Coraggio Consulting
Loudoun County School Board, Swearing in of School Board Members and Annual Organizational School Board Meeting, Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Date: Tuesday, January 2, 2024
Place: Loudoun County Public Schools / School Board meeting (see BoardDocs / LCPS-TV)
Length: 1h (video)
Official meeting video (Vimeo / LCPS-TV): https://player.vimeo.com/video/899301256?rel=0
BoardDocs (School Board): https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/loudoun/Board.nsf/Public

Machine transcript (speech-to-text) produced by Coraggio Consulting. Not an official county record. Names and numbers may be misspelled; check the video at the timestamp before quoting.
Speech-to-text: whisper.cpp, model large-v3-turbo. Produced 2026-10-19. Timestamps are [HH:MM:SS] into the meeting video.

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[00:00:00] very excited to be able to welcome and swear in our nine new elected school board members and so I know you want to join me in congratulating them so we're going to get right to it without further ado I'd like to introduce the clerk of the circuit court Gary Clemons. Mr. Clemons? Happy New Year! I trust you're all in good health and enjoyed the holiday season? Yes. Good. Well thank you all for being here. You know this is a very important event. Whenever someone is

[00:00:37] elected and they agree to serve their community of Loudoun County in public service. That's an important thing. And so I think it says a lot for you to be here to witness the swearing of these school board members. They've worked hard during the campaign to earn your vote and the right to be here, but I can tell you that they need to continue that hard work for our citizens in Loudoun County. So your presence today is also testimonial to the fact that we as citizens expect our elected officials to serve us and be diligent in service. So thank you for being part of this special ceremony. I don't have any special protocols, but I do have a couple recommendations for those school board members who are going to be sworn in. If you have

[00:01:14] family members present you'd like to have join you, please bring any family, friends, or supporters that you want to have come along and be part of your swearing-in ceremony. After you're sworn individually, you will then proceed to the table to my right where you will have three oath documents to sign. You'll sign all three right in the middle. Before you sign, make sure it's your oath document that you're signing and once you sign the document then you'll proceed back to your seat and then I'll call up the next school board member. We did not draw straws. We did not flip coins. There was no

[00:01:49] favoritism in the order in which we're doing the oath of office other than your wonderful school officials here gave me a list. It's an alphabetical order by district name. So we'll proceed in alphabetical order by the district in which you're going to be representing the Slouden County. Yes sir. Just one quick clarification for our board members. Don't go back to your seat after you've signed your oaths. If you'll stay over here, we're going to get an individual and then a group photo.

[00:02:16] Very good. Thank you, sir. So since we're going alphabetically by district, I'd like to ask April Chandler to please come up. I have been duly elected to serve on the Loudoun County School Board. Prepare to fulfill these duties. I am. Please raise your right hand. I April Chandler.

[00:02:52] I April Chandler. Do solemnly swear. Do solemnly swear. That I will support the Constitution. That I will support the Constitution of the United States of America of the United States of America and I will support the Constitution I will support the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia of the Commonwealth of Virginia and I will faithfully and impartially and I will faithfully and impartially discharge all the duties discharge all the duties incumbent upon me incumbent upon me as the Algonquin district representative as the Algonquin district representative to the Loudoun County School Board to the Loudoun County School Board

[00:03:27] Supporting to the best of my ability, so help me God.

[00:05:45] I'd like to ask the Donahue, you've been elected to Loudoun County School Board.

[00:07:01] Are you prepared to fulfill your duties? Right hand, repeat after me. I, Ann Donahue, I, Ann Donahue, do solemnly swear, I will support the Constitution, Constitution, of the United States of America, of the United States of America, and I will support the Constitution, support the Constitution, of the Commonwealth of Virginia, of the Commonwealth of Virginia, faithfully and impartially, faithfully and impartially,

[00:07:29] Discharge all the duties, incumbent upon me, as the at-large representative to the Loudoun County School Board, according to the best of my ability, so help me God.

[00:07:45] Now I'd like to ask the Broad Run District Representative School Board, Dr. Linda Deans, to come.

[00:09:00] Linda Deans solemnly swears that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America,

[00:09:40] that I will report the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and I will faithfully and impartially discharge all the duties incumbent upon me as the Broad Run District Representative to the Lawton County School Board.

[00:10:02] Yes, I am.

[00:11:45] Actually, I charge all the duties.

[00:12:15] Cumped upon me as the Catoctin District Representative. The Loudoun Counties, to the best of my abilities. So help me God.

[00:12:31] I represent the Dulles District of the State of the Constitution.

[00:14:30] I'm a wealth of Virginia. We fully and impartially discharge all the duties. Discharge all the duties. Cumped upon me as the Dulles District Representative. As the Dulles District Representative.

[00:14:46] The Loudoun County School Board, to the best of my abilities. So help me God.

[00:16:40] I will support the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

[00:16:57] I will faithfully and impartially discharge all the duties incumbent upon me, the Leesburg District Representative, to the Loudoun County School Board, according to the best of my ability, so help me God.

[00:17:40] I, Samara Rasheed, solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America.

[00:19:17] And I will support the Constitution, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and I will faithfully and impartially discharge all the duties incumbent upon me as the Little River District Representative to the Loudoun County School Board.

[00:19:39] According to the best of my ability, so help me God.

[00:19:45] Representing the Sterling District, Marvin Estreffi.

[00:20:47] Estreffi, you've been elected to the Loudoun County School Board. You're in Estreffi. It's on this way.

[00:21:05] Support the Constitution. That is the United States of America. Constitution. Commonwealth of Virginia. Faithfully and partially. Discharge all the duties.

[00:21:22] Come in upon the district. Representing the Loudoun County School Board. The best of my ability, so help me God.

[00:21:36] We want to thank you all for coming.

[00:24:29] This concludes this ceremony. congratulations again to all of our new members we're going to take a brief break and then at 4:30 we are going to begin the organizational meeting of the

[00:24:44] school board good afternoon a call to order the January 2nd 2024 annual

[00:35:26] school board organization meeting our pledge leader this evening is Jennifer Evans our director of student mental health services as you may be aware January is mental health wellness month and Jennifer leads a team of dedicated and talented professionals who work each and every day to address the mental and emotional wellness of our LCPS students, staff, and families. Her team is also responsible for the annual LCPS United for Wellness Conference and Resource Fair. This year's conference reflects our focus on supporting all areas of student health. It will be held on Saturday, January 27th

[00:36:00] from 9 30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Riverside High School. Parents and community members who attend will learn strategies to support student mental health, academic and social engagement, and overall wellness this is a free event and will feature more than 40 school mental health professionals and community partners as they share tips and strategies for promoting mental health and wellness the conference will also feature a resource fair with over 80 local businesses and non-profits offering services and guidance to support families in our community at this time please rise and join us in the pledge of allegiance i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united

[00:36:40] States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please be seated. Per Policy 2210, the Division Superintendent, acting as chair, will now request nominations for chair.

[00:37:06] No second for nominations is required. The floor will remain open for nominations until there are no more additional nominations. I will then take a roll call vote, starting with the first nomination and proceeding through each one as needed until one nominee receives a majority vote. Additional rounds of nominations may be required in order for one nominee to secure a majority vote to be appointed.

[00:37:31] Once a chair has been elected, I will turn the meeting over to the newly elected chair who will continue with the process of filling the remaining positions using the same process through which a chair was chosen. At this time, I will open the floor for nominations for chair. Ms. Chandler. I'd like to nominate Melinda Mansfield for chair. Are there any other nominations?

[00:37:55] I, too, would like to nominate Melinda Mansfield for chair. Are there any other nominations? Hearing none, I'm going to close the floor for nominations, and we are going to take a roll call vote for each nominee until one nominee receives a majority vote.

[00:38:18] Our nominee is Melinda Mansfield. When your name is called, please state your vote for Ms. Mansfield. And we will start with the Algonquian District and proceed in alphabetical order by district name. Ms. Chandler, how do you vote?

[00:38:33] Yes. Ms. Griffiths, how do you vote? Yes. Ms. Donahue, how do you vote? Yes. Dr. Deans, how do you vote? Yes. Dr. LaBelle, how do you vote? Ms. Mansfield, how do you vote?

[00:38:49] Yes. Ms. Chernoff, how do you vote? Yes. Dr. Rasheed, how do you vote? Yes. And Mr. Estreffi, how do you vote? Yes. This motion passes unanimously with zero opposed, zero abstaining, and zero absent for the vote.

[00:39:07] Congratulations, Chair Mansfield. I'm now going to turn the meeting over to you.

[00:39:34] Thank you, Dr. Spence.

[00:40:01] I would like to take just a moment to thank my fellow board members for electing me as their board chair. Your confidence in me is both inspiring and humbling. I stand before you today with an immense sense of gratitude and responsibility. As a parent who had to advocate for her own children and at times found it difficult to navigate, I want to make sure that families have the support they need for their children to succeed.

[00:40:29] As board chair, my hope is to build bridges. Build bridges between the board and admin. Build bridges between our staff, families, and community. Education is not just about curriculum, although that's important.

[00:40:45] It's about connection. Bridging gaps between ideas, communities, and most importantly, hearts and minds. I envision a board that fosters an environment of inclusivity where every voice is heard, valued, and respected.

[00:41:02] I am passionate about advocating for our families. They entrust us with their children's futures. And it's our duty to ensure that we create an environment where each child thrives and where families feel supported and empowered in their children's educational journey.

[00:41:22] Thank you again. It truly is an honor. At this time, we will move on to item 2.2 on the agenda for the election of the school board vice chair.

[00:41:39] The vote will be conducted using the same process as for the chair. I will now open the floor for nominations at this time and will also nominate Mr. Streffi for the position of vice chair. Are there any additional nominations? Yes, Ms. Donahue.

[00:41:56] Thank you, Madam Chair. I nominate Lauren Chernoff for vice chair. I believe her experience working within LCPS would make an invaluable addition to our leadership team. Thank you. Thank you. Are there any other additional nominations?

[00:42:22] So seeing no more nominations for vice chair, I will close the floor for nominations and we will take a roll call vote for each nominee in the order in which the nominations were received until one nominee receives a majority vote. The first nominee is Mr. Streffi. When your name is called, please state your vote for Mr. Streffi as vice chair. Ms. Chandler. Yes. Ms. Griffiths. Yes.

[00:42:54] Mrs. Donahue. Yes. Dr. LaBelle. Yes. Dr. Deans. Yes. Ms. Chernaff. Yes. Dr. Rashid. Yes. Mr.

[00:43:14] Struffy? Yes. And my vote is yes. The motion passes unanimously. Congratulations, Vice Chair

[00:43:23] Struffy.

[00:44:20] We will now move on to item 2. 03 on the agenda, election of the VSBA official delegate and alternate. The only official duty of the official delegate is to vote during the VSBA delegate assembly once a year and to take action on the school board's position on the VSBA legislative positions. I will open the floor for nominations for the VSBA delegate at this time, and I will also nominate Dr. LaBelle to be a school board VSBA delegate. Are there any other additional nominations? Seeing no more nominations for VSBA delegate, I will close the floor for nominations

[00:44:57] and we will take a roll call vote in order in which the nominations were received. The first nominee is Dr. LaBelle. When your name is called, please state your vote for Dr. LaBelle as VSBA delegate. Mrs. Chandler, how do you vote? Yes. Ms. Griffiths? Yes. Ms. Donahue? Yes. I vote yes.

[00:45:20] Mr. Vice Chair? Yes. Dr. Deans? Yes. Ms. Chernoff? Yes. Dr. Rasheed? Yes. Dr. LaBelle? Yes. The motion passes unanimously. Congratulations, Dr. LaBelle. I will now open the floor for nominations for a VSBA alternate delegate. Do we have any nominations? Yes. Mrs. Donahue? I nominate

[00:45:54] Lauren Chernoff. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. And the nomination for Ms. Chernoff as VSBA Alternate Delegate by Mrs. Donahue is received. Are there any other nominations? Seeing no more nominations for VSBA Alternate Delegate, I would close the floor for nominations and we will take the roll call in order in which the nominations were received. On Ms. Chernoff as VSBA Alternate Delegate, when your name is called, please state your vote for Ms. Chernoff as VSBA Alternate

[00:46:26] delegate. Ms. Chandler, how do you vote? Yes. Mrs. Griffiths, how do you vote? Yes. Ms. Donahue, how do you vote? Yes. I vote yes. Vice Chair? Yes. Dr. Deans? Yes. Ms. Chernoff? Yes. Dr. Rashid? Yes.

[00:46:46] Dr. LaBelle? Yes. The motion passes unanimously. Congratulations, Ms. Chernoff, as our new BSBA alternate delegate. We will now move on to item 2.04 on the agenda, a resolution approving the Loudoun County School Board Organization business for calendar year 2024. Is there a motion Mr. Vice Chair? Yes Madam Chair. I move that the Loudoun County School Board approve the Loudoun County School Board organizational business for calendar year 2024. Whereas the Code of Virginia section

[00:47:22] 22.1-76 requires the Loudoun County School Board at its annual organizational meeting upon the recommendation of the superintendent to make the appointments of and to set compensation for the clerk and deputy clerk, and to specify the amount of the corporate surety bond for the clerk and deputy clerk, and whereas the Code of Virginia, section 22.1-69, requires the attendance of the superintendent at all school board meetings, with limited exceptions, but permits, in cases where the superintendent cannot attend, the designation of her superintendent's designee, upon the school board approval, and the superintendent desires to have designees

[00:47:59] approved, and whereas the State Board of Education, the Virginia Department of Education, The Virginia Department of Transportation and local, state, and federal agencies, including the towns of Leesburg, Percival, Middleburg, the County of Loudoun, as well as other outside entities, require the authorization of the school board in order for the superintendent or their authorized designees to sign and execute any and all necessary reports, documents, requisitions, project management correspondence, land use applications and documents, grants, and all other official correspondence.

[00:48:33] and whereas the Code of Virginia Section 22.1-311 authorizes the school board to appoint impartial hearing officers to take evidence and make recommendations for certain types of employee grievance appeal hearings and whereas the Code of Virginia Section 22.1-72 permits the school board at its annual meeting in January to fix the time for holding regular meetings for the ensuing year and Section 22.1-86 states that the school board has a duty to meet with the people of the school division for consultation regarding

[00:49:07] matters of interest to the division, and whereas School Board Policy 2210, Annual Meeting and Election, Regular and Other Meetings, implements the Code of Virginia, Section 22.1-86, which sets the rules for special meetings, as allowed by the Code of Virginia, Section 22.1-72, and whereas the Code of Virginia, Public Law 81-874, requires the school board to appoint an authorized representative for all matters pertaining to impact aid and whereas the code of virginia section 22.1-122 requires the school board to examine claims for payment approve where

[00:49:47] appropriate and to authorize the payment of claims as well as authorizes the school board to appoint by resolution an agent and a deputy agent to act in the agent's absence or inability to perform these duties to examine claims approve as appropriate and to authorize payment of approved claims, provided the agent and deputy agent provide a corporate surety bond to be paid from operating funds, and whereas the school board desires to delegate approval and signing authority for contracts for the purchase of goods and services to the superintendent or designee who is authorized to procure goods and services according to statute and applicable

[00:50:23] purchasing regulations in amounts not to exceed $250,000 for a single contract, provided the procurement has been funded in either the operating budget or the capital improvements budget for FY24 or FY25 budget as appropriate, and to execute change orders or modifications to contracts for goods, services, and construction, which shall not exceed the greater of $50,000 or 25% of the contract price, and to approve contracts in any amount that result from previously competitively awarded cooperative agreements by other jurisdictions in accordance with policy 4320, methods of procurement.

[00:51:01] And whereas the code of Virginia section 22.1-122C authorizes the school board to adopt a resolution which authorizes the payment of salaries which have been earned and are due. And whereas the code of Virginia title 22.1 authorizes the payment, authorizes the superintendent or designee to assign personnel to positions with school board approval.

[00:51:23] Now, therefore, be it resolved by the school board that the following appointments upon the recommendation of the superintendent be and they hereby are made effective from the date of this annual organizational meeting until the school board's annual organizational meeting in january 2025 clerk of the school board sherry byrne with compensation in accordance with the fair labor standards act flsa and a surety bond set at one million dollars deputy clerk of the school board hope casserly with compensation in accordance with FLSA and a surety bond set at $1 million. Designees of the superintendent to attend school

[00:52:00] board meetings the superintendent cannot attend will be and hereby are the chief academic officer and the chief of staff. The superintendent at their discretion authorizes the following designees to sign and execute any and all necessary reports, documents, requisitions, project management correspondence, grants, and all other official correspondence required by the State Board of Education, the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and local, state, and federal agencies, including the towns of Leesburg, Percival, Middleburg, and the County of Loudoun, as well as other outside entities, and that

[00:52:36] the authority of all previously authorized individuals is hereby superseded and replaced as follows. Superintendent Aaron Spence, Ed.D., designees Daniel Smith, Ed.D., Ashley Ellis, EDD, Sharon Willoughby, Lisa Boland, Tedra Richardson, and Kevin Lewis or designees for all matters related to construction, transportation, land acquisition, land use, and planning.

[00:53:03] Unless the school board chair specifically requests the presence of the superintendent or designee, attendance of the superintendent or designee is not necessary at special meetings of the school board. Unless the school board chair refers a licensed employee dismissal matter to the full school Board for a hearing, the following are appointed as impartial hearing officers under the authority of the Code of Virginia, Section 22.1-311, and counsel for the division, after receiving direction from the School Board Chair, shall, and is authorized to, select from this list when needed.

[00:53:36] Honorable William T. Newman, Jr., Retired Judge. Honorable Paul F. Sheridan, Retired Judge. Honorable John E. Wetzel, Retired Judge. Kevin L. North, Retired School District Administrator, and such other duly qualified individuals from the McCammon Group.

[00:53:52] The superintendent or designee is authorized to assign personnel to positions in accordance with the School Board Policy 7302, Appointment and Assignment, without further school board action. The schedule of regular board meetings contained in Attachment A, B, and hereby is adopted, subject to change, by the school board chair with appropriate notice.

[00:54:13] The attached meeting schedule is current as of this meeting date, January 2nd, 2024. The school board chair has the option to modify meeting dates and times. For the most current meeting schedule, check the website calendar at www.lcps.org. The superintendent or designee is authorized to represent the school board in all matters pertaining to public law 81-874, Impact Aid.

[00:54:35] The Chief Financial Officer be and hereby is appointed to serve as the school board's agent with full authority to examine, approve, and authorize payment of claims against the school board as set out in the Code of Virginia, Section 22. 1-122B, and that the Executive Director of Financial Services, Business and Financial Services, will be and hereby is appointed to serve as the school board's deputy agent as described herein.

[00:55:05] The superintendent or designee be and hereby is authorized to procure goods and services according to statute and applicable purchasing regulations in amounts not to exceed $250,000 for a single contract, provided the procurement has been funded in either the operating budget or the capital improvements budget for FY24 or FY25 budget, as appropriate, and to execute change orders or modifications to contracts for goods, services, and construction, which shall not exceed the greater of $50,000 or 25% of the contract price and to approve contracts in any amount that result from previously competitively awarded cooperative agreements

[00:55:43] by other jurisdictions in accordance with Policy 4320, Methods of Procurement. The Chief Operations Officer be and hereby is appointed to serve with full authority as the School Board Representative on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Fiscal Impact Committee.

[00:56:01] Is there a second? Second. It's been properly moved and seconded to approve the Loudoun County School Board Organizational Business for calendar year 2024.

[00:56:18] Is there any discussion? Yes, Ms. Chernoff. Hi, everybody. So in the second page, it reads, whereas the school board desires to delegate approval and signing authority for contracts for purchase of goods and services to the superintendent or designee who is authorized to procure goods and services, according to the statute, an applicable purchasing regulations in amounts that do not, amounts not to exceed $250,000 for a $1,000 for a single contract.

[00:56:50] So when I read this, it kind of caught my attention in being new. I had some questions around this, and I had constituents reach out as well, asking for clarity and context around this issue. So I've spoken with staff, and I believe they can provide the appropriate context and clarity that maybe I cannot.

[00:57:05] So I believe Dr. Smith and Ms. Willoughby will give the context and where the school board oversight sits in that signing and why this is a best practice yes thank you for the question and opportunity to provide the clarity the school board provides oversight when approving the annual operating budget as well as the CIP budget and that when approving the budget they're approving the funding for the activities and the items that that budget encompasses the operational work is then accomplished through a myriad of procurement vehicles in accordance with the Virginia Public

[00:57:41] Procurement Act. More specifically for LCPS, we have our policy 4320 that outlines that the school board would approve any contract awards over $250,000. To put into context, there are annually over thousands of contracts below $250,000. With a district our size, as I said, there are thousands of contracts i'll also note that some of our neighbors are have their thresholds set at 500 000 so we are below what some of our neighbors are and i think that's just in an effort of

[00:58:18] trying to balance efficiency with transparency thank you so much thank you miss willaby is there any other discussion seeing no more further discussion we will now vote on the motion to approve the loudon county school board organizational business for calendar 2024 at this time we will take an electronic vote clerk please open the vote and board members

[00:58:56] please record your vote the motion passes with unanimous unanimously passes or let's close actually sorry close the vote now it doesn't the motion passes with one opposed d uh miss

[00:59:35] miss griffiths and eight in favor of and none abstaining abstaining so it passes the motion passes so before we officially end tonight's meeting i'd like to thank everyone for coming this evening i'm looking forward to all of us building bridges together and creating an environment where each child thrives and where families and staff feel supported and empowered this concludes for the our business for the evening the meeting is adjourned

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