Thread by @BossRVA

Tomorrow night is another #RPSBoard meeting (agenda below). Docs haven’t been posted but a 🔑 part of the meeting will be a discussion on reopening next steps. I’ll be live tweeting on this thread.

A 51 page document titled “Reopen with Love” has been posted in addition to 20 pages of public comment. Link to reopening document below. #RPSBoard

go.boarddocs.com/vsba/richmond/…

Here’s the live stream link. #RPSBoard

facebook.com/RichmondPublic…

Roll call! In attendance are: Page, Cosby, Young, Sapini, Gibson, Burke, and Owen.

Looks like Doerr and Barlow are not on.

#RPSBoard

Discussing the agenda... Gibson would like to add agenda items for the Camelot contract and an update for SROs. Owen is unfamiliar with the Camelot contract and defers to Kamras. Kamras says he was ready to have something for next meeting. #RPSBoard

Looks like Doerr just logged in. #RPSBoard

Page has a question about public information that it says only 1 minute, was that board consensus. Owen says hopefully 3 minutes since there are less of them. #RPSBoard

Cosby comes in with a last minute second to Gibson’s motion to amend the agenda to add discussion of Camelot contract and SRO update. #RPSBoard

Yes: Page, Cosby, Young, Sapini, Gibson,

No: Burke, Owen

Motion passes and agenda is amended to include those items for discussion. #RPSBoard

Minutes from a few meetings are being approved. #RPSBoard

Moving onto public comment which will be 3 minutes, not 1 minute.

Tom Hartman says he urges the board to not remove SROs permanently but for a reset. Young ppl must establish a good positive relationship with cops. Word police should be a beautiful, inclusive, community word.

Charlotte Talley has been struggling with at home virtual learning with her two children. They have special needs and one has regressed in their development. If there isn’t a face to face option, she will need to do homeschooling. #RPSBoard

Randy Ashe is VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO REMOVING THE RESOURCE OFFICERS FROM RPS. Caps lock included. Says data is manipulated to be underreported by principals. #RPSBoard

William James is in support of retaining SROs in RPS. He’s a retired teacher and says their presence brought a calmness and provided him with another set of listening ears. Says SROs are a must to supporting climate in RPS schools. #RPSBoard

Nicole Sparkman says it’s not the will of many staff members to remove beloved officers as they are a huge part of school community. They provide structure and protection. Says they can remove officers who murdered Breonna Taylor, do that. They are callous individuals who don’t

deserve badges. #RPSBoard

Glenn Anderson is a student activities director at Armstrong and is in support of keeping SROs. Says they have an unassuming presence in the building but they also have a pulse of what is happening in the community which aids staff in mitigating possible issues.

#RPSBoard

Katherine Willis is a teacher in support of divesting the $4M spent on school security and investing money in mental health services. They need more mental health services in schools not security guards who tackle kids to the ground and police kids like criminals. #RPSBoard

Shelby Horner demands RPS ends the MOU w/ RPD, divest the $4M spent on security services, invest in mental health supports and restorative justice programs, and change the student code of responsibility and ethics. #RPSBoard

Katherine Morgan wants #RPSBoard to consider removing SROs as if the presence of SROs creates an environment that makes any students feel threatened, devalued, anxious, or less than, we cannot allow them to remain.

Sara Bereika says she needs to understand what virtual classes will look like so she can hire in home support for her child.
- will classes be on a set schedule
- how long will school day be
- are classes guided by a teacher or self guided
- how strict will attendance be

- can the person hired attend virtual classes with her child
- will there be testing
- can children participate in virtual classes with their friends in other RPS schools
- when will they find out if their child has been accepted to Binford

#RPSBoard

Carmen Terrell thinks more counselors and mentors are needed in schools rather than SROs. #RPSBoard

Isabella Ragazzi supports the removal of SROs as the $4M could be spent on better things that provide students with real support. #RPSBoard

Jessica Shim is a teacher who wants the $4M for security reallocated to mental health supports, restorative justice programs, and other community/youth led initiatives that address the root causes of inequities in education. #RPSBoard

Cassandra Crossfit says it’s time to remove police officers from schools to replace them with professional guidance counselors, social workers, nutritionists, nurses, and other mental health advocates. Do not stamp children as suspects and criminals. #RPSBoard

Jeannie Bowler is echoing the 43 pages of public comments from the 6/29 meeting that were never read into record asking for a reexamination of SROs in schools.

THATS RIGHT GIRL! YOU BETTER NOT LET IT GO THAT THEY NEVER READ THOSE COMMENTS! 💥 #RPSBoard

Louis Luna says they need to end RPS MOU with RPD and review the allocation of funds to SSOs. They have seen SSOs physically abuse students and when brought to the principals attention was told to stay out of security’s business. They also need to revise SCORE. #RPSBoard

Jackie Small says to more fully begin to address the school to prison pipeline #RPSBoard needs to end the MOU but also reinvest the $4M spent on private security into mental health support staff and restorative justice programs for students. Additionally an overhaul of

RPS’s SCORE is necessary to promote meaningful interventions. #RPSBoard

Katherine Malady says #RPSBoard should end the MOU with RPD and reinvest the $4M in school security Im mental health supports and restorative justice programs. Also RPS must change SCORE. We must defend black futures.

Kendra Crabtree supports removing SROs and SSOs from RPS and reinvesting those funds in restorative practices and mental health. She also believes the code of conduct needs revision to reduce suspension and expulsion practices. #RPSBoard

Jennifer Suratt thanks the RPS students for their leadership in the July 23rd Civic Voice Town Hall. It was that student action that led @JasonKamras to public state support for removing SROs. #RPSBoard

Betthany Awesome says SROs contribute more harm than good and perpetuate an environment of fear and judgment in a place that should be filled with celebration and compassion. In a COVID virtual world, this is an opportune time to plan for the removal of SROs. #RPSBoard

Catherine Green is a teacher concerned about burn out. Says teachers will need more than 1 hour to plan. There is a steep learning curve in teaching virtually. #RPSBoard

Jayci Page asks what a virtual kindergarten could look like. Especially the daily structure, time commitment, etc. Will it be possible to speak with teachers prior to the start of the year regarding what they are planning? #RPSBoard

Austin Harber says police officers in schools have been shown to be ineffective. They extend institutionalized racism into the school system, disproportionately targeting schools of color. He also believes they need to request a larger budget to support distance learning.

Allison and Scott Little don’t think there should be a lengthy online presence every day. They like the idea of big group in the morning and smaller groups of students in the afternoon for more personal interaction. They also think there should be mini breaks. #RPSBoard

Macaria Scott urges #RPSBoard to fund sufficient nurses, counselors, social workers, and school psychiatrists for schools instead of paying for SROs. She had no problem with officer outreach at schools but funding officers at schools sends the wrong message.

Amanda Gibson says their 1st grader did well in the virtual summer camp program but she had to sit next to him the entire time. She would like to ask for flexibility for teachers and family. She’s asking for a hybrid model. #RPSBoard

Graham Sturm is in support of SROs. He’s a teacher at Armstrong and on 6/15/1998 another teacher at Armstrong was shot. He was also a sophomore at Tech the day of the school shooting. Says the data #RPSBoard got doesn’t include the 2 students killed outside the building this year

Many orgs and people (in photo) say that SCORE and the presence of SROs and SSOs work yo push Black, Latinx, Indigenous, LGBTQ, and students with disabilities out of RPS and into the school to prison pipeline. #RPSBoard

Gray Dwyer is a teacher concerned about the lack of resources and training he’s received especially regarding trauma informed care in the classroom and anti racist practices in education. Says he doesn’t have a RPS email as a new teacher. Says RTR program needs to be scrutinized.

Now they are moving onto personal actions. Barlow has joined the meeting. #RPSBoard

Personnel actions have been approved with Gibson abstaining. #RPSBoard

We are now looking at 3 budget transfers. First is crossing guard dollars for guard supplies. Second is part time foreign language instruction to one full time language position for all elementary schools. Third is transportation for money for student/teacher kits,

instructional professional development, and technology. #RPSBoard

The motion to approve the transfer has been made. No discussion.

Yes: Page, Cosby, Young, Sapini, Doerr,

No:

Wait, in the middle of the vote Barlow pointed out that Gibson asked to speak. She wanted to know about the foreign language program. Is this permanent? This may benefit from a more discussion. Hudacsko says none of the positions were hired. Gibson says Hudacsko interrupted.

Gibson goes on to say she would like to see a bit more information about what this looks like because it’s more of a programmatic change than just a budget transfer.

Owen says let’s continue with a vote.

Barlow says yes. Gibson abstains. Owen is a yes. Motion passes 8-0.

Next is a district funds request for Doerr. She wanted $1500 for TJ but they only voted on $1000 so now they are voting on an additional $500. Passes unanimously with Young abstaining. #RPSBoard

Barlow has a comment. He sent a late breaking district activity request for Embrace Carver to support teacher virtual training. Was hoping that could be considered. Says it’s $1,000. They are going to hear the request. #RPSBoard

Barlow’s district activity request passes. #RPSBoard

We are pushing the receiving of a committee or conference report from Burke so we can get to the reopening plan. #RPSBoard

Here’s the long ass document we are about to dive into.

https://twitter.com/bossrva/status/1290368949352267776?s=21

https://twitter.com/bossrva/status/1290368949352267776

Plan has 5 sections: academic office, talent office, schools office, engagement office, and operations office. Members of leadership team are going to walk us through. #RPSBoard

Dr Epp is talking now about the Academic Office Plan. First, to ensure all students will receive meal deliveries, they will be starting the instructional day at 9:15AM from PK-12. #RPSBoard

Q: will parents/caregivers need to sit with students?

A: their goal is to ensure this isn’t necessary except for very young students. They are working to provide in home instructional aides for students who need constant supervision due to a severe learning disability.

Teachers will have flexibility to balance synchronous and asynchronous learning for a blended classroom for students. #RPSBoard

There will be individualized student support opportunities that will look different at each level. This may include small group instruction, dedicated time with an academic instructionist , etc. #RPSBoard

Every Wednesday live school will be ended at noon and there will be asynchronous work and optional enrichment activities for teachers to have time for planning. #RPSBoard

Pre-K is 9-245 with a lunch/recess/nap time from 11-130. #RPSBoard

Sample K-2 schedule is 915-3 with a lunch/recess/rest from 1145-1245.

Sample 3-5 is 915-330 with lunch/recess/rest from 12-1. #RPSBoard

Sample 6-8 schedules with a 4 period day or a 6 period day (some MS are on 4 period, others are on 6 period) go from 915-420 with lunch. #RPSBoard

Sample 9-12 day from 915-420 with 1235-110 lunch. #RPSBoard

Students with learning disabilities will be supported as the IEPs direct their services. About 3800 students have IEPs. About 3400 of those students need slight classroom modifications. About 400 require more intensive supports. #RPSBoard

Services that can’t be provided virtually such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy will be offered in person, at home with PPE and physical distancing. #RPSBoard

As IEPs are renewed this August, IEP teams will identify students for whom unaided virtual instruction isn’t possible. Alternatively, if you can’t wait til that happens, you can contact [e-mail]

#RPSBoard

RPS has 3300 English Language Learners. They will receive small group instruction and participate in English language development block. All families are encouraged to go to the Welcome Center at 4100 Hull Street for services. #RPSBoard

Pre K and primary grades will be supported in a virtual environment with dedicated time for creative play, dedicated time movement breaks/outdoor play/rest, and short bursts of live whole group learning followed by small group activities. #RPSBoard

They will be administering baseline assessments to benchmark students on where they need support going into the year. E.g. kindergarten readiness, K-3 literacy screening, 2-9 math assessment, 10-12 and other subjects will be teacher created assessments. #RPSBoard

Teachers and students will receive virtual reopening kits. Contents of the teacher kit is listed below. #RPSBoard

They are also adding a bunch of online software for teachers to use for virtual teaching. #RPSBoard

Now we are doing questions on this section. #RPSBoard

Burke’s questions
1) does each student have their own RPS email address
2) will teacher be on the call during enrichment time
3) is there a calendar of what to teach within school
4) do new teachers have mentors/buddies
5) is there universal guidance for grading

6) will 4th grade students also take the PALs assessment they missed at the end of 3rd grade

#RPSBoard

1) yes every student has an email address
2) those are sample student schedules not sample teacher schedules. Every teacher should have planning each day. Wants to get back to her on the encore class question.

3) they have a pacing guideline and framework. There are flex days they are building in.

5) they are working on grading recommendations. More to come there
6) Seems like the short answer here is no... there are alternatives they have in place. #RPSBoard

Barlow is up with comments. He wants to know if there has been any pushback regarding our plans from state leadership. He wonders if any thought has been given to blocking synchronous work together instead of spreading it throughout the day. He also wonders about training for

families to navigate platforms and layout expectations. He also wants to know if headphones have been contemplated in the student open with love kits and when will details be coming out about those. #RPSBoard

Dr Epp says they get regular updates from the state but so much is contextualized locally. They did consider the schedule but landed on the one they did because they wanted to deliver and deliver well. There is also benefit to structure and routine. #RPSBoard

They will be providing orientation materials for parents. They are finalizing student kits and will start publishing school supply lists early next week. #RPSBoard

Young has questions about pods. First, how many students will this be their first time logging into the system. Second, he’ll reserve his question about pods for later. Third what is expectation for someone being side by side with younger (Pre K-2) students. #RPSBoard

Epp says they are working with community partners to create options for working parents for places to send their kids during learning time. Instructional expectation of parents is none other than ensure child is logged on. Acknowledged that might not be realistic. #RPSBoard

Doerr asks if honors classes will still be offered. #RPSBoard

Sounds like a yes.

Doerr had other questions that I zoned out on. Sorry!

Gibson would like to see the board support a state action for FMLA. Says the safest and best scenario is parents staying home with students but they need the resources to do that. #RPSBoard

Gibson takes issue with the young learner schedules as compared to the VDOE recommendations around schedules. #RPSBoard

Gibson says she’s compared schedules of surrounding districts and is noting that the ones that have a higher level of need do not seem to align with VDOE standards for screen time whereas the whiter more affluent districts do. #RPSBoard

Ain’t no one got anything to say to those comments??????? Really????? Smdh. We’re just moving onto the next board member for comment. #RPSBoard

Page is asking if students can still do dual enrollment. How does ROTC look.

Frankly I missed some of Page’s questions because I’m still hung up on how they basically ignored @kenyaRVA’s comments/questions. Damn shame. #RPSBoard

Epp says they are basing kits on enrollment projections but will order over that number.

Oh Page said RTC not ROTC. Lol. Epp says practicum hours are in the spring semester.

#RPSBoard

Quick update.... it’s 8:52PM and we are through 1/5 sections of this presentation which accounts for 24/51 pages. #RPSBoard

Cosby hopes they can be mindful and more flexible when it comes to community partners and the hours they are offering for the care being provided. #RPSBoard

Sapini wants to know how many chromebooks were given out to seniors this summer and how many were returned? #RPSBoard

Epp says in total they gave out 16,000 but doesn’t have the number for seniors exactly but will start looking it up. With return piece they had an effort for return and can work on getting that data. #RPSBoard

Page wants to know if they have thought about orientation for elementary, middle, and high. Epp says yes and basically says when they collect supplies they may be able to do something. #RPSBoard

Barlow brings us back to Gibson’s point. Says putting in limits on screen time from VDOE is pretty important. How do they go about balancing that moving forward. #RPSBoard

Epp says she isn’t sure of the VDOE guidance from the spring but that might be the spring guidance not the fall guidance. Says the state issues minimums. They have gotten guidance from some of their cirriculum providers as well. #RPSBoard

Says because it’s both synchronous and asynchronous it’s not a full day of screen time. #RPSBoard

Kamras says it’s going to be a lot easier to shrink thank expand. Says comparisons are useful to other divisions but RPS has its unique needs. Stay in space of having high expectations, don’t lower the bar of what our kids and teachers can do. #RPSBoard

Young says Barlow asked precisely the same questions that were on his mind. Thinks it’s important for the board to assign some specific dates to consider a different direction. #RPSBoard

We are onto the Talent Office Plan. As of 7/31 they are 90% staffed. At this time last year they were at 80%. #RPSBoard

All employees will continue to perform their duties in a virtual setting. For employees whose jobs don’t fit easily into a virtual setting they are doing a job task analysis to best serve students. #RPSBoard

RPS will continue to need substitutes. They will train subs with other teachers before school starts. #RPSBoard

Doerr wants to confirm there is parental leave in the new fiscal year. Yes there is. #RPSBoard

No other comments. Moving onto Schools Office Plan. #RPSBoard

They are going to tier students and use that data to identify them as needing additional contact and support. #RPSBoard

They are going to include social emotional learning programs in school through “Second Step.” #RPSBoard

No comments or questions. Moving onto the Engagement Office Plan. #RPSBoard

They are reaching out through the RPS Website, RPS Direct, parent link calls, family support line return call time down to 24 hours, community walks with door knockers, and more. #RPSBoard

This is their community walk schedule so far. It’s not exhaustive but this is where they are starting. #RPSBoard

They are launching 4 community hubs across the city staffed by family liaisons whose responsibilities will be communicating info, connecting with social services, intervening in chronic absenteeism, etc. #RPSBoard

Doerr had questions but I had to make a trip to the bathroom. I’ve been sitting on the couch next to a Brita pitcher so it was inevitable. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Burke asks if students at Franklin Military Academy can be served by a community hub where they live. She’s also concerned about the location of one compared to Fulton because getting up the hill might be unrealistic. #RPSBoard

Dr Harris says the hub is just a home base. The idea is to have the liaison in the community 80% of the time instead of having them at the division or school level. #RPSBoard

Dr Harris says the goal of the hub is to support all families. If a hub is closer to a family they can go there. #RPSBoard

Last section! Operations Office Plan! #RPSBoard

Health and Safety! CDC checklist and temperature check will happen daily. Masks required. Gloves required. Goggles will be available for those who wish to wear them. #RPSBoard

For meal delivery, nutrition staff, bus drivers, bus monitors, and other employees who opt in to in person work will prepare meal bags and deliver them each day. #RPSBoard

RPS already distributed 16,000 chrome books and 6,000 WiFi hotspots. They ordered another 8,000 chromebooks already and are waiting for them to be delivered. #RPSBoard

They are committed to providing everyone with a RPS device by the end of September due to ordering backlogs. Everyone without a private device will receive a chromebook before the start of school. #RPSBoard

RPS is working to develop facilitated learning childcare centers. #RPSBoard

Here’s how they are using the CARES Act budget. #RPSBoard

Barlow wants to know about the facilitated learning centers. What scope are they looking at. How many students are they looking at. What kind of protocols are they going to require of any partners in the school buildings. #RPSBoard

Hudacsko says they are tiering parent needs. Tier of parents who can work virtual and childcare isn’t necessary but nice to have, parents who can’t work virtual, parents who are home but alternative learning environment would be better. They are working to flesh it out.

Barlow expresses concern of undermining their decision to go virtual by offering up their facilities to large gatherings with lack of cleaning and who pays for it. Says they need to have expectations. Kamras is clear that this is for the community partners to run. #RPSBoard

Doerr says it would be all for naught if they just opened RPS facilities through child care providers. She wants more information about facilitated learning centers. #RPSBoard

Page asks if at the education compact meeting tomorrow (wow I forgot that was even a thing) if supporting parents would be a topic of discussion.

Epp corrects Page. The meeting is next week. The agenda hasn’t been set yet but it will be and Epp will ask that be added.

Burke is concerned about the liability issue (as an insurance agent, I am too) with having a provider come into the school. She asks who would pay for the cost. Kamras says the school district wouldn’t pay for it. They are trying to navigate being helpful. #RPSBoard

Cosby would like to look at guidelines around handling COVID cases when they go back to school in person. #RPSBoard

Staffing update was included in the previous presentation so we are moving onto an update on report cards and transcripts. #RPSBoard

Short story is that they had to give grades based on 2/3rd of the term. Gave kids til June 12th to complete work which was last date of teacher work so central staff input grades. If they didn’t complete it, they got an I for incomplete. This can be transferred to a complete.

But those incompletes will only be updated and specific times during the year. #RPSBoard

JCT Update! Good progress is being made on all the buildings. COVID has been impacting construction crews here and there. They have started moving furniture in. They are on budget. #RPSBoard

Camelot update! Update is the Camelot contract is coming up for renewal at the next meeting. #RPSBoard

SRO update is that they have community meetings at August 10th and August 24th. They will be bringing info to respond to #RPSBoard member concerns at the next meeting. There’s another upcoming townhall this week but I missed the date.

Page is going back to JCT. what does “on budget” mean for remaining dollars. Specifically for the design phase for George Wythe. #RPSBoard

Kamras says he reached out to the city for a reconciliation of their CIP accounts. City said they are coming to a reconciliation point in 2 weeks. Once he gets that info he will share with the board. #RPSBoard

Gibson is taking us back to Camelot since the contract ended last month. Regarding SROs she is worried it’s become a convo of have them or don’t have them but it needs to be a bigger convo of reimagining supports in the schools. #RPSBoard

Owen respectfully asks that since these items weren’t on the agenda ahead of time, they wait til next time. Gibson would like to have some assurance that they are thinking of this more comprehensively. Says Camelot contract ended 7/31. What’s going on with the staff now?

Kamras says he would have to check on that as he doesn’t have the information right now. He can get it tomorrow.

Young points out that dollars for schools are tied to restaurants which have been impacted by COVID. Would like to talk about that at the education compact meeting. #RPSBoard

Cosby says this is a convo of SROs/no SROs because that’s what they have made it. She’s happy to see it being expanded. #RPSBoard

They are going into closed session so the meeting is over for tonight. #RPSBoard

@threadreaderapp unroll please