Thread by @BossRVA

Tomorrow is another #RPSBoard meeting! Agenda is below. I’ll be live tweeting on this thread.

Alright we’re live for another edition of #RPSBoard

Roll call!

Page, Young, Barlow, Gibson, Burke, Sapini and Owen are in attendance. Cosby and Doerr are absent. #RPSBoard

Gibson asks for public comment to be read for the standard 3 minutes since there isn’t an abundance of public comment. Owen says 2 minutes. Gibson pushes for 3 minutes. Owen asks for thumbs up for 3 minutes. Gets thumbs up from multiple board members so they are going 3 min.

Agenda is adopted unanimously except Sapini who is muted. #RPSBoard

Tom Hartman says public information during COVID has “dramatixlu shown the lure.” He basically says there’s a whole lot of redundant public comment and comment should be limited to 10 minutes on the agenda. #RPSBoard

Shante Johnson says Spartan Academy has helped her become a better her since she arrived 2 years ago. The staff has pushed her to become a better person, more respectful, and more responsible. They helped her deal with her anger. #RPSBoard

Mazhyah Hayward has been a student at Spartan Academy off and on for the past 3 years. When she first started all she wanted to do was fight and be disrespectful. She wanted to change deep down but didn’t know how. Spartan Academy helped. She loves her school and the staff.

Unaja Womack wants to give a huge shout out to Spartan Academy Class of 2020. Says they pushed them to be the very best they can be and they all excelled tremendously. Had some of their best HS yrs at Spartan Academy. Grown in ways they thought wasn’t possible. #RPSBoard

Quinayah Booker is a rising senior at Spartan Academy. Says the staff at Spartan has seen them through days of emotional breakdowns, life altering hurts, family issues, and broken friendships. Says staff doesn’t run away and turn backs. They sit and listen. #RPSBoard

Sarah Hall has Qs about reopening:
- will students have to be logged in at time teacher is on or can they go back and watch pre recorded lessons later that day
- will janitors still have jobs
- how will students be fed
- what help will there be for students/staff electric bills

- will teachers be provided new laptops with WiFi

#RPSBoard

.@AnsPerkins says they need more trauma informed human services staff in schools, not SROs.
If #RPSBoard chooses to keep SROs:
- SRO training is inadequate from trauma informed care lens
- if SROs are a visible deterrent to crime how does this not trigger secondary trauma

- if SROs work to prevent crime and promote safety what trauma informed practices are used to achieve this
- what therapeutic program is being used for physical restraints
- who views A/V recordings with SROs when there is suspicion of criminal activity

- do trauma informed care and SPED trainers have specific education or certifications in trauma informed care
- what are the current effective interventions cited in the MOU

#RPSBoard

Charlotte Talley asks how RPS is going to meet needs for special needs students in being virtual. #RPSBoard

Shanni Merritte is an elementary exceptional education teacher had parents of students reach out to them about students success via virtual schooling and what supports are in place for them. Also will teachers have options to go in buildings to do lessons. #RPSBoard

Jennifer Surratt asks you end the MOU with RPD. Says SROs do not foster a learning environment where all are safe and secure. #RPSBoard

Jeannie Bowker applauds the board for their decision to go virtual. Says where there are red flags, now is the time to address them as there will be challenges. Also echos the 43 pgs OG public comment from 6/29 meeting that were never read into record demanding

Reexamination if SROs in schools. #RPSBoard

Gary Dwyer is a math teacher at Huguenot and says the decision for virtual was necessary. Now have to consider students conditions at home. Most urgent is need for students to stay housed. What is #RPSBoard doing to apply pressure for eviction freeze.

Tara Seth is voicing support for funding child care for children during virtual school year. Echos previous comments regarding considering students conditions at home and the need for students to stay housed and #RPSBoard to apply pressure for the eviction freeze.

That’s all of public comment. #RPSBoard

Now we are moving onto #RPSBoard action items. First is receiving personnel actions. They have a motion to approve and a second on the floor. No discussion. Approved.

Receiving for action the delegate and alternate delegate to the Virginia school boards association. Owen says generally speaking it’s the board chair and vice chair. That’s moved. No discussion. Approved. #RPSBoard

Now they are receiving #RPSBoard travel and activity requests. These aren’t posted on board docs. Cosby wanted to donate $700 to MLK for teacher incentives for professional development. Same to Overby Shepherd from Cosby. And $700 to I Have A Dream Foundation for their festival.

Those district activity requests are approved without discussion. #RPSBoard

Staffing update begins now. Here’s the document link. #RPSBoard

go.boarddocs.com/vsba/richmond/…

Here are the vacancies as of last Thursday. As of today elementary is down to 25, middle school is down to 29, high school is down to 15 for a total of 74 vacancies. Fill rate is at 81%. Last year at this time they were at 65%. #RPSBoard

They are very excited about their online sourcing efforts. They have an online sourcer whose job it is to recruit people actively and not just passively post job vacancies. #RPSBoard

Gibson wants to dedicate an upcoming agenda item at the next meeting to teacher retention. Cites @ternary_logic’s FOIA request for retention data. Gibson cites data she would like to see for the next board meeting as it relates to retention. #RPSBoard

Barlow echos Gibson’s call for data on retention. Would like to know if there was any exit interviewing for teachers leaving and if that’s something they could do. Also if there’s any deep dive into numbers into specific schools with higher turn over than others. #RPSBoard

Page wants to know why is this year better than last year in regards to hiring. #RPSBoard

Head of talent says increased staffing in talent office has helped tremendously. They also have a talent sourcer who is tech savvy that’s engaging the audience online. Says it’s not enough anymore to post vacancies online. #RPSBoard

Page wants to know if they can have a report at the next meeting of the number of certified teachers versus provisional teachers. #RPSBoard

Young echos Barlow On exit surveys. He would like to match make climate culture survey data with retention data. #RPSBoard

Burke says what is the plan for the welcome for new teachers and their professional development. Also how many teachers are coming right out of college. What is plan for new teachers for mentorship. #RPSBoard

Next up is an update on curriculum professional development. Here’s the document. #RPSBoard

go.boarddocs.com/vsba/richmond/…

This is regarding 2 new curriculums they adopted several #RPSBoard meetings ago for ELA and Math. They started PD in June.

The sessions being discussed right now are all optional for teachers. They are still working to develop the pre-service schedule for teachers. #RPSBoard

Gibson wants to know the time commitment for the PD and if it’s optional. What’s the plan to compensate teachers for their time spent. Epps says optional means optional— do it during summer or during pre-service. #RPSBoard

Epps says total hours for ELA are 18 hours and for Math is 20 hours. #RPSBoard

Teachers won’t be expected to do more PD during pre-service if they already did curriculum PD during summer. #RPSBoard

Page asks how kids will get curriculum kits and when. Epps says they are figuring that out still. They do know they will have to have times for parents to pick up learning kits by quarter. #RPSBoard

Page asks when can they expect a roll out plan. Epps says that’s part of a broader reopening plan which is as soon as they are able and defers to Kamras. Kamras says next #RPSBoard meeting.

Cosby wants to know participation rate for summer PD. Epps says Math had 790 participate. ELA had between 300-400 staff in each session. #RPSBoard

Burke would like to see participation rates broken down by school. Also is there a survey to find out if teachers needs were met. Epps gives a yes to both. Anecdotal feedback she’s gotten has been overwhelmingly positive. #RPSBoard

Burke wants to know if there will be PD for guest/substitute teachers. Epp says yes... all PD is recorded. Burke asks how she can sign up for fluency in math. Epp says she’ll get her a link to sign up. #RPSBoard

Gibson asks how work in workbooks will be graded. Epp says they are working on grading plans. Gibson clarifies... logistically in a virtual world. Epp says chrome books have cameras on them they can snap a photo and upload to google classroom. The teacher can upload to google.

Gibson says it would be good to hear what other districts are doing because it sounds cumbersome. Asks what is the average cost for the learning kit? Was there a cost savings since PD was done virtually? Epp says learning kit cost is part of broader reopening plan. #RPSBoard

Second question can be addressed with a future budget update. #RPSBoard

Sapini asks about training for virtual teaching PD. Epp says they will offer virtual learning PD in pre-service and in early September. More details to come in reopening plan. #RPSBoard

Sapini asks if they have a number of teachers who will need virtual assistance? Epp says most teachers wanted 1-2 days of PD. A smaller number wanted more time. Their goal is to offer multiple different levels for teacher choice. #RPSBoard

Page would also like to see a breakdown by school of Curriculum PD participation rate. Asks if they are planning to have tutorial sessions for parents/guardians on virtual learning. Epp says that’s something they are planning for. Says RPS@Home had a lot of minivideos. #RPSBoard

Page wants extra learning kits for the little ones to be prepared as sometimes students are transient. #RPSBoard

Young wants to affirm what Epp said with regard to giving teachers choice as it comes to PD. Cites a 2017 REA survey that only 25% of teachers found value in PD. #RPSBoard

Burke seems to be asking how are we adapting the virtual environment to exceptional education students. Epp says the IEP will drive the services and it’s up to them to figure out how to make them virtual. #RPSBoard

Owen says she’s impressed with how much they have gotten done in 5 days since they have made the decision to go virtual. #RPSBoard

Next agenda item is to receive reopening next steps. Kamras says plan is to have a comprehensive reopening plan for #RPSBoard at the next meeting.

Kamras says format will be like RPS summer camp at home versus the spring. Spring was more static pre recorded whereas summer camp is live instruction with playlist instruction. #RPSBoard

Says he is developing schedules that will have breaks and independent time and off screen time where kids will read physical books. They are creating a developmentally appropriate virtual path. #RPSBoard

They are going to give every RPS student a chrome book to start the fall school year. Distribution will be August... May go into September. They will also provide WiFi hotspots to anyone who needs them. #RPSBoard

They will also be providing laptops to teachers and some staff who need them. They will also help with WiFi hotspots. #RPSBoard

They will be using google classroom. They are also going to make available other software that makes things happen like workbook pages virtual and stuff. #RPSBoard

They will be creating training that’s technical but also how to keep kids engaged with virtual learning environments. For positions that can’t be done virtually they are looking for other ways they can support the mission of RPS. #RPSBoard

For students... all work will be required. Attendance will be required. Grades will be a thing. Not like last spring. #RPSBoard

Kamras says “pods” are in the purview of families to do. They are looking to non profits to see how they can be helpful on the child care front. #RPSBoard

They will be continuing their meal distribution program. Infact they will ramp up their program to ensure all families who needs one will receive breakfast and lunch. #RPSBoard

Barlow asks about families opting out entirely. Has there been any discussion around asking to be held harmless to this years enrollment numbers and looking at last years. Also says he’s heard summer school attendance has been better some days than others so how will they

encourage attendance and set norms. Will they allow teachers to meet with students one on one in a socially distanced setting to kick off the year. What types of supports will be provided for special education students. #RPSBoard

Kamras says he doesn’t think opt out will be a significant matter but he will raise it with VDOE. He is also talking about testifying at the federal level to retain funding in the face of not opening physically. #RPSBoard

Kamras makes an appeal to parents thinking about homeschool or private school. Thinks this will be one of RPS’s finest moments. Believes in RPS. Believes in teachers. Believes they’ll create something really beautiful. #RPSBoard

Page asks if there’s been any discussion around state testing. Kamras says right now SOLs are schedules but commonwealth’s ability to eliminate them is tied to the federal government. Says energy should be to apply pressure at federal level especially in November. #RPSBoard

Page asks if the chrome books would be paid for by CARES Act funding. Answer is yes. Kamras says comprehensive plan will have a comprehensive budget. #RPSBoard

Burke asks if there will be any partnerships with any behavior resources in Richmond. Kamras says yes... working to reserve CARES funding for that purpose. #RPSBoard

Burke brings up how not everyone wants people in their homes with relation to how when you’re on a virtual call you see people’s homes. Some students and teachers want their own space private. #RPSBoard

Kamras says absolutely. And they are thinking of how to make available individual student desks for families who don’t have that space available. #RPSBoard

Gibson says every single IEP needs to be reviewed and revised. She asks for parents to be notified of classroom plan for fall ASAP so people can make POD plans. #RPSBoard

Gibson would also like an update on where they are at in terms of being able to reopen schools physically. #RPSBoard

We are moving onto the discussion about RPD MOU. Here’s the document. #RPSBoard

go.boarddocs.com/vsba/richmond/…

Remember in July, marijuana became a simple offense and students couldnt be arrested for disorderly conduct. #RPSBoard

They have Public Hearings set up for August 10th and August 24th but no info on how to participate in those hearings is provided. #RPSBoard

Cosby would like a breakdown of MLK as she is alarmed at the number of arrests. She is clarifying that arrest means handcuffing and taking a child into custody. Harry Hughes isn’t sure what that process looks like at the school. #RPSBoard

Cosby asks how are these arrests initiated and the process. Would like a focus group. Wants students from MLK in focus group. #RPSBoard

Barlow wants to know what the process will look like upon return under new laws if a student brings marijuana to school. Says if they don’t move forward with SROs they need to know what public advocacy they need to provide the support students need. #RPSBoard

Barlow would like to see what explanation is there for schools where arrests have dropped. #RPSBoard

Page wants to know if simple assault is student against teacher or student against peer. Is the focus group male/female? Harry Hughes will have to get info for her on 1st question. 2nd question the answer is that the focus group will be diverse in every sense of the word.

Page points out that there are schools with no arrests.... why? Who initiates these arrests. Says there is a problem here. Need to look at this information. What are the next steps. Harry Hughes says the data shows disproportionate arrests across division. #RPSBoard

Harry Hughes is told to look at his phone for context. Hill and Binford do not have SROs at their schools so the arrests would have to be done by a magistrate. #RPSBoard

Gibson says the correlation between having a SRO Officer and having arrests is clear. Says she thinks someone needs to be in schools to break up a fight but they don’t need a gun and they don’t need a badge. #RPSBoard

Gibson would like more information about why Henderson who does not have arrests has an SRO. #RPSBoard

Sapini wants to know who initiates what. He wants to know the process by how things are supposed to go. Hughes says according to the MOU, the SRO is only supposed to involve themselves when there is a law that may be being broken. #RPSBoard

Sapini says he would have expected to hear more answers since this is the third time he’s asked. Hughes says administrators and or SSOs initiate responses by SROs unless SRO is already in vicinity. #RPSBoard

Sapini seems to want to know specifically for all cases in the presentation, not just quoting the procedure, who initiated what. Asks for it by the next meeting. #RPSBoard

Burke would like to see the data of type of arrest broken down by school. She would like to know if the actions took place on the school grounds or elsewhere. #RPSBoard

Hughes says the majority of the arrests are because of SROs having knowledge of events happening on school grounds that day. #RPSBoard

Cosby wants to know how many of the students arrested have an IEP. How many are repeat offenders with disciplinary infractions. #RPSBoard

Young affirms Cosby’s recommendations. Wants to see data regarding what % of assaults resulted in arrests. Doesn’t think teachers should break up fights. #RPSBoard

Sapini wants to stress that every single adult in school building should have extensive training. Wants to know what kind of relationship each SRO has within the building. #RPSBoard

Page says they need to show more empathy and passion for students because some students are treated differently. May need sensitivity training. #RPSBoard

Cosby asks if this will be revisited at the next board meeting. Kamras asks if it will come back not at the next one but at the one after that. #RPSBoard

Next on the agenda is summer graduation. #RPSBoard

go.boarddocs.com/vsba/richmond/…

There will be a summer school virtual graduation on July 30th and an in person ceremony on July 31st. #RPSBoard

Owen asks how many people. Hughes says that’s data that will have to be presented. #RPSBoard

Next is JCT update. Kamras says all 3 schools are nearing completion. Interior is almost done. Exterior site work is almost done. Everything is moving at a feverish pace. #RPSBoard

COVID has caused some delays on work force. Contractors have had to get tested. Timeline for August turnover of buildings is still sound. Less urgent pressure since kids aren’t coming back but they are pressing forward. #RPSBoard

They are receiving for information budget transfers to close out last year. #RPSBoard

go.boarddocs.com/vsba/richmond/…

Now they are on new business and announcements. #RPSBoard

Gibson would like follow up on report cards and transcripts at the next meeting. Owen clarifies this years? It’s been noted. #RPSBoard

Meeting is adjourned. #RPSBoard

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