Coraggio Consulting
Manassas City School Board Organizational Meeting - January 5, 2026

Date: Monday, January 5, 2026
Place: Manassas City Public Schools / School Board meeting, Virginia
Length: 1h 10m (video)
Official meeting video (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V4gMyI1rME

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 2026-10-17. Timestamps are [HH:MM:SS] into the meeting video.

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[00:00:01] to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[00:00:32] Carla, can you call roll? Yes, sir. Mrs. Seabour? Here. Mrs. Paul? Present. Mrs. Stephen? Present. Mrs. Presia? Present. Dr. Jones? Here. Ms. Miles? Here. Ms. Brown?

[00:00:48] Here. Thank you. Dr. Newman, we have a quorum. All right. There are no additions or deletions to the agenda, so we'll go on. Yep. Can I get approval for the public meeting? I move that the school board of the city of Manassas approve the public meeting agenda as presented.

[00:01:04] Second. I have a motion by Stevens, a second by Miles. Is there any discussion? All in favor? Aye. I'm doing this without the notes. Thank you. Very nice decision. 7-0.

[00:01:21] 7-0. I'm good now. I move that the school board of the city of Manassas open the nomination process for the chairperson for the school board of the city of Manassas. I have a motion by Ms. Stevens, seconded by Ms. Spall to open the nomination process for chairman of the school board of the city of Manassas.

[00:01:58] Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? 7-0. I nominate Jill Spall for Chair of the School Board of the City of Manassas.

[00:02:18] Second. I don't think it needs to second. Any other nominations? Can I get a motion to close the nomination? I move that we close the nominations for Chairperson of the School Board of the City of Manassas.

[00:02:41] Second. Motion by Ms. Stevens, seconded by Ms. Crescia, that we close the nominations for Chairperson of the School Board of the City of Manassas.

[00:02:58] Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. I move that Jill Spall be elected chair of the school board of the city of Manassas until the 2027 organizational meeting. Second. We have a motion by Ms. Seberg and seconded by Ms. Stevens that Jill Spall be elected chairperson of the school board of the city of Manassas until the

[00:03:37] 2026 organizational meeting. 2027. 2027. 2026. I have a motion by Ms. Seberg, seconded by Ms. that Ms. Spall be elected chairperson of the school board of the city of Manassas which has a 20-27 organizational meeting. So any discussion? Yes. I would like to say that as MCPS community member and volunteer before her role on the school board and as an experienced member of the school board and as a parent of three

[00:04:15] students all the way through Manassas City Public Schools K through 12, Mrs. Spall brings valuable institutional knowledge and a continuity to the role that is unmatched she has been intentionally prepared for this position over the past year ensuring a thoughtful and seamless transition into leadership mrs fall consists consistently makes her responsibility as a school board member a top priority demonstrating strong commitment and reliability she attends and supports a variety of school related events and activities and at

[00:04:50] various times of the day or evening this visible this visibility is so very important to our school community and to our city. Thank you. From my view, she maintains a respectful and positive working relationship with the superintendent and his staff, as well as school board members.

[00:05:08] Mrs. Spall approaches her work with respect for staff and a collaborative mindset, focusing on progress and solutions rather than assigning blame. She maintains a collaborative solutions-oriented mindset focused on progress rather than blame. She leads with a strong student-centered lens, keeping student needs at the forefront of decisions, not politics.

[00:05:30] Mrs. Spall serves as a positive representative of the division and the mission within our school community. For these reasons, I nominate Mrs. Spall for the role of the chair of the school board of the city of Monaco. Any other discussion? I did not write something that's composed of that, but I will say that Jill, you and I have traveled probably the farthest distance together in terms of where we started and where we are now, and I am pleased.

[00:06:04] I wanted to say that I appreciate Jill's wisdom that she shares with me if I have a question she was always willing to answer it and she's a very humble person and I believe she would be a good asset to our board discussion and all the

[00:06:33] A favor? Aye. Opposed? Ball? Here you go. Thank you all. I genuinely want to do a good job.

[00:06:52] Dr. Neiman is like, "I'm done." Come on. When you're setting me up for a class with a clear. Look at that, boys. Come on over. Your cords are getting very tangled already.

[00:07:12] She's doing herself comfortable, and now she has to move. I'll tell you. Care person, care person, will you turn around with your gal for a moment? The rest of the board members, gotta wait for Dr. Billman here to finish. Get all settled here. All right.

[00:07:29] You're ruining the pictures. Come on, sit down so I can get everybody. I'm like, I don't know. There we are. Okay. All right, excellent. Thank you so much. Sorry to interrupt.

[00:07:49] okay we now move to the election of the vice chairman of the school board of the city of manassas do i have a motion to open the nomination process chair i move that the school board of the city of manassas open the nomination process for the vice chair of the school board of the city

[00:08:26] of Manassas. Second. Okay. Is there any discussion? Okay. I have a motion by Ms. Stevens, seconded by Ms. Sieber to open the nomination process for vice chair of the school board for the city of Manassas. No. Is there any discussion? Ms. Garza, please call the roll. Ms. Sieber? Aye. Chair's fall?

[00:09:06] sorry yes mrs. steven yes mrs brazia miss brown dr. jones yes miss mile yes thank you okay so we don't have to do a roll call i'm sorry okay i'm sorry so um seven people were in favor so do we have nominations for the chair of the school board i nominate diana brown for vice

[00:09:36] chair I nominate dr. Jones do we have to get those nominations second it okay I move to close the nominations for vice chair I have a motion sorry I have a

[00:10:07] motion by the verb seconded by Steven to close nominations for chair of the

[00:10:25] School Board of the City of Manassas. All in favor? Vice Chair. Vice Chair of the School Board of the City of Manassas. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Seven votes in favor. Now time for discussion. Now somebody makes a motion. So do I have a motion to elect a nominee? I make a motion to elect Diana Brown as Vice Chair of the School Board of the City of Manassas.

[00:10:58] i guess we have a second yeah that one's good they're a second diane so we have a motion by miles a second by brown that diana brown be elected vice chair of the school board of the city of nasa until the 2027 organization meeting is there any discussion now okay um we have two really good nominees and i happen to be sitting between both of them so i hope nobody reaches out

[00:11:36] and hits me whatever i go but i think you know we have two very good nominees i think we both would make a positive uh difference in our school division i think both would work quite well with our new chair i'd love to both of you yes i would like to say something i would um i nominated diana because i believe that she has a great vision and that vision is to do whatever it takes for our student um and i think working with you jill would be a great um match um and it would be bring

[00:12:13] ballot to our board so that's why I nominated her so all in favor any other

[00:12:25] discussion so it is all in favor all opposed so three in favor Seberg Jones

[00:13:01] Stevens and Spall opposed so we moved to vote for a motion for someone needs to make a motion I move that we elect Dr. Zella Jones as vice chair of the school board in the city of Manassas until the 2027 organizational meeting is there a

[00:13:36] second we already didn't have a vote oh yeah okay sorry second and is there any discussion. I'll say a few words on behalf of Zella Jones as vice chair. I think her reputation speaks for itself. She's very seasoned educator and active in our community, and I think her no-nonsense approach will do her well as vice chair of the school board of the city of Manassas.

[00:14:11] So I have a motion by Seabird, second by Stevens, that Zella Jones be elected vice chair of the school board of the city of manassas until the 2027 organizational meeting all in favor aye

[00:14:33] anyone opposed so that's six yes one six one okay we're moving along to appointment of the clerk

[00:15:05] and deputy clerk code of virginia 22.1-76 do i have a motion for clerk and deputy clerk madam chair i move that the school board of the city of manassas accept the superintendent's recommendation to appoint mrs alba garza as clerk of the school board and mrs maureen wilkowski as deputy clerk of the school board from january 5 2026 to the 2027 organizational meeting i have a nomination by seaberg and a second by breja um that the school board of the city of manassas accept the superintendent's recommendation to appoint alba garza as clerk of the school board

[00:15:44] and maureen mokowski as deputy clerk of the school board from january 2 2025 to the end of the 2026 organizational meeting 27 January 6th today yes I've had the dates from last year on six sorry

[00:16:04] all in favor aye anyone opposed okay vote seven oh thank you yes okay do I have a motion for agent and deputy agent chair I move that the school board of the city of Manassas appoint Dr. Jennifer Cassata, Executive Director of Accountability and Finances, agent, and Dr.

[00:16:34] Kevin B. Newman, Superintendent, Deputy Agent, from January 5, 2026 to the end of the 2027 organizational meeting to examine and approve all just claims and to authorize the payment thereof. Second. Okay. I have a motion by Ms. Stevens and a second by Ms. Seiberg that the School Board of City of Manassas appoint Dr. Jennifer Cassata, Executive Director of Accountability and Finances, this agent and Dr. Kevin D. Newman, superintendent, deputy agent, from January 5, 2026 to the end of the 2027 organizational meeting to examine and approve all just claims and to authorize the payment thereof.

[00:17:15] All in favor. Aye. Chair, I move that the school board of the city of Manassas approve resolution R-2026-01 designating Mr. Craig Goodfellar, primary designee, and Dr. Jennifer Casado, alternate designee to act in the superintendent's absence for the period of January 5th, 2026 to the end of the organism 2027 organizational meeting. I have a motion from Ms. Stevens and seconded by Ms. Brescia that the School Board of City of Manassas approved

[00:17:52] resolution R2026-01 designating Mr. Craig Gefeller primary designee and Dr. Jennifer Quesada alternate designee to act in the superintendent's absence for the period of January 5, 2026 to the end of 2027 organizational meeting. All in favor. Aye. Anyone opposed?

[00:18:13] That is a 7-0 vote. Thank you, ma'am. Do I have a motion for authorizing reassignment of personnel? Chair, I move that the school board of the city of Manassas approved resolution R-2026-02 authorizing the division superintendent to reassign teachers, principals, and assistant principals according to section 222.1-297 of the Code of Virginia. Second. I have Ms. Stevens motion and seconded by Ms. Brescia that the school board of city of Manassas approved resolution R2026-02 authorizing

[00:18:50] the division superintendent to reassign teachers principals and assistant principals according to section 22.1-297 of the code of Virginia. All in favor? Anyone opposed? 7-0. Yes. I move that the school board of the city of Manassas appoints Sands Anderson PC school board attorneys from January 5th, 2026 to the end of the 2027 organizational meeting. Ms. Stevens made the

[00:19:26] motion seconded by Ms. Brescia that the school board of the city of Manassas appoints Sands anderson pc school board attorneys from january 5 2026 to the end of 2027 organizational meeting all in favor aye anyone opposed that is a 7-0 vote vote delegate and alternate chair i move that in accordance with the bylaws of the virginia school boards association that diana brown represent the school board of the city of monastas is a voting delegate at the vsba business session of the 2026 vsba annual convention in williamsburg virginia and

[00:20:03] Dana Miles serves as the alternate. Second. I have a motion by Ms. Stevens seconded by Ms. Brescia that in accordance with bylaws of the Virginia School Boards Association that Diana Brown represent the school board of the city of Manassas as a voting delegate at the VSBA business session of the 2026 VSBA annual convention in Williamsburg, Virginia and that Ms. Dana Miles serves as the alternate. All in favor? Aye. Anyone opposed? Congratulations you guys.

[00:20:37] Do I have a motion for authorization of superintendent to approve personnel actions for all of 2026? I move the school board of the city in Manassas authorize the division superintendent to approve personnel actions that include appointments, resignations, transfers, and recommendations for termination for the period of January 5, 2026 to the end of the 2027 organizational meeting subject to the ratification of the board.

[00:21:06] I have a motion by Ms. Stevens, seconded by Ms. Brescia, that the school board of the city of Manassas authorize the division superintendent to approve personnel actions that include appointments, resignations, transfers, and recommendations for termination for the period January 5, 2026 to the end of 2027 organizational meeting, subject to ratification by the board.

[00:21:30] All in favor? Aye. Do you vote? Regular meeting times and dates. Do we come up with those first and then make a motion on them and then have discussion? make sure you ask for a discussion.

[00:21:47] - Okay. - Well, we have some proposed, right? - On our agenda, we have two meetings a month or one meeting a month? - Okay. - Business meeting. - If we have one meeting a month, are they longer?

[00:22:06] Are we gonna do like Prince William where they do like the dinner and they do everything in one month? Like one meeting? The long, long one? - Well, we'll still have work sessions, right? - Oh, okay. - I mean, I'm-- - Or will they start like at five and then go to like seven if it's one?

[00:22:21] - Yeah, I have potential meetings for 2026. I'm not sure how I came about this, but it's still four to five meetings a month. A lot of them tend to be work sessions. I guess that, is that what I'm gonna do with your motion?

[00:22:40] Utilizing the second and fourth, yes sir. - So I, we're discussing this now, which one we wanna do? - I think so. - Because my concern with going down to one meeting a month We have our first read, second read protocol, and it's going to make, we're either going to find ourselves, I'm concerned we're going to find ourselves waiting second reading a lot more, which would not be good, or extending the amount of time that it takes that business gets done.

[00:23:09] And I know that we have work sessions that can serve as a first reading, but we still, we're not taking both there. And so I'm just, I don't think I can support the, even though it would personally benefit me from getting around to go to town to one regular meeting a month, I don't think I can support it.

[00:23:27] I think that it would slow us down too much in terms of the work that needs to be done. Sometimes you just really need a meeting. Well, and it's the amount of content too, that we made. It's a really long process. So one of these is one option and one of these is another option?

[00:23:48] So this is one meeting a month, and this is two meetings. And with the exception of February, March, because of budget, we have to go through the cycle of moving the budget, so then we have to have public input, and therefore we have to have two meetings.

[00:24:07] So this is option with two, I'm sorry, with one, this is option with two. Should I pass this around? I have copies for everyone. I was going to see. I think they're attached, aren't they? They're attached to the agenda. They are? They're on the agenda. Yeah. I have it in this form.

[00:24:23] Oh, here we are. Okay, I'm sorry. I just wasn't looking far. If you go into the board docs there and there, I was just not looking in the right place. I have a chair. Yes. I don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but if our work sessions would directly affect our meetings, correct?

[00:24:41] Are we going to continue? Does the board want to continue with work session once a month or as needed? I mean, these are all items that are up for discussion. my thinking is that in a work session we can have discussion about it without decision and then and then bring it forward to a regular meeting yeah I mean

[00:25:14] I like this visual I think that you know waiting second reading is we do have a large number of work sessions compared to I guess did we do the work session the second meeting i know that that's similar to what prince william does one of their meetings has a work session tacked on to it so the first session would be our normal meeting with no work session and the second one will be on the same day that way we don't have to come back a third day for

[00:25:52] the work session and we could just do it like that i mean i wouldn't be opposed to that attacking work sessions on to one meeting a month yeah so that way we don't have to come back another Thursday it would be one Tuesday then the second Tuesday would be also included with that and then if we have a closed session that needs to be done like that you know it can be done then too I don't know that's possible I should say suggestion yes and also I'm thinking about we want to showcase

[00:26:28] students and we do a lot of that in our meetings I think one meeting a month could be a bit taxing I think but you may be there from like six to ten and also then you have to think about our public so I would lean more toward continuing to and I think in Prince William County they notoriously have had some extremely long meetings and I don't know that any one of us once once that And I do know we've had a few meetings that have run very long, and I think towards the end of the meeting, it was very clear.

[00:27:05] We were all running out of steam, and really the focus was moving away from what we were discussing to how quickly could we get it done to get home. And I don't want us to run into that. And I think because we spotlight students so much, and then because sometimes we do have to waive second reading, but I don't think it should be a habit to waive second reading because we do have things we vote on that have time constraints.

[00:27:35] And I would prefer that not to be the norm. I can agree with that. What do you feel about adding the work session to a Tuesday? Is there any reasoning that could be too much? I think so, too.

[00:27:52] I mean, the good thing, if we, so the idea is that two meetings a month and then that fourth Thursday is always reserved for a work session. I mean, there's always the possibility, and it's come up over this year, where no one's got anything and, you know, we're all going to see each other at BSBA or whatever, and that's canceled.

[00:28:12] Whereas, like, start mashing things together, I feel like it starts getting complicated. I don't think let's keep it as is. I mean, we just got a groove. Yeah. And the meetings are already in the calendar on the Thursdays. So, I mean, for the work sessions.

[00:28:29] if there's no items then it gets removed for our public i think it's good for us to have the two meetings because they may not be able to make it to just one meeting but having two meetings a month gives the public flexibility and chair i am july 14th i just want to draw great attention to that because that's scheduled as a joint school board meeting with city council but that would also be like the second Tuesday of the month so would we forgo our regular meeting that

[00:28:59] day I would say let's leave it as a forego but if we have any other present items in July that we need to have a second meeting for then we can save the date but so leave the schedule as is with just a joint session are you no I was gonna ask so we're going to keep our work sessions once a month still

[00:29:38] I think we're gonna vote on it but because I think that we still need a work session definitely at least once a month I was just suggesting if they didn't want to have as many meetings we would tack it on yeah I don't think there's any move to negate the work session but I think there is appetite for you know keeping the items in check so that if we you know if we if it can be time-sensitive then that's one thing but you know we're open to canceling

[00:30:12] meetings on an as-needed basis we don't have a lot going to that I'm sure are we also going to hold a date for hearing yeah so I think it was very helpful to have a preset yeah date and then count every month and then just cancel it you don't have to vote on those special meetings you don't have to vote today just because you know we don't know if we're going to have them on that okay so i just thought it was good to talk about because we're all working

[00:30:50] on our schedules right now yeah so we want to hold it so we're looking at two meetings a month one work session and one reservation for but we're not we don't have to vote on it but we're going to keep two thursdays also our work sessions are on a tuesday which tuesday well the 20th it looks like it's so for january just for instance it's the 13th is a regular meeting is that right alba still the 15th is our if you want to keep that pattern as last the same as last year yes

[00:31:26] 20th so the 20th of january would be our work session as a budget work so then the budget work sessions have already been up okay so we want to hold the other meeting for example you know we have 15 and 22nd we were holding that for a special meeting or work session whichever that would be in change okay so that's only one day

[00:31:56] okay so I think what's on the floor now is in the same week it's a Tuesday and a Thursday that we're reserving twice a month so January 27 28 29 usually

[00:32:32] alternated it? It was in the same week. I thought it was. No, it was the same week. It was the second and fourth. It happened to be in the same week. So jazz festivals and safaris. Okay, so the same week as the other. Well, that's what I'm hearing. I'm opening up. Well, I mean, I do think that we need to be like kind of specific here because I'm going through and I'm circling what's the second and the fourth. There are a few, you know, like April, the second Thursday is the ninth, but the first, second Tuesday is the 14th.

[00:33:02] well I think if we say in the same if we say in the same week then it's just in the same week we may want to look at eight oh why spring break oh it's that's the first no we're good because are we gonna take a recess at any time during

[00:33:27] the year we tend to have some pretty serious business in August well we have one meeting in May and then we do it in a month that we actually can leave not

[00:33:58] that I actually make we can't go anywhere so dr. Newman has a way that we could abstain from one or two meetings in August if we want you approved right so he would approve things on the agenda and then we would just get a second

[00:34:24] ratings. I would prefer July, honestly. Okay, so what exactly? I would sign off on the approval for the hires, and then you'll just officially do it the next month, the next meeting. So it's signed off, and then it's officially approved at the meeting. Okay. I really don't. I mean, my thoughts on this, like, we only, I would love a recess. I love a recess. I love recess in general, but we each, we only have a limited amount of time that we serve in this capacity the going on four years

[00:35:03] now I've been doing it there's never been a dull moment really like we've worked all year and I just I don't love the message that it sends to our community you know we have a school that's in the bottom 5% of the state we don't you know most of our schools are not in on track or above categories and we're sitting here talking about taking a recess you know what I mean like it's

[00:35:25] I don't like the message that it's just me I don't like the message that it's just me I don't like the message that it's just me I don't like the message that it's just me oh I'm sorry no I was I was just going to say could we go to one meeting in July and just do the joint meeting in July and not do the 28th so it's not a recess it's just and then we would do our meeting in August 11th coming back so we wouldn't have that 28th that's can you say why because that just gives us three three weeks um one two three it would give us the last two weeks of july and the first week of august i

[00:36:04] don't know guys i really just haven't served for one year i thought that we never got a break for anything but as russia said there were so many things that happened that i wouldn't be comfortable with a reset however i did enjoy december was a light month so we didn't keep december as a light month that felt like a recess to me but i'm not sure if i just think it's important i mean i don't think we can carry on business if one person is missing so if you're going out of town then go out of town and enjoy yourself and come back ready to work but i don't think we need to necessarily

[00:36:43] put a recess in if you have something to do well i mentioned just having carry on business it doesn't have to be a recess i had suggested just having one meeting in july and that wouldn't necessarily be a recess it would just be consolidating it to one meeting that since we're out of school yeah the 28th right right hold on the apparently the 14th is legislative breakfast and joint six yes summer legislation oh is that going to be in the morning or the yes in the morning is that legislative breakfast oh in any afternoon yeah okay and also we haven't discussed and i don't

[00:37:19] know when we discuss um but uh if we're going to have a retreat you know this is not necessarily taking away from our calendar it would probably be adding to it but i do think retreats are helpful yeah so um so uh miss miles the 14th really isn't it's more of a probably a reporting kind

[00:37:52] of situation than it really is a meeting so you know that would put us i mean it seems like the appetite is to keep it the same is anyone really opposed to changing anyone opposed to keeping it the same as the actual right so do I need motion chair I move okay so chair I move the city of Manassas approve the school board meeting

[00:38:27] date and do I need because we have we have two options you know where can be between two there we go okay chair I move that the school board of the city of Manassas approve the school board meeting dates from January 5th 2026 to the end of 2027 organizational meeting utilizing the second and fourth Tuesday of the month with exception with the exceptions as noted for months April May November and December oh okay may November and December the school board

[00:39:06] of the city of Manassas also approves the joint council school board meetings for March 26 June 26 just March 25th yes okay the school board all right this joint let me read you this chair I move that the school board of the city of Manassas approved the school board meeting dates from January the 22nd to the 2026 to the end of the 2027 organizational meeting utilizing the second and fourth Tuesday of the month with the exceptions as noted for months may november and december and the school

[00:39:41] board of the city of manassas also approves the joint city council school board meetings march 25th june 25th and november 5th and july 14th and october 29th everything in blue oh okay so you can say so move that's your blue paper i'll give it a try so move okay so stephens

[00:40:17] made a motion seconded by steberg that the school board of manassas approve the school board meeting dates 2026 june january 5th 2026 to the end of 2027 organizational meeting utilizing second fourth tuesdays with exceptions in may november and december oh okay and the and also through joint council joint city council school board meeting March 25 June 25

[00:40:50] July 14 November 5 and October 29 all in favor I didn't you want to pose seven zero I'm gonna make just a real quick comment yes um alpha thank you for having these calendars for us I keep this all year long this is the most helpful I appreciate it thank you sidebar okay so at this point in time can we

[00:41:24] discuss school board retreat date yes traditionally we have it in June and we do have a joint meeting scheduled with City Council on the 25th so may I recommend a date before then yes and how many days are we thinking you're asking me well I really like the idea of three days I thought that we were you

[00:42:03] know in a position to make some some headway on that third day it hasn't quite worked out yet but I'm I'm in favor of three does anyone have any discussion i have always liked having three um we just need to know that the last day of school for prince william county is june 12 2026 so i don't think that any of us have to be there following monday unless you have heard something different i may have to but yeah You're 12 months, so it's irrelevant.

[00:42:40] Okay. But Juneteenth is on the 19th, so there's no school for the staff here. So it's about 16, 17, and 18? Yeah, it sounds like that's the day. I think that's what we did last year, didn't we?

[00:42:56] Something like that. Yeah. We did that last year. Okay. So arriving 16, all day 17, all day 18? I just attended one year so I don't know if you guys have had you know like a lot of work on this retreat but I think three days is excessive I think two days is all right here's the thing

[00:43:33] the work doesn't get done there it gets done you know like the work will get done the work happens yeah whether we do it all together in Charlottesville or whether we're you know cobbling together work session to get it done yeah which is what ended up happening here I was gonna say um the work that we do as a board does the all the staff have to be there for every single day every day some staff on some days because I was gonna say the um third day could be the 19th and that could be where we

[00:44:11] finish up just our discussion that we have and then that we just do they may be closed on the 19th because it's June 10th yeah will they be closed though I guess you could check yeah they're not sure but I mean we have we have gone other places it doesn't necessarily you know have to be at BSBA I like the idea of the compromise for the 19th yeah it was just to give us that third day as just to talk over whatever you know discussions we have I don't mind that I just want to be sensitive to people who actually their holiday is really meaningful

[00:44:48] yeah I think we should do something on the holiday and also I mean I love you all so much not spend my second birthday with all of you and what day is your birthday? the 60th you don't like us that much? I was with you last year maybe we should do it the following week then Well, the following week we have a meeting and then a joint city council school board meeting.

[00:45:12] You know, we want to be able to kind of give them. Okay, we did. And if it's the same to everybody, whether we do a holiday or not or what have you, we can throw in a Saturday morning there. Dr. Jones said she didn't want to do that holiday.

[00:45:30] Yeah, but if it's Monday. And, okay, so I know last year we talked about the retreat and what work gets done in there because we don't know how much work we're going to have to have. I mean, this year we had a lot of work to do, so I guess we don't know how much work will be done or will need to get done.

[00:45:54] But the retreat also should serve us as a time to build relationships and for us to get that recess and be with each other and not just work, which building, you know, some team-building skills type of thing.

[00:46:16] I think, too, maybe if we could start a little bit early and go a little bit later, so maybe Charlottesville's not the best place, because really stopping at 4 is early. Yes. I mean, so we could really work later into the evening. That's true. So maybe we need to go to another place down the street.

[00:46:34] Madam Chair, may I propose that we select date and then worry about the format later? Okay, so how does anyone feel, let me just throw out, I know the 12th is the last day of school, what about like 15, 16, or 14, 15, 16, no, 16th's birthday.

[00:46:57] Yeah, 16th's birthday. Okay, I don't know, does anyone have a date suggestion? I mean, I don't think, we've got to pick birthday or Juneteenth if it's going to be three days. What would you prefer, Dr. Jones, Juneteenth or your birthday? We can do two days. Or we can do two days.

[00:47:13] Maybe we leave early on the 19th and we don't stay all day. That's a good idea. Like a half day on the 19th. That way those who are celebrating can, yeah. Or wherever we're going is open. I'm sure. Okay, so I think that we could probably put together some options that would start us early enough on the 17th and get us done midday or earlier on the 19th.

[00:47:42] And we would also have to be cognizant, like Alba would at least have to be. That way we would take a holiday away from at least one, you know, like it's not, it's. And we will have to be there. Yeah.

[00:47:58] Yeah. Well, do you want to do, do you want to, you know, I don't want to be taking holidays away, you know. Madam Chair, I know that I was the one that suggested before the city council meeting, but maybe we can do it in July after. I agree with July.

[00:48:14] Oh, okay, move it to July 15, 16, 17. I was thinking that, but I didn't know if we were hard fast on June because of the staff. Are they, do they have? No, these are 12-monthers. Oh, okay. It was always just in June. It's like the first week of July the 6th, that week, after independence.

[00:48:34] Oh, yeah. Well, after independence. Okay. How do people feel about May because there's only one meeting? Oh, man. Well, I can't take off the school. That's why you're just doing it. Was that your idea? I do think that there's reason to think that we will be more compact this year.

[00:49:00] Last year was our first time all together as a group that prioritize exercise took super duper long. And I think that just one itself will shrink having this be the second time. So I think if there is a year that it's possible for two days, two days, we keep pumping into I mean maybe the writings on the wall you're not traveling oh I was just gonna say the 6 7th in July so you don't have to get into holidays birthdays or what

[00:49:34] because obviously that we could conflict so just show of hands real quick 17 18 June is 7 8 July is right 6 7 7 8 June 17 18 or July 6 7 8 so it is the option

[00:49:59] 17 18 19 oh yeah truthfully I don't care I was just giving option whatever you decide seven so six seven eight is not many hands i mean that works i mean yeah both work for both so i like longer time i'd rather have two days and then raise your hand if you

[00:50:35] want three days three i would like three just because i like to process things i prefer three yeah i'm kind of i think we can get it done in two if we make our days a little bit longer because here's for my perspective on when we have the retreat and we go to dinner we're all still together why can't we continue that conversation but it would be part of the meeting where we're eating dinner can we leave dinner at the place we can do a working dinner yeah that's what I mean the dinner like we do

[00:51:11] all the time here yeah and go to 8:00 we say hard stop at 8:00 I mean I'm here to listen I mean I'm truthfully I'm open to either because it's summer vacation because you know I mean I feel like okay so the question is okay so so let's make a motion okay chair I move chair I move that the school board retreat dates

[00:51:49] be the 17th and 18th of June second a motion by Stevens second by Brescia that we conduct a retreat in June on the 16th and 17th of the month 17 17 and 18th of the month all in favor can we ask for a discussion oh yes I just want to emphasize that we have needed three days for many years to get everything done

[00:52:21] and when we don't have that third day it's very noticeable I would also like to say that when we're talking about being able to you know relax and really get our thinking juices going I mean it's been a long time coming I don't think we've done three days yet we've talked about it a lot but you know I mean And I am pretty majorly in favor of trying, but I am more than happy to go with the will of the board.

[00:52:55] I would also say that June is very heavy for even our staff because they're running around trying to get school year done. So having July might also be, for me as a staff member in another school district, July is like I put this aside and I can really focus.

[00:53:16] So that's another reason why I would say moving it to July. Even if we do two days in July, to me, in July is better. I mean, staff has to get ready first. We'll start in pretty early. Plus, I'll bring a new building in July. Oh, that's right. Busy in nature.

[00:53:31] Yeah, over. Okay, we're still at all in favor. All in favor of 1718. Raise your hand. Four, all opposed. three opposed are people miles motion passes 4 to 3 17 18 there's something where we can work through yeah okay we'll be like a nine to eight kind of

[00:54:11] thing we'll try to put together three places and will we do like a nine to kind of situation where we go from nine take a break for lunch and then so they were longer two days we're going to try to re-envision the way we do retreats okay we're going to try to make everybody happy and we're going to try to be productive and we're going to try to make it be about student outcomes and we're going to get ready for the next school year and we're going to give you some choices before we go you know whole hog on filling out what the day's going to look

[00:54:49] like but try so I think that's done put to bed right yes superintendent mid-year and end of year evaluation date okay so we're looking at February 24 and June 23 does anyone have yes do we need a motion and then do discussion or what yeah well

[00:55:26] other way so my question is those two dates are kind of predicated by Virginia code aren't they okay so the final has to do it the following thing I would like to propose that we do his eval for mid-year and for the end of the year outside of a meeting day so are we meeting on the 24th of February yes I

[00:56:02] don't I personally do not think it is sufficient to evaluate a superintendent after we have had a meeting our school board meeting I think it we should come together as a special meeting and do it and give him process time and give ourselves process time February 26th is reserved for a special meeting hearing for a school board work session. We could do it on the 26th. And June 25th is not good.

[00:56:37] The way we did it last time. Chair? Yes, Ms. Brescia. So I guess, so does that mean that there is no, that the work session on February 26th is canceled and we're doing graduation day? Because if we're just combining, if a meeting is combined so that would be a council yes I just wanted to say we've always had the superintendent's evaluation after meeting in closed session not opposed to

[00:57:17] change but all the information we need to look at is in board docs so that is the time till I mean he provides it well ahead of time and if we have any questions we can ask I I think that's adequate time to prepare I think what happened was we were working on our budget and that meeting went really long. And so when we came to do his evaluation, it ended up being until midnight. So it was just a really long school board

[00:57:51] meeting. And that's why it made it longer. Not necessarily we weren't prepared or whatever. It was just that that timing made it quite long. It ended up being a snow. Our first meeting in February in 25, 25 was canceled because of snow.

[00:58:08] And so it was a double meeting that included the budget. Plus the, so that was like, it was like Acts of God kind of business. Yeah, it was really long. I just think, I mean, having done evaluations for people in the way that he's expected to do evaluations for principal, we would never ask him to do an evaluation for a principal at midnight.

[00:58:36] And personally, after 8.30 p.m., 9.30, 10.30 p.m., I've had a 12-hour day. So if you expect me to be lucid at midnight to evaluate the superintendent, I'm going to tell you, I probably will not be.

[00:58:54] And I don't want us to get into a position where we're just trying to get through the night instead of focusing on the task ahead. And I do believe that we owe, as a respectful offer to him, that we just don't have anything else on our brains that day and dedicate our sole focus on the evaluation.

[00:59:22] It's that important. It is the job that we have as a collective to evaluate him. And because we're going to waive the work session for February, we'll know that March's work session will be a little longer because we're kind of combining whatever we had prepared to discuss that.

[00:59:40] In regards to the work sessions, we are having work session set aside time if we have like things that come up, right? So we will know ahead of time if we will have some present items for the work session and we can adjust. But I think giving him assigned time with intentional focus will actually prepare us as a collective to be able to give him some descriptive feedback and give him some guidance.

[01:00:09] Can I get him this? So I share your goal. I also do not want to be reviewing anybody. I don't want to be doing any work in that, obviously. But I think that the one year that you witnessed the process was a strange year, because the first February meeting, there was a snow day, and then we had to double better, and that did not work well.

[01:00:33] But that's not how it has been. That's not normal. And historically, between our regular meetings and our work sessions, if something is coming up for the work session and we need to add the work session, and then we do need to be in a position where we're combining work sessions with attendance evaluation,

[01:00:50] The work sessions can go, because they're more open-ended, have a risk, I think, of going longer, actually, than if our regular meeting schedule goes as planned in February and there's no out, no days, there's no out, then we, I actually think we have a better chance of finishing earlier if we keep it attached to that regular meeting than if we're, like, leaving it open-ended for maybe it becomes a work session and then maybe we're doing it, you know what I mean?

[01:01:23] like so the mid-year is actually the shortest of the three the final is the one where we really really yeah but the mid-year also we really need to sit down and think it through and really give you guidance as to what we see that you have accomplished and where we think that whatever guidance we want to give you and i i really think that both are equally important and so but i get

[01:02:01] the feeling that one is longer than the other so we've had some discussion can we get a motion and then we'll narrow down the option right now it's the 24th or it's the 24th in addition to a regular business meeting or the 26th and And we would have no other business, only the evaluation that night.

[01:02:35] So, do you do? June. June. Also June for them. Okay. Okay, we do the mid first and then the June? Well, they're part of the same motion.

[01:02:51] Okay. So. And we have to be done by the 30th. Yes. The final has to be submitted by the 30th. Because we do June 11th. Because this is a special year. All right, so we want to make sure.

[01:03:09] 25th is a already a joint meeting so we we're really kind of I mean what if we try both things we'll do one on the work session and one after meeting after the joint meeting joint after the joint meeting I'm thinking on the 23rd after there won't be any snow one would need to be after a regularly scheduled meeting

[01:03:30] what about the 24th or Wednesday yeah well the normal way would be if anybody wants to make this motion every 24th and June 23rd or if we want to skip unhappy with February 26th and June 24 which are two dedicated days starting at

[01:04:02] five Monday the 22nd oh your grandpa that's fine I'll bring my kids Jill doesn't have to be that we couldn't be I'm sorry chair doesn't have to be that could it be on the 11th or 9th it has to be close to we get we get pretty tight with what information is already available to us you know I mean we usually try to make it as close to

[01:04:38] the 30th as we can so that we have the most information available but I mean I'm will of the board well not that we will have it but by the I think that yes we can do that Monday

[01:05:02] of Monday. Bush come to shove Monday the 29th. Does anyone have time to get a 29th? It doesn't give us much time because we have to get it done then and there. I mean that's usually when we do it though. We haven't had to come back for a second. Yeah.

[01:05:20] so can i get a motion to all right the superintendent's mid-year yes i move that the dates for the superintendent's mid-year evaluation be 226 um at 5 p.m and the end of

[01:05:43] the year evaluation be 629 at 5 p.m during a closed session on both dates second motion by Steven seconded by the smiles that we conduct to the superintendent mid-year and end-of-year evaluations on closed during closed sessions on February 26 at 5:00 p.m. and June 29th at 5:00 p.m. Any further discussion? All in favor?

[01:06:22] Aye. Anyone opposed? That is the 7-0. Yes? Do I have a motion to adjourn? I was gonna we we usually ask for you to tell us what your preferences are which is probably a fine time to say that I just wanted because of my years on the school board I was told committees I was

[01:07:02] on but in recent years we've asked if you have a preference or if there's a special way you want to serve and we try and honor those but it's not always possible if you want to send me your top three

[01:07:19] you pick. I will do my best. Do you have a form with all of them? On your website. Are you going to send like an interest form or we just email back to you? I don't know how Cher has done it in the past. So that's a Cher. A Cher used to contact directly each one of you guys and then she would send a form. So I guess I'll call you guys and I can go over it with you what the options are.

[01:07:50] You can put me down the first thing I'll serve wherever you need me. I just have a question. I noticed on our potential meetings We have two dates for work sessions, so should we make sure those are on our calendar because we may have to have a hearing like Right and then so we could there Okay, so we should just put it in our calendar just in case.

[01:08:26] We're going to send it after today's meeting, so probably by tomorrow you're going to be seeing it. Okay, and it's definitely going to be in the same week, so like Tuesday, Thursday, Tuesday, Thursday. That's the wording that we're using so it doesn't get people confused. Okay. We're agreeing that special meetings are going to be reserved on the same week.

[01:08:45] What about those months that we won't have a meeting, like that we only have one meeting? Do we want to be consistent and just keep one? We'll keep it reserved. Keep, but only reserve one meeting a month for a special meeting. Do you want to do a second one?

[01:09:03] Do you mean like for December? For example, for November, do we only want to do one, reserve one special meeting? Yes. In December, one special meeting in May, correct? That would be, that would. To be consistent with the same week.

[01:09:19] Does anyone have a problem with that? No, that's fine. for a fact if there's a Tuesday meeting there's there's a potential for a Thursday meeting that good with everyone I have to sit in Thursdays reserved um I had something written down and now I can't find it I just I just I do want to thank chair Seberg she's done a lot for our school system and for our staff and for our public and for I'll try to be a little bit more eloquent next time I say

[01:09:49] something but I thank you for your guidance personally and I think that's extraordinary I want to thank you all also for your good job so do I have a motion to adjourn I move that the school board meeting adjourn I have a motion by Ms. Stephens, seconded by Ms. Brescia that the school board meeting adjourn Hi.

[01:10:29] Opposed? Who wants to drive me home? Oh.

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