Thread by @BossRVA

Starting at 6PM I’ll be live tweeting the #RPSBoard meeting on this thread. Here’s a link to the agenda and screenshot of the agenda if you’re interested.

go.boarddocs.com/vsba/richmond/…

We’re about to get started! I’m all comfy on my couch and the kitties are eating so let’s get this show on the road. Public comment will be limited to 2 minutes of reading per commenter so that will be interesting (and unfortunate since I’m sure great comments will get cut off).

WE ARE LIVE! If you want to follow along here’s the link:
facebook.com/RichmondPublic…

#RPSBoard

Page and Cosby are not present. #RPSBoard

Chair Owen asks for a moment of silence for the pain our country and community is experiencing. #RPSBoard

Doerr motions to approve agenda as amended and she’s offering an amendment to section 5. Section 5 has to do with adding a presentation on an employee having COVID19. Motion has been seconded. Motion passes 7-0. #RPSBoard

Cosby has joined the meeting. #RPSBoard

Minutes from like 3 previous meetings have been approved. #RPSBoard

We’re onto public comment which is 2 minute comments or less for each person. They will be read. #RPSBoard

The comments are all being read by the clerk Angela Wilson back to back. The sound quality isn’t the best so I’m missing some of them. The comments are mostly about the new curriculum for ELA and math. So far the first 3 commenters have been in favor. #RPSBoard

There is a distinct whistling noise happening on the live stream. It is.... brutal. #RPSBoard

.@AnsPerkins condemns #RPSBoard for their recent bullying behavior and says they should be role models for the students they serve.

A teacher contributes the concern that money shouldn’t go to curriculum but to COVID relief funds for next year. #RPSBoard

“Stop giving private businesses money.” #RPSBoard

An English as a second language speaker raises the point that ELLs are often forgotten and stresses the importance. Another person questions how this works if we are online in the fall but is ready to embrace the challenge. #RPSBoard

FYI it is a lot harder to live tweet someone breezing through reading comments versus someone speaking from their heart in the moment. The impact is totally different. #RPSBoard

An RPS teacher says some students are having difficulty with computers because 1) was info shared in Spanish 2) they don’t have info on how to download internet 3) no one is answering their tech calls #RPSBoard

Teacher says hold off on curriculum because we are in the middle of a pandemic. There are hundreds of things to worry about. Teachers have provided quality content for years and can do it for another year with or without a box curriculum. Now is not the time. #RPSBoard

Another person says the new math curriculum will provide hands on opportunities for students to learn. #RPSBoard

Next person is impressed with the Amplify curriculum because of the mobile device integration. #RPSBoard

Yo this meeting is so distracting. There is a whistling CONSTANTLY. Jonathan “Yours Truly” Young keeps dropping on and off the screen and every time he comes back on he’s readjusting his camera. #RPSBoard

FINALLY the clerk got asked to slow down. The interpreters asked the chair to ask her to slow tf down. Holy hell she was flying through these comments. Idk how anyone could absorb anything that was being said. You could hardly tell where one started and another ended. #RPSBoard

Update: we are on page 12/39 of the public comments. #RPSBoard

Next commenter claims that the new curriculum should be part of the pandemic response citing their daughter’s experience with the pilot in the current online learning environment. #RPSBoard

Next comment makes 3 points:
1) vote opposed to the new curriculum
2) reallocate funds to COVID19 response
3) expand tech services for students and family to support newly purchased devices, WiFi hotspots, online learning platforms, and live staffing of family support line

Principal of Linwood Holton supports the cirriculum adoption. #RPSBoard

Principal of Overby-Sheppard supports cirriculum purchase. #RPSBoard

Next commenter cites COVID19 and protests before saying “we have a greater need to focus on supporting our students of color and poverty and how we can adjust our teaching practices and how to support our families.” #RPSBoard

Next commenter asks for approval of the cirriculum purchase by asking #RPSBoard to “transcend [their] own cultural bias and empower students intellectually, socially, and emotionally by allowing them to use culturally diverse and relevant texts. . . “ #RPSBoard

Principal of George Washington Carver supports adopting the cirriculum. #RPSBoard

A reading coach asks for approval of the EL cirriculum saying they need a current, SOL aligned cirriculum. #RPSBoard

The primary ESL teacher at Boushall asks for approval of the EL cirriculum saying Spanish primary language families need equal access to what RPS has to offer. #RPSBoard

An Academic Interventionist supports the adoption of the cirriculum. #RPSBoard

A representative from Little Hands Virginia gives an update on the partnership with RPS. Since COVID19 hit they have delivered 2,000 diapers to 5 school sites across the city. They package “basic boxes” for meal distribution sites. #RPSBoard

Deanna Fierro (running for RPSBoard and with Richmond Region LULAC) states her opposition to the cirriculum adoption. Says the funds should be used to go back to schools in person or virtually in the fall. #RPSBoard

English Learner Success Specialist is in support of the ELA cirriculum adoption. Says they need material so the learning gap doesn’t continue to widen. #RPSBoard

Next commenter cites support issues for Spanish speakers since COVID19 outbreak with technology, delivering due work, and getting return calls from the family support line. #RPSBoard

Next commenter is someone submitting on behalf of a parent. The parent is asking for help because their son is having difficulty finishing the class and they didn’t finish school. They are asking for extra time to turn in work or a tutor. #RPSBoard

Next commenter recites a bunch of their credentials (eg parent, homeowner, former teacher) before endorsing the EL cirriculum. #RPSBoard

We are on page 26 of 39 of comments. #RPSBoard

Twitter character limits won’t let me adequately capture a summary of Mark Bowker’s 🔥 on how he feels about the cirriculum. #RPSBoard

An environmental educator is in support of the cirriculum citing their ability to tie in what she does to the cirriculum. #RPSBoard

After some technical difficulties, 1st district rep Liz Doerr is taking over reading the comments.

Finally that annoying whistling is gone. #RPSBoard

Next commenter is a teacher and basically says adopt the new cirriculum because the current cirriculum is 🗑. #RPSBoard

A parent is concerned about her son meeting expectations for level 1 English. #RPSBoard

Deanna Fierro (running for #RPSBoard ) advocates to not adopt the cirriculum to plan for returning to school an increase implicit bias training, cultural competence training, and trauma informed care.

Next commenter raises issue of FAQ online not being accessible to those who aren’t online and the helpline going unanswered. #RPSBoard

Kindergarten teacher at Blackwell is in favor of cirriculum adoption. #RPSBoard

Another commenter attests to success of curriculum pilot at Westover Hills and advocates approval. #RPSBoard

Next commenter brings back last meeting’s kerfuffle when Owen kept cutting off Gibson and referencing the late hour and need to move things along despite the important topic at hand. Tells Owen that as white women it is our role to listen in discussions of equity. #RPSBoard

Next commenter is in support of cirriculum. Could see EL becoming FLL (foreign language learning) in a Magnet school. #RPSBoard

Next commenter brings up they waited 4 hours for a laptop and they didn’t have enough supplies for everyone that waited. #RPSBoard

Whew. My rotator cuff tendinitis is really kicking my ass right now y’all. I’m getting O-L-D. Life sure has changed since I did this last. #RPSBoard

Assistant principle of Lucille Brown Middle School is in support of adopting the cirriculum.

Doerr just totally froze and we missed like half the comment. #RPSBoard

The next commentor is asking RPS to join Minneapolis School Board to create and vote on a resolution to end the presence of Richmond Police officers in Richmond Public Schools. #RPSBoard

Next commenter discourages #RPSBoard from moving away from the current honors system citing the move as a detriment to students. They also want to find a way for middle schoolers who are active after school to be able to get waivers for PE.

Jenny Aghomo (running for #RPSBoard ) is in favor of the new cirriculum. She says it gives teachers flexibility with potentially being virtual and in person and gives subs a clear outline of what material to cover when we have a world of uncertainty ahead of us.

Next commenter is a teacher in favor of adopting the new cirriculum while they have concerns, they are excited to learn with their colleagues. #RPSBoard

Next commenter is a parent who saw the holes in the current math curriculum and need for improvement. #RPSBoard

Next commenter is a teacher who supports adopting the cirriculum. #RPSBoard

Last commenter is a middle school literacy coach who is in favor of the ELA curriculum. Says in a world of uncertainty #RPSBoard can add certainty to providing a high quality education and giving teachers plans that can be made digital.

That’s all the comments for tonight. If you want to read any yourself, here’s the link to all 39 pages:

go.boarddocs.com/vsba/richmond/…
#RPSBoard

Now we are receiving for a 2nd review and action (aka adopt or reject) K-8 Math and ELA Curricula by Dr Epp.

Link to presentation: go.boarddocs.com/vsba/richmond/…

#RPSBoard

Epp says if they don’t move forward with the curricula this evening they would not have an aligned curricula. This is part of the corrective action plan and dreams for RPS plan. #RPSBoard

Over the last 2 weeks they have hosted a series of virtual meetings with teachers, principals, APs, coaches, families, and community members for feedback. #RPSBoard

Q1: when will teachers have access to all materials?

Since they are using a large amount of current fiscal year dollars, they will make the purchase upon approval so they will get the materials long before August. #RPSBoard

Q2: when and how will teachers be trained?

Training would begin virtually in June and continue through summer/fall and beyond. Here are session types:

#RPSBoard

Another question is what is expected as far as lesson planning and preparation.

This is about shifting mindset from traditional lesson planning to intellectual engagement with the curriculum. #RPSBoard

Q3: are the curricula scripted.

Unequivocal no. They are highly detailed. They are written by a teacher, for a teacher but should not be interpreted as a script. #RPSBoard

We are now watching a video from the vendor. #RPSBoard

Q4: how do the curricula support students with IEPs?

Here’s the chart from the slide. Basically it provides multiple means of engagement, representation, and action/expression. #RPSBoard

Q5: how does curricula support English Learners?

EL Education:
- views home language as an asset
- diverse texts
- include 4 language domains of reading, speaking, listening, writing
- paired texts to deepen comprehension

#RPSBoard

Eureka:
- embedded is a progression from concrete to abstract
- each lesson has 4 components (fluency practice, concept development, application problem, student discussion)
- all materials available in Spanish

#RPSBoard

For the materials and professional development for both the math and EL curriculums it’s $2.8-2.9M. #RPSBoard

We are skipping the mini lesson and going into discussion. Yours Truly Young wants to introduce a motion so he is willing to defer his comments. Now over to Gibson. Gibson May be holding comments until there’s a motion. Barlow says there may be some questions. #RPSBoard

Alright so back to Young’s motion. His motion is to convene 2 votes in lieu of 1. In his perspective it’s important to distinguish between the two since the math has been piloted at so many schools. After a lot of silence, Barlow seconds the motion. #RPSBoard

There’s a little confusion. Owen seems to think that there is a discussion first on if there will be 2 votes. Gibson thinks we should be moving onto voting on one of the 2. The attorney clarified that Owen is correct. #RPSBoard

Burke is giving comments that seem to be in support of the curriculums. Says it is their job to keep the main thing the main thing and the main thing is providing a sound foundation to every child. Yes times are rough. #RPSBoard

We’re now voting on dividing the curriculum vote into 2. Wait, Page has a question. She’s asking for clarification on the approach to phase it in. The intent is to implement K8 math fully in next school year. Then implement as much ELA as possible next school year but give

flexibility for schools who need more time an extra year for implementation if necessary. Page has a follow up. How would the delay impact the school system having a comprehensive curriculum district wide. It’s like having 2 school systems. Owen interjects. Pertinent to

splitting the vote into 2 votes. Page says she wants that question answered before this vote. The answer is that this is a way to be responsive but is far from ideal. Now back to the vote to divide it into 2 votes. #RPSBoard

Motion passes 7-2 with Cosby and Owen voting against. #RPSBoard

Doerr moves they adopt the math curriculum as presented by the administration. #RPSBoard

Gibson starts her comments by saying she will not support either curriculum. She can not support a one size fits all approach. Concerns with pacing being developmentally appropriate. Says in neighboring counties they don’t use the off the shelf approach. #RPSBoard

Gibson questions having such a large curriculum team in central office when they are seemingly moving toward an off the shelf approach. She suggests allowing teachers to decide whether they will use the curriculum especially in the first year. Thanks teachers expressing their

concerns. Says she has incredible concerns with moving forward with this at this time. #RPSBoard

Barlow still has one key issue he has concerns about... how would they move forward with the curricular offerings in this COVID era. Specifically how would teachers and students have the support they need. Will RPS at home be incorporating lessons? Will teachers have lead time to

prepare for the professional development sessions? Will materials be available in an effective way for virtual learning? Are they tying their hands with regard to COVID response making such a big expenditure so late in the year? Kamras says $13M, not $10M as discussed looks like

it will become available as part of stimulus money from COVID. Epps says having a division wide curriculum prepares for cases exactly like this. They only had 2 weeks to prep for COVID whereas this gives them 2 months. They’ll be ready. #RPSBoard

There’s a 7 week turn around after order which would happen this week if approved. Teachers would have it by July. They would do teacher pick up days. They have begun planning “learning boxes” Incase they have to do virtual learning to start for students. #RPSBoard

Doerr plans to support the curriculum for a litany of reasons but she plans to check back regularly on how we are supporting our teachers on implementation. #RPSBoard

Page speaking now saying they continue to have this discussion and ask when is the right time. When will RPS have 1 school system for all students. She wants to make sure teachers have the resources to support children. #RPSBoard

So far thats 3 voting in favor, 1 voting opposed, and 1 undeclared on the math curriculum. #RPSBoard

Sapini asks Epp if she has a specific rollout schedule with dates and locations. Questions if it will be mandatory. Questions if it is appropriate to be virtual PD and for virtual learning for students considering students are still lacking in this area of support. #RPSBoard

Epp says they would be locking in dates this week. Can’t lock in dates with provider without approval. She says it’ll be mandatory just a question of when. Option is between summer or pre-fall. They are working on virtual issues with stimulus $$$. #RPSBoard

Young is speaking next saying Gibson addressed many of his points. He thinks it’s important to distinguish between a piloted program (math) where they have seen success. Says he is going to vote in favor of math curriculum. That puts it at 4 in favor, 2 undeclared. #RPSBoard

Burke asks if teachers who are enrolled this summer in PD if they will get recertification hours. Answer is yes. #RPSBoard

Barlow would like some feedback on teachers having the freedom to incorporate their own style and materials and pace to enhance their lessons free of repercussions. Kamras says clearly he doesn’t want any scripts to be used. #RPSBoard

Cosby asks Epp about if they have the results of the school readiness survey back yet. Answer is yes. She is now reviewing the results of the survey in a high level overview. They had 549 participants out of 735 teachers. #RPSBoard

Cosby indicates she is going to vote yes. That means Doerr, Burke, Young, Page, and Cosby are all voting yes so the math curriculum will pass. Gibson is the only person who has declared a no vote. Barlow, Sapini, and Owen haven’t indicated which way they will vote. #RPSBoard

Sapini wants to know if training will be broken down by grade level? And in a remote scenario will there be remote teaching support for teachers who struggle teaching in that manner? Epp says they get broken down into chunked grade levels. They are planning for those scenarios.

Had to take a break. Now we’re on the motion to approve the math curriculum and related contracts. Motion passes 8-1 with Gibson as the only dissenting vote. #RPSBoard

Now we’re on the motion to approve the ELA curriculum and related contracts. #RPSBoard

Page questions the option for delayed implementation of the ELA curriculum. If students are already having issues with the current curriculum how’s that going to work. Epp imagines a process within the next 2 weeks where schools would request flexibility based on data. #RPSBoard

Cosby asks if there was a question specific to curriculum. There was one specific to needing curriculum. 40% agreed and 30% were neutral. #RPSBoard

Young feels differently about the ELA curriculum than he did about the math curriculum. He wants to propose an amendment to the motion on the floor. His amendment specifies terms the adoption of the curriculum is contingent upon so schools can stagger if they aren’t ready.

Doerr asks if this is a deviation of their implementation or if this is how they planned it. Epp confirms this is the spirit in which they were planning to proceed. #RPSBoard

Gibson says she will support the motion to amend and expresses that her preference is for teachers to submit anonymous feedback. Epp doesn’t feel comfortable dictating process on how teachers engage their staff because there are many ways to do so. #RPSBoard

Kamras has no problem with staff submitting anonymous feedback. #RPSBoard

We are voting on the motion to amend the motion which allows postponing implementation of EL based on teacher feedback. Motion passes 6-3 with Page, Burke, and Owen voting against. Back to the original motion of approving the motion. #RPSBoard

To be clear they are now voting on the amended motion to approve the ELA curriculum with the option for principals to consult with teachers to opt out til the following school year. Motion passes 8-1 with Gibson voting no. #RPSBoard

To summarize the last 4 hours.... #RPSBoard just passed a new math curriculum and a new ELA curriculum.

The translators have to go soon so they are talking about deferring a bunch of content to a later meeting. #RPSBoard

Barlow just motioned to approve the salary schedule, personnel actions, and re-election list. Young wants to pull personnel actions out. They are amenable to that. Salary schedule and re-election list pass 8-1 with Gibson abstaining. #RPSBoard

The clerk has had some technical difficulties and froze in the middle of things. Idk. This is a shit show and I just want to go to sleep. #RPSBoard

Barlow motioned you approve personnel actions. Motion is approved 5-0 with Gibson, Cosby, Young, and someone else abstaining. #RPSBoard

Now they are reviewing the #RPSBoard travel and district activity requests. The clerk is speed reading through the numbers. I can’t keep up.

Motion to approve travel and district activity requests passes 8-0 with Young abstaining. #RPSBoard

They are going to give a COVID19 update with an employee testing positive and then closing the meeting out. Kamras says the standard protocol is to notify the health department then follow their guidance then do a follow up with the effected communities. #RPSBoard

Sometimes they don’t get the positive test result, they get a suspected positive test result. As a reminder, they can’t compell individuals to share information about their health status. They are at the mercy of individuals sharing that information with them. #RPSBoard

They have been supplying PPE at all distribution sites. They continue to make those orders. #RPSBoard

Doerr asks if any other employees have been impacted? Also why did they find out Friday but the public wasn’t notified til Wednesday? #RPSBoard

Sapini asks how many PPE do they have on hand now? Are there any on back order? #RPSBoard

Kamras says they had an employee who passed away that wasn’t working in any distribution center (front office staff) that was suspected to be COVID but family hasn’t released any information. Regarding timeline the holiday weekend slowed things down. #RPSBoard

Barlow has new business for #RPSBoard. He says in light of earlier comments & recent actions of RPD he would like the relationship between RPS and RPD to be discussed at a future meeting.

@richmondvaTAP @RichmondForAll @RVAdirt @BeQueerDoCrime @BreRVA

Well that’s it folks. #RPSBoard is going into closed session.

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