018 graduates.

Volume 13, Number 18 - Publication Date: June 7, 2018