Coraggio Consulting
Prince William County School Board Meeting, Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Date: Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Place: Prince William County School Board, Virginia
Length: 2h 44m (video)
Official meeting video (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cRbOdI7TmQ
Official School Board page (PWCS): https://www.pwcs.edu/about/school_board/

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 2026-11-01. Timestamps are [HH:MM:SS] into the meeting video.

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[00:00:01] I would like to call this meeting the Prince William County School Board to order before we move on to the approval of the agenda. I need a motion to amend the meeting agenda by adding a resolution under acknowledgements and recognitions to the agenda. Ms. Zargarpur.

[00:00:16] - Mr. Chairman, I move that the Prince William County School Board amend the meeting agenda by adding the school board presentation of a resolution for the clerk of the school board under acknowledgements and recognitions. - Do I have a second? - Chairman, I second. - Ms. Wall seconds it.

[00:00:32] Please vote. Well, is there discussion? - Aye. - Yeah, what's your discussion? Oh, okay, all in favor? - Aye. - Aye. - Okay, okay. Okay, any opposed? No opposition, motion passes.

[00:00:47] A motion is now in order for the approval of the meeting agenda as amended. Ms. Zargarpur. - I move that the Prince William County School Board approve the meeting agenda as amended. - Do I have a second? - Chairman. - Mr. Wall. - I second. - Any discussion? All in favor? Raise your hand, signify yes.

[00:01:04] Any opposition? - Okay, no opposition. All in favor, the motion passes unanimous. Motion to enter closed session and motion is in order. Mr. Zargarpur. - Mr. Chairman, I move that pursuant to sections 2.2-3711 and 2.2-3712 of the Code of Virginia.

[00:01:21] The Prince William County School Board enter closed session for the following reasons. One, to discuss with staff the assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining, or resignation of specific public officers, appointees, or employees of any public body pursuant to section 2.2-3711A1 and the Code of Virginia.

[00:01:43] Two, to review disciplinary matters for specific students that would involve the disclosure of information contained in the scholastic record for the individual student and to receive legal advice regarding the same as provided by sections 2.2-3711A2 and 8 of Code of Virginia.

[00:02:00] Three, to discuss with division counsel and staff actual or probable litigation in specific legal matters involving specific staff and students pursuant to Virginia Code section 2.2-3711A-7 of the Code of Virginia.

[00:02:15] Four, to discuss and consult with division counsel and staff regarding the procedures for challenging instructional materials, including school board policies related thereto, as provided by section 2.2-3711A-8 of the Code of Virginia. Five, to discuss the award of a public contract to employee's exclusive representative, which involves the expenditure of public funds and the terms or scope of such contract where discussion in an open session would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body.

[00:02:45] And six, to discuss and receive briefings by staff members related to the security of school facilities, the safety of persons using such facilities, and actions taken to respond to such matters where discussion in an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such facilities pursuant to section 2.2-3711A19 of the code of Virginia.

[00:03:11] - Mr. Chairman. - Ms. Wall. - I second. - Any discussion, please vote. Signify yes by raising your hand and put that down. Any opposition? No signs of opposition. Motion passes unanimously. Okay, good.

[00:03:32] And at this time, the Prince William County School Board will now enter closed session,

[00:03:34] return open session in one hour.

[00:04:39] Okay, the Prince William County School Board is now coming back into open session. And we have first order of business is to certify closed session. A motion is in order, Ms. Vice Chair Zargarpur.

[00:04:54] - Thank you, Dr. Lateef. I move that pursuant to section 2.2-3712 of the code of Virginia, the closed session of Prince William County School Board meeting of June 5th, 2024, be certified by adopting the following resolution. Now therefore be it resolved that the Prince William County School Board hereby certifies that, to the best of each member's knowledge, one, only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements were discussed in the closed meeting to which this certification resolution applies, and two, only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard and discussed or considered by the board.

[00:05:31] - Second. - Mr. Chair. - Ms. Wall. - Any discussion? Please vote.

[00:05:47] - The vote is seven yes, one absent. Williams, motion passed. - Okay, moving on to closed session. Action items 9.01, Ms. Zargarpur. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Prince William County School Board approve the appointments and releases of specific employees as presented in closed session. Do I have a second? Mr. Blake, any discussion? Please vote.

[00:06:10] The vote is seven yes, one absent. Williams, motion passed. Moving on to 9.02, approval of renewal contract. Motion is in order.

[00:06:26] Mr. Chairman, I move that the Prince William County School Board approve the renewal of contract for Prince William County lobbyist James Counsel Esquire. Do I have a second? Mr. Chairman. Ms. Wall. - I second. - Any discussion?

[00:06:41] Okay, please vote. - The vote is seven yes, one absent.

[00:06:57] Williams, motion passed. - Moving on to 903. - Mr. Chairman, I move that the Prince William County School Board approve the closed session consent agenda items as presented in closed session. - Do I have a second? Mr. Blake. - Mr. Chairman, I second. - Any discussion?

[00:07:13] Please vote.

[00:07:32] Okay, moving on. At this point, we'll do the Pledge of Allegiance. If everyone please rise. - I pledge allegiance 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.

[00:07:59] - All right, Miss Simpson led us in that pledge in her final public meeting, our clerk. So I can just say we are lucky to have had Miss Simpson for many, many years here. And tonight she is serving as her last meeting as the school board clerk for Prince William County Schools.

[00:08:16] Let's give her a round of applause. We've been very fortunate and her leadership and support has been outstanding.

[00:08:31] And the school board could not have done what it's done, especially in the last few years without her support. And through the pandemic, we truly appreciate everything you do and we wish you the best in your future. And there'll be more on that this evening. Okay, folks, well, welcome to the Prince William County School Boards meeting on June 5th, 2024.

[00:08:50] We are gonna start with our thriving futures focus. But before I do that, I want to thank our director of communications, Diana Gulotta along with her staff for their assistance in coordination and putting this presentation together for each meeting.

[00:09:07] We truly appreciate it. This has been a long running program that we've done now since Dr. McDade has come and the communication staff has been outstanding in trying to help us make sure we are recognizing the tremendous efforts of our students and our staff across this great County and making sure we're doing the best we can to recognize them and we appreciate the communication staff for doing that.

[00:09:31] So moving on to this night's Thriving Futures Focus, which by the way, folks is the last school board meeting of the year in many ways and always one of our heaviest Thriving Future Focus sessions and tonight will be no different. Thriving Futures Focus is an opportunity to highlight the exemplary work being accomplished in our schools that fulfill our vision that every student will graduate with the knowledge, skills and habits of mind to launch a thriving future for themselves and their community.

[00:09:59] Tonight, the school board will recognize several outstanding achievements as this is our last Thriving Futures focus this year. We appreciate everyone's patience. We'll begin tonight by highlighting our impressive middle and high school Prince William County School scientists who succeeded in earning science awards at the state and international science competitions.

[00:10:19] These prestigious awards show exceptional efforts to prioritize the school community science education, which is by the way in our strategic plan and real world application of curriculum knowledge. We begin our recognition with Ms. Erica Trudenik of the Great Brentsville District who will introduce our first award winners.

[00:10:39] Ms. Trudenik. - It's my pleasure to recognize the Prince William County Schools first place winners of the Virginia Junior Academy of Science Awards ceremony. First place in the category of physics and astronomy, Section B, the team of Maxim Luparello from Patriot High School and the Governor's School at Innovation Park.

[00:11:01] Louis Tu from Brentsville District High School and the Governor's School. Ming Huey, Ming Huey, sorry. Zhang Ming Huey Zhang from Gainesville High School, the Governor's School. This team has also earned the Physics Award.

[00:11:17] In the Virginia State Science

[00:11:27] in the Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair, it is my pleasure to recognize the first place in the category of animal sciences, the team of Isabel Hoover from Manassas City and the Governor's School, Lauren Kim from Patriot High School and the Governor's School, Zainab Sufi from Patriot High School and the Governor's School.

[00:11:50] This team also earned honorable mention in the Environmental and Earth Science Section C at the Virginia Junior Academy of Science Award Ceremony.

[00:12:05] Unfortunately, Isabella Hoover could not be with us tonight as she's currently out of the country, but we recognize her contributions to the team just the same. Additionally, we recognize Hannah Jansen from Patriot High School and the Governor's School for her $15,000 award from the Office of Naval Research on behalf of the United States Navy and the Marine Corps.

[00:12:24] Hannah also earned second place in Engineering Technology Statistics and Dynamics, sorry, at the International Science and Engineering Fair. Patriot High School is represented tonight by Principal Dr. Michael Bishop, and Gainesville High School is represented tonight by Assistant Principal Troy Washington.

[00:12:50] Brentsville District High School is represented tonight by Principal Dr. Catherine Meintz. The Governor's School at Innovation Park is represented by Principal Dr. Jason Calhoun. Congratulations.

[00:13:06] - Thank you, Mr. Denik. I now invite Jen Wall, representative of the Gainesville District to recognize her honorees. - Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the Virginia State Science, oh, hold on. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Gainesville District would like to recognize the Virginia Junior Academy of Science First Place Award for computational biology section B winner, Yashvir Subharwal, did I say that right?

[00:13:34] From Battlefield High School, Yashvir also has also won the Cancer Research Award and a 40,000 a year scholarship to Long Island University. Yashvir was named a Regeneron ISEF Grand Finalist a special award of 165,000 college scholarship to LIU and the USA Biology Olympiad semifinalist top 50 open score.

[00:14:03] Wow, congratulations, Joshua, that's amazing. Battlefield is represented tonight by Principal Dolores Lucas and Assistant Principal Christopher McMillan. Thank you and congratulations, Joshua.

[00:14:22] - Thank you, Ms. Wall. From the Coles District, we have Vice Chair, Ms. Lisa Zargarpur. Please introduce our award winners. - I am happy to, Dr. Lateef. The Coles District would first like to recognize the Virginia Junior Academy of Science Middle School first place in Animal and Human Sciences Section A winner, Dean Lateef from Benton Middle School.

[00:14:45] Dean has also been recognized for the best life science project in middle school with the Dorothy Knowlton Award. He has also received an award, the outstanding research project for grade seven across all science categories. Dean in Benton Middle School are represented tonight by Principal Jerry Pichiesi and physics science teacher, Ms. Deborah Peterman.

[00:15:16] The Coles District would now like to recognize the Virginia Junior Academy of Science High School first place in zoology, Rania Lateef from Charles J. Colgan High School and the Governor's School. I guess we could clap for you now, right?

[00:15:32] Because, additionally, Rania has earned the following distinctions and awards. VJAS president for 2024-25, VJAS delegate to the American Junior Academy of Science in Boston, New York, where she, Boston, New York?

[00:15:52] Boston, Massachusetts, someone put New York in here, no. Okay, goodness. Where she represents all science students across Virginia. This trip is fully funded by the Earl Thompson Memorial Endowment Endorsement Award. She also received the VJAS Grand High School Award for grades nine through 12, Virginia Association of Biology Educators Zoology Award, and Bethel High School Scholarship for $1,000 toward college.

[00:16:20] Moving from State Academy to the International Science and Engineering Fair, fourth Grand Award in Animal Sciences and Animal Behavior, and the American Psychological Association Award for $500, and Serving Society through Science Award for $500.

[00:16:37] Rania and Colgan High School are represented here tonight by Dr. Tim Healy, Dr. David Parrish, Assistant Principal and Science Teacher, Stephanie Brown. Congratulations, Dean and Rania Latif.

[00:16:54] In addition to these accomplishments and these accomplished scientists, the Coles District would also like to recognize three more PWCS teachers who garnered special recognition. Deborah Peterman from Benton Middle School, winner of the Franklin D. Kaiser Distinguished Service Award, Stephanie Brown from Colgan High School, winner of the Franklin D. Kaiser Development Stipend, and Dr. Alexis Patanarat, goodness, I can't talk tonight.

[00:17:21] Patanarat, the Governor's School, winner of the Dr. D.R. Dean Decker Honorarium Award. Our teachers represent the very best of commitment to students' excellence and dedication to curricular expertise.

[00:17:41] Thank you so much for pouring yourself into our students and showing excellence in your own work. - I'd like to echo Ms. Zargarpur's recognition of our amazing teachers in the Coles District and the great work for the science fairs and the science projects.

[00:18:01] Thank you all very much, you guys are amazing. Moving on to the next, we have, where am I at next here? Congratulations to all our outstanding students and teachers. I would like to ask the family members of all the honorees to stand so that we can give them a round of applause for our winners.

[00:18:30] Okay, at this point, I'd like to invite Supervisor of Science, Dr. Julia Renberg, to please share a few words. - Good evening. um oops there you go my name is Dr. Julia Renberg I supervise science for Prince William County Schools and also serve as a director of Prince William Manassas Regional Science and Engineering Fair first on behalf of the students and their families teachers and school leadership I thank

[00:19:04] you for the opportunity to recognize their achievements tonight thank you very much this This year, with the partnership from I-66 Mobile Partners, our division sent five high school projects to Los Angeles, where 67 countries competed at the International Science Engineering Fair.

[00:19:27] And as you've all gathered already, our five projects came home with six amazing awards That included second place in engineering category, fourth place in animal sciences category, and the total monetary value of the cash prizes and scholarship awards was over $180,000.

[00:19:56] And not only we also have first place at Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair, but as soon as we returned from California, there were more great news coming our way because the Virginia Junior Academy of Science Symposium announced their winners.

[00:20:17] And collectively, our middle and high school kids took 19 awards. Four of them were first place. And I, yeah, amazing, I agree, amazing. And I do want to highlight that all three special awards, there are only three, and all three special awards for service and mentorship went to Prince William County teachers.

[00:20:45] So yes, congratulations to all of them. I believe that these outstanding results speak volumes for the caliber of scientific research that was conducted by these students, but also for the quality of support that our division provides to these students.

[00:21:10] So once again, please accept our deep appreciation for your continuous support. Thank you. - Ms. Renberg, thank you so much for sharing that great news with us.

[00:21:26] And, you know, I think, you know, like robotics, we've, you know, Prince William is on the map for robotics. We're on the map for science fair in science competitions over the last few years, and we continue to achieve at extremely high levels.

[00:21:42] And I think if you're thinking about a place to come and live and you wanna, you're interested in science, you ought to be thinking about Prince William County Schools. So thank you all very much, and we really appreciate that. And congratulations to all the amazing students for all their hard work. And let's just do one more round of applause, especially for the families who are supporting these kids.

[00:22:07] At this time, I'm gonna return to Ms. Zargarpur in the Coles District for the next recognition. Ms. Zargarpur. - So the Coles District would like to once again recognize Rania Lateef from Colgan High School. Rania won first place at the District 5 Virginia History Day Contest for her original essay, the abolition of Sati in India, a struggle shaped by resistant traditions, indigenous reform, and British colonialism.

[00:22:31] As the district winner, Rania advanced to the state-level competition where she won the Asian American History Award. Rania is here this evening with Principal Dr. Tim Healy and Assistant Principal Dr. David Parrish. I would like to invite Rania to share a few words on what this award means to her.

[00:22:50] Hi everyone, my name is Rania. I just want to say I'm very honored to be standing here right now. and thank you so much for inviting me. I just wanna say I'm so grateful for my three teachers, Mr. McDonald, Dr. P and Mrs. Brown.

[00:23:07] I could not be here without them and their support systems of Colgan and Governor's School at Innovation Park. Thank you so much. - Wonderful, thank you, Ms. Ariapora. At this time, I'd like to request our honorees to come forward for a photo with the school board and receive a small token of our appreciation.

[00:23:26] We'll take one photo of our science fair winners,

[00:23:29] one with, and then with one with Rania.

[00:27:18] What's that? - All right. All right, folks, from science and history, we move our focus to the field of robotics. Here we turn back to Ms. Zargarpur. Ms. Zargarpur. - Just want to say this is a beautiful look right here.

[00:27:33] All right, all right. Thank you, Dr. Lateef. Robotics in Prince William County is crucial as it fosters creativity, problem-solving skills, and a strong understanding of STEM concepts. Robotics engages students in hands-on learning, making abstract ideas tangible and exciting.

[00:27:51] Additionally, exposure to robotics prepares students for future careers in technology-driven industries, ensuring that they have the skills needed for a rapidly evolving job market. The Coles District would first like to recognize Osborne Park High School for winning the district first place for Engineering Inspiration Award and receiving a NASA grant for Worlds.

[00:28:18] Osborne Park High School is represented tonight by Principal Lisa Marie Kane and Justin Rivera, adult coach mentor and PWCS class of 2012, and team alumni. At this time, I would like to invite FIRST Robotics Competition Team 2068, the Metal Jackets, President and School Board Alternative Representative, Jacqueline Garcia, to introduce team members in attendance, as well as to share a few words on this accomplishment.

[00:28:43] - Thank you, School Board, for this honorable recognition. I'd like to extend this recognition to Delegate Sowell, who is here to recognize our district. To our mentors and parents who work tirelessly behind the scenes that keeps the team going. Recognizing our coaches, Mrs. Carroll, Coach Hwang, and Coach Rivas, who spent countless hours with us in the workshop to push our dreams and goals.

[00:29:03] I would also love to recognize my leadership team that made this year possible. Jasmine Krebsky, our mechanical lead, who engineered the best robot this team has seen in years. Anjali Patel and Sunita Adhikari, our co-electrical leads, who created an electrical board with Pristine. Farhan Udin and Aydana Abora, our programming co-leads, who made the impossible possible, with a dedication to program a robot with every safety fault on it.

[00:29:27] And to Maya Sarma and Melissa George, our business co-leads, who created, who started countless programs and had won the Impact Award, the most prestigious award that can be granted an FRC for two years in a row, and the one we are recognized here today for, Engineering Inspiration.

[00:29:43] I would also like to recognize the rest of the team here today. Alex Jomboski, our Impact Video Editor. Logan Brown and Tristan Nguyen, our Senior Driver Team. Sean Patel and Jasmine Mao, our Freshman Driver Team. Ethan Palmer, our next business lead, Gabby Agra and Michael Caladillas, our pit scouters, Jude Donker, Aditi Perry, and Jason Nguyen, our strong mechanical members, Maria Jerez, Samuel Garcia, Uriel Camasa, and Isa Rojas, our brilliant electrical members, and Opal T, our excellent business member.

[00:30:17] This team may have three minutes to be recognized, but we are 2,000 hours of volunteering across the county. We are a team who has impacted the lives of children through FLL domestically with the mini jackets and internationally with Roteca para Todas. We are a team who are able to impact 50-plus girls by showing them that STEM is a girl thing, and 88% of them plan to pursue STEM in the future.

[00:30:38] We are a team who advocates for Title I schools through Senate Bill 5 to provide a $10,000 grant for these schools. We're a robotics team with the privilege to have competed in our world championship in Houston, Texas because of our focus to our community and change that is reflected upon our robot and our members.

[00:30:54] As we played our last match of the season, it had ended on a tie. Watching the display, I could only think as their president and their driver coach that although this year, I would say represents our girls the best, I would like the future endeavors of the Metal Jackets to take the last game as a reflection for the next years and decide to be the tiebreakers on the field.

[00:31:13] that this is not the end of an amazing season, but the beginning of the amazing future the metal jackets are bound to have. Thank you.

[00:31:29] - Congratulations, Osborne Park. The Coles District would also like to recognize the Colgan High School VEX Team 20164X as tournament champions at the state championship.

[00:31:47] Tonight, we are fortunate to have Jenna Minks and Hannah Yim, seniors on the team, along with Coach Dr. Troy Minks, Assistant Coach Becky Moore, Principal Dr. Tim Healy, gosh, and Assistant Principal Dr. David Parrish.

[00:32:04] Coach Minks, would you care to share a few words on this occasion? - Yeah, just a few words. So we only have three of the students here tonight, but Colgan actually supported about 40 students. VEX Robotics, you actually break the teams into about four to six member teams.

[00:32:21] So we had eight teams at Colgan. Five of those teams actually went to states, this team. won states, they also got an award at nationals, and they did pretty good at Worlds. They put up a good fight. I was very, very proud of them. I think they did a great job.

[00:32:36] You already announced them, but just one more time, Hannah Yim, Jenna Mink, and Ronald Liu are here tonight, but again, they were part of a much larger team. And I do just want to echo your comments. I work for a fairly large engineering organization.

[00:32:56] I volunteer at Colgan. The reason I do so is because it's fun. Of course, students love it. But it is the best program, these robotics programs, I think are the best programs for recruiting students. The number of students I've seen kind of come in lukewarm and then get involved, the competition, the teamwork is fantastic.

[00:33:14] Plus, it starts preparing them technically for STEM careers. So it's a phenomenal program, appreciate all the support. Dr. Healy, Becky, that have supported the program, it's great, thank you very much.

[00:33:30] - Wonderful, and I'll take a point of privilege here because a couple of my students were at Colgan and coached by Dr. Mink and I appreciate his volunteer efforts and all the parents who support our robotics teams. It is the reason why robotics is so successful because we have tremendous parents and I know he's been doing this for well over, I don't know, close to 10 years.

[00:33:53] And if we didn't have parents and folks who work with our school divisions to help support our children, we wouldn't be anywhere. and we have a first class robotics program in Prince William County, as evidenced by the terrific students we're standing in front of and sitting in front of this evening tonight.

[00:34:09] So one more round of applause for all them, all the coaches, all of the parents. It's my pleasure next to introduce Mr. Jesse of the great Occoquan District to recognize our next winner. Mr. Jesse, Mike.

[00:34:26] - Thank you, sir. The Occoquan District would like to recognize the Lake Ridge Middle School Charlie team for winning the Flight Operation Aerial Drone Competition. And I was there when they won that.

[00:34:42] I had on a Woodbridge High School jersey, but these kids beat the high school in a runoff. So I'm really excited about that.

[00:35:00] The Charlie team flew a 300, scored a 300, placing in the top 10% of the nation. Dr. Lateef, can you please introduce our coaches - And administrators. - So this, correct me if I'm wrong, someone out there, this is our first time we're doing drone?

[00:35:19] - It is. - This is a, so let's be clear, this is a drone competition of drone robotics that Prince William County is sort of on the cutting edge of having drone competitions in our school division, and we're doing it with middle schoolers.

[00:35:35] Am I correct? - Correct. - This is incredible. So tonight we are fortunate to have Coach Heather Oden, assistant coach, Simone Payne, and principal, Dr. Jim Dutrow. Coach Oden, would you like to, would you care to introduce the students here you have tonight and share some words on this occasion?

[00:35:52] - I would, thank you. Thank you, Dr. McDade, school board, and especially a huge thank you to Dr. Dutrow. Mr. Dutrow, we love you. He might've suckered me into this, but we love him anyways. My pilot for my team is Lelia Harb. Flight and code expert is Ava.

[00:36:11] Co-pilot is Lelia, what? Co-coder, co-log is Amaris, and main coder is Zoe. We started this program officially in January. We went to two tournaments over.

[00:36:28] Lakeridge is wonderfully supported by our admin. We are able to get six teams, 24 students strong. We, the teams, all six, took a total of seven trophies between the two tournaments, four advanced to the national world levels, either, not worlds, but the national levels in either Chattanooga, Tennessee, or Fairmont, West Virginia.

[00:36:50] Charlie team did an amazing job and took the flight operations banner and trophy as number one in the tournament. And Lelia Harb is our pilot. She flew a 300, putting her in the top 10 in the nation as a sixth grader.

[00:37:08] and one of our other pilots we gotta we gotta bring a little girl love to the stage um one of our other pilots uh daniel payne he is also a sixth grader um in west virginia on team delta flew a 400 which put him as second place in the nation so prince william county was well represented and again thank you all for your continued support as you tell i'm doing a little bit of ad-libbing but you know we have another robotics program called sea perch which is underwater, I don't know if we're recognizing them tonight.

[00:37:48] We are, okay, good. So I'll save my good line for that. So next, to introduce our next award-winning team, I'd like to invite Ms. Erica Trudenik of the Brentsville District. Ms. Trudenik. - Thank you. The Brentsville District would like to recognize Patriot High School's robotics team for their first place win in real-world innovation poster at the Sea Perch International Challenge, an impressive performance at competition.

[00:38:12] Other awards earned include third place overall, third place technical design report, ninth place obstacle course, and second place mission course. The team is represented this evening by Principal Dr. Mike Bishop, Assistant Principal Christopher Brown, Coach Kenneth Keskel.

[00:38:30] Coach Keskel, please come to the podium, introduce students from Patriot, and speak on the behalf. - Good evening. Dr. Lateef, school board members, Dr. McDade, thank you very much for this opportunity. is my first year coaching Sea Perch at Patriot High School and as you said it's a worldwide underwater remotely operated vehicle it's robots that swim and I'd like to introduce our team we have the killer crabs we have Alex Kim our captain Hayden Trexel he's our driver and we have Hannah Jensen who is our engineer and all three of these are juniors so they're going to be back next year

[00:39:09] with over 3 000 teams that competed in various regional competitions patriot had three teams that made it to the national competition and the killer crabs ended up taking first place in one of the technical events called the real real world innovation and what they did is they designed they used their sea perch robot in order to try to mitigate water pollution they took their robot designed their own 3d motorized claw put navigation lights on it went out into one of the common creeks here in prince william county and started collecting

[00:39:45] garbage with their rov and it's the same rov that they ended up using in their competition so not only are they learning all these engineering competencies but they're also saving our planet that's like a win-win so on behalf of our principal dr bishop uh we thank you to the school board members we had seven teams compete and the three that went to nationals we ended up actually taking a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth, an eighth, and a ninth place at the international competition, including their first place team.

[00:40:18] And these three students here, these are just some outstanding young men and women that I know are going to make our world a better place. So thank you very much for the opportunity to be here. And we'll be back next year.

[00:40:34] Those are wonderful words, Coach. I really appreciate it. And so I want to say, let it be known worldwide that Prince William County students own the robots under the water, on the ground, and in the air.

[00:40:49] And if you want to compete, you better be able to compete with us. Thank you guys so much. That was amazing. Thank you and congratulations to all tonight. Our robotics and STEM initiative specialist, Denise Carroll, is with us as well.

[00:41:07] Congratulations, Ms. Carroll. She's one of the pillars that holds up the robotics program that brought us so far, and we can't be more grateful. I'd like to thank and ask the family members, and family members in our audience of our honorees to please stand and be recognized.

[00:41:38] At this time, I'd like to request our honorees to come forward for a photo with the school board and receive a small token of our appreciation. We'll take one photo with Colgan first, or no, what are we doing? Colgan and Oz? Okay, so we'll do, so just listen to Diana. We'll do Colgan first, Osmore Park, then Patriot, then Lakeridge, so we're gonna do one with each.

[00:41:56] Thank you.

[00:44:52] - Everybody, big smiles, guys.

[00:49:45] - Okay, that was wonderful. Congratulations again to our robotics teams as they continue to keep Prince William Public Schools on the map for excellence in robotics. Speaking of excellence, the board wishes to acknowledge that PWCS has been recognized by the National Association of Music Merchants, or NAM, as one of the best communities for music education in the fifth year in a row.

[00:50:09] That deserves a round of applause folks. I am very impressed and continue to be with the extensive list of accomplishments by our music education teachers and their students. For example, this year 19 Prince William County school students auditioned and earned a spot in the Southern Region Honor Choirs as part of the 2024 American Choral Directors Association, ACDA, in the Southern Region Conference.

[00:50:41] Five Prince William County students auditioned and earned a spot in the organization of American Caudalie Educators. How do I say? - Caudie. - No, that's Caudie, I don't know. Educators Okie, the National Children's Choir and Youth Trouble Choir.

[00:50:56] Students performed at the Chicago Symphony Center, Dr. McDade, where two of them were even chosen to be featured as small group soloists. The Osborne Park High School Madrigals and their director, Dominic Izzo, and finalists, our finalists, in the American prize competition for choral performance in the high school division.

[00:51:17] 118 Prince William County students qualified for an All-Virginia ensemble. 53 high school students qualified for the 2024 All-Virginia Band Chorus and Orchestra. 49 middle school students made the 2024 All-Virginia Middle School Honor Choir.

[00:51:35] And 16 elementary students made the 2024 All-Virginia Elementary Chorus. the Marsteller Eighth Grade Bass Select Choir under the direction of choral directors Philip Kirstead and Julie Phelan and Colgan High School's Chamber Choir under the direction of Carrie Staley have been selected to perform at the annual Virginia Music Educators Association Conference in Norfolk this November.

[00:52:02] Mr. Wilk, will you share more information about our amazing musicians? And let's give a round of applause actually for that list. - Thank you, Dr. Lateef. - I love the enthusiasm. So nine schools from our Prince William County Public Schools received the Virginia Music Educators Association, the Blue Ribbon Award from the VMEA.

[00:52:26] This award is the highest award given to school's music programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia and recognizes excellence achieved in band, orchestra, and choral performance. To qualify for this award, all disciplines in a school must receive a rating of superior at their respective state music performance assessments.

[00:52:45] Tonight, we have representatives from all schools who have earned this honor. From the Forest Park High School, we have choral director, director, Lara Britton, orchestra director, Benjamin Pereira, band director, Nicholas Rowe, and assistant principal, Dr. Diane Maloney.

[00:53:05] And also from the Potomac District, a Blue Ribbon Award winner, the Potomac Shores Middle School, Band Directors, Ryan Burr, Miles Matalavich, Orchestra Director, Amy Ruhlman, Choir Directors, Emily Davies, and Andrew Kerper.

[00:53:20] And they are represented tonight with by Principal Kanika Dorsey. - Thank you, Mr. Wilk, and congratulations. Miss Wall, please introduce our music educators from the Blue Ribbon Schools in the wonderful Gainesville District.

[00:53:41] - Thank you, Chairman Lateef. From Battlefield High School, please recognize Band Director, Michael Britcher, Principal, Dolores Lucas, and administrative intern, Camus Street. - Congratulations, Battlefield High School.

[00:53:59] Mr. Denik, please recognize your award-winning musicians. - From Blue Ribbon School, Marsteller Middle School, it's my pleasure to recognize Orchestra Director, Danielle Bowers, Band Director, Shannon Fairbank, and administrative intern, Alex Gray.

[00:54:14] And from Patriot High School, Choir Director, Elizabeth Selby, Orchestra Director, Katie Highfill, and Principal, Dr. Michael Bishop. Gainesville High School is also a Blue Ribbon School and they are represented by Assistant Principal Troy Washington.

[00:54:35] - Thank you, Ms. Tredenik, and congratulations. Ms. Zargarpur. - It is my pleasure to recognize Osborne Park High School and Choral Director Dominic Izzo, Orchestra Director Stephen Kelsey, Band Director Ashley Redabaugh, and Principal, wow, doctor already, huh?

[00:54:52] Principal Lisa Marie Cain. I'm telling you, all the typos are in my script. Also, Colgan High School is a Blue Ribbon Award and they are represented by Principal Dr. Tim Healy and Assistant Principal Dr. David Parrish. Congratulations.

[00:55:11] - Congratulations, and Mr. Jesse from the Occoquan District. - Woodbridge High School is also a Blue Ribbon Award winner for their music performance. Dr. Lateef, can you please introduce our guests? - Sure, congratulations to the Woodbridge Band Director, Emily Matalavaj, yeah, yeah, Matalavaj, and Orchestra Director Taryn Wood and Assistant Principal Michelle Sullivan.

[00:55:39] The final Performing Arts team from the Department of Student Learning in attendance include Dr. Anne Marie Bolino, Jasmine Hawkins, and Michelle Milligan. I'd like to invite the Prince William County Supervisor of the Arts, Dr. Bolino, to speak about the importance of this milestone in musical arts community here in Prince William County.

[00:55:58] - Thank you, and good evening, Dr. Lateef, members of the board, and Dr. Medaid. I'm always delighted to be here with you to share our arts program accomplishments. Tonight's honor is incredibly special because we celebrate the collective achievement of our programs, our students, teachers, and also the support of our amazing community.

[00:56:16] The prestigious honor from the NAMM Foundation as a best community isn't possible without our talented music educators, our awesome students, strong building leaders, vibrant community, school board, and senior leadership who support strong arts education practices and celebrate our efforts.

[00:56:33] My colleagues, Michelle Milligan and of course, Jasmine Hawkins, we work tirelessly behind the scenes to support these awesome, awesome people behind me. And I'm just always so impressed when I'm in music education classrooms and I see our teachers just sharing their love of music, their passion for music, and then providing a space for that musical excellence to flourish, which you have heard and seen tonight.

[00:56:59] And what many of you may not even know is that we actually have two former PWCS students who are on the Billboard Top 100 right now. So, how cool, right? So, in closing, the Best Community War, it's not just earned by one person or one group of people or one school.

[00:57:21] It's the combined efforts of our entire Prince William County Public Schools community. And I'm really proud to be able to share in this honor with everyone. Thank you. We also have a flag that we can proudly fly in our pictures and maybe in our atrium somewhere.

[00:57:43] So we didn't bring the band, it's not quite as large as what the science students have, but you know, we got something. - Thank you, Dr. Bellino. And thank you to our wonderful and supportive community who make PWCS a destination for music education.

[00:57:58] At this time, I'd like to request our honorees to come forward with a photo with the school board and receive a small token of our appreciation. We'll begin with Forest Park in Potomac Shores, followed by Battlefield, Marsteller, Patriot, and Gainesville. Our third, I'm gonna have Diana, she'll listen to her, but our third photo will include

[00:58:13] Woodbridge, Osborne Park, and Colgan.

[01:03:52] Thank you, yeah, oh, where are we next? So, all right, wonderful. For our next recognitions, everyone, and thank you, everyone, for your patience, but this is one of the greatest parts of this, serving on this board and in this community.

[01:04:07] So this is wonderful. For our next recognitions, I turn to the wonderful Gainesville district representative, Ms. Jen Wall. - Thank you, Dr. Lateef. The federal green ribbon school program recognizes environmentally friendly schools and districts that promote environmental awareness, energy efficiency, community engagement and student wellness.

[01:04:27] Prince William County's public schools earned this award in the school division category in 2021 and Freedom High School was named a Green Ribbon School in 2023. Coles Elementary School was also named a Green Ribbon School in 2015. The US Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona, announced Mullen Elementary School as a 2024 Green Ribbon School.

[01:04:52] Mullen Elementary is represented tonight by Principal Jennifer Hoffauer. And Principal Hoffauer, I invite you to share a few words with us this evening. - Thank you so much. - There you are, okay. - Good evening, Chairman Lateef, Vice Chairwoman Zargarpur, members of the school board and Dr. McDade.

[01:05:08] Thank you for the opportunity to stand before you this evening in recognition of the outstanding staff, students, and families at Mullen Elementary School. Mullen Elementary School is so proud to be named one of the only two schools in the Commonwealth as a 2024 Green Ribbon School.

[01:05:23] Commitment to in the PWCS Vision 2025 Launching Thriving Future strategic plan ensures our school buildings are welcoming, safe and sustainable. Mullen Elementary strives to demonstrate this commitment by reducing environmental impact and costs improving health and wellness and providing effective environmental education. For the last four years Mullen Elementary School has been an international baccalaureate school. In an IB school action is considered to be both an application of learning and an opportunity for students to engage in a form of contribution or service. Action gives students the opportunity to make a significant contribution to their local

[01:06:01] and global communities. It is a core component of IB and offers learners the ability to see that they can not only make a meaningful contribution to the world around them but also to be change makers. This has developed into a sense of environmental stewardship and ecological responsibility in our building between staff and students. Through the efforts of our school's green team led by the fourth grade student Gloria Bamford, custodial manager Francisco Bonilla-Racinos and gifted teacher Janice Pfeiffer. In collaboration with PWCS Energy Sustainability Coordinator Jeanne Jabara, we actively promote the environmental stewardship.

[01:06:38] Our team engages in daily composting and recycling to reduce the school's waste. Additionally, we raise awareness about the conservation by encouraging simple practices such as turning off lights and smart boards as part of our division's energy challenge. Lastly, our dedicated staff, including fourth grade teacher, Ms. Melissa Urbannik, capitalized on teachable moments throughout the day to emphasize the importance of our actions in making positive, lasting contributions to our local and global communities.

[01:07:07] While this is just a snapshot of the many actions Mullen supports, it showcases our commitment to sustainability for our school and beyond. Once again, on behalf of Mullen Elementary School, thank you for taking time to recognize our efforts this evening. Thank you Principal Hoffauer for those wonderful words.

[01:07:30] - Thank you, Ms. Wall. Mr. Tracy Blake from the amazing Neabsco District, I believe you have the next honor. - Thank you, Dr. Lateef. The Neabsco District is proud to recognize Dell City Elementary School as a recipient of the 2024 Green Ribbon School, one of only two schools in Virginia, both from Prince William County Schools, were chosen for this award.

[01:07:54] The U.S. Department of Education recognized Dell City and Mullen based on high achievement in three U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School pillars. Reducing environmental impact and costs, improving health and wellness, and providing effective environmental education.

[01:08:14] Tonight we have Principal Brian Slater and fifth grade science teacher Keaton Beaumont, representing Dale City Elementary. I would like to invite either of you to speak on behalf of this achievement. - Thank you, Mr. Blake.

[01:08:29] Chairman Lateef, Vice Chairman Zargarpur, And members of the school board and Dr. McDade, thank you for the opportunity to stand before you this evening in recognition of the amazing school community we have at Dale City Elementary School. We're extremely proud and honored to be named one of only two schools, along with our own Mellon Elementary School, and the Commonwealth as a 2024 Green Ribbon School.

[01:08:53] Dale City Elementary is a special place. It's filled with incredible teachers and staff willing to do whatever's necessary for our students. Aligned with commitment one, two, and three and the Prince William County Schools Vision 2025 Launching Thriving Future Strategic Plan, the green ribbon recognition is a testament to the high levels of equitable learning opportunities at Dale City, the infectious, positive climate and culture that runs through our school community, and the connections we've fostered with our families and community partners.

[01:09:24] We're extremely proud of the sustainable efforts taking place within our school, whether it's our outdoor classrooms and nature trail that lead to a perennial stream, our daily composting waste reduction program, our student-led garden, and our after-school science club with 50 to 60 students, as well as over the 100 pounds of plastic bags collected this school year alone.

[01:09:46] Our students experience all facets of sustainability. Finally, I wanna thank Mr. Beaumont for all his efforts and work towards this recognition. Without him, this would not have been possible. Also, to Jeannie Jabrara for her time and energy and support over the past few years.

[01:10:03] And finally, thank you to Keep Prince William County beautiful and the PWCS Parks and all of our other community partners for all your support in maintaining our wonderful outside trail. On behalf of Dale City Elementary School, thank you for your time and effort to recognize us and the incredible staff, students, and community.

[01:10:19] Thank you. - Thank you and congratulations. It's also my honor to recognize the Neabsco Elementary School for being awarded the Continuous Improvement Award under the Virginia Department of Education boards Exemplar School Recognition Program.

[01:10:45] This is a well-deserved award that recognizes the immense work being done at Neabsco. As the winners of this award are based on the increases in performance in math, reading, and/or science from the 2022 through 2023 school year data.

[01:11:02] Neabsco Elementary School is represented tonight by Principal Brooke Levechi and the following staff members. Charles Bud Mellon, Beth Morin, Jessica Monahan, Nyla Matute, Sasha Barnett, Brooks Soders, Arnita Best, Cynthia Lindsey, and Ubir Daba.

[01:11:33] I'm sorry, and Carolyn Matthews, I'm sorry. Mr. Viveki, please say a few words on behalf of this award. - Thank you school board members for this recognition. We are proud to receive this award and recognize our staff and students for our collective work towards learning and achievement for all.

[01:11:52] Over the past years, the staff at Neabsco has worked to grow students and build solid instructional foundations that meet the needs of all learners. Our efforts, grounded in data-driven practices and research-based interventions, have led to significant improvements in our student performance. We have witnessed remarkable growth in our student subgroups, a testament to all staff's dedication, hard work, and unwavering support.

[01:12:15] A significant part of the work achievement of this award was done by closely monitoring and advocating for our English language learners and our students with disabilities. By working closely with teachers, coaches, and support staff to utilize targeted interventions and monitor progress, we have been able to provide these students with personalized learning options needed to make strong academic growth.

[01:12:36] As a school, we partner with families. We focus on individual students' needs, ensuring that families have a seat at the table and each child deserves the attention and structural resources they need to thrive. The amazing team of teachers and staff, thank you for doing whatever it takes to ensure all of our students are making academic progress.

[01:12:54] Your dedication, passion, perseverance, and willingness to adapt and innovate has driven our student success. You have shown that by working together and staying focused on our mission of partnering with families and closing the achievement gaps in reading and math, we can overcome any challenge and achieve great things for all students.

[01:13:12] I also want to extend a heartfelt thank to our incredible coaches. Your support with instruction and intervention has been invaluable. You provide our teachers with tools, strategy, data progress monitoring, importantly, encouragement they need to ensure every student can succeed. Your dedication to fostering a culture of continuous improvement has truly made a difference for the Neapso School community.

[01:13:33] I also want to express gratitude to those who have supported our tutoring programs before and after school. Many of our students and staff come in early and stay late, demonstrating their commitment to education. This additional support has been crucial in helping our students make significant academic gains.

[01:13:48] NEAPSCO staff has committed to going above and beyond for our students and providing them with extra instructional practices they need while building relationships and having high expectations for all. As the inspiring educator, Rita Pearson once said, "Every child deserves a champion, "an adult who will not give up on them, "who understands the power of connection "and insists that they become the best that they can be."

[01:14:10] Let us at NEAPSCO continue to be champions for our students, nurturing their potential and guiding them toward our district's collective vision that every student will graduate on time with the knowledge, skills, the habits of the mind and necessary to create a thriving future for themselves and their community.

[01:14:29] Members of the school board, thank you once again for this incredible honor and we are excited to build on our success and continue our journey of excellence and growth at Neopsco Elementary School. - Thank you, Principal Lavecci, congratulations.

[01:14:46] - Thank you, Principal Lavecci about those amazing words and we really, you know, congratulations. first-class operation over there, and I can't thank you enough, and we really appreciate the effort you do for all the kids over there. You guys are amazing, and congratulations again to Neabsco Elementary.

[01:15:03] To our, thank you, Mr. Blake, and congratulations again to both our 2024 Green Ribbon Schools and the Absco Elementary for the Continuous Improvement Award by the VDOE. At this time, I'd like to request our honorees to come forward. Before I do that, I think, is Jeanne Jabara there?

[01:15:19] Do I see her, Jeanne? She's retiring, right? - Okay, well, let's give her a round of applause because we heard her name a number of times from our schools for the support she does for our amazing sustainability program across the county.

[01:15:35] And we couldn't have built a better program without you and the support of that entire office. It has been incredible and it's been an incredible journey since 2018. This has been amazing and you guys do a great work. So congratulations and best wishes on your retirement.

[01:15:55] So we will have, we'll do photos and we'll begin with our Green Ribbon Schools and then with our Continuous Improvement Award winner.

[01:16:02] Okay.

[01:17:17] - Let me take one, let me take one for our team.

[01:17:20] Just for our team, thank you.

[01:20:31] - Thank you and congratulations again. We now turn to Ms. Wall for recognition of our Distinguished Khan Fellow Awards. - Thank you, Dr. Lateef. The Khan Fellows Program recognizes and supports excellence in education supporting effective school leaders the fellowship offers principles opportunities for professional intellectual and personal growth as con fellows each principal will participate in a one-year program centered around authentic challenges and measurable outcomes within the con professional development model on behalf of the gainesville district it is my pleasure to recognize our con

[01:21:09] distinguished fellows for 2024-25 congratulations to principal heather good from sinclair elementary school principal good began her career as an educator in 1993 serving as a kindergarten teacher at lochlamond elementary school over the years she has held various positions in pwcs including instructional consultation team facilitator lead mentor intervention specialist and assistant principal since 2018 she has been the principal at sinclair elementary under her

[01:21:47] guidance the school received the virginia board of education highest achievement award recognizing excellence in student outcomes heather is here tonight with her husband somewhere in the audience congratulations principal heather good thank you miss wall mr richard jesse of the occoquan district will recognize our second con award recipient thank you dr latif the occoquan district is very proud to recognize Prince William County 2024 Outstanding Principal of the Year Jim Dutro from Lake Ridge

[01:22:25] Middle School for his acceptance in the in the cohort in the cohort as Cogan Distinguished Principal Fellowship for 2024-25. He began his educational career as a physical education teacher in Fairfax County in 2028 2020 2008 Dutro trans trans transition to Prince William County and served as a teacher on administrative assignment at Lake Ridge Middle School in 2011 he became the

[01:23:03] assistant principal at Potomac Middle School for one year before returning to Lake Ridge Middle School in 2012 to serve as assistant principal there Mr. Dutro continues to end that role until 2019 when he was promoted to the principal of Lake Ridge Middle Middle School under his leadership the school has received numerous national state and regional accolades notably he has been recognized as the best middle school by us news and world report and has achieved

[01:23:39] significant improvement in academic achievement and past rates on the standards of learning exam - Congratulations, Principal Jim Dutrow. - Dr. McDade.

[01:23:57] - Dr. Lateef, I would like to share, someone just sent me a really quick fun fact about Mr. Dutrow. So Mr. Dutrow also personally led and played on the Lake Ridge Middle School team in the PWCS Adult Kickball League, which won the league championship.

[01:24:16] - Five times. - Five times. Do we get our own picture with him and the kickball team or what, how does that work? All right, excellent. Thank you, Mr. Jesse and Dr. McDade. Ms. Lori Williams of the Woodbridge District couldn't be with us tonight.

[01:24:32] So it's my honor on behalf of Ms. Williams to recognize Porter Traditional Schools Principal, Caitlin Engelmeyer-Four, as the 2024-25 Khan Distinguished Principals Fellowship. Engelmeyer-Four began her career at Porter Traditional School in 2006 as a social studies teacher.

[01:24:52] She was later appointed assistant principal at the school, a role she held until 2018 when she was promoted to principal. During her principalship, Engelmeyer achieved national blue ribbon recognition based on overall academic excellence and progress toward closing the achievement gaps among academic student groups.

[01:25:12] Under her leadership, US News & World Report ranked Porter the number one middle school in Virginia based on performance on state required assessments. Congratulations, Principal One, to all our distinguished Khan Fellows. At this time, I'd like to request our honorees to come forward for a photo with the school board

[01:25:28] and receive a small token of our appreciation.

[01:26:59] All right. When, moving on to the next one, when Dr. McDade was named Regent Four Superintendent a year earlier this school year, PWCS was informed of a student scholarship that accompanied this honor. Dr. McDade, please introduce our special guest this evening.

[01:27:16] - Thank you, Dr. Lateef. I would like to invite Kenny Word, Business Development Manager at RRMM Architecture to present a special student scholarship. Mr. Ward, can you please come forward and share a few words about this scholarship?

[01:27:31] - Yes, absolutely. So yes, my distinct privilege to drive around the state on an annual basis and give away money. That's what I do. - Yes, woo! - And actually, you know, it's our honor to honor, to recognize all of the regional superintendents of the year.

[01:27:48] It is our way of giving back to the community, but also recognizing these great educators for all that they do for their respective districts and their students. So of course, again, let's recognize Dr. McDade as Region 4 Superintendent of the Year.

[01:28:06] And I'd like to invite Isabella Versano up to, she's gonna pass the award on to Isabella. Round of applause for Isabella. She's gonna be attending. - It's a secret. - I went to UVA, so I was trying to recruit her, but it didn't work.

[01:28:25] But Dr. McDade, could I get a picture with you In front of the board here, could we do that? - I think, are we doing the whole board? You guys, why don't you,

[01:28:35] why don't you guys take a picture, that's great.

[01:29:12] Full board, okay, sure.

[01:30:30] All right, before concluding our last Thriving Futures Focus for the school year, Dr. McDade, would you like to share a few words? - Yes, thank you so much, Dr. Lateef. Our students are excelling, our teachers are phenomenal, our administrators are outstanding.

[01:30:46] Congratulations to our amazing scientists who are making the difference in our future. It's really incredible to see PWCS students having such an impact on the world right now. I wanna congratulate Rania Lateef, the District 5 Virginia History Day contest winner and the state level winner of the Asian American History Award.

[01:31:03] Also, what about our robotics teams? They were absolutely incredible. To Patriot, Osborne Park, Colgan High School, Lake Ridge Middle School robotics teams, congratulations on your significant achievements this year. PWCS really is the pinnacle for robotics competition.

[01:31:20] Across the division our teams are consistently placing in the top rankings year after year. So to earn first place in this competitive environment was no easy feat and I want to congratulate all of our teams. Also being named National Association of Music Merchants Best Communities for Music Education for the fifth year in a row shows the far reaching excellence in PWCS.

[01:31:41] The two recognitions, robotics and music combined, highlight our work in really cultivating the PWCS profile of a graduate. Tonight shows how PWCS is elevating student achievement and the arts as well as our schools and administration. I'm so incredibly proud of Dale City and Mullen.

[01:31:58] We had a strategic plan goal to have five green ribbon schools and when I came before the board and the broader community to share progress on our strategic plan, we hadn't met that goal and I am happy to say that now we are there because we got Freedom last year.

[01:32:15] We have Mullen in Dale City, and then we also had Coles from 2015, so we are well on our way to reaching our goals for Green Ribbon status. I'm proud of Neabsco Elementary School and the work that they've done, getting honored with the Continuous Improvement Award winner.

[01:32:32] That staff is incredible. They work so hard, and so I'm so proud of their work under the leadership of Principal Lavecki. And of course, our Khan Distinguished Principles Fellows really puts PWCS in a national space and having distinguished leaders that'll be working alongside their peers nationally and really recognizing the strong leadership that's coming out of PWCS.

[01:32:56] So big congratulations to our fellows this year. And a big thank you to RRMM Architecture for their investment in our students' future. RRMM, beyond the scholarship that was awarded here tonight to Isabella, They're one of our strongest partners working with Spark and they've made significant investments in our school system over the years.

[01:33:17] And so I want to thank them as well. And it's really a shining example of how our community and business partners are committed to Prince William County schools and investing in our students' future. So congratulations to everyone. Thank you to all of our partners.

[01:33:32] This is really what a phenomenal way to end the school year celebrating student success. - Thank you, Dr. McDade. Let's give one more last round of applause. - That was outstanding. You know, and I'm glad you pointed out, you know, it is not easy and the competition is fierce whenever you leave this county and across the state and across the nation.

[01:33:53] So again, congratulations. We look forward to next year's Thriving Futures Focus. Okay, folks, moving on next to our 12.01, adoption of consent agenda, motions in order. Ms. Zargarpur. - Mr. Chairman, I move that the Prince William County School Board approve the public meeting consent agenda as recommended.

[01:34:11] - Do I have a second? Ms. Wall. - Mr. Chairman. - I second. - Any discussion? Please vote.

[01:34:30] - The vote is seven yes, one absent. Williams, motion passed. - Okay, moving on 1301, a motion's in order. Ms. Zargarpur. - Mr. Chairman, oh boy, this is a special one. I move that the Prince William County School Board approve the resolution commanding the clerk of the school board, B. Simpson.

[01:34:50] - Do I have a second? Ms. Wall, discussion. Ms. Zargarpur. - I'd like to, can I read the resolution tonight? All right, you ready for this?

[01:35:04] Okay. Whereas B. Lukstadt-Simpson has served the Prince William County School Board with dedication and distinction, holding the position of clerk to the board from September 2020 to June 2024, whereas Mrs. Simpson has significantly contributed to the school board as deputy clerk since July 2015 and as executive secretary to the board for one year prior to that time, whereas her tenure includes nine years as the executive secretary to the associate superintendent for the Department of Human Resources, and over three years as the executive secretary to the director of HR, whereas Mrs. Simpson has

[01:35:41] demonstrated exceptional commitment in various roles, including executive secretary to the principal of Benton Middle School, teacher assistant, substitute teacher at the elementary school level, and office manager supporting an attorney, whereas she has diligently kept a record of the meetings and proceedings of the school board, providing valuable administrative support to its members, whereas Mrs. Simpson has exemplified dedication by working through 305 school board meetings, serving three different school boards and overseeing three different swearing-in ceremonies, whereas she has dedicated 30 years to exemplary service to students,

[01:36:17] families, staff, and community of Prince William County schools, now therefore be it resolved that the Prince William County School Board extends its deepest gratitude and appreciation to Bea Luxat Simpson for her unwavering commitment, hard work, outstanding service, and dedication to the Prince William County Public Schools Board and the broader PWCS community.

[01:36:42] Be it further resolved that this resolution be entered into the official records of the Prince William County Schools and that a copy hereof be presented to B. Lukstadt-Simpson as a token of the high esteem in which she is held by this school board and the community at large.

[01:37:00] Did we second that already? We second that. Discussion? Ms. Waller. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to just say a few words to our retiring school board clerk Bea Simpson. Bea, you have led a professional office with the utmost level of skill and you and your team are united in bringing a high level of customer service not only to us but to the school division and to the public. We've got three very difficult clientele bodies there and I know that is because of the leadership qualities that you bring to the table that your office has been successful. You've brought some very important

[01:37:39] improvements to the office in the years that you have been the school board clerk and through your insight and observations and willingness to listen to suggestions and problems and i really appreciate that willingness to problem solve and bring proposals and then put forward the proposals or see them through the office has improved so much over the time that you've been a leader so much over just 2020 to now and not to mention you've put up with a lot from us the public only knows the tiniest bit of that actually public probably doesn't know and i think you know each

[01:38:18] one of us probably vexed you at some point so i think you definitely deserve a wonderful retirement you will absolutely be missed um i want to wish you a wonderful retirement i know it's well deserved i know your family must be ecstatic knowing that they will be able to see a lot more more of you and I'm really gonna miss you.

[01:38:37] We're all gonna miss you. Wish you all the best. - Mr. Wilk and then Mr. Jess. - I didn't prepare a speech. And I know Ms. Williams is not here. She would probably have the, well, she would have the seniority of knowing you the longest on this board, but I guess I'm up here as the second longest and being with you for the last eight years has been, I guess we'll call it a pleasure.

[01:39:06] the fun we've had from policies, changes, boardroom filling and all this other good stuff that we've seen in the pleasures of life. You've been a vital component to our school system and our board.

[01:39:24] You know, some of the best memories are not necessarily the ones that have occurred out here with you. Having, I guess we'll say, during the pandemic, during the shutdown, being able to, I guess, hang out up here and getting to talk to you more about life and your family and all the stuff that means most important to you. This retirement is well-deserved. John, your family, they all deserve to have you back. And more involved, of course, I know you're an active grandma as it is, but now

[01:39:57] you don't have to worry about all this fun and you can go about your life. So I'll miss you. I love you and thank you so much. Mr. Jesse. B I just want to say that I haven't been on the board that long but I you know Lily and you the conversation you guys have and the fun and don't let me forget to give you the peanuts tonight before I forget that every time she went down south and she's from close to Newberry South Carolina where my wife grew up and we just went down there so we always

[01:40:36] bring each other peanuts on the way uh boiled peanuts but you know thank you thank you for giving me guidance and so forth and i know lily would love to to say and tell you how much she's going to miss you uh but we're going to keep calling you so have a good one and enjoyed it all and i appreciate you very much and it's an honor to be here with you um i think there's a video to queue up, Diana, from Lori Williams. Queue that up, please.

[01:41:11] Hi, B. I'm so sorry that I'm not there to celebrate you this evening, because you deserve all the best and more. I am so grateful that I've had the opportunity to work with you for the last decade, from your days in HR with Keith Johnson to present day being in the clerk's office. Thank you so much for all the hard work, time, and effort that you have put into modernizing and bringing innovation into the school board office and to all of our lives on the board. For always supporting us, keeping us on the straight and narrow, and being

[01:41:47] the most humble, kind, and sweetest person, especially in our times of need. I wish you all the best and so much more as you start your next chapter in retirement life, but don't think for a second you're going to get off that easy because I know you're going to come back and romp for us. So until that happens, I hope you enjoy all the peace and quiet away from us. Help us please find a replacement that can herd cats nearly as good as you because no one will top you ever. And again, I'm so thankful for everything, for our friendship, for our professional relationship,

[01:42:24] and I wish you all the best in your next chapter. I'll see you on the next go around, And congratulations again for your 30-year career with Prince William County Schools and for the last decade for helping me continue to be the amazing school board member that I am.

[01:42:43] Thank you and good luck. So I don't think the public realizes we don't have staff. We have the school board office, which when I was first elected, it was just two people.

[01:43:02] And then we were able to get a little more support. Um, so B you are like, um, I'm so sorry. I'm apologizing for anything I put you through. Um, you have been amazing to, for all of us, a great resource, uh, a great ear, um, someone who listens and reflects back.

[01:43:21] I've learned a lot from you and I'm going to miss you. Uh, we'll do lunch soon. Mr. Blake. B, I'm gonna miss you a lot. And I just want to thank you for making my transition onto this board, like as seamless as possible.

[01:43:38] You really helped out and helped with support, and I don't know who I'm gonna call now, but congratulations, enjoy your retirement. - Ms. Trudenik. - Thank you, Ms. B, for being so kind to us as we transitioned into this role, for being a human and talking to us about more than just this, and for being patient and sometimes reminding me what day it is.

[01:44:06] So thank you, and I appreciate it, and I hope your grandbabies get to enjoy all their time with you. - Okay, well, B Simpson, Thank you very much. You know, I, it's hard to, you know, I can echo every word that everyone else has set up here.

[01:44:25] You know, I got on this board and I was appointed at a time where there was a fair amount of dysfunction maybe on the school board and in the school division. And that was 2018. You were in that office.

[01:44:42] You helped guide us through that. You've guided us through elections, which are stressful times. No one could have predicted the pandemic and the work that we had to do to run meetings and run the office and run the school division during that time, add in the social unrest that came with George Floyd's murder.

[01:45:00] And then the, you know, the fact that we had to replace the superintendent in the middle of this pandemic. And it, you know, you helped us navigate all of these challenging times, you know, onboarding new members and doing this in a way that you've helped us also do the primary job of providing governance, accountability, transparency and helping us do that and helping us reform the things that we need to do to keep this office going and working well and for the public.

[01:45:33] And so, you know, I can't thank you enough and I fully support the resolution and all the efforts you've done for us and we wish you the best on your retirement. So thank you once again, please vote everyone.

[01:46:03] - The vote is seven yes, one absent Williams, motion passed. - So we'll ask, let me do a round of applause and let's take a picture with Bea Simpson.

[01:46:24] - Yeah.

[01:47:52] - Okay, moving on to 1302 acknowledgements, recognitions, a motion to order, Ms. Zargarpur. - Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the Prince William County School Board approve the acknowledgements and recognitions as recommended.

[01:48:08] - Do I have a second? - Mr. Chairman. - Ms. Wall, any discussion? Please vote. - Okay.

[01:48:41] - The vote is six yes, one abstained, Tradenek, one absent, Williams motion passed. Okay, moving on to citizen comment time. Those citizens sign up in advance, the clerk may address the school board this evening when they're called to the podium. The citizen comment period for regular school board meetings is one hour. Citizens may speak on agenda items or other topics germane to the operations and policies of PWCS.

[01:49:00] Please use proper decorum manners while at the podium or you'll be asked to step aside. We ask that the audience please be respectful of each speaker and refrain from any clapping, cheering or jeering to avoid disruption of the meeting. If you do not do so, the board will recess and I'll ask that the room be cleared to restore public order. Tonight we have four citizens signed up to speak.

[01:49:16] When I call your name, please come up to the podium and state your name and address for the record. I'll go ahead and call all four up if they would wish to move to the front. We have Kimberly Melman Orozco, Jessica Young, Daniel Diaz and Barbara Tate.

[01:49:36] Kimberly Melman Orozco first. - Good evening, my name is Dr. Kimberly Melman Orozco. My address is on file. What's not on file though is the name of the attorney that's getting ready to sue Prince William County.

[01:49:54] Any student that has been denied civil rights, IEP rights, special education rights, ADA, if there's a parent out there, and I'm speaking to everybody who's watching this, if you think your child has been denied services, please call the Brain Injury Rights Group, 1-800-927-IDEA.

[01:50:15] That's 1-800-927-IDEA. They are taking cases pro bono. There are so many parents who have experienced civil rights violations in this county. It is truly disheartening. I've spoken numerous times in the past.

[01:50:33] I begged for you to intervene. I'm not talking to the new members, but the previous board members, Dr. McDade. I begged for you to intervene. You didn't. So instead, within the last year, you talked about all your accomplishments. You should be proud of yourself that the VDOE has found you out of compliance and to have violated rights of kids with special education needs over a dozen times, found that you have a fundamental misunderstanding of your roles and responsibilities?

[01:51:03] Do you even know what the word civil rights means? It's freedom of political speech and social rights and equity. You talked about launching thriving futures. Yeah, Dr. Lateef, it's a great school system.

[01:51:21] if you are not a child with disabilities. We have dozens and dozens and dozens of parents that have documented how their child is being denied a free appropriate public education, and you have done nothing.

[01:51:38] Mrs. Zargarpur, you talked about how a lot of us don't realize that you don't have staff. I didn't realize you didn't have staff. You wanna know why? Is because when I met with Mr. Wilk, he brought somebody along with him that he led me to believe was a staff member.

[01:51:53] What that person did was record our conversation. You then called me to apologize. You also told me on that recording that it's no surprise to anyone and that everybody knows you dislike Dr. Lateef and you disagree with Dr. Lateef because you are a parent of a child with special education needs.

[01:52:16] For all those parents out there that are dealing with these denials of FAPE, I encourage you to call that law firm and talk about what's going on because I'm really believing that there's going to be a class action lawsuit. And 20 years ago, there was a child who filed a lawsuit for violations to ADA.

[01:52:36] The award was $6.7 million. How much money do you think is gonna be awarded against Prince William County? - Jessica Young.

[01:52:53] - Hi, my name is Jessica Young. My address is on file. I actually sent my comments to each of you on the board prior to this meeting so that you could have them for reference. While I could speak for days about my four kiddos, Tonight, I wanna focus on our son, Ryan, be his voice and advocate for him with the hope that it will bring change for many others in Prince William County Schools.

[01:53:18] Ryan Leo Young is our 12-year-old son who is nonverbal and autistic with his big blue eyes, countless freckles, beautiful smile and infectious laugh. He is currently in an autism classroom in middle school and with a one-on-one aide.

[01:53:36] He is learning on an iPad with a program called TouchChat to communicate. He is an awesome speller and we continue to model and teach him how powerful that technology is for his voice. Ryan will also make some verbal sounds, use a few gestures, and he knows the entire alphabet and many words in American Sign Language.

[01:53:54] Our concern is with current policies, as they refer to as one-on-one aid. We've been told the policy for hiring an aide is that the candidate needs to only check the generic boxes of the job description to be hired. Ryan is learning how to form sentences, use punctuation properly in grammar.

[01:54:09] It is not the policy of the school to pair him with a one-on-one with someone who is fluent in English. The person with him all day in school modeling how to use language on his talker, correcting and assisting with reading, writing, and math assignments one-on-one doesn't have to meet this requirement. I have two binders full of work that has no corrections, improper grammar, and things like that for this past school year, and the school's been notified.

[01:54:32] Our issue is that Ryan has an IEP, which is an individualized plan to facilitate his education based on his special needs associated with his disabilities. The school said the job description cannot include any additional specific requirements based on those needs. He is being taught the incorrect way over and over again, day after day.

[01:54:47] If you ever hung out with an autistic child, many love to hold on to the original way they learn things for years. The potential harm for the next year, he will have the same aid, I've been told, and the data showing his regression and lack of progress quarter after quarter this past year hasn't dictated any change. If his aid is one-on-one and only working with him every day, why can't they have additional qualifications under a specific job opening?

[01:55:08] If they can't find someone, then we should be able to find a school that can. Ryan knows ASL. He isn't fluent, but he's learning every day to increase communication. We wanna enroll him in an ASL class, but when we asked if his aide would then be required to know ASL, the school said no. The policy is that they would only provide an interpreter if he is deaf or hard of hearing.

[01:55:27] At this point, it's better to not teach him so he isn't sitting every day frustrated that no one knows what he's saying. How can we change this for special needs children that aren't deaf but need the ASL to speak? The school boasts a total communication approach, allowing him to provide data for goals using his preferred method of communication, but no one is required to understand his method.

[01:55:46] The next policy that we wanna review for special needs students is the policy for classroom observation. With Ryan having new everything this year and not being able to effectively or consistently communicate his data, we requested to observe one full day or two half days of his schedule at the beginning of the school year. - Thank you, Ms. Young.

[01:56:03] - Daniel Diaz. - Hi, my name is Daniel Diaz. I'm currently a senior at Colgan High School. My address is 14944 Amaranth Court, Woodbridge, Virginia.

[01:56:19] And I just want to thank you guys for the opportunity to speak to you. I've seen a lot of you guys before, and I'm here to talk about Colgan's integrated PE program and the change it's done for me and a lot of other students. I graduated on Friday, and I recognize you from being at my graduation.

[01:56:37] And one of the things we talked about was legacy and Colgan culture and the effect that a really well-done program can have on not only general education kids, but special education kids. I've been working with Special Olympics, integrated programs, FinFriends, our Colgan Unified program for up to five years now.

[01:56:58] I've been a Special Olympics coach for five years, and recently, just this year, I was part of the founding members of our Unified PE program at Colgan. I even did my AP Capstone case study on our program at Colgan. We have such a successful framework we've put in.

[01:57:15] All of you guys who have come out, you've seen it. You've seen the actual change that happens. not only to our students, but to our special education students. It has statistical benefits for our general education and special education students for these integrated programs. This year was just our first year, and I was able to interview every single general education student who participated in this class, and they said that class was the highlight of their four years at Colgan.

[01:57:41] These were all seniors opposed to four. The four juniors who were in the class are now coming back and say, this is the best thing they've ever done because of the change it has on us, students in general education, and the statistical benefit it has on students, not only inside of their high school education, but outside.

[01:57:59] It has critical thinking skills, post high school implementable skills, you know, actual workplace ethic ability, and it teaches us students how to adapt on the spot. It helps us teach students and helps us overcome and create a community of inclusivity.

[01:58:18] Kolgan is renowned for their FinFriends community. I mean, if you've been, there's seriously no place like it. And we want to get this into other schools. One thing I've seen working in special education, volunteering for these programs, there's not enough teenagers out here. There's a significant gap in teenage involvement.

[01:58:36] And if we can use Kolgan and some of these successful programs like our unified PE program, our FinFriends program, possibly implement those, the strategies we use to recruit kids, get them involved, If we can implement those into other county programs, other high schools, you'll see the same benefit that it's had on me.

[01:58:54] The way it's changed my life can change other teenagers' lives. Not only change their life, but get them involved in volunteer programs. It helps everyone. All you need to do is take a look at our program. So please, guys, come out to Colgan. It's a fantastic place for these kids. I encourage you to come out.

[01:59:10] Thank you for your time. Barbara Tate. Hi, my name is Barbara Tate, and my address is on file. You may remember my speech against approving the Code of Behavior a few short weeks ago, how it was written.

[01:59:27] However, I'm back again. I'm back again to tell you that we are still failing. The Code of Behavior continues to be implemented based on what administrators are feeling that day. Remember how I discussed with you that there was this bullying incident at my son's school, Potomac Shores Middle School? And my son intervened.

[01:59:44] Because, again, where are the staff? Where are the adults? So my son intervened. He didn't tell us. That's going to be important to what I'm about to tell you. On Friday, I was called by administrators at Potomac Shores Middle School, letting me know my son was there and a threat assessment was being done.

[02:00:01] My son is on a knee scooter for reference, something that happened outside of school, so he's unable to walk or bear any weight. A classmate of his, while my son was completely unprovoked, not engaging with the student, sitting there doing his work, this is the teacher's version, not my son's, told my son she's gonna knock him off of his knee scooter and break his other leg to put him in a wheelchair.

[02:00:26] go ahead, don't drop your mouth yet, 'cause that's not even the midst of it. On top of that, this little disturbed child in the making decided her premeditated threats were gonna continue.

[02:00:41] She continued to say how she was gonna kill my son. She is going to, at our community pool, by the way, she lives in our community, she is going to come through and push my son into the pool, hold his head under water to drown and kill him.

[02:00:59] You know how many days that we thought was a good idea for her to be suspended for? One, one day of in-school suspension. He got to meet her on the way out, walking out, because they thought it was a good idea to let her go out and potentially harm other kids.

[02:01:17] So we were told Monday classes can't change because it's the remainder of the school year. It's gonna be too much of an inconvenience to the administrators to do that. So guess what? My son's refusing to go to school. Shocking, right? He would like to continue to live as would we.

[02:01:32] so it's an inconvenience for everybody my son's defenseless but in august it'll be better because he'll be able to walk and he can defend himself so it is the survival of the fittest and we do hope that can change but for the six of you that voted to pass it and put the rubber stamp on the code of behavior let's get out our pens you owe it to us to start changing it now we i heard you all say it's a living breathing document just a few short weeks ago so let's let's get straight over here and say how we can implement it across the board because what happens at Potomac Shores Middle School should be the same thing that happens at

[02:02:10] Potomac Middle School the same consequence that happens at Grand Park Middle School all throughout the county so let's not let this be another devastating tragedy that happens nationwide in schools thank you thank you moving on to 1501 office of chief information officer VSBA legislative positions, actions.

[02:02:35] This time, Dr. McDade, turn it over to you. - Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to introduce Matt Guilfoyle, who is our Chief Information Officer, and he will provide a brief update on proposed submissions to the Virginia School Board Association legislative priorities for the upcoming school year.

[02:02:53] - Yes, good evening, School Board. So this evening, we're bringing to you potential legislative positions for the Virginia School Boards Association. So these are not Prince William County's legislative positions. will be brought to you in september this is an opportunity for us to submit to the virginia school boards association positions by which their membership can take up for consideration this fall for potential inclusion in the vsba legislative positions that would take effect for the upcoming general assembly in january so in order to propose those to vsba we need the board's endorsement

[02:03:30] just to certify that we had run that by you so that we can then submit that to them for their potential inclusion which would then again be voted on by the membership of vsba typically in november so this year we are proposing two specific legislative priorities around having to do with accreditation two around early childhood development programs and some additional flexibilities that we're seeking there to help us staff those important classrooms and then lastly

[02:04:03] around eliminating one of the virtual requirements for graduation that would assist us as part of reduction in some of the record keeping that's required to do that so those are the highlights for this evening and once you all vote on this this evening then we'll take it from here and and it'll go to VSBA for their consideration again, for them to vote on in November.

[02:04:31] - Questions? - Concerns? - Okay, thank you, Matt. Will, are we voting on this? Okay, I need a motion. - Mr. Chairman, I move that the Prince William County School Board approve the five proposed legislative positions as recommended.

[02:04:49] - Do I have a second? - Mr. Blake. - Mr. Chairman. - Yep. - I second. - Second. Discussion, please vote.

[02:05:08] - The vote is seven yes, one absent. Williams, motion passed. Moving on to 1601, a motion to order Ms. Zargarpur. - I move that the Prince William County School Board approve the proposed rezonings for REZ 2024-0003.

[02:05:26] Let me try that again. REZ 2024-00030, REZ 2024-00032, REZ 2023-00009, and REZ 2023-00023.

[02:05:45] - Do I have a second? Ms. Wall? - I second. - Ms. Wall seconds. Any discussion? Please vote.

[02:06:07] - The vote is six yes, one no. Tredenik, one absent. Williams, motion passed. - Moving on to 1701. Appointment announcement of student representatives for 2324. What?

[02:06:23] They're in the script. We have- - Yeah. - Yeah, so anyways, you're gonna put them in the, okay. - A motion's in order, so I guess tonight we have the appointment and announcement of the student representatives for the 24/25 school year. A motion is in order, Vice Chair Zargarpur.

[02:06:40] - Thank you, Dr. Lateef. I move that the Prince William County School Board appoint Ala Rashad and Eliana Latoura as the student representatives to the Prince William County School Board and appoint Kaylee Tom as the alternate student representative to the Prince William County School Board for the 2024/25 school year.

[02:06:58] - Do I have a second? Ms. Wall. - Mr. Chairman, I second. - Any discussion? I have a question, what schools are they from? Who knows?

[02:07:13] - Hilton and Unity Reed, yeah. - Alternates from Brentsville. - The alternate is Brentsville. - Brentsville, okay. - Can I ask one more question that was asked by the public? How many boys apply for this position? Or did many boys, okay, three boys out of how many?

[02:07:35] Okay, a lot of kids. Okay, thank you. Three, thank you. - Please vote.

[02:08:00] - The vote is seven yes, one absent. Williams, motion passed. Moving on to superintendent's time, 18:01. Dr. McDade. - Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Before I begin my superintendent's report, I do wanna share my gratitude and deepest heartfelt admiration for our retiring clerk, Ms. B. Simpson.

[02:08:19] Over the last three years, I've come to deeply appreciate UB, your unwavering commitment to PWCS, and on a personal note, your incredible support to me personally and my administration. I will miss your candor, your resolve, and your humor.

[02:08:36] Thank you for everything that you've done for this school system, and I wish you a happy, restful, and enjoyable retirement because you truly deserve it. Next, the month of June is nationally recognized as Pride Month.

[02:08:53] In PWCS, inclusivity is a core value, and we're committed to positive climate and culture, which is why, along with the nation, We recognize June 2024 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. We recognize our students and staff because we care and we are committed to encouraging school environments that are safe, secure, and welcoming to every student and every staff member every day.

[02:09:16] Creating this environment is necessary to fulfill our vision to see every student graduate on time with the knowledge, skills, and habits of mind necessary to create a thriving future for themselves and their community because in order to thrive, they have to feel safe in the environment that they're in. And speaking of graduation, I do want to extend my sincere congratulations to the entire class of 2024.

[02:09:38] I had an opportunity to attend about eight of our high school graduations, including one coming up for INS, and it was just a phenomenal graduation season. As students walked across our stages, placing their diplomas in one hand and shifting tassels from the right to the left and the other, I just couldn't help but be so proud of every single student that I witnessed walk across the stage and feel gratitude for each of our supportive family members and our educators who helped to ensure that every single student graduated with a concrete post-secondary plan to secure their future upon graduation

[02:10:18] from Prince William County Schools. The class of 2024 is a class that overcame insurmountable odds, obstacles, and barriers, only to arrive at the threshold, smiling, shining, and thriving. As we close another school year, I'm really excited for the future of Prince William County Schools.

[02:10:36] We have two virtual instructional job fairs planned for the next several weeks. The first one is on June 12th from 2:45 to 6:00 PM. Registration is required. So we're asking that individuals interested would sign up by June 10th at pwcs.edu.

[02:10:53] Our second instructional virtual fair be held on july 10th and we also have a bus driver job fair on june 15th and a food service substitute job fair on june 18. all are welcome to learn more about working in prince william county schools and for those that are interested in a career in prince william county please go to our website pwcs.edu for more information this summer we will review revise improve and prepare for an even better 2024-25 school year and i wish everyone an enjoyable fun-filled summer and we

[02:11:29] look forward to welcoming our students and families and staff back for a new school year which will begin august 19th 2024. mr chairman that concludes my report for the final board meeting for the 24 20 23 24 school year thank you dr mcday moving on to committee updates Jen Wall, internal audit committee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, the internal audit committee met, um, on May 9th. Um, and we had a status update of audit activities, which included any

[02:12:05] of the audits that had been completed since our last meeting. And those, some of those were Unity, Roxton, Henderson, McAuliffe, a follow-up audit recommendations. We covered the 2023 annual audit report and, um, talked a little bit about enterprise risk management. Audit continues to provide added value to the school division in helping us assess our strengths and weaknesses, where our risks lie, and helping us provide, helping provide insight into where we can improve.

[02:12:33] And it's a very important function of good cohesive management. We also discussed possible different dates and times so that we can accommodate all of the audit committee members and their schedules. And the last item of significance is we conducted an evaluation of our chief internal auditor.

[02:12:55] And so those were the things that we did and audit continues to be an important function in the school division. Thank you. That concludes my report. - Thank you, Chair Wall and that's Chair Wall of the audit committee for helping us reassure the public that we're doing the best we can as far as financial management and all other audit functions.

[02:13:20] Moving on, ratification 20.01, a motion is order. What are we doing, ratification? Ratification of the collective bargaining agreement, a motion is order, Ms. Zargarpur. - Mr. Chairman, I move that the Prince William County School Board ratify the collective bargaining agreement with an effective date of July 1, 2024.

[02:13:38] - Do I have a second? - Mr. Chair. - Mr. Blake. - Second. - Mr. Blake seconds. Any discussion? - Mr. Wolk, go. Oh, did you want it?

[02:13:53] - No. - Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you. - All right, no, no, no, any discussion, Ms. Wall. - Of course, I do have something to say. So, all right, we've done many great things for teachers over the years, and this board is definitely committed to doing as much as we can for teachers, listening to their concerns, trying to make the working environment the best that we can, and recognizing that compensation is a very important benefit for our staff.

[02:14:32] And I've been proud of the many things that we have done as a board for our teachers. And I'm happy to continue doing what we can for teachers and administrative staff and classified staff, everybody. But I do continue to maintain that we could have done all of those wonderful things without having gone down the path of collective bargaining.

[02:14:55] And I also maintain that collective bargaining has not been the process that it was promised to be. I continue to hold concerns about the representation that our members are getting or not getting, as the case may be.

[02:15:13] I also have concerns about transparency and about the process, how the process played out, how the union conducted itself through the negotiation process. And I continue to be concerned that members are not getting the representation that they deserve.

[02:15:34] And so for a number of reasons that I have articulated in the past and continue to articulate. I believe that the collective bargaining path was unnecessary, counterproductive, and has contributed to a negative toxic atmosphere among our staff and has alienated a lot of great people.

[02:15:54] And for all of those reasons, despite my support for the things that were achieved, because I do support all of our staff, I cannot support the path that we have gotten on with collective bargaining. And so I would vote no.

[02:16:10] - Thank you, Ms. Wall. - Mr. Jesse. - I understand Mrs. Wall's concern. And I think when we look at what this board has done, I agree that we have done and probably would have done most of the things that the board and the union wanted.

[02:16:35] However, being a tenant meeting for 12 years now, that was not always a case. So there will be times when this board, Depending on the makeup of the board is not as proactive as they should be and the union is needed. Thank you. Mr. Denik I've not been quiet. It's been no secret. I wasn't here for this vote on collective bargaining

[02:17:10] But I do believe that some of my colleagues up here that did vote this opened up a door that they cannot close now And it has caused major issues and major problems and I will continue to be a no vote I also echo the sentiment of Ms. Wall when I think that we could have accomplished these things without this We could have done even more I think for teachers And so I will also be voting no tonight. Okay Anybody else? Okay, great So let me wrap up this discussion by saying that I fully support the ratification of this collective bargaining agreement

[02:17:47] And I want to thank everyone who put their time and effort into it on both sides we've spent a lot of time and energy on this work I have always believed that collective bargaining is a tool to help us get to where we need to go I think prior to collective bargaining I'm very proud of the effort the school board has made in whether it was compensation benefits and the work that we were doing prior to collective bargaining I believe we continue to do so after collective bargaining I believe it's a great tool for us to use to help work with our our staff and our teachers on how best to move forward.

[02:18:24] So I'll continue to support this and I'm proud to ratify this agreement this evening. At this time, please vote.

[02:18:46] - The vote is five yes, two no. Tredenik and Wall, one absent. Williams, motion passed. - Motion passes. Moving on to Title IX regulations, a motion to order Ms. Zargarpur. - Mr. Chairman, I move that the Prince William County School Board waive the 30-day posting requirement for revisions to the division's Title IX regulations required by the U.S. Department of Education's release of final regulations with an effective date of August 1, 2024.

[02:19:12] - Do I have a second? Mr. Blake. - I second. - Okay, discussion. Wade, would you like to provide any additional information here? - Yes, Mr. Chairman. As the board I think is aware, in April of this year, the U.S. Department of Education released new Title IX regulations, the final rule, which when you count the comments and the rules total over 1,000 pages.

[02:19:40] um and so with an effective date of august 1st as this board is aware policy school board policy 102 includes a provision requiring all regulations implementing our title ix policies to be posted on the website 30 days before coming effective it is i'll just be candid my office is responsible for drafting a large part of the compliance regulations and given the volume we simply can't get them done by the july 1st date we would need

[02:20:16] to have them posted and ready to be effective on august 1st so we are asking the board as a matter of mercy for me and and eric to please waive the posting rule on this one instance so that we have another 30 days to get those in effect as they're legally required.

[02:20:39] - Any questions for council? Okay, please vote.

[02:21:00] - The vote is six yes, one abstained, Tridentic, one absent, Williams, motion passed. - Wonderful, thank you, Ms. Simpson. We're now moving on to board matters, and I was planning on leaving early tonight. I have to be out of town, so I'm gonna go first, actually.

[02:21:16] Before we adjourn, though, I do think, and before I go, I wanna recognize, so don't count this against my minutes, but I wanna recognize those who support our meetings. I wanna thank Ron Crow, Director of Risk Management and Security. Thank you, Mr. Crow, let's give him a round of applause for him and his wonderful team for everything they've done all year.

[02:21:38] We also would like to thank Jim Lep, Supervisor of Interactive Media and Creative Design, and his team for all they do each meeting. And that includes Mike Davis, Raul Rosado, Jimmy Davis, John Jimenez, and Marcos Salinas. Thank you again, let's give them another round of applause.

[02:21:57] And last but not least, thank you to our IT support for the meetings, which includes Kevin, Sarah Gioli, Andrew Choi, Asayo Fuentes, Tony Acasio, Chris Steinbeck, and Olajuwon Sims.

[02:22:13] Let's give them another round of applause. We could not do this without all of you, and we truly do appreciate the support you provide us. And, you know, thank you so much. So we can start the timer for my last three minutes. I want to first congratulate all of our seniors who've graduated, all of them who are going on to college, community college, military, jobs, and wherever this world will take them, I do believe in my heart of hearts that we have done a terrific job in providing them the necessary tools they need to launch their thriving futures

[02:22:53] and to succeed in this world. And I can't thank the school division, the teachers, the principals, the counselors, and every person in the school division to help keep this place running, who helped us get these students across the finish line. It is, and it was an amazing last week of graduations.

[02:23:12] And I can't thank the entire school division for all the great work they do. You know, tonight, I appreciate the patience the public showed in tonight's launching Thriving Futures Focus, mind you, we did not even do the spring sports. So, you know, we have still teams competing at the state level and they will be, there were still a number of our students continuing to, whether it's in tennis, track, I think soccer is still going on.

[02:23:41] Garfield, by the way, let's note, Garfield is gonna be in the state semifinals for the first time in many, many years for soccer, Boys soccer, I think girls Colgan soccer is still in the game and we have some tennis stars and track athletes. And we, I think we have lacrosse maybe still in the mix and baseball and softball.

[02:23:58] So, and we'll probably, you know, recognize them come this fall. I wanna thank all of our parents who believe in the school division, who've kept their kids in our schools and who work with us on a daily basis to help us make our schools better for everyone.

[02:24:18] It is not easy. There is a lot of work. You know, it is not a perfect system. Public schools continue to struggle with funding issues, issues of challenging nature that require us to sort of manage the things that general society can't do, whether it's, you know, trying to help with the mental health crisis or with drug abuse.

[02:24:42] We continue to pick up responsibilities to help our youth succeed. and there are so many people in the school division who help us with that, and I can't thank them enough. So it was a wonderful school year. I hope everyone enjoys their summer, and I can't wait to be back here next fall for another school year.

[02:25:02] Thank you all very much, and I'm gonna turn the meeting over to Vice Chair Zargarpur. Well, no, I'm sorry, I don't know why I did that. She gets to do that. And thank you, Bea Simpson, for everything. - Oops, just kidding, right, Dr. Lateef?

[02:25:18] All right, safe travels. Ms. Wall, would you like to go first? why not yes yes good evening all um i will start out by saying congratulations to the battlefield girls softball team they are still in the running they are in the state semi-finals this friday and the battlefield boys lacrosse are in the state finals on saturday so very exciting for both of those teams to all of the teams who are throughout prince william county who are still out there competing i wish you all the best may the odds be in your favor and may you reach your goals we're all very proud of you so we've arrived at the end we're all happy to see this year close out

[02:25:57] i think it's been kind of rough the last week um with lots going on in our schools um so i think we're happy to see this meeting close out as well um many are you know many of our teachers and families are just barely hanging on and can't wait till friday um except for mr who will survive you got it yes speaking of sometime we need a reprise of that performance okay it was it was uh we do we do need this mr wilk so um getting to this point of a school year

[02:26:34] takes great effort thank you to parents students teachers and staff um you've each played a major part in pulling off what we affectionately call the school year um there are too many events for me to cover that i have attended from these last three weeks but it i guess to top it off it's been a real joy to attend graduations and i've attended as many as i could and those end of year celebrations are so very special and i i can feel how proud parents are of their kids and i am also very proud of our graduates i look forward um in the coming months um to hearing how our schools have done in

[02:27:12] reaching our goals in learning and achievement for all in particular um and from some of the preliminary data that has been shared with me just you know casually it looks like it's going to be a really great year i'm really excited um to get those through progress reports as the data comes in um i know this is because of everyone and i mean everyone leaning in on our four key commitments and committing to the vision of every student graduating on time with the knowledge skills and habits of mind necessary to create a thriving future for themselves and their community that those are not just nice words, they really are the vision and when everybody engages in it,

[02:27:50] we start to see amazing results. Those goals that were set by the board and the superintendent, the governance team, can only happen when everyone works together. Students, parents, every single staff member, everyone. And that's why it is said that success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out. And I recognize the hard work that has gone into this school year from everybody at every level and i am thankful for the opportunity to represent the gainesville district you are wonderful you're so dedicated to your student success it's truly gratifying to see your commitment and feel your support so my friends may god be with you till we

[02:28:28] meet again thank you miss wall um next we have mr jenic of oh no i'm sorry let's do um mr jesse from the Ococlon district good evening I I want to issue an apology several meetings ago we were talking about the collective bargaining and in that meeting I said something to the effect that

[02:28:55] special ed students are violent and that was a mistake on my part I should not have said that and want to apologize uh the reason i had that that part of the discussion was because we were talking about uh the code of behavior and whether we had a uh rule where we always punish the people

[02:29:30] the same way and what i attempted and meant to say was that there are times when some a few special ed kids are acting out because that's what they do that's their illness and they can't help themselves and so if they strike a person they should not and when we handle disciplinary

[02:30:03] procedure we take in account that if there's a medical condition that causes a student to do something we don't punish them the same way as someone else so I want to apologize for that my sister was at back in the day we call it mentally retarded and I lived with my sister until I was 17 at the last four or five years we lived with a guardian who was old and I had to commit my

[02:30:40] sister because i knew my guardian was past dying and i had to commit my sister to a mental hospital so i'm sorry what for what i said and just forgive me i'm not the most articulate speaker as you can see and i don't pronounce my words and names very well but don't equate that to my intelligence the last thing i want to say last night i had the most moving thing

[02:31:16] at the end of the carradale graduation ceremony on the way out i talked to the security guard and that man is working on his masters so that he can become a special ed teacher here in the county and that really touched me and i just want to thank him and i thanked him last night thank you Thank you, Mr. Jesse.

[02:31:46] Mr. Denick from the Brentsville District. Yes, we're all starting out with apologies. I'd like to apologize to the public because they had to wait through an hour and 45 minutes of meeting before they got to speak. And I truly believe that they should get to go first because we were elected by them to listen to them.

[02:32:04] And I also think it's awful that we're making kids sit in here for that long, even through Thriving Futures, since they have school tomorrow. Or do they? Because we don't know whether they have to take their exams or not. Teachers, please help us out as parents. please tell us if they're exempt or not so they don't have to go and we don't have to fight them um i hope everyone is enjoying the final week of the school year i want to remind the public about the redistricting boundaries policy zoom meeting scheduled for tomorrow night from 7 to 9 p.m i will post some information on my facebook page as well as the division has put out information on it so you have the link there will also be more in-person meetings to discuss this important topic

[02:32:42] of boundaries and redistricting last night i had the pleasure of watching the brentsville boys baseball and girls soccer teams compete in the state quarterfinals a special congratulations to the lady tigers on their success good luck in the next round i also want to extend a congratulations to our recent state champions brentsville's kayla smith go ahead girl for her sweep of the short sprints winning the class three state titles in both the 100 meter dash and the 200 meter dash Gainesville's Trent Daniels for winning the state championship in the 3200 meter run, Patriots Henry Burge for winning the state championship in the 800 meter run,

[02:33:21] Patriots Lyndon Amotang, sorry bud I never said that right, the VHSL long jump state champion. Those are all first place first place winners in states it's a big deal. Over the past week I attended several graduations within the Brentsville district.

[02:33:38] Unity Reed High School ceremony was particularly memorable honoring first generation graduates with a special stole crafted by a dedicated teacher. At Patriot High School Dr. Bishop delivered an inspiring speech and I was thrilled to see many former T Claywood Timberwolves receive their diplomas. The Gainesville Cardinals graduation at Eagle Bank Arena was another highlight with our school board representative Isabella among the graduates. The staff at Gainesville High School ensured the event ran smoothly. Finally Brentsville High School's graduation was held on their picturesque football field with sunset providing a perfect backdrop for this country road celebration to the class of 2024

[02:34:17] and especially to my favorite graduate i'm praying that you go into the world and accomplish big great and amazing things thank you thank you mr jenik um mr wilk from the potomac district um i was gonna say mr jesse thinking the heartfelt apology was very nice and i know it's often difficult to open up about things like that and make yourself vulnerable erica congratulations to to your son.

[02:34:51] That's a great accomplishment for the family to have a child. I look forward to my own kids walking across on graduation. Couple of kind of hot topics, as we kind of saw tonight with one illustration of it. I still do remain dubious about the recently adopted code of behavior, despite my opposition.

[02:35:11] As a living document, I hope the board, we can be adaptable and willing to be more aggressive with enforcement if and when we find ourselves confronting the same issues we have experienced over the last two years. Another hot topic. So when Covington Harper opened in 2017, nobody in our division foresaw the tempestuous COVID-19 pandemic, which what that did was delay an opening of a second elementary school back there and pushed it back from actually originally 23 to 25.

[02:35:44] And then we come around after the pandemic and we're locked out of purchasing the land because another entity, a government, decided they were gonna hold the land for the Washington Commanders to potentially come down here. Fast forward to where we are now. So although I applaud and I'm happy the school system, we moved that building up an additional year, opening that in the fall of '27, I am still very concerned about that growing population in Potomac Shores, where that building now is getting an additional two, I believe, maybe three trailers, correct me if I'm wrong on that.

[02:36:19] And as I've told residents, I need you to be, you need to be proactive. You need to join these boundary discussions because as I committed to you in the fall and I commit to you again, when the Eastern elementary boundaries are opened back up for the new Woodbridge school, I will fight to try to get us into that discussion and talk about potentially moving some things around.

[02:36:41] But as I've said to the residents of that community in multitude of phone calls in the last couple of days, since the trailers have been announced, adding more, I'm one board member. I cannot dictate anything to be done in this division, nor can I pass something without four other members of my board.

[02:36:57] So for the community of Potomac Shores and those residents, I will fight for this, but I will need support. I will need you to voice your opinion about the boundaries in these boundary discussions that will be occurring soon.

[02:37:13] Thrilled to attend adjusting now, shifting to the Forest Park and Potomac High School graduation ceremony, and celebrations, the speeches from the student leaders, the choral performances, the dedications from both Principal Bowles and Principal Martinez and my two schools were outstanding.

[02:37:29] Other events, Ms. Wall alluded to my speech at the Forest Park Senior Awards ceremony. You know, at this point I said, you know, I don't care. And just going into the third and well, third term, and I'm just gonna have fun with this. And so yes, we will survive.

[02:37:46] And so attending other events, I'm running out of time, but I look forward to my last events tomorrow at Henderson and Potomac Shores Elementary. Congratulations, class of 2024. Thank you so much, board. - Thank you, Mr. Wilk. Mr. Tracy Blake from the Neabsco District.

[02:38:03] - Thank you, Madam Chair. Good evening, everyone. I'd like to welcome you to our last public school board meeting for 2023-24 school year. And I have several important topics to cover. I wanna start by acknowledging some outstanding achievements within our school community.

[02:38:22] First and foremost, I'd like to congratulate all of our graduates and those who have been promoted. This is a significant milestone as you close one chapter and begin the next. Your hard work, dedication, and perseverance has paid off.

[02:38:37] I also wanna recognize the parents, teachers, and students who have worked tirelessly to reach this moment. This year, I had the pleasure of attending graduations for Garfield High School, Freedom High School, Kogan High School, and the Juvenile Detention Center, as well as promotions at Minnieville Elementary, Penn Elementary, Bel Air Elementary, and Neabsco Elementary.

[02:39:03] And tomorrow, I'll be attending Dell City Elementary. A special highlight goes out to the young ladies who graduated from the Pink Space Theory Great Minds Math Program at Neabsco Elementary. Their achievement in improving SOL scores in math and science are commendable, and they serve as an inspiration to their peers.

[02:39:22] I'd also like to congratulate our Career and Technical Education graduates. These seniors have made commitments to apprenticeships, careers, and military services, and they are well prepared for their future endeavors. These pathways are crucial for our students' future, providing them with knowledge, skills, and habits necessary to create a thriving future for themselves and their community.

[02:39:46] Congratulations to the students who receive scholarships through the Beat the Odds program. This initiative offers valuable support and opportunities helping students overcome challenges and achieve their academic goals.

[02:40:02] I also wanna recognize the leadership and accomplishments of our JROTC students. The JROTC program is instrumental in developing future leaders and the dedication and hard work of these students are truly impressive.

[02:40:19] Let me be the first to thank you for your future service to our country. As a reminder, I'm pleased to announce that the Prince William County Public Schools will provide free meals for all children ages 18 and younger this summer at designated school sites.

[02:40:37] This initiative is serves that our children have access to nutritious meals throughout the summer. Specific locations and times for summer food programs will be provided on the website. Additionally, summer school offers numerous advantages for our students.

[02:40:53] It's a great opportunity for continued learning, and I encourage everyone to participate. The benefits of staying engaged in academic activities over the summer cannot be overstated. Lastly, I want to congratulate the Garfield Varsity Boys soccer team on their impressive 3-0 victory last night in the state quarterfinals.

[02:41:16] Advancing to the state semifinals is a significant achievement and a testament to the team's hard work and dedication. Friday, they'll be facing McLean at Mills Godwin High School outside of Richmond.

[02:41:32] And it's sure to be an exciting match. Best of luck to the team as they strive to make history. Go Wolves. And just I'll stop, but have a good summer and we will see you next year.

[02:41:47] Thank you. - Thank you, Mr. Blake. All right, so I'm the only thing that stands between the meeting over and that's it. So as the school year comes to a close, We reflect on the journey we've taken. We celebrate the milestones we've achieved.

[02:42:03] This year has been filled with growth, challenges, and triumphs. To our students, your dedication and enthusiasm has been truly inspiring. To parents, your support and involvement is invaluable. And to our teachers, your unwavering commitment to education and the well-being of our students has made all the difference.

[02:42:20] A special congratulations to our recent graduates. This moment marks a significant chapter in your life. You've worked hard, you've overcome obstacles, and you've shown remarkable resilience. As you step into the next phase of your journey, remember that the skills and knowledge you've gained here are just the beginning.

[02:42:39] The world is full of opportunities, and your education has equipped you to seize them. Recently, I've been reading a book called Atomic Habits by James Clear, and he has a website, so I look at it from time to time. And one of the quotes that he recently had of reminds me of something Ms. Wall just said. This is James Clear, quote, "Whether you are an adult or a child, your first attempts will often seem unimportant or foolish. The open mic night at the nearly empty bar or the cafeteria, whatever, early blog posts that get ignored,

[02:43:14] the dancer style on a little stage, early attempts are easy to dismiss because they don't seem to amount to much. But you have to do the low-stakes stuff to prepare for the high-stakes stuff they are the building blocks of confidence and that's an enormous thing so no matter where you are in your journey the little things add up over time you are sort of the composite of the habits you build and one of the things I love about one of the things dr. McDade says the habits of mind that's what we strive to help our students with in while they're here in Prince William

[02:43:53] County Schools I hope you all have a relaxing summer and you get to enjoy time with your family take a little bit of a break we come back refreshed in late august isn't it all right and with that and nothing more further than coming before this board i now declare this meeting adjourned

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