Prince William County Public Schools

School Board Meeting of May 18, 2022

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

Launching Thriving Futures Focus:

• The School Board recognized the School Board student representatives and alternate, the state forensic champion from Osbourn Park High School, state and international science fair champions from Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School, The Governor's School @ Innovation Park, Osbourn Park, Patriot High School, Forest Park High School, and Battlefield High School. The School Board also recognized Robotics Teams Winners and their coaches for the VEX Worlds Robotics Championship from Colgan High School and the following middle schools: Fred Lynn, Parkside and Potomac.

The School Board Approved:

• Confirming the May 11, 2022 Board Poll (PDF) supporting the School Division's nomination for the VSBA Excellence in Workforce Readiness Award;
• Recognizing June 2022 as "Caribbean-American Heritage Month (PDF)";
• The recommended revisions (PDF) to the 2022-23 "Code of Behavior";
• The April 30, 2022 School Board special meeting minutes (PDF); and
• The May 4, 2022, School Board meeting minutes (PDF).

Citizens addressed the School Board on the following topics:

• Code of Behavior
• Collective Bargaining
• Citizens comments time & emails to board members
• New teacher orientation and renewal of contract
• Transparency
• School Safety
• Inappropriate books in school libraries

Student Representative Matters:

• Equitable Late Work Policy
• Starting Time Survey / Later school start times

Superintendent's Time:

• Thank you to our School Board members for recognizing these outstanding students. As we reflect upon the PWCS Vision 2025 Launching Thriving Futures Strategic Plan, the students and programs recognized here tonight represent two of our plan's commitments - learning and achievement for all and positive climate and culture. These programs help ensure that we are preparing students for post-secondary education and the workforce, all in an environment that fosters inclusivity and connectedness.
• Thank you to our School Board student representatives and alternate for their dedication to serving as an important voice for our students.
• Congratulations to our state and world winners in forensics, science, and robotics. You have represented PWCS and your individual schools so well, and we are enormously proud of you.
• I also want to recognize the leadership of our school principals - Neil Beech, Gainesville High School; Heather Abney, Woodbridge High School; Dave Cassady, Hylton High School; Lisamarie Kane, Osbourn Park High School; Dr. Tim Healey, Colgan High School; Dr. Michael Bishop, Patriot High School; Rich Martinez, Forest Park High School; Ryan Ferrara, Battlefield High School; Dr. Jason Calhoun, Governors School at Innovation Park; Inmar Romero, Fred Lynn Middle School; Dr. Mary Jane Boynton, Parkside Middle School; and Kevin Smith, Potomac Middle School.
• In addition, none of this is possible without the dedication and support of the families of our students. Your engagement and encouragement, not to mention the countless hours of chauffeuring from competition to competition, being the biggest cheerleader while supporting and investing in your child's students interests and passions are instrumental to the success of our students.
• To close out this special part of our meeting, we plan to continue our Thriving Futures recognition segment during our School Board meetings in June. Congratulations again.
• May has been a month dedicated to many special recognitions and celebrations which includes Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month. I would like to close out the month of May honoring the immeasurable contributions Asian-Pacific Americans and Jewish Americans have made to our nation and local community.
• As a reminder, May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Our mental health is an incredibly important part of our overall well-being, and critical in our ability to support our families, work effectively, participate in school, and contribute to society in meaningful ways.
• I was honored to participate in two recent events shining a light on the importance of taking care of our mental health. A couple of weeks ago, I joined several students, staff members, and community members for the Forest Park High School Suicide Awareness Walk. Both events serve as an example of the importance of destigmatizing mental health issues. What was most inspiring was the entire event was coordinated by our Forest Park student leaders. Also, special thanks to Forest Park teacher Shannon Gheraghty, who is the student sponsor for this initiative. I would like to share a short video highlighting the Suicide Awareness Walk. Video
• This Saturday, Freedom High School will host the Mental Health and Wellness Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Several community organizations have joined PWCS in sponsoring this event that will feature student and community performances, exercises, food, games and important mental health and wellness resources for the entire family. I encourage you to attend. More information can be found on our website at www.pwcs.edu.
• As shared previously, May 25 is the 2022 PWCS Signing Day celebration. PWCS will recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of graduating seniors who shared with us that they have obtained full-time employment or committed to military service. We are excited about celebrating these outstanding accomplishments.
• Our career and technical education programs are critical in preparation of our students for life after graduation. In partnership with Prince William County Fire and Rescue, students in the firefighting program at Unity Reed High School are learning a combination of traditional classroom instruction and blended field experience. The program is available to all PWCS high school students as a transport specialty program through CTE. Through this program, students obtain the knowledge and skills to help prepare them to become a volunteer or career firefighter. Let's check out more in this video.
• To close out my report tonight, I would like to introduce Rita Goss, associate superintendent for teaching and learning, and Denise Huebner, associate superintendent for special education and student services, to share critical information about this year's summer school offerings.
• After Summer School Report (PDF) - Mr. Chairman, this concludes my report.

Board Matters:

• The board confirms the May 9, 2022 Board Poll (PDF) supporting the SMAPD's recommendation to reassign Student SR222-054 as discussed in the May 4, 2022 Closed Session.
• Update on GS @ IP