Coraggio Consulting
Loudoun County School Board, Joint Committee of the Loudoun County School Board (LCSB) and Board of Supervisors (LCBS), Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Date: Tuesday, April 30, 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/941416887?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 2026-10-21. Timestamps are [HH:MM:SS] into the meeting video.

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[00:00:00] I call to order the April 30th, 2024 meeting of the joint committee of the Loudoun County School Board and Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. Welcome to the first meeting of this committee for 2024. I am joined by co-chair Glass, school board members, April Chandler and Lauren Chernoff and supervisors, Julie Briskman and Laura Tacroni.

[00:00:23] Welcome. I am honored to co-chair the joint committee and look forward to working with all of you. Are there any public speakers today for this meeting? Okay, no public speakers, so we will move on to our co-chair reports, which is item 3.01.

[00:00:43] Co-chair Glass, would you like to go first? Thank you, co-chair Mansfield. First, I want to welcome you, Member Chandler, Member Chernoff, Supervisor Tukroni, to the joint committee. I am thrilled we're beginning another term and another year of collaboration in this important group.

[00:01:02] I'm looking forward to working with you all and seeing what we'll achieve for the students of Loudoun. Since the joint committee last met in September 2023, the Board of Supervisors has approved a few items that I wanted to bring to the school board's attention.

[00:01:18] The first is the adoption of a new comprehensive countywide zoning ordinance that was approved on the previous term in December of last year. The zoning ordinance rewrite completely overhauled our zoning ordinance that had not fully been reviewed since 1993. LCPS's input for that process was helpful as we worked through ordinance requirements that govern the construction of schools and facilities on school sites.

[00:01:45] We were successful in making amendments through the review process that directly addressed the LCPS staff concerns. Also in December 2023, the Board of Supervisors allocated $250,000 to develop a program to tackle invasive species in Loudoun through the advocacy of a group known as LERA or the Loudoun Invasive Removal Alliance.

[00:02:10] I understand the school system has also worked with this group and that a 25-acre Bradford pear tree forest at Tuscarora High School is going to be removed by LCPS, which may be the largest invasive species removal in Loudoun.

[00:02:28] As the county government continues to work through the development of the invasive species removal program, we look forward to collaborating with LCPS on their removal. The Board of Supervisors has also adopted a new capital intensity factor fees for new residential development in Loudoun County.

[00:02:47] These are the development monetary proffers that are paid to the county for every residential home built in Loudoun that are used to pay for facilities such as schools. The new capital intensity factors will be implemented in a phased approach through 2027 and the dollar amounts of different based on what unit types are being built, whether it's age restricted and what area of the county the housing unit is in.

[00:03:15] We have also adopted the budget for fiscal year 2025 that included an increase to the LCPS local transfer. Finally, the Planning Commission has just completed a review of LCPS's commission permit to allow for the construction of HS-14 and an elementary school on the shared campus site with Watson Mountain Middle School near Red Hill Drive and Evergreen Mills Road.

[00:03:45] At their April 11th work session, the Planning Commission approved that commission permit. The application will now come before the Board of Supervisors for possible ratification at our May 23rd business meeting. I want to again welcome everyone to the committee.

[00:04:03] Thank you all. That is my report. Co-Chair Mansfield. Thank you, Co-Chair Glass. I would like to share some pertinent topics that are being considered by the school board and they include teacher training, staggered bail times, and collective bargaining.

[00:04:19] So training for requirements for teacher and staff, we're hearing more about the training requirements that are coming down from the Virginia Department of Education, and these are a result of the Virginia Literacy Act, as well as recent changes from VDOE, such as new core standards of learning, new standards of learning assessments, and new accountability measures.

[00:04:39] And given these state mandates, we're looking at creative ways to support our teachers and staff, including calendar adjustments, summer training, et cetera. These are in process and we are well aware of the massive challenges that are ahead.

[00:04:54] At the April 9th, 2024 school board meeting, a review of the time schedule which began last year and changed elementary and middle schools from one tier to two tiers. The change has resulted in eliminating most of the second loads by reducing from 115 to five from the previous single tier system for each grade level.

[00:05:16] Another change as a result has been the moving of approximately half of the elementary school start times from 7:50 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Based upon concerns raised by parents, school board members have requested a detailed review of the start times for all schools to look for ways to improve the service to our families.

[00:05:35] LCPS will be gathering community feedback on the five-tier system with staggered bell times and will be vetting the findings through the Finance and Operations Committee throughout SY 2425. Finally, the Joint Committee on Collective Bargaining has been established to resolve concerns from LEA with the draft resolution. The committee met in March and April, and additional meetings are scheduled for May and June. Based on the work of the committee, the Legislative Audit and Policy Committee will continue to work on the collective bargaining resolution, and will then send it to the full school board for review and approval. And that is all of my report for today.

[00:06:17] We'll continue to item 4.01, the rules of order and mission, and this item will be presented by Mr. Quintine, Assistant County Administrator, and Mr. Lewis, our LCPS Chief Operations Officer.

[00:06:32] Gentlemen. Good afternoon, Joint Committee Co-Chair Glass, Co-Chair Mansfield. Thank you so much for the opportunity to present before you. Me and Mr. Kevin Lewis will be presenting item one, the information item about the Joint Committee rules of order and its mission.

[00:06:53] The purpose of this item is to provide the Joint Board of Supervisors and School Board Committee information on the process, rules of order, and mission of the Joint Committee as stipulated by the Board of Supervisors and School Board by their rules of order, respectively.

[00:07:08] On page four of the item, it makes references to the Board of Supervisors' references in our rules that notes the codification of the Joint Board and School Board Committee, its composition, which the joint board and school board committee shall be comprised of three members of the board, one of whom shall be named as chair.

[00:07:32] The chair of the board nominates potential standing committee chairs, which must be approved by a majority of the board. And in the case of the joint board and school board committee, a co-chair will be nominated by the chair of the board and approved by the majority of the board. Three members present shall represent a quorum, except for the joint board and school board committee, where four members shall represent a quorum.

[00:07:55] - The next section goes into the jurisdiction of the committee, which is school budget, school capital facilities, planning and implementation, community and community education. Additionally, it notes the joint board and school board committee mission statement, which is to foster communication between the board and the school board for the betterment of Loudoun County as a whole through informative and cooperative joint meetings.

[00:08:21] The first goal is to provide transparency and promote mutual understanding between the board and the school board governing groups. Two, to promote a joint culture of learning and continuous improvement for both our county and our schools. Three, to provide at their joint meetings the opportunity for community participation.

[00:08:39] And four, to conscientiously promote equity for all. The committee will meet quarterly or at the discretion of the co-chairs to work on the topics including, but not exclusively, the following. Fiscal clarity, capital construction planning and implementation and assurance of a 21st century global education.

[00:08:59] Membership includes three members of the school board, three members of the board, and one member of the Economic Development Advisory Committee. And I'll turn it over to Mr. Lewis for the school side. - Thank you, Mr. Quintin. So there's, Mr. Quintin covered a number of the things, the specific goals of the committee.

[00:09:21] I will also add that this is provided to the school board in policy 2310, which is standing committee. So if you're looking for that governance, that's where that is considered. And the joint committee of the boards is spelled out there. And one thing I wanted to point out is it does require formal actions of both boards.

[00:09:38] So any activities that take place or any votes this committee takes, it goes back to both boards. And that's covered and identified here. And, you know, this is an example of that where the Board of Supervisors adopts this and their missions, their, I forgot what the name of that, missions and goals, rules of order, sorry, and then we put that in policy so two different ways that the same language is provided and both boards have adopted that and then we will take that through this also provides the recommendation or the requirement for us to develop a work plan which is also on our on our agenda for this evening and so those are

[00:10:16] essentially the set of rules for the governance of the committee and the idea that was listed in both things or to provide you know foster a continuous improvement a mutual understanding gives both boards an opportunity to sit in the same room and talk about items that may be more familiar with one than than through the other and for everyone to have a better understanding of you know why each board may do certain things and so it's it's a good opportunity to foster that relationship and to talk about things that are important to both of us so with that I think that covers just about everything we wanted to talk

[00:10:51] about and we're happy to take any questions from the committee members committee members are there any questions? Yes. Supervisor. Thank you. So I noticed in the item today that we're considering the work plan, but we're not voting on it today. We're voting on it in June. Is that because that's the school board's normal process for an item or because it's the committee's normal process for

[00:11:24] an item? I guess I'm just wondering why we can't vote on the work plan tonight. Yeah, that is item too and we have discussion there but at a high level understanding that the school board had 100% turnover to provide an opportunity for the school board members to understand our processes that is the intent of the item tonight okay thank you you're welcome any other questions yes co-chair glass

[00:12:01] yes so there's one other change I'd like to request that I think is in a different section of the Board of Supervisors rules of order it's my understanding that we cannot provide virtual public input in the joint committee as the supervisors rules for order state virtual public input is only available at business meetings and public hearings I would like to staff I would like staff to verify this and see if it's feasible for us to provide

[00:12:31] public input at joint committee meetings as well virtual yes virtual thank you so we can certainly look at that we don't have an answer off the top of our head but we'll take a look at that for both buildings and see where that process stands.

[00:13:03] Thank you, Mr. Lewis. Any other questions and comments? Any other further recommendations?

[00:13:36] Can I clarify?

[00:13:56] So are we voting on the changed rules of order tonight? I'm wondering, do we have to do some research to look at our policy real quick to see if that's an issue or on the supervisor's side or on our side?

[00:14:12] Is that what we're thinking? Yes. Okay. So the school board currently takes virtual public comments and doesn't have any prohibition against that for specific meetings. So from the school board side, I don't know that it would be a specific policy issue.

[00:14:29] I think maybe we need to do a little more research just to see how it would work with the joint committee. Did you hear that? We don't have any policy for our virtual comment on the school board side not to do it for committees. So I don't know if that's something on the committee, on the supervisor side or not.

[00:14:54] If I may. I don't think we take public comment during finance or during TLOC. So I don't know, Mr. Hemstreet would correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't know if we have a policy that allows standing committees to take virtual public comment.

[00:15:12] Yeah, so I think the joint committee does take public comment at the beginning of each of its meetings. So that is a variation from the other standing committees. I think the question, we would need a board, the Board of Supervisors would need to amend its rules to allow for virtual public input when these meetings are held in our boardroom.

[00:15:36] Currently, that's not staffed, so we would have to allocate staff to do the virtual public input. So what I'm hearing is that because it's in our boardroom today, we could have done virtual public comment. But when it goes to y'all's boardroom next time, then that's when there needs to be an understanding through the Board of Supervisors and change in policy there.

[00:15:58] Is that correct? So I would need to defer to the superintendent as to how this room operates, but you are correct with respect to the boardroom. Right. As you know, we can accommodate virtual public comment in this room. I think we'd have heartburn if we were in a different setting.

[00:16:16] So I don't know that we can vote on that because it would have to be, y'all would have to vote as a board of supervisors on that for committees, correct? But we could have an understanding that here we could have virtual comment if it's in this room.

[00:16:35] That's correct?

[00:16:46] Okay, so I guess we'll move on to item four. Oh, did you have a question, Mr. Hemstreet? I'm sorry. Go ahead. So absent of motion from joint committee, that request would not move forward to anywhere.

[00:17:05] So we need to vote on it so that it goes to a vote to the Board of Supervisors. If that's the desire of the Joint Committee, yes. So then would you need to suspend the rules to do that? No, because this is not action.

[00:17:23] I think you just need a motion. Just a motion. Okay. Would you like to make a motion? Sure. I would like to make a motion that the Board of Supervisors look into having virtual comment at the Joint School Board of Supervisors meeting.

[00:17:51] I need a second. Second. So we have a motion that we have virtual public comment at the Joint Committee meeting. And do I have a second? Okay, we have a second by Supervisor Tecroni.

[00:18:09] So it's been properly moved and seconded. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Aye. All opposed? It looks like that has moved unanimously.

[00:18:25] And now we can move to 4. 02 2024-25 Joint Committee Work Plan, and this item will be presented by Ms. Spells, Deputy County Administrator, and Mr. Lewis, LCPS Chief Operation Officer.

[00:18:42] Ms. Spells and Mr. Lewis. Thank you, Co-Chair Mansfield. Good evening, Committee. The purpose of this item is to provide the Joint Committee with information regarding previous committee actions. To inform the staff recommended joint committee development of a two-year work plan for calendar years 2024 and 2025, staff recommends that at its proposed June 2024 meeting, the joint committee recommend to the Board of Supervisors and the school board that topics be considered by the Joint Board of Supervisors and School Board Committee for a two-year work plan as you plan to discuss this evening.

[00:19:19] And we're subject to any questions that you may have. Committee members, do you have any questions? Oh, I'm sorry. Yes. Thank you.

[00:19:35] Supervisor Ristman. Did we do two-year plans before? It's my recollection that we only did one-year plans before. So this is new? This is new, understanding the timing with adding information items and the subsequent time to have the action items and to give staff more time to really work through what the work plan items are proposed as being.

[00:19:57] Okay. There were a couple of items that I asked to be in the work plan that weren't included. The LCPS special permission policy, an update on the elimination of activity fees, safe passage to schools, and the dog scans in high schools for drugs and drug paraphernalia.

[00:20:19] I understand that safe passage to schools is now fully under the county, so that makes sense. We're moving forward on that, so it makes sense why that one didn't get in there. I'm unclear as to why we couldn't get an update on the elimination of activity fees because it was my understanding that the schools were looking into doing some sort of work on eliminating more fees.

[00:20:46] And also I've been hearing from the community, not just my district, but from the community that fees are being charged in other capacities for sports teams. So I'd like some clarification as to why we can't get an update on that, Why we can't get an update on the LCPS special permission policy and also the LCSO dog scans in high school because last term we did work on this committee on the MOU between LCSO and LCPS so it's unclear to me why we couldn't talk about something that of two entities that the board funds.

[00:21:20] Are you looking for, okay, so do you guys have any other, okay, well, I can't see who they're going to, to you guys, Mr. Hamstreet, Mr. Lewis, Super.

[00:21:40] Yeah, so my understanding of that was those were presented to the co-chairs, and what's represented in the item is what staff's understanding is from the co-chairs. So I was looking at some of the items that we have, and I was thinking for when you're talking about the dogs, could we have that as one of the items in our November 2024 meeting and ask LCSO to come in.

[00:22:19] We have a youth substance abuse response and resources item that's coming up. And that's coming in June? No, that'll be in November. That'll be in November. That would be great because it's my understanding that the scans will all be completed by then for this year.

[00:22:40] So getting a readout on that would be great in November. If we need a motion to put that in that topic area, I'm happy to do it. Superintendent Spence, you want to?

[00:22:57] Thanks. Sorry, this one's not working. So I guess before you were to take a motion, we'd be interested in understanding what a readout looks like. So what are you looking for? Where the scans were conducted? Because, I mean, we can just put that in a memo.

[00:23:15] Or I can just give a quick presentation of where they were conducted. Well, not just where they were conducted. It's my understanding that they're getting conducted at all high schools. That's correct. So my concern or my interest is in how successful it was if the goals were met.

[00:23:33] What were the goals at the beginning of the process? And I'd like to also hear from LCSO about what they thought the goals were and how successful they thought the program was. And then perhaps a discussion about if it's going to happen again and if it's going to be part of the base policy for LCPS.

[00:23:56] And if it is going to be part of the base policy for LCPS to be doing such scans, if there would be a public process through which the community could provide feedback on that plan. Okay, and just for clarity, there is not an existing policy regarding that, right?

[00:24:15] It's contemplated in the MOU between LCSO and the school board, but it's not, there's no existing policy from the board about dog scans, so I don't know that we would speak to it as a policy issue, but certainly I think we, I mean, we could speak to it in terms of the intention behind the scans, where they were conducted, I don't know how you measure success.

[00:24:37] I can't hear you very well. Can you put your microphone in the question? Sure, yeah, I don't know how you measure success. but we can certainly talk about that as a staff and try to figure out how to answer that question. So I'd be happy to try to pull together what you're talking about, but I wouldn't couch it as a motion in terms of a policy discussion.

[00:24:57] Okay, so does that mean that we can take it up at the November meeting as part of that other item? I think that's up to you. My understanding, my conversation with one of the co-chairs was these are discussions that have not yet happened with the school board, so I don't know that it's entirely appropriate for it to happen in a joint meeting first interesting okay okay um do we know when the school board's going to be taking it up maybe we could do it after that i know that okay there we

[00:25:34] go um so we didn't include it in the work plan because uh we had discussed that it wouldn't be appropriate at this time but um and the work plan i think still needs to be approved by both boards um so but it's not a policy and it's an mou you said it's a it's contemplated in the mou correct all right oh um i'd like to kind of piggyback off of that because i think maybe there's a bigger conversation i agree i'd like to discuss i know we're going to probably discuss

[00:26:09] the the canine searches but in light of um the blue ribbon panel that was just conducted that just concluded to assess safety processes and protocols in loudon county public schools per the direction of dr spence we now have those recommendations and that's sort of a larger scale And a lot of those, I think, would fall within this joint committee and would involve the Loudoun County Sheriff's Department, too.

[00:26:34] So I don't know if that's maybe like sort of a header that we could kind of fall. Maybe some safety issues could be talked about under that umbrella, if you will, because I do believe that we are soliciting for community feedback on those things, if I'm correct.

[00:26:49] Is that correct, Dr. Spence? We're getting feedback from the community? That's correct. And maybe just a little clarity in case folks aren't familiar with what we're talking about. Sure. That'd be great. So the division convened a blue ribbon panel to discuss school safety and security. That was something that I mentioned doing in my entry plan to get a fuller picture from an external review of how our school safety and security procedures are working.

[00:27:12] So that panel just wrapped up its work. They have some recommendations. We've put those recommendations out to our community in that context that we're just seeking feedback from the community on what those recommendations might mean for us. And our intention is to bring a first conversation about those recommendations to our school board in May.

[00:27:30] And then we would talk a little bit further about any future budget implications or operational decisions with them at that time. So again, timing will be important here. So I can't really predict the school board's sense of timing in terms of when we would be able to have a conversation about those recommendations either.

[00:27:49] Although, I mean, certainly we'd be prepared anytime to just talk about what the recommendations are. - Do you have some, I get confused. I don't know if, so for you guys, this means that you guys want to talk, right? When it's red? Is that correct? I see all the red.

[00:28:06] I don't know where it's going on. It's different from us, so I'm glad. Okay. I think what we could do, since we're not going to adopt the work plan until June, perhaps we could work together to maybe figure out some timing and where it might be appropriate to, the appropriate timing to bring it back to joint committee, maybe after the school board does their work on it or something like that.

[00:28:33] But I also would, another question is, once we adopt the work plan, we can add stuff to the work plan. It's not like set in stone, correct? Yeah, okay. So why don't we have conversations maybe behind the scenes and maybe we can figure out a timeline for that before we adopt the plan in June.

[00:28:51] Does that sound okay? Okay, thank you. Sounds good to me. Ms. Tecroni, Supervisor Tecroni. Yeah, thank you. So I'd like to propose that we add safe passages to schools back in but it would be part four because it looks like you guys did a part three in september of 2023 i understand it's going to dtci however um you know i don't know if you guys are aware we have a sidewalk and trail program that has 1124 missing sidewalks and 277 miles Countywide and and we really my understanding is we do about five miles a year

[00:29:31] so I do think that Missing trails missing sidewalks crosswalks near schools should be a priority I know that the county has a priority But I want to make sure that we have some accountability coming back to this board And also the eight that were identified are great But I have some missing sidewalks and trails that aren't included and weren't included in the September 2023 packet, so I do think we need to look at expanding the program and also holding it more accountable, because the county does have a lot in the queue, if

[00:30:08] you will, and I don't want this to get overlooked, because this is kids' safety, and especially at the middle and high schools, where I think kids are walking anyway, even if we don't provide that crosswalk or that missing sidewalk, so I think those should be a priority, and It is a priority for me, so I do, you know, I'm a new member, and I'd really like to see it as part four so that we know what's going on with the eight that were identified.

[00:30:36] We know what's going on with the others that staff said were being worked on. In my district, we've been waiting for Legacy on Belmont Ridge Road, Legacy Park Drive, that crosswalk, and Briar Woods for probably 10 years.

[00:30:53] So I want to make sure those get done. So I do want to put this as a priority for both these boards. Some presentations that I'd love to have is congestion must go, especially at three co-located school sites.

[00:31:09] I saw the principal of Lightridge today at a luncheon, and he said the traffic is terrible at that location. So I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and help with congestion must go. that has three schools on it on one road Light Ridge, Henrietta Lacks and Hope Adder and then also at Independence I saw the Independence principal and he said there's a lot of congestion there with their three schools with Independence, Brimleton Middle and Madison's Trust so I'd like to have like a presentation on what we're doing with congestion must go and lastly I know that we work together on a land matrix committee

[00:31:48] and I know that you do inventory I'd love to get a presentation on that how that works. How are we doing an inventory? There are a lot of schools that I saw in your CIP That are needed but no sites identified. So we need to work together On trying to identify those schools before there's overcrowding those school sites Especially since we co-locate a lot of times on county facilities and school facilities So I would like a land matrix committee update as well I don't think it needs to be added necessarily to the work plan, but

[00:32:26] Those two are issues that I've heard from residents You know and I think we should work together collaborative collaboratively on it it co-chair glass. Thank you I I don't mind having that being brought back to As an information item we do have a number of new members on the Joint Committee, so to get them up to speed,

[00:33:01] I don't have a problem with that. I also wanted to ask that the Advisory Commission on Youth, State of the Youth in Loudoun County report, be added to the work plan as a presentation and information item from that group.

[00:33:20] I know they come to the Board of Supervisors and we have the students to come in and the members of ACOI to have a discussion, but I think they had several recommendations that I think having the school board's opinion and attention on it would be valuable.

[00:33:42] Thank you. - Yes, Super Gladys Briskman. - I support all those things, for the record. But I actually realized I didn't get my other two items, the reasons why they weren't included in the work plan, I didn't get an answer on those.

[00:34:02] so one of them was the LCPS special permission policy that I was hoping we could discuss, and lastly was the activity fees. I guess the committee chairs decided not to put it in, but I guess I'm just understanding the reasoning, want to understand the reasoning.

[00:34:24] - I know special permission is something that we have to look at as a board, and we probably will be looking at it soon before we can bring it to this committee. What was the second one?

[00:34:41] Athletic fees. Activity fees or athletic fees? Athletic fees are gone. Right. Athletic fees are gone, but it's the other co-curricular, extracurricular activities that I think that LCPS was working on eliminating those as well.

[00:34:58] But I also would like to have a discussion about what the policy is for athletics and any other programs that make families feel as if they have to buy certain equipment and certain backpacks and those sorts of things in order to participate in a sport, which is basically, again, a fee to participate in a high school sport.

[00:35:26] So I don't know if you guys have had that conversation, but I just was hoping we could get an update on all of that. Thanks. So I know that we are looking at possibly a, and Superintendent Spence could speak to it a little bit more for the arts, looking at activity fees for the arts.

[00:35:46] Dr. Spence, do you want to say a little bit about that and the future potential plans? Sure. So there are funds in the budget, as we discussed during the session, there are funds in the budget to continue to eliminate activities fees that are outside of athletics.

[00:36:02] You're talking about what are not school-assessed fees, per se, which are eliminated through the budget, but that are kind of additive expectations that, say, a coach says, hey I'd like everybody to wear white cleats this year and the school doesn't provide cleats the schools have never provided cleats like shoes for students for basketball or cleats for soccer or whatever but if the coach says I want white and the those aren't the cheapest ones really is I think what you're getting at so I think the challenge there would be me being able to identify the instances where that's occurring and come in here and talk about that and then

[00:36:41] figure out what's appropriate and what's appropriate with a joint committee. I'm really kind of in my head is sort of like spinning around how would I create a presentation that would be helpful for this committee to provide any guidance, you know?

[00:36:56] Like I don't want to just have a presentation if there isn't an opportunity for clear guidance, and I don't even know that I could give you the pictures to get guidance at this time. It doesn't mean I can't talk to my team and see if we can't really kind of put our heads together around that to give you a better answer, but I think you're talking about a pretty complicated issue.

[00:37:16] Okay. Outside of what the school would assess as a fee for participation, for example. I know we used to charge uniform fees, but we don't charge uniform fees anymore. That's great. But you mentioned backpacks. I'm thinking, I'm remembering my daughter playing softball, and the softball coach wanted them all to have the same type of backpack.

[00:37:35] Can I ask for a little grace to get my head around that a little bit more so I can get you some guidance before we would add that? I think that was why I was really pushing in that conversation about this might not, we might not be ready for prime time on that as a joint committee conversation. That's fine, as long as it sort of stays, you know, on the surface.

[00:37:52] Another one I heard was that, I think it was a dance team or a cheer team, they all had to pay in to have a coach fly in from another state and coach them for like a week or something like that. And they all were like kind of required to pay into that.

[00:38:08] So those things are a little bit concerning, but I can also understand they may be a little bit difficult to get your head around. Thank you. I appreciate it. Yeah, and sometimes those are going to be like boosters that are working on that, and that's its own separate thing. So if the boosters are saying we want to raise funds in order to support bringing in an extra coach or sending kids to a coaching clinic or that thing, that's its own separate thing because boosters are outside of the schools and really outside of our specific control in terms of how they conduct fundraising, other than we do insist that they audit their books.

[00:38:37] So, that, again, one thing that would also be helpful in a specific case like that where you have a concern, if you could let me know, I could look into it and say, well, that's a booster issue and I might not be able, this committee might not be able to impact that. But, again, let me get with my team.

[00:38:53] We'll try to wrap our head around how we can, I know what your concern is, and we want to try to be able to address it with you. Thank you, Dr. Spence, and thank you, Supervisor Briskman, for bringing that up. Because that's not something that was on my radar, to be quite honest, was the actual ask of certain backpacks or certain shoes or something like that.

[00:39:15] So, thank you. Any other asks? Do you think, Dr. Spence, that we could get a presentation on the Congestion Must Go and the Land Matrix Committee? Yeah, I don't speak for these guys.

[00:39:34] That's their committees. Well, Congestion Must Go, I think, is Kevin Lewis. I got a nod from Kevin that it would be fairly simple to have a conversation, and particularly with the land acquisition piece of it, and I think the congestion side is probably more on the traffic engineering side of the house. Well, it's at the schools.

[00:39:50] That's ours as well. Yeah, that's – We can do that. Yeah, I thought it was Mr. Lewis, right? Yeah. Yeah, so that's a combination between us and teaching and learning, and so we have folks that focus on that, and we have a newsletter and bike programs, those types of things, so we can certainly share that.

[00:40:07] And the two campuses you described, yes, we do have traffic issues there, but that's pretty common with all 100 of our campuses. So we do have the similar challenges for the first 10 or 15 minutes or a half hour before and after each class.

[00:40:23] So we can share some of the things we've done and some of the tools we have in the Congestion Must Go program, and we're just happy to share that information. - Absolutely, yeah, and any improvements that you might be making, especially at the three school sites, the big co-located campuses sure yeah thank you and then the land matrix I think is the county I think you're right my team it's a group that we meet together so mr. him streets team and my team we meet once a month and we talk about all things land acquisition we purchase properties together and so that's done collectively and collaboratively and so we would put

[00:41:00] together that we can share what what our program is what we've done and you mentioned a matrix of a list of properties and so we can we can share what we have inventory yeah yeah because I just noticed in your CIP there was a lot of you know schools that were are needed in the future without sites so yes and we can we can share where we have proffered sites or where we have sites that we own and which ones those are scheduled for yeah we can we can go through that whole logistics yeah okay thank you sure yes miss Chandler thank

[00:41:36] madam chair um thanks everyone um it's nice to see this committee come together and and kick off i have some questions i guess about the placement of two items on the proposed work plan i'm curious if anyone else would see an opportunity or a benefit to moving the jlark study findings i could see that being beneficial as part of the budget process overview in terms of sort of beginning to think through some planning and working together on priorities um for the next

[00:42:10] season um and then i know um used substance abuse is definitely one of the issues at the forefront of our mind and i personally would like to see that discussion occur before november if at all possible so i think part of the issue is that we have we don't really have a lot of time for the June meeting and so we were trying to figure out like easy things for the June for the June meeting because the proposed work plan will not be approved by this committee until the June 10th meeting and so we wanted to have some

[00:42:48] information kind of items on that on that but it would you want to move it up to September I mean that's the other the schedule is definitely tight and I appreciate that clarification I in one with the jlark issue in particular I was wondering if it would be something that we could combine in September with that in mind you know I would be happy to leave you substance abuse where it is

[00:43:24] any other discussion or thoughts yes thank you mr. him Street I think we had a discussion on that and I think it was the information that we were looking into would you all be able to have an you know information earlier than well

[00:43:55] it says to be determined in 2025 that we can go anytime I mean it's exactly what school board members handler said it's really we felt that as a staff staff general assembly had worked on funding uh or placing school funding as a priority within their budget obviously currently we don't have a budget so i think this discussion yeah it's true could be well the schools have a budget the county has a budget the general assembly doesn't have a

[00:44:31] budget the state doesn't have a budget so i think the timing on this would would be good for the fall to ensure as what was suggested that to the extent possible the lobby team from the schools and the lobby team from the county are working together to support school-based funding from the state. I don't see a reason why we do that. So November would be the appropriate time, I think.

[00:45:02] Yes, co-chair Glass. Oh, did you want to watch? So, okay, so I want to back up a little bit. Did we say we would put safe passages on for, on the work plan, on the presentation, on the presentation on the work plan? Yes, that's what I'm asking. Yes, okay. And did we have, did we

[00:45:34] identify a time that we might want to put that on the work plan yes I think we need some time with with that one okay okay and then to move the J Lark study which where did you want did you want to move that to September with the budget process every mr. hamstring yes mr. hamstring I'm sorry it's it's the safe patches is coming again I just need to comment that there is a jurisdictional issue with the standing committees on the board side that the board will need

[00:46:10] to work through. So because the program is 100% a county program, right now that is part of the capital budget, which is under the purview of the Finance, Government Operations, and Economic Development Committee. So if what we're saying is we are shifting jurisdiction of the Safe Passages to Schools program from the Finance Committee on the board side to the Joint Committee, then that's That's an issue that the board would have to consider and decide upon.

[00:46:41] 100% of the funding comes from the board, so that is a Board of Supervisors program. I don't know where the balance of your colleagues are going to be on something like that. If what we're talking about is just an information item on the program, I don't think that's an issue.

[00:47:00] In fact, I have no concerns about that. However, what I heard from Supervisor DeCrony was that the Joint Committee would now take ownership over that program and make those recommendations and guide that program with the Board of Supervisors. That's a conflict for the capital budget, so I would need to seek guidance from the board on where we fall on that one.

[00:47:20] Can I ask a question? When you do capital construction projects, do you ever have funding left over? School budget projects, big projects. I'm sorry, I didn't know that question was for me. Yes, it's for you, Mr. Lewis.

[00:47:39] So that's not always the same answer. So certainly we don't use all the funding in every capital budget, but then we also have projects that are short and we ask through the school board to the board of supervisors to reallocate projects to different or funding for two different projects that have budget challenges.

[00:47:55] I'm not sure if that's getting at what you're asking. Right. And the supervisors created a contingency fund that allows us to be able to use those funds as well. So technically it's not used for a certain project, but a lot of times it gets moved to other projects and or the contingency process.

[00:48:13] If that answers your question. Yeah, I'm just trying. So, again, it's more of an accountability issue. I know finance does the budget, but I'm worried that we're going to be sitting here another 10 years and not getting the briar stuff done, not getting the legacy stuff done, not getting the eight crosswalks done that we've identified because, you know, we have a huge amount of projects that need to be done at the county level, transportation, sidewalks and trails, crosswalks.

[00:48:48] So, it was more for accountability, because I think in finance, you know, the priority might be grade-separated interchanges on Route 50, whereas, you know, in this committee, our priority is more making sure the schools have safe crosswalks and safe linkages, safe, you know, have sidewalks that connect so the kids can get there.

[00:49:11] I understand in elementary school that, you know, they don't walk as much, but I see the high schoolers walking all the time. I see the middle schoolers walking all the time. So it's mainly just making sure all those schools are safe for that one mile radius, you know, if it's a walking school zone.

[00:49:29] That's kind of my worry is that if we put it in, I mean, I wonder if there could be a team approach where at least there's accountability on some of these missing links that are near schools and missing crosswalks because i know we have 1 124 missing likes that's why i'm bringing it up mr hamstrang so my answer remains the same county staff reports to the board of supervisors and so the purview over the county budget belongs to the board it's a board decision as to whether

[00:50:07] or not they want to share that purview with the school board supervisor briskman thank you um We can talk a little bit more offline, but I think Supervisor Tacroni might benefit from having some briefings like the ones we got last term when we were doing the Safe Routes to School stuff.

[00:50:29] And I'm happy to chat with you about it, but I would not support moving it out of our finance standing committee. But I would support having a presentation here for the new members who weren't involved last term when we did all of this work on the missing links and the safe routes.

[00:50:50] Staff did an excellent, excellent job working together between the schools and the county staff, pulling together all of this data and information, identifying certain areas that we should focus on and the plan moving forward.

[00:51:06] So I think that the committee, especially the new members, would fully benefit from having that presentation. So that's what I would recommend to the co-chairs. Yeah, at least I think the presentation is good. And then we can find out the status of the projects that were listed.

[00:51:24] But again, I mean, I do have others that people have asked me about. So I'm sure you have others as well in your districts. You know, so anyway. Okay, thank you. I think I'm fine with the presentation however I think we're kind of we're like at almost five o'clock here and we need to go ahead and like do a vote on and try and vote on our work plan and because it is a working document and we

[00:52:02] can change it when we want to so that's what I would recommend at this point we could put that on the list we're already gonna have to try and move our September 1. So I'll tell you about that in a minute. Oh, I'm sorry. Not at all. Co-chair Mansfield, I just wanted to clarify when we were talking about as presented on the work plan item eight, the JLARC study and changing that timeframe from TBD 2025. I think on our side, we were

[00:52:41] understanding November, this November, but then I believe I heard board member Chandler maybe reference September. My understanding is from the staff perspective, November 2024 for the JLARC presentation would be preferable. I'm amenable to that. Thank you.

[00:53:00] Okay. So November, as you said, is good because we do have to think about that for legislation purposes. So yes, November please. Any other discussions, thoughts? No?

[00:53:24] All right. So do Do we have a motion, a recommendation to, but we have to, I think we have, don't we have to bring it to our other boards first and then, like, have a proposed plan for this two-year work plan, take it to our boards, and then come back and vote?

[00:53:51] Co-Chair Mansfield, that would be for June. For June. So, staff, we're recording all of the discussion this evening in terms of the proposed additions or modifications to the work plan and we will then take that information to go back to you and co-chair glass during our next pre-agenda meeting to revise the work plan for your june 10th meeting packet and that is the meeting in which you would vote on the work plan so for instance at that meeting we would incorporate the change of clarifying item 8 the jlark study as an info

[00:54:27] item for november 2024 but and also for us to be able to have something to talk about on june we we have to even though we won't have a proposed work plan until the june 10th meeting there are three items included on this work plan that have been also identified as considered by the community included in the work plan also identified as considered by the committee at the june 10th meeting like the school boundary review the public use and lighting of lcps tennis courts and the discussion on logistics for sporting events for Parkview High School during its renovation.

[00:55:07] So recognizing that the school board is in recess during the month of July and the board of supervisors in August, wouldn't it be better to utilize our time and effort to be able to consider these work plan items as identified prior to the endorsement of the work plan by both boards because these items are informational and will not result in any action by the committee prior to the formal adoption of the work plan.

[00:55:38] Any questions or thoughts? Yes, co-chair class. Okay, so I need a little clarification. So are you saying the three items that are supposed to be discussed in June to vote on those for that to be brought to us?

[00:55:57] Okay. Mr. Lewis, do you want to clarify? Certainly we can do that, but I don't think it really requires a vote. I mean, because those are informational items, we can just, we're willing to go ahead and prepare those items and come back to that and just be a part of that. There's no voting involved.

[00:56:12] They're providing information items. So what we had kind of talked about before was without objection, we would just staff would prepare those items and be prepared to talk about those at the June meeting. Okay, so are there any objections to that, like being talked about at our next meeting, those three items?

[00:56:30] No? Okay. So without any objection, I'd like to ask staff to prepare those three items listed for consideration for the June meeting. Is that right? Okay, and now we'll move on to our action item for the 2024 meeting schedule and uh this is board docs item 5.01 schedule of meetings countywide the items will be presented by miss spells deputy county administrator and mr lewis lcps chief operating officer miss spells so i'll take that one thanks co-chair mansfield

[00:57:06] so uh tonight we are presenting the a plan and we have worked together to try to coordinate that and And you can imagine scheduling this room and the boardroom at the county is quite a challenge. So we had proposed the meetings that you see there in the item for June 10th, September 30th, and November 18th.

[00:57:24] We do have since learned that we have a conflict with our fundraiser for the Loudon Education Foundation, which is really important to both of our boards, and so on the September 30th. So we're proposing that because this is our only action item for tonight, the committee go ahead and improve this as planned and then we will work together to find another date for the june meeting and so we just did not have time i'm sorry september meeting um it just wasn't time after we found it to have that for for tonight so we apologize for that but i think we'll have plenty of time to secure a date and work through the committee members on

[00:57:59] on those dates and have that back as a revision to that plan for the for the for the june meeting to change the September meeting. Anybody have any discussion? So there would be a June meeting.

[00:58:15] It's the September meeting. So in September, the LEF annual fundraiser and golf outing has been established on September 30th. And that's the date that we had thought to go ahead and have this, but since, you know, it's a big event.

[00:58:32] So we would have to have a schedule established and ask staff to work towards a new date in September. And then we can consider that particular date on June 10th as well.

[00:58:48] So I have, so from, we would go ahead and entertain a motion to endorse the 2024 meeting schedule?

[00:59:05] So moved. Okay, and do I hear a second? Second. I have a second by co-chair Glass. Thank you, it's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? All in favor, please say aye and raise your hand. Aye.

[00:59:21] I think that's unanimous. Yes, ma'am. I just wanted to also add that I just want to point out to my colleagues on the committee that the Riverside High School graduation begins at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 10th. Since our meeting begins at 4 p.m., I think that will be plenty of time for us who want to attend the graduation.

[00:59:42] Oh, good point. Okay. Is there any new business? No new business? Okay. Well, thank you so much. I'm sorry. Okay.

[01:00:14] Thank you. And the joint committee meeting is now adjourned.

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