Prince William County Public Schools

School Board Meeting of March 4, 2020

View the agenda on the Electronic School Board webpage.
Watch the School Board meeting on PWCS-TV.

Positively PWCS:

Each School Board meeting begins with presentations about the good things that our schools are accomplishing. These presentations are intended to focus on how we are preparing our students academically and socially for success in college and careers.

• Tracy Hannigan, deputy director of the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, shared information about their community partnerships with Prince William County Public Schools and how that partnership is helping to enhance the quality of the education we provide to our students.

The School Board Approved:

• The Brentsville District appointment of Jasmine Carpenter to the Superintendent's Advisory Council on Equity for a term effective March 4, 2020, through June 30, 2022;
• The award of a contract for the roofing replacement at Marshall Elementary School (PDF) to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, Northeast Contracting Corporation, in the total amount of $609,663;
• The award of a contract for the roofing replacement at Pennington Traditional School (PDF) to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, Northeast Contracting Corporation, in the total amount of $586,064;
• Deletion of Policy 282.02 (PDF), "Regular Classified Employee Representation ";
• March 2020 as "Equity in Education Month (PDF)";
• April 2020 as "Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month (PDF)";
• April 2020 as "Month of the Military Child (PDF)" and the call upon School Division employees, students, and parents to express appreciation to children of military families;
• April 2020 as "National Child Abuse Prevention Month (PDF)";
• May 2020 as "National Physical Fitness and Sports Month (PDF)";
• May 6, 2020, as "National School Nurse Day (PDF)";
• May 4-8, 2020, as "School Food and Nutrition Services Employee Recognition Week (PDF)";
• April 2020 as "School Library Month (PDF)";
• January 2020 payrolls (PDF) in the amount of $59,990,332.12;
• April 20-24, 2020, as "Transportation Employees' Week";
• Nomination of The Links, Incorporated, Old Dominion (VA) Chapter; Crossroads Connection; and CroppMetcalfe for the Virginia School Boards Association 2020 Business Honor Roll (PDF);
• School Board meeting minutes (PDF) for February 19, 2020;
• The appointment of Beverly Hicks to represent Mrs. Adele Jackson of the Brentsville District, on SEAC for a two-year term;
• The Superintendent to issue a Request for Proposal for a study to be conducted by a qualified consultant for the evaluation, competitive analysis, and assessment of those site-based management practices currently in use in the Prince William County Public Schools, as those practices compare to the management systems and practices of other school divisions of comparable size. Further that this study be funded through the current budget from either year-end funds or reserves;
• An amendment to Division Counsel's Employment Agreement to reflect the School Board's February 19, 2020, vote to transfer administrative oversight of the Office of the Clerk to a designee of the School Board, and further that the School Board authorize the Chairman-at-Large to execute the same on behalf of the School Board;
• Waiving a second reading as authorized by Policy 102 , "Formulation and Adoption of Policies and Regulations," and approve the proposed revisions to Policy 123 (PDF), "Duties of the Clerk and Deputy Clerk," and Policy 161 (PDF), "Office of Division Counsel," to reflect the transfer of administrative oversight of the Office of the Clerk to a designee of the School Board;
• The temporary administrative oversight of the Clerk's office by School Board Designee Loree Williams until further policies and additional administrative changes are made and adopted by the Board; and
• Revision of Policy 681 (PDF), "Nontraditional Education Programs," Policy 743 (PDF), "Student Discipline," Policy 744 (PDF), "Short-Term Suspension of Students," Policy 745 (PDF), "Long-Term Suspension or Expulsion of Students," and Policy 747 (PDF), "Office of Student Management and Alternative Programs".

Citizens addressed the School Board on the following topics:

• Woodbridge High School;
• Fossil free and net-zero schools;
• Location of the 14th high school;
• Institutional corruption and racism;
• Climate change;
• Possible partnership with private accredited preschool programs;
• Budget addressing substitute teachers and teacher assistants; and
• Employee compensation.

Student Matters:

• Updates on Student Senate committee goals;
• All for One Ball;
• Student music festival;
• Mental health days;
• Student representatives attending Parent-Teacher-Student Organization meetings;
• Creation of a Teacher Senate;
• Lunch sharing programs;
• Student decriminalization;
• Stonewall Jackson High School students mentoring students from Ellis Elementary school;
• Freedom High School's celebration of Black History Month;
• Woodbridge High School's Leadership Summit;
• Brentsville High School's Black Student Union meeting;
• Woodbridge High School's student-teacher volleyball game;
• Potomac High School's Heritage Night with ESOL parents;
• Osbourn Park High School students making homeless care packages;
• Hylton High School's World Language Day; and
• Student representative applications for next year.

Staff Presentation Topics:

• Equity Scorecard Presentation (PDF)

Superintendent's Time:

• I would first like to congratulate Neil Beech, who has been selected as the principal for the 13th High School, which will open for the 2021-22 school year near Jiffy Lube Live. Mr. Beech has successfully led Osbourn Park High School as principal since 2010. We are very excited about the experience and leadership skills that Mr. Beech is bringing to our 13th high school.
• The School Board approved a resolution for Equity in Education Month. This resolution supports our efforts to look at everything we do through a lens of equity, including educational settings, supplies, technology, staffing, and school buildings. As I mentioned at our last meeting, the Superintendent's Advisory Council on Equity began meeting this year and I look forward to hearing their recommendations.
• As we begin the month of March, which is Social Work Month, I would like to take the opportunity to thank our school social workers for everything they do to further the educational, personal, and social growth of our students by linking them to school-based and community services. Our social workers are very important, and for that reason, I added the hiring of 11 more social workers to the proposed Fiscal Year 2021 budget.
• Congratulations to Yukiko Dove, a teacher of students with special needs at Leesylvania Elementary School. The Prince William County Human Rights Commission awarded Ms. Dove with a Human Rights Award for her work in advocating for families with children with special needs.