>> I'VE BEEN INFORMED IT'S 6:00. WELCOME TO 
          [00:00:03]
THE FIRST BUDGET WORK SESSION OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, APRIL 9, 2025. 
          BEFORE WE GET STARTED, LET'S ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE, PLEASE. 
          >> 
          >> MR. THROWER, DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE ANY GENERAL THOUGHTS BEFORE WE START? 
          [2. Proposed FY26 Budget Presentation]
          >> YES. THANKS, CHAIRMAN EDWARDS AND BOARD. 
          THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. THANK YOU ALL TO THE PUBLIC FOR MEETING TONIGHT. 
          WHAT I WANTED TO DO IS JUST GO THROUGH THE PROPOSED BUDGET FIRST, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH THE BOARD. 
          WE DO HAVE SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO WANT TO PRESENT THEIR BUDGET REQUESTS TO YOU ALL TONIGHT, INCLUDING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND CIVIC GROUPS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          IF IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD, I'LL GO AHEAD AND GO THROUGH THE BUDGET, IF THAT'S OKAY. 
          I DID WANT TO GO THROUGH THE PROPOSED BUDGET. 
          BEFORE I START, I WANT TO THANK LYNETTE, OUR DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AND CHRISTIE IN OUR OFFICE. 
          THEY'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH THE BUDGET THIS YEAR, AND I ALWAYS APPRECIATE THEIR FANTASTIC HELP AND ASSISTANCE, PUTTING THE BUDGET TOGETHER AND THE GOOD WORK THEY DO EVERY DAY, AND ALSO TINA IN OUR OFFICE WITH SUPPORT STAFF. 
          THANK YOU ALL. I'VE GOT GOOD NEWS TONIGHT. 
          WE'VE GOT A GOOD BUDGET, I BELIEVE. 
          THE PROPOSED FY 26 BUDGET STANDS THAT $87,887,099. 
          YOU SEE IN THE BUDGET MEMO THAT YOU GOT IN YOUR BOOKLET, THE EXPENDITURE TOTALS BROKEN OUT BY FUND ARE PROPOSED AS FOLLOWS. 
          THE GENERAL FUND AT $28,189,486. 
          OUR ENTERPRISE FUND, WHICH IS WATER AND SEWER AT $4,977,323. 
          THE BUILDING FUND AT $11,370,568. 
          OUR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FUND, WHICH IS SOCIAL SERVICES AT $3, 313,525. 
          THE SCHOOL SERVICES FUND AT $1,549,148 AND THE SCHOOL FUND AT $38,487,049. 
          THE GENERAL FUND TOTALS, AGAIN, A LITTLE OVER $28 MILLION. 
          IT INCLUDES NO TAX INCREASES. 
          I'LL SAY THAT AGAIN, NO TAX INCREASES FOR THE NEXT YEAR. 
          A 3% COLA INCREASE FOR ALL OF OUR FULL TIME EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS PRETTY CONSISTENT IN THE HAMPTON ROADS AND TIDEWATER REGION WITH OTHER LOCALITIES, AND ONE NEW LOCALLY FUNDED PARALEGAL POSITION IN THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT THEY REQUESTED. 
          OUR ENTERPRISE FUND, AGAIN, THAT'S A LITTLE UNDER $5 MILLION. 
          THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOES INCLUDE A $5 INCREASE TO ALL WATER AND SEWER RATES, AS OUTLINED BELOW IN THE 3% COLA FOR OUR FULL TIME EMPLOYEES. 
          YOU CAN SEE THERE, ALL THE CATEGORIES FOR BOTH WATER AND SEWER INCREASED BY $5. 
          THE RATIONALE BEHIND THAT, AS WE TALKED TO IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THE RATE INCREASES DO SUPPORT YOUR ADOPTED FINANCIAL POLICY GUIDELINES. 
          BY LESSENING THE RELIANCE ON THE GENERAL FUND TO COVER EXPENSES IN TERMS OF HAVING THE WATER AND SEWER FUND OPERATE MORE LIKE A SELF SUSTAINING ENTERPRISE FUND OVER TIME. 
          THAT'S ONE OF THE GOALS WE HAVE AS A COUNTY TO TRY TO MAKE THAT OPERATE AS AN ENTERPRISE FUND AS BEST POSSIBLE. 
          THE BUILDING FUND, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IS $11,370,568, AND THAT FUND PRIMARILY INCLUDES REVENUES AND EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE COURTHOUSE PROJECT THAT WE DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF BOND FINANCING LEFT TO FINISH UP A FEW THINGS, OUR RADIO SYSTEM PROJECT WITH THE CITY OF FRANKLIN, FIRE AND RESCUE CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND OTHER BUILDING AND VEHICLE EXPENSES. 
          PUBLIC SERVICE, AGAIN, IS 3.3 MILLION AND SUPPORTS OUR LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT. 
          MOST OF THOSE FUNDS COME FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA. 
          AGAIN, THE FOOD SERVICE FUND AT 1.5 MILLION AND SOME CHANGE AND THE SCHOOL FUND AT $38,487,049. 
          THAT INCLUDES LOCAL FUNDING OF 11,644,984 OPERATIONS, 
          [00:05:07]
OUT OF THAT 9,115,046 IS FOR OPERATIONS AND DEBT SERVICE AT 2,529,934, AGAIN, IS FOR DEBT SERVICE. 
          THE PROPOSED TOTAL FOR OPERATIONS, AGAIN, AT $9,115,046 REPRESENTS LEVEL FUNDING FROM THE FY 25 APPROVED BUDGET. 
          THE SCHOOL BOARDS ADOPTED AND REQUESTED BUDGET IS $40,891,125. 
          THIS INCLUDES LOCAL FUNDING 14,049,056 FOR OPERATIONS, WHICH WOULD BE $11,519,122 IN DEBT SERVICE AT $2,529,934. 
          WHEN WE PUT THE BUDGET TOGETHER, WE TRIED TO LINK SOME OF THE MAJOR INITIATIVES IN YOUR BUDGET TO YOUR ADOPTED STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND THE WORK PLAN THAT STAFF PUT TOGETHER TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT THOSE, AND ALSO THE WORK THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND BOARD DO ON DEVELOPING YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. 
          A FEW OF THOSE I'VE INCLUDED. 
          AS YOU KNOW, STRATEGIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS A PRIORITY AREA IN YOUR ADOPTED PRIORITIES SO WE DID INCLUDE IN THE FY 26 CIP, AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SITE STUDY ESTIMATED AT $125,000 AND A WATER SUPPLY PLAN FOR WESTERN TIDEWATER AT $43,178. 
          AGAIN, THE SITE STUDY IS A PRIORITY THAT'S LISTED IN UNDER STRATEGIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN TERMS OF WORKING WITH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY NEW SITES APPROPRIATE FOR INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN TERMS OF IDENTIFYING NEW SITES. 
          THAT'S A PRETTY SPECIFIC PRIORITY THAT YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO DO. 
          WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED THAT IN OUR WORK PLAN. 
          IN TERMS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT'S BEEN ADOPTED. 
          THAT ALSO REFERENCES, CONSIDER ACQUISITION OF FURTHER PROPERTY FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ONCE THE BL FARM PROPERTY ACQUISITION IS COMPLETE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH LAND FOR INDUSTRIAL GROWTH. 
          IN TERMS OF RELIABLE PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU ALSO IDENTIFIED IT. 
          THAT IS A PRIORITY AREA IN YOUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES DOCUMENT. 
          WE DID INCLUDE, AGAIN, THE BOND FINANCING, AS YOU'RE AWARE HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. 
          THESE ARE THE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS, THE RADIO PROJECT FINANCING OF $310,350 OUT OF THE 22 BOND FINANCING AND $231,996 OUT OF THE 24 SERIES BOND FINANCING. 
          AGAIN, THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH OUR RADIO PROJECT WITH THE CITY OF FRANKLIN. 
          AGAIN, THOSE ARE LISTED AS PRIORITIES IN YOUR PRIORITIES DOCUMENT AND WORK PLAN. 
          ALSO RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY ARE VOLUNTEER SERVICE AGENCIES, WITH OUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND RESCUE SQUADS AND THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE ASSOCIATION. 
          VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS, WE DID INCLUDE A TOTAL OF $571,611 IN THE BUDGET, AND THAT REPRESENTS A $74,559 INCREASE OVER FY 25, CONTRIBUTIONS TO VOLUNTEER RESCUE SQUADS AT $315,450, THAT'S A $41,145 INCREASE OVER FY 25, AND A CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIRE AND RESCUE ASSOCIATION AT $48,155, THAT'S A $32,500 INCREASE OVER FY 25. 
          AS A NOTE ON THAT, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, 21,500 IS FOR REPORTING SOFTWARE THAT THEY NEED AND ANOTHER $11,000 TO INCREASE FOR THEIR OPERATIONAL MEDICAL DIRECTOR, THOSE COSTS HAVE GONE UP A TAD. 
          FIRE AND RESCUE CAPITAL PROJECTS, THAT'S A TOTAL OF $1,572,777, WHICH IS A $438,000 INCREASE OVER FY 25, AND STORING MEDICATIONS AND IV SUPPLIES AND LOCK SECURE BOXES. 
          I BELIEVE IT'S A REQUIREMENT NOW THAT ALL THE VOLUNTEER AGENCIES ARE TRYING TO GRAPPLE WITH $41,255. 
          AGAIN, YOU'VE LISTED THAT AS A PRIORITY IN YOUR PRIORITIES DOCUMENT WITH RELIABLE PUBLIC SAFETY IN TERMS OF EVALUATING THE FUNDING OF OUR VOLUNTEER FIRE AND RESCUE AGENCIES. 
          [00:10:01]
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WITH INFLATION AND THE COST OF EQUIPMENT AND TRUCKS AND WHATNOT, IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE KEEP PACE WITH INFLATION SO WE CAN SUPPORT OUR VOLUNTEER FIRE AND RESCUE PROVIDERS. 
          IN TERMS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THEY'VE ASKED, AND WE'VE PUT IN THE BUDGET STIPENDS FOR EMPLOYEES WHO WORK SHIFT WORK AND RESPOND TO EMERGENCY CALLS. 
          THAT TOTALS $110,888, AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE A $3,000 PER YEAR STIPEND FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT STAFF AND A $1,500 STIPEND FOR JAIL STAFF. 
          ALSO, IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COMP BOARD HAS FUNDED 6% INCREASES FOR COMMUNICATIONS OFFICERS. 
          TO MAKE THAT ACROSS THE BOARD, WE INCLUDED A 6% INCREASE FOR BOTH LOCALLY FUNDED AND COMP BOARD FUNDED COMMUNICATIONS OFFICERS ON TOP OF THE 3% COLA INCREASE THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET FOR ALL FULL TIME EMPLOYEES. 
          AGAIN, ALL THOSE ARE COMBINED TO STATE THAT ONE OF YOUR PRIORITIES IS TRYING TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICE SPACE, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THAT. 
          IN TERMS OF ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, WE DID INCLUDE $85,000 FOR A SPACE NEEDS AND SAFETY ASSESSMENT MASTER PLAN FOR THIS FACILITY HERE. 
          WE ESTIMATE THAT WOULD BE $85,000 THROUGH AN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM TO CONDUCT THAT STUDY. 
          ALSO, THAT'S ONE OF YOUR PRIORITIES GOING FORWARD IS TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT SUPPORT AND GROW THE COUNTY'S GOALS AND PRIORITIES IN TERMS OF EVALUATING FACILITY. 
          THAT'S WHAT THIS WOULD DO IN THIS STUDY, AND ALSO IN OUR STAFF WORK PLAN. 
          VERY IMPORTANT NEXT ITEM IN TERMS OF THE OPERATING BUDGET, COMPENSATION AND CLASSIFICATION STUDY. 
          IF YOU REMEMBER, WE INCLUDED THAT IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET LAST YEAR. 
          WE'VE INCLUDED $90,000 IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR TO DO THAT, AND THAT WOULD ENTAIL HIRING A CONSULTING FIRM TO CONDUCT A COMPENSATION AND CLASSIFICATION STUDY FOR ALL COUNTY POSITIONS, INCLUDING CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS. 
          STUDY WOULD ALSO INCLUDE POSITION DESCRIPTION REVIEWS AND UPDATES, STUDY OF BENEFITS, AND CONDUCTING THIS STUDY, OBVIOUSLY, WOULD HELP ENSURE THAT THE COUNTY STAYS COMPETITIVE WITH ATTRACTING AND RETAINING EMPLOYEES. 
          AGAIN, THIS IS INCLUDED AS A PRIORITY AREA IN YOUR PRIORITIES AND VISION DOCUMENT. 
          I WILL NOTE AGAIN THAT THE LAST STUDY WAS DONE IN 2016. 
          THE BEST PRACTICE IS TO CONDUCT A STUDY EVERY 3-5 YEARS. 
          WE ARE ENTERING YEAR 9 SINCE THE LAST STUDY WAS CONDUCTED, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY WOULD LEAVE US BEHIND OUR NEIGHBORING LOCALITIES IN TERMS OF STAYING COMPETITIVE. 
          ANOTHER OPERATING ITEM IS FINANCIAL SERVICES AND INVESTMENT CONSULTING A $50,000. 
          THIS WOULD ENTAIL WORKING WITH OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS, DAVENPORT & COMPANY TO MAXIMIZE OUR FINANCIAL POSITION THROUGH ITS INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. 
          THEY WILL LOOK OUT, WE INVEST OUR FUNDS AND OUR CASH FLOW AND TRY TO GET A GOOD RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT. 
          ANOTHER OPERATING ITEM WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET IS WATER MAINTENANCE AT $95,000. 
          THIS CONSISTS OF CONTRACTING WITH A FIRM TO CONDUCT ANNUAL MAINTENANCE SERVICES ON OUR FOUR WATER TANKS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. 
          SERVICES INCLUDE INSPECTION, REPAIR, CLEANING, AND WASHING, AND PAINTING OF BOTH THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF THE WATER TANKS, AND THIS WILL BE AN ONGOING ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR SERVICES. 
          AGAIN, THIS FITS YOUR VISION STATEMENT OF TRYING TO DO THINGS BY BEST PRACTICE. 
          THIS IS PRETTY MUCH A BEST PRACTICE OF OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN VIRGINIA AND THE UNITED STATES WIDE. 
          CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN ITEMS. THE OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES NOT SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED ABOVE ARE INCLUDED IN THE ATTACHED FY 26 THROUGH 30 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. 
          DEVELOPMENT OF A CIP IS INCLUDED IN YOUR ADOPTED VISION AND PRIORITIES AS WELL AS YOUR ADOPTED FINANCIAL POLICY GUIDELINES, AND AGAIN, IT IS CONSIDERED A LOCAL GOVERNMENT BEST PRACTICE. 
          THE CIP SHOULD BE LOOKED UPON AS A GENERAL GUIDE FOR MEETING FUTURE MAJOR CAPITAL NEEDS. 
          THE ONLY ITEMS LISTED IN THE FY 26 COLUMN ARE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL DURING THIS BUDGET PROCESS, ITEMS LISTED IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS 27 THROUGH 30 ARE OBVIOUSLY SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN BOARD APPROVAL IN LATER YEARS. 
          ITEMS VALUED AT $25,000 OR MORE ARE LISTED IN THE COUNTY CIP, 
          [00:15:03]
ITEMS IN THE CIP TYPICALLY INCLUDE CAPITAL ASSETS SUCH AS LAND, BUILDINGS, AND BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS, VEHICLES, MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT, AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          ALSO INCLUDED ARE COST ITEMS FOR PROJECTS SUCH AS ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES STUDIES, AND OTHER RELATED SERVICES. 
          IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO YOUR TAB IN YOUR BOOK THAT SAYS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, YOU'LL SEE A COLORFUL DOCUMENT THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS. 
          AGAIN, STAFF, LYNETTE, CHRISTIE HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB PUTTING THIS TOGETHER FOR US. 
          WHAT WE'VE DONE, WE'VE LISTED THE DEPARTMENT IN FUNCTION ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE PAGE WITH THE CAPITAL PROJECT, A VERY SHORT DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THAT IS, THE FUNDING SOURCE AND THE YEAR. 
          THAT SHOULD BE PRETTY SELF EXPLANATORY. 
          AGAIN, EVERYTHING YOU SEE IN THE FY 26 COLUMN WILL BE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL THIS YEAR. 
          AGAIN, WE JUST USE THIS AS A GUIDE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS USE THIS AS A GUIDE TO HELP PLAN OUT AND THINK THROUGH FUTURE CAPITAL PROJECT NEEDS. 
          AS YOU CAN SEE, IN THE 26 COLUMN, AGAIN, SOME OF THESE I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED, THE VOTER REGISTRAR HAS ASKED FOR SOME MONEY TO DO AN OFFICE EXPANSION, AND I THINK LYNN BURGESS IS HERE, SHE'LL GIVE YOU AN EXPLANATION OF THAT HERE SHORTLY. 
          WE'VE INCLUDED MONEY OUT OF OUR EXISTING BOND FINANCING FOR THE COURTHOUSE TO COMPLETE, HOPEFULLY THE REMAINING HOLDING SALES THAT WERE NOT COMPLETED AS PART OF THE INITIAL PROJECT, AND THE HVAC IN THE RECORDS ROOM THAT WE'VE BEEN GRAPPLING WITH THE LAST FEW MONTHS, TRYING TO GET THAT FIGURED OUT. 
          AGAIN, THAT'S THE REMAINING BOND FINANCING THAT'S LEFT TO COMPLETE THAT PROJECT. 
          WE DO HAVE MONEY THROUGH EXISTING FINANCING TO DO THAT. 
          AS A REMINDER, ALL THE ITEMS IN YELLOW HAVE EXISTING FINANCING. 
          ANYTHING ELSE OUTSIDE OF THAT WOULD REQUIRE NEW FINANCING IF THAT'S THE SOURCE IDENTIFIED IN THE DOCUMENT. 
          THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS REQUESTED SEVERAL ITEMS AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, SECONDARY SCHOOL REPLACE, CAPRON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, REPLACEMENT OF BUS GARAGE, HVAC SYSTEM, AND SCHOOL BUSES, ALL OF THOSE IN THE 2B DETERMINED COLUMN, EXCEPT FOR THE SCHOOL BUSES, I THINK THE COUNTY, GENERALLY, WE TRY TO BUDGET ABOUT FIVE EACH YEAR WITHIN THE DEBT FOOTPRINT. 
          SO WE'RE ESTIMATING FIVE THIS YEAR AT $580,000. 
          >> AGAIN, THE SPACE STUDY AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, AT 85,000 WITH IT DEPARTMENT. 
          [NOISE] WE DO HAVE 18 COMPUTERS WITHIN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS LISTED AT ABOUT $27,000 AND A NEW PHONE SYSTEM THAT'S MUCH NEEDED FOR THIS BUILDING AT $50,000 VOICE OVER INTERNET MODERN PHONE SYSTEM. 
          COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. 
          WE DO ESTIMATE HAVING TO CARRY OVER ABOUT $30,000 AND GRANT FUNDS FOR PHASE 1 OF THE NEWSOME CDBG PROJECT. 
          PHASE 2. IT'S OUR INTENTION TO MOVE FORWARD ON APPLYING FOR PHASE 2, AND THE $25,000 THERE WOULD HOPEFULLY COME THROUGH GRANT FUNDS TO START THAT STUDY PHASE. 
          WE DID INCLUDE A VEHICLE FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. 
          THE DIRECTOR HAD REQUESTED AN ADDITIONAL VEHICLE DUE TO THE AGE OF SOME OF THE VEHICLES IN THAT FLEET. 
          WE DID ESTIMATE THAT AT 45,000. 
          THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR HAD ALSO ASKED FOR [NOISE] SOME PARKING AND SITE IMPROVEMENTS IN TERMS OF THE ENTRANCE TO THAT PROPERTY, REMOVING SOME TREES, SOME ASPHALT WORK. 
          THAT WAS ESTIMATED AT 75,000, THE MONROE BOAT RAMP LANDING AND PARK THAT YOU WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH JAMIE CRAIG ON. 
          WE DID GET GRANT FUNDS, AS YOU'RE AWARE OF ABOUT $200,000 FOR THAT. 
          JAMIE HAS APPLIED FOR ADDITIONAL SUBSEQUENT FUNDING OF, I BELIEVE 39,500. 
          WITH THE ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT'S NEEDED TO COMPLETE THAT PROJECT. 
          WE DID INCLUDE THAT AS GRANT FUNDING. 
          IN TERMS OF PUBLIC WORKS, WE DIDN'T INCLUDE $150,000 FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR DUMP SITES THAT WOULD INCLUDE ENTRANCES, FENCING, ROCKS, SIGNAGE, IMPROVEMENT OF THE SHELTERS. 
          AFTER WE HAD MET WITH ALL OF OUR REFUSE SITE ATTENDANTS, THEY BROUGHT TO LIGHT SOME OF THE NEEDS THAT OUR SITES THAT I BELIEVE WE CAN ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. 
          WE ALSO INCLUDED TWO FOUR BY FOUR PICKUP TRUCKS TO PULL EQUIPMENT, 
          [00:20:04]
ONE ESTIMATED AT AROUND 57,000 AND ANOTHER AROUND 61,000. 
          AGAIN, THOSE WOULD COME FROM CURRENT REVENUES. 
          AGAIN, I MENTIONED THE RADIO PROJECT. 
          AGAIN, THAT'S OUT OF EXISTING BOND FINANCING THAT WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF. 
          THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE REQUESTED AIR CONDITIONING AT THE JAIL. 
          SOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE THERE AT $52,500 AND PUTTING SOME CAMERAS IN THE JAIL, 15 SPECIFICALLY AT 43,172. 
          UNDER UTILITIES, THERE ARE SOME WORK WE NEED TO DO ON OUR TURNER TRACK UNDER OUR CURRENT PERMIT. 
          WE HAVE TO CONSTRUCT AN ADDITIONAL WELL IN IN OUR TURNER TRACK AREA. 
          WE WOULD WE INCLUDED A 65,000 FOR THE ENGINEERING THIS FISCAL YEAR, AND WITH CONSTRUCTION TAKING PLACE IN FY27, ESTIMATED THAT AT 400,000. 
          AGAIN, THAT 65,000 WILL COME FROM CURRENT REVENUES. 
          WE ALSO DID INCLUDE THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE LEFT REMAINING FROM OUR PER FUNDS AT 320,000 TO COMPLETE SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON WITH THE BOYKIN SEWER REHAB PROJECT AND THE BRANCH FIELD WELL PROJECT AND THE CORTLAND WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT UV PROJECT UPGRADES, AND AGAIN, THAT'S ALL PER MONEY THAT WE'RE UTILIZING. 
          TO COMPLETE THOSE AND THE LAST TWO ITEMS I MENTIONED BEFORE WITH THE WATER SUPPLY STUDY FOR WESTERN TIDEWATER. 
          JUST TO NOTE [NOISE] THAT'S WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY OF FRANKLIN, SUSSEX COUNTY, SURREY COUNTY, AND US TO COMPLETE THAT, AND THAT WILL LOOK AT OUR OUR EXISTING ASSETS COLLECTIVELY AND CAPACITY, OUR FUTURE NEEDS, AND WHAT WE WOULD NEED TO DO AND SOME OPTIONS GOING FORWARD TO PROVIDE US MORE WATER. 
          AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE'RE SURROUNDED BY WATER, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO TRYING TO RECRUIT NEW BUSINESSES, WATER AVAILABILITY IS OFTEN PROBLEMATIC AREA ALL THE TIDEWATER LOCALITIES HAVE. 
          THAT STUDY WOULD HELP US IDENTIFY OPTIONS FOR WATER GOING FORWARD. 
          I MENTIONED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STUDY AT 125,000. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. 
          >> THAT'S QUITE A BIT. 
          >> WELL, THE GOOD THING IS, NO TAX INCREASES, AND JUST SOME WATER AND SEWER RATE INCREASES PROPOSED. 
          AGAIN, I THINK WE'VE GOT A GOOD BUDGET HERE AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE BOARD ON THIS. 
          >> GOOD NEWS, NO TAX INCREASE. 
          ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. THROWER BEFORE WE GET INTO THE PRESENTATIONS. 
          LOOKS LIKE A VERY THOROUGH JOB. 
          ALL DID A GREAT JOB ON THIS. 
          >> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. 
          >> NO QUESTIONS. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE BUDGET PRESENTATIONS. 
          [3. Budget Presentations]
FIRST ONE ON THE LIST OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS. IS SOMEBODY HERE TO REPRESENT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. 
          >> THANK YOU. [BACKGROUND] 
          >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. 
          >> GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. 
          I WANT TO BEGIN BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU AGAIN TONIGHT AS I HAVE YEAR AFTER YEAR FOR NEARLY NINE YEARS ON BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          YEAR AFTER YEAR, WE'VE BEEN TOLD THE SAME THING THAT THE COUNTY'S REVENUE IS FLAT AND THAT OUR SCHOOLS BUDGET WILL NOT BE FULLY FUNDED. 
          BUT TONIGHT, I AM ASKING YOU TO LOOK PAST THE NORM. 
          I AM HERE ALONE WITH A TEAM OF DEDICATED LEADERS, PRINCIPALS, AND CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF, NOT JUST TO PRESENT A BUDGET, BUT TO MAKE A HEART FELT APPEAL. 
          LET'S REFOCUS THIS PROCESS ON WHAT TRULY MATTERS. 
          OUR CHILDREN AND THE EDUCATORS WHO SERVE THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY. 
          LET'S FULLY FUND OUR BUDGET. 
          IN RECENT YEARS, THE TONE AND SUBSTANCE OF THIS CONVERSATION HAVE SHIFTED. 
          WHAT WAS ONCE CENTERED ON STUDENTS AND THEIR FUTURES HAS TOO OFTEN BEEN OVERSHADOWED BY POLITICS. 
          BUT LET'S BE CLEAR. 
          THIS IS ABOUT OUR CHILDREN, THIS IS ABOUT OUR TEACHERS, THIS IS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY. 
          I URGE ALL OF US TO SET ASIDE ANY DIFFERENCES BECAUSE THE STAKES ARE TOO HIGH. 
          [00:25:01]
OUR CHILDREN AND TEACHERS SHOULD NOT BE PUNISHED OR SHORT CHANGED BECAUSE OF POLITICS OR INDIFFERENCES. 
          WHEN YOU DENY FULL FUNDING TO OUR SCHOOLS, YOU ARE WITHHOLDING OPPORTUNITIES FROM OUR STUDENTS. 
          TONIGHT, I ASK YOU TO RECENTER THIS CONVERSATION. 
          LET'S PUT THE CHILDREN BACK AT THE FOREFRONT WHERE THEY BELONG. 
          WE ALL WANT A STRONGER, MORE VIBRANT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. 
          THAT STARTS WITH STRONG SCHOOLS. 
          A COMMUNITY CANNOT THRIVE IF ITS EDUCATION SYSTEM IS UNDERFUNDED, ITS TEACHERS UNDERVALUED, AND ITS CHILDREN UNDERSERVED. 
          FULLY FUNDING THIS BUDGET ISN'T JUST ABOUT TEST SCORES OR NEW PROGRAMS, IT'S ABOUT SHAPING A FUTURE WHERE EVERY CHILD HAS A FAIR SHOT, AND EVERY TEACHER FEELS SUPPORTED IN THEIR MISSION. 
          LET'S NOT FORGET, WHEN WE INVEST IN EDUCATION, WE INVEST IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, IN PUBLIC SAFETY, IN ECONOMIC GROWTH. 
          THE CHILDREN WE SERVE TODAY WILL BE THE EMPLOYEES, LEADERS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND CITIZENS OF TOMORROW. 
          IF WE WANT A BETTER COMMUNITY, WE MUST BUILD IT FROM THE GROUND UP, AND THAT STARTS IN THE CLASSROOM. 
          TONIGHT, YOU WILL HEAR DIRECTLY FROM SOME OF OUR LEADERS ABOUT WHAT THIS FUNDING MEANS ON THE GROUND, IN THE CLASSROOMS, IN THE OFFICES, IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND STAFF. 
          I URGE YOU TO LISTEN WITH OPEN MINDS AND FULL HEARTS. 
          THIS BUDGET REQUEST IS NOT A FAVOR. 
          IT'S A MORAL OBLIGATION TO THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTY. 
          I HOPE IT IS ONE YOU WILL HONOR FOR THE CHILDREN AND EDUCATORS WHO DEPEND ON YOUR LEADERSHIP. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR REMEMBERING WHO THIS BUDGET IS REALLY FOR. 
          IT'S FOR OUR CHILDREN, IT'S FOR OUR TEACHERS, AND IT'S FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 
          >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] 
          >> I WILL START WITH OUR BOARD GOALS. 
          >> CAN WE JUST HAVE MAYBE ONE? EVERYBODY SIT DOWN AND JUST HAVE WHOEVER'S SPEAKING UP THERE, PLEASE? 
          >> THAT'S FINE. THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM. THANK YOU. 
          I APPRECIATE YOU ALL STANDING. 
          WE'LL START WITH OUR BOARD GOALS. 
          NUMBER 1, TO EXPAND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND INCREASE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT GOALS. 
          NUMBER 2, EXPAND OUR SAFE AND HEALTHY SCHOOL CULTURE AND CLIMATE, THREE, EXPAND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, AND IMPROVE EMPLOYEE RETENTION, FOUR, EXPAND COMMUNITY AND PARENTAL PARTNERSHIPS, FIVE, EXPAND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS, AND ACQUIRE MORE FISCAL RESOURCES, AND SIX, EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SCHOOL MORE EQUITABLE FOR ALL STUDENTS. 
          THE VISION OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS THAT ALL STUDENTS WILL BE SUCCESSFUL, PRODUCTIVE LIFELONG LEARNERS IN AN EVER CHANGING WORLD. 
          THE MISSION OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS THAT THROUGH THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF THE STAFF, STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND THE COMMUNITY. 
          WE WILL ENSURE A QUALITY EDUCATION IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL PREPARE STUDENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL LEARNERS AND PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS IN AN EVER CHANGING SOCIETY. 
          >> GOOD EVENING. I AM HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT GOAL 1, EXPANDING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, INCREASING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. 
          ABOVE, YOU DO HAVE A COUPLE OF DISPLAYS ABOUT HOW WE ARE ARE EXTENDING OUR LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. 
          SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS COMMITTED FOR STUDENT GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT, NOT JUST ACADEMICALLY, BUT ALSO IN OTHER AREAS AS WELL. 
          AS YOU CAN SEE UP THERE, WE DO HAVE OUR GOVERNOR'S ARTS UP THERE. 
          WE HAVE OUR READING SPECIALISTS AND OUR PRE-K TEACHERS MEET ON A REGULAR BASIS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST TEACHING TRENDS. 
          THEN WE HAVE OUR COMPUTER SCIENCE SUMMER CAMPS. 
          EACH OF THE SCHOOLS, WE DO HAVE A CODING SHOWCASE THAT IS BOTH IN THE FALL AND THE SPRING. 
          WE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE LOTS OF LEARNING. 
          WE HAVE VERY ENGAGING LESSONS THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR THINGS. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO REALIZE IS THAT WHEN YOU FUND THE SCHOOLS, YOU ARE FUNDING, AND PEOPLE ARE COMING IN TO SURE THAT THE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN, AND THEY ALSO WILL COME IN FOR THE SCHOOLS. 
          I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE, NOT JUST FOR ONE YEAR, BUT FOR TWO YEARS FOR BEING AN EXEMPLARY SCHOOL, WHICH IS ONE OF THE TOP SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. 
          WE REALLY DO HOPE THAT YOU FUND THE SCHOOLS SO THAT WE CAN BRING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU. 
          I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT GOAL TO EXPAND OUR SAFE AND HEALTHY SCHOOL CULTURE AND CLIMATE. 
          WE ARE CONSTANTLY FINDING NEW WAYS TO ENSURE A SAFE AND HEALTHY SCHOOL CULTURE AND CLIMATE. 
          WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO BE SAFE, HEALTHY, AND HAPPY. 
          OUR GOAL IS TO BE PROACTIVE, NOT REACTIVE. 
          [00:30:04]
SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE CURRENTLY EQUIPPED WITH SCHOOL SECURITY CAMERAS. 
          ALL SCHOOLS ARE CURRENTLY FENCED TO ENSURE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS. 
          TRAFFIC CAMERAS HAVE BEEN ADDED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AT CAPRON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, RIVERDALE, SOUTHAMPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL. 
          WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF DR. HARRIS MUHAMMAD, THE ODU MOBILE CLINIC HAS VISITED ALL SCHOOLS WITHIN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE REQUIRED PHYSICALS FOR KINDERGARTEN AND PRE-K, ALSO SPORTS PHYSICALS SO THAT THEY CAN ENJOY SPORTS AND PARTICIPATE IN THOSE AS WELL. 
          BUT THEY DIDN'T JUST COMPLETE PHYSICALS, THEY ALSO TENDED TO OTHER MEDICAL NEEDS AS WELL. 
          DR. HARRIS MUHAMMAD HAS ALSO PARTNERED WITH SMILES FOR VIRGINIA MOBILE DENTAL CLINIC TO HELP MEET THE DENTAL NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS. 
          AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SLIDE BEHIND YOU, WE HAVE A STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO HELP BUILD RELATIONSHIPS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL. 
          THEY VISIT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS ON A REGULAR BASIS. 
          IN THE PICTURES HERE, YOU SEE THEM THERE AT RIVERDALE AND AT MEHERRIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 
          ALL SCHOOLS ALSO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING AN SRO TO INTERACT WITH STUDENTS AND ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR BUILDINGS ON A DAILY BASIS. 
          EMPLOYEES FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WORK HARD TO ENSURE THAT THEY ADDRESS THE CULTURAL NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS AND THE CLIMATE. 
          THAT CAN BE SEEN BY THE SENIOR SUNRISE OVER HERE IN THE CORNER, WHICH IS AN EVENT THAT CELEBRATES THE SENIORS AS THEY EMBARK UPON SUCH A NEW YEAR, A EXCITING TIME AND A LIFE CHANGING YEAR. 
          THAT CAN ALSO BE SEEN IN THE PICTURE ON YOUR FAR RIGHT AT THE TOP AT NOTTOWAY, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHERE SHE'S MAKING MEMORIES AT THE END OF THE YEAR, AS THE STUDENTS ARE GOING OUT FOR WINTER BREAK, SHE HAS MADE A SNOWSTORM. 
          LASTLY, ALL SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE IN SPIRIT DAY AS SEEN IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT PICTURE AT SOUTHAMPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL. 
          THANK YOU FOR THE FUNDING YOU HAVE GIVEN. 
          BUT PLEASE CONTINUE TO FUND OUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED FOR OUR STUDENTS. 
          THEY NEED TO BE IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. 
          THE SAFETY OF OUR SCHOOLS ALSO MEANS SAFETY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 
          THEY ALSO NEED TO BE IN A CULTURE AND A CLIMATE THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING, AND YOU HELP TO PROVIDE THAT. 
          THANK YOU, AND WE ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. 
          >> GOOD EVENING. I'M SUSAN FOWLER, THE PROUD PRINCIPAL OF MEHERRIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TONIGHT OF PRESENTING OUR THIRD GOAL, EXPANDING PROFESSIONAL TRAINING. 
          I'M JUMPING AHEAD. I'M READY TO GO. 
          [LAUGHTER] 
          >> WE KNOW EACH OTHER'S THOUGHTS SO WELL. YOU DO FOR US. 
          >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AMISHA WARREN AND. 
          I'M ONE OF THE PROUD PRINCIPALS AT RIVERDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 
          >> MY NAME IS PAUL KLEE. I'M ON THE OTHER PROUD PRINCIPALS OF RIVERDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 
          >> THIS EVENING, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ON GOAL 3, WHICH IS EXPANDING PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND IMPROVING EMPLOYMENT RETENTION AT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. 
          PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL SCHOOL STAFF IS ESSENTIAL FOR ENHANCING THEIR SKILLS, FOSTERING CONTINUOUS GROWTH, AND ENSURING THE DELIVERY OF HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS. 
          IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE POWERPOINT, YOU WILL SEE THAT WE OFFER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. 
          ONE OF THEM BEING VTSS, WHICH WE RECENTLY HAD AT SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL. 
          WE ALSO OFFER LEXIA TRAINING TO STAY ABREAST WITH THE READING AND HMH, AS WELL. 
          WE RECENTLY HOSTED A JOB FAIR BACK IN NOVEMBER AT RIVERDALE TO RECRUIT NEW TEACHERS. 
          WE ALSO MADE AN APPEARANCE ON THE HAMPTON ROAD SHOW AS WELL TO RECRUIT NEW TEACHERS FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          WE ALSO CONTINUE TO OFFER TUITION REIMBURSEMENT AND ASSISTANCE WITH THE PRACTICES. 
          >> ALSO, IT WAS ARRANGED THIS YEAR FOR A PERSON TO COME DOWN AND PRESENT TO US THE PROPER WAY TO PERFORM THE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF THAT THE VDOE OFFERS. 
          WE ALSO HAVE EMPLOYEE RETENTION. 
          IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EMPLOYEE RETENTION. 
          TEACHER RETENTION IS CRUCIAL FOR MAINTAINING A STABLE WORKFORCE, FOSTERING A POSITIVE SCHOOL CLIMATE, AND ENSURING CONSISTENT HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS. 
          AS YOU SEE BEHIND YOU ON THE BOARD, NOTTOWAY ELEMENTARY DURING NOVEMBER DID THANKFUL THURSDAYS AS A EXAMPLE OF A POT LUCK THEY DID. 
          THINGS LIKE THIS BOOST MOLE, KEEP A POSITIVE SCHOOL CLIMATE, AND WHEN A SCHOOL CLIMATES POSITIVE TEST SCORES ARE HIGH, AND TEACHER RETENTION IS HIGH. 
          OVER TO THE LEFT AT THE TOP LEFT HAND CORNER, YOU SEE WHERE CAPER AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAD A HOT COCOA BAR TO HELP WARM STAFF UP DURING THE COLD WINTER RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS. 
          AT THE BOTTOM LEFT, SOUTHAM HIGH SCHOOL REINSTATED THE SUNSHINE COMMITTEE. 
          IT'S GREAT TO HAVE COMMITTEES LIKE THIS JUST TO BRING A LITTLE SUNSHINE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO KEEP PEOPLE HAPPY, 
          [00:35:03]
KEEP PEOPLE INCITED, KEEP SCHOOL SPIRIT GOING BECAUSE WHEN TEACHERS ARE HAPPY, STUDENTS ARE HAPPY AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT SOARS. 
          IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT EMPLOYER RETENTION REVOLVES AROUND MAKING SURE WE FOCUS ON WHAT IS IMPORTANT, OUR STAFF AND OUR STUDENTS, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE ADEQUATE FUNDING WE HAVE IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. 
          >> NOW, YOU'RE UP. [LAUGHTER] 
          >> I'M LOOKING OUT FOR ALL OF US. 
          AGAIN, I'M THE PROUD PRINCIPAL OF MEHERRIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SUSAN FOWLER, AND I AM HERE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW PRIVILEGED WE ARE AT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO EXPAND OUR COMMUNITY AND PARENTAL PARTNERSHIPS. 
          EXPANDING COMMUNITY AND PARENTAL PARTNERSHIPS IS ESSENTIAL FOR CREATING A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS OF STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES, OR ANY INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. 
          STRONG RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE WORKPLACE, SCHOOL, OR ORGANIZATION, AND THE COMMUNITY CAN LEAD TO INCREASED ENGAGEMENT, IMPROVED OUTCOMES, AND A SENSE OF SHARED PURPOSE. 
          SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN THE VALUABLE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE VARIOUS COMMUNITY GROUPS IN OUR AREA, INCLUDING OUR NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES. 
          I'M GOING BACK TO THE SLIDE SHOW THAT YOU CAN SEE, SOME OF THE PICTURES HERE. 
          AMERICAN RED CROSS PARTNERS WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL EVERY YEAR. 
          ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, WE DO GREATLY APPRECIATE OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, BUT WE ALSO GREATLY APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR LOCAL FIRE AND RESCUE AS WELL. 
          LOCAL BUSINESSES, ALL OF THE NONPROFITS THAT OUR AREA HAS TO OFFER, AND OUR NEIGHBORING FAITH-BASED COMMUNITIES. 
          WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THESE EFFORTS. THANK YOU. 
          >> I'M LORRAINE GREEN WHITEHEAD. 
          I'VE BEEN WITH SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR 48 YEARS, AND I LOVE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. 
          ONE OF MY ROLES IS MANAGING AND WRITING MANY OF THE GRANTS. 
          ONE OF THE GRANTS IS JOBS FOR VIRGINIA GRADUATES. 
          I WROTE THAT GRANT, AND THEN DR. HARRIS MUHAMMAD IS NOW MANAGING IT, AND SHE IS DOING A FANTASTIC JOB. 
          TEACHERS FOR TOMORROW GRANT, VIRTUAL VIRGINIA SUMMER SESSION GRANT. 
          GROW YOUR OWN TEACHER, GRANT, AP COMPUTER SCIENCE, VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SECURITY GRANTS. 
          I WORK WITH LYNETTE AND WITH BRIAN THROWER ON THOSE. 
          WE HAVE SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICERS FOR BOTH NOTTOWAY AND RIVERDALE. 
          I'M VERY EXCITED TO SAY THAT AT THE END OF LAST WEEK, WE WERE JUST NOTIFIED THAT WE JUST GOT AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE FOR A NEW SCHOOL SAFETY PROGRAM OFFICER. 
          I LOVE THE NAME OF THAT GRANT. 
          IT'S ANGELS WATCHING OVER ME. LET'S SEE. 
          VIRGINIA TIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT GRANT, ANNUAL COMPETITIVE VIRGINIA SCHOOL SECURITY EQUIPMENT GRANT. 
          WE'VE BEEN GETTING THAT FOR SEVERAL YEARS. 
          WE GET WITH THAT. 
          WE'VE GOT PERIMETER FENCING, OUR METAL DETECTORS, THE CAMERAS THAT ARE IN THE SCHOOLS, AND THE TWO-WAY RADIOS. 
          IT HAS NOT OPENED UP FOR THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR YET, BUT I GUARANTEE WE WILL BE APPLYING FOR THAT FUNDING. 
          MR. MELBY, AND MR. CHARITY, AND MYSELF, AND MR. HATCH, WE WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE, AND WE ALWAYS GO TO THE SCHOOLS TO SURVEY THE PRINCIPALS TO SEE WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE. 
          WE HAVE FY24 ONE TIME SCHOOL SECURITY GRANT THAT MR. MELBY MANAGES, ACTIVE LEARNING GRANT FOR WALKABOUTS, MAKES LEARNING MORE ACTIVE, AND HAS STIPENDS FOR TEACHERS THAT ARE IMPLEMENTING THAT GRANT. 
          WE HAVE ADVANCING COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION GRANT FOR STEM SUMMER CAMP, MCKINNEY VENTO, WHICH DR. HARRIS MUHAMMAD ALSO MANAGES THAT, AND SHE, LIKE I SAID, IS AWESOME WITH IT. 
          FOOD BANK OF SOUTHERN VIRGINIA EASTERN SHORE DISTRIBUTES MEALS TO FAMILIES IN SOUTH AMY COUNTY. 
          I WANT TO ADD TO THAT THAT OUR EL SPECIALIST, WHO IS OUR TITLE WITH TITLE III. 
          SHE PARTICIPATES WITH TERRY ZERFLU AT THE FOOD BANK TO HELP MAKE THE SIGNS AND THE FLYERS AND ALL THAT IN SPANISH SO THAT ALSO SHE MEETS HER STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THERE AT THE FOOD BANK AND ALSO AT THE CLOTHING CLOSET TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR BASIC NEEDS ARE MET, AND THEN THE VIRGINIA STATE, MR. MELBY. 
          >> VERSA. 
          >> VERSA, THANK YOU. 
          >> INSURANCE. 
          >> GRANT WAS USED TO REPLACE THE PADDING IN THE HIGH SCHOOL GYM, 
          [00:40:01]
AND WE ARE VERY AGGRESSIVE AT TRYING TO FIND ALL OF THESE RESOURCES THAT WE CAN TO HELP FAMILIES AND OUR STUDENTS, AND OUR TEACHERS. 
          SORRY. I THINK I DID THE SAME THING. I WAS SO EXCITED. 
          >> YOU CAN TAKE A TIME OUT. [LAUGHTER] 
          >> YOU CAN TIME OUT. 
          >> JUST WAY ON BACK. 
          WE'LL GET THERE. IT'S OKAY. YOU'RE EXCITED. 
          GOOD. GOAL NUMBER 5 EXPANDING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS AND ACQUIRING MORE FISCAL RESOURCES. 
          THIS YEAR, BOTH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND CAPRON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ARE REACHING THE AGE OF 70 YEARS OLD. 
          IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENTS FOR OUR STUDENTS, STAFF FOR THEIR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES, WE NEED TO START TO TAKE THE STEPS TO REPLACE THESE BUILDINGS. 
          THE PROCESS IT TAKES BETWEEN THREE AND FIVE YEARS, SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO NOW. 
          WE HAVE GOT TO ADDRESS THESE BUILDINGS. 
          IN DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR, WE PARTNERED WITH HES FOR CUSTODIAL AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES. 
          THIS PARTNERSHIP IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO YIELD IN POSITIVE IMPACTS ON ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS AND GROUNDS. 
          THE BIGGEST THING IS THAT WE HAVE A FASTER TURNAROUND TIME WHEN IT COMES TO A MAINTENANCE ISSUE, WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO GET SOMEBODY FROM THE OUTSIDE TO COME IN AND DO SOME WORK FOR US. 
          WE HAVE THAT STAFF ON HAND RIGHT NOW. 
          THAT HELPS KEEP OUR BUILDINGS AND OUR GROUNDS FUNCTIONING CONTINUOUSLY WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. NOW, DR. HARRIS. 
          >> THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] GOOD EVENING. 
          I AM THE PROUD DIRECTOR OF TESTING AND PUPIL PERSONNEL, AND ALSO SERVE AS THE HEARING OFFICER FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO YOUR CONSTITUENCY. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTING SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          MY JOB THIS EVENING IS TO DISCUSS WITH YOU GOAL 6, EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SCHOOLS MORE EQUITABLE FOR ALL STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE IN THE COUNTY. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU DO FOR US CONSISTENTLY IS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDED WRAP AROUND SERVICES AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT, AND WE'RE HOPING YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO TO ENSURE THAT WE BRING MEDICAL CARE, HEALTH CARE, AND DENTAL CARE, AND SOON TO BE VISION CARE TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          AS IT WAS SHARED EARLIER FROM SEVERAL OF MY PHENOMENAL COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ODU MOBILE HEALTH CLINIC, WHICH ALSO PROVIDES MAMMOGRAM CHECKS FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL THAT WANTS TO COME AND RECEIVE A HEALTH SCREEN. 
          IN ADDITION, IT WAS ALSO SHARED WITH YOU THAT WE PROVIDE PHYSICALS FOR OUR STUDENTS. 
          BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ALSO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL HEALTHCARE, WHICH IS A PART OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR OUR STUDENTS. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS CLOSE AND DEAR TO MY HEART IS OUR JOBS FOR VIRGINIA PROGRAM THAT MS. LORRAINE WHITEHEAD DISCUSSED EARLIER. 
          SOME OF YOU THAT ARE SITTING IN FRONT OF US THIS EVENING HAVE MENTORED YOU HAVE WORKED WITH SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS THAT'S IN THAT JOBS FOR VIRGINIA PROGRAM. 
          IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH YOU TO DO SO. 
          THE SECOND ACTIVITY THAT IS CLOSE AND DEAR TO MY HEART IS OUR MCKINNEY VENTO PROGRAM. 
          WITH YOUR CONTINUED FINANCIAL SUPPORT, I WANTED YOU TO SEE THIS. 
          THIS IS WHAT YOU PROVIDE TO OUR STUDENTS WHO WE USED TO IDENTIFY AS HOMELESS, BUT WE NOW IDENTIFY THEM AS UNHOUSED. 
          YOU PROVIDE THEM WITH YOUR SUPPORT TOOTHBRUSHES. 
          THIS IS WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR KIDS. 
          YOU HELP US PROVIDE SOCKS FOR OUR KIDS. 
          YOU HELP US PROVIDE PENCIL KITS FOR OUR KIDS, ALSO SHIRTS FOR OUR KIDS, ALSO OTHER PERSONAL ITEMS FOR OUR KIDS. 
          WE ALSO GIVE EACH OF OUR FAMILIES, WE CURRENTLY HAVE 32 STUDENTS THAT WE KNOW OF THAT I HAVE IDENTIFIED. NOW, THERE ARE MORE. 
          IN OUR DIVISION. I AM STILL IDENTIFYING STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THAT HAVE CHALLENGES WITH PERMANENT RESIDENCY AT NIGHT. 
          WE WORK DILIGENTLY EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED. 
          BECAUSE OF YOUR PARTNERSHIP, BECAUSE OF YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE TO YOUR CONSTITUENCY, WHO WE EDUCATE, WHO ALSO FALL IN THESE CATEGORIES, 
          [00:45:02]
WE CONTINUE IN ALIGNMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SERVED. 
          I COULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THESE STUDENTS. 
          I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THESE STUDENTS. 
          I MAY HAVE BEEN ONE OF THESE STUDENTS. 
          BUT BECAUSE OF THOSE SERVICES ON THE SCHOOL LEVEL, BECAUSE OF THE SERVICES IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE LEVEL, AND BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT OF MY GRANDPARENTS, I WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS WHO WERE HOMELESS. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR STUDENTS AND ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS. 
          THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> GOOD EVENING. 
          >> GOOD EVENING. 
          >> MY NAME IS LATANYA HUTCHISON, AND IT IS MY ESTEEMED PRIVILEGE TO SERVE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS THE COORDINATOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND MARKETING. 
          BEFORE I BEGIN MY PRESENTATION, DEALING WITH THE THINGS YOU SEE BEHIND YOU, I'D JUST LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO SHARE THE OLD ADAGE. 
          IT TAKES A VILLAGE DOES NOT PERTAIN SPECIFICALLY TO RAISING CHILDREN. 
          IT CAN BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THOSE WHO RALLY AROUND THE HUMAN RESOURCES TEAM TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE EXCITED, PASSIONATE, AND HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR COMMUNITIES. 
          I DO HAVE TO SAY, THANK YOU TO MY TEAM, TO MY COLLEAGUE, TO THOSE WHO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE HR DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT THINGS THAT WE HAVE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED, AND WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE ON. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO YOU FOR THE FUNDING THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED THUS FAR, THAT ASSISTS US IN GETTING THE THINGS THAT WE NEED FOR OUR STUDENTS, THE TEACHERS THAT WE NEED FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND THE STAFF THAT WE NEED. 
          WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE MY PRESENTATION BY STATING THIS. 
          DID YOU KNOW THAT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HOSTED A CAREER FAIR IN NOVEMBER? CERTAINLY DID. 
          BEHIND YOU, YOU WILL SEE TO ENSURE THAT OUR CANDIDATES WERE ABLE TO INTERVIEW ON THE SPOT WITHOUT ANY DISTRACTIONS, A BOUNCY HOUSE WAS PROVIDED TO ALLOW THE CHILDREN AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME PLACE TO PLAY. 
          IT WAS SUPERVISED PLAY. 
          THERE WERE BOUNCY HOUSES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE PICTURES AND SO MANY OTHER AMAZING THINGS. 
          THE STUDENTS HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY WHILE PARENTS INTERVIEWED. 
          WE ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND CHURCHES AROUND SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, AND THEY DO PROVIDE SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR ALL SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. 
          WE'RE ABLE TO GET THOSE IN AND GET THOSE DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE NEEDS. 
          YOU'VE SEEN THIS AMAZING FACE ALREADY. 
          MRS. WARREN WAS AT VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY AT A RECRUITMENT FAIR, AND THERE SHE IS STANDING ALONGSIDE A PERSON WHO EXPRESSED INTEREST IN JOINING THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FAMILY. 
          WHAT IS A RECRUITMENT FAIR WITHOUT VIBRANT, ENGAGING ADVERTISING? BESIDE THAT, YOU SEE WHAT WE DO TO APPEAL TO THOSE PEOPLE TO ENSURE THAT THEY'LL BE INVESTED IN COMING TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SO THAT THAT INFORMATION GOES OUT WORLDWIDE. 
          MR. KEA AND DR. HALL LEONARD, DR. HALL LEONARD, YOU WILL MEET SOON. 
          YOU'VE ALREADY MET MR. KEA ARE AT THE TIDEWATER RECRUITMENT FAIR, STANDING ALONGSIDE DIVISIONS THAT I HAVE TO SAY ARE OFFERING UPWARDS OF $10,000 MORE THAN US. 
          YET THEY STAND TALL AND PROUD, AND THEY SUPPORT SOUTHAMPTON. 
          THEY ADVOCATE FOR SOUTHAMPTON, AND THEY CONTINUE TO WORK TO GET QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS TO COME TO OUR DIVISION. 
          SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ALSO OFFERED, I SAID, ON-SITE INTERVIEWING AT THAT CAREER FAIR THAT WAS OFFERED ON SITE AT RIVERDALE. 
          IN ADDITION TO THOSE OTHER SERVICES THAT WERE OFFERED AT THAT CAREER FAIR, THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS AND CANDIDATES TO ENGAGE IN MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS. 
          PAUL D. CAMP WAS ALSO PRESENT, SO IT GAVE THEM SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT PAUL D. 
          CAMP AND SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY WERE OFFERING, AND WE ALSO HAD OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS TO CHRISTMAS SHOP. 
          THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING AT THAT JOB FAIR, AND I MUST SAY, IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. 
          IN FACT, ONE OF THE CANDIDATES UP THERE, WE ACTUALLY ENDED UP SELECTING TO JOIN OUR DIVISION. 
          WE HAVE LOTS OF WONDERFUL THINGS GOING ON IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THAT IS DUE TO THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN, AND WE STRONGLY DESIRE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US. THANK YOU. 
          >> I'M BACK. 
          [00:50:02]
          >> I ALSO AM IN CHARGE OF THE VIRGINIA PRESCHOOL INITIATIVE, FEDERAL PROGRAMS, TITLE I, TITLE II, TITLE III, AND TITLE IV, AND I'M ALSO THE COMMUNITY LIAISON. 
          ON THIS SLIDE, UP TO THE LEFT IS OUR PRE-K TO KINDERGARTEN TRANSITION WORKSHOP, WHERE WE HAVE PARENTS COME FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY, AND IT'S USUALLY HELD AT RIVERDALE. 
          WE DEMONSTRATE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT THE PARENTS CAN DO WITH THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME DURING THE SUMMER TO HELP THEM NOT ONLY MAINTAIN SKILLS, BUT CONTINUE TO DEVELOP SKILLS FOR KINDERGARTEN READINESS. 
          WHAT YOU SEE IN THOSE KIDS' HANDS THERE'S EARLY LITERACY KITS, AND IT HAS ALL THESE MATERIALS FOR THE PARENTS TO WORK WITH THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME DURING THE SUMMER. 
          I DID A PRESENTATION LAST NIGHT AT THE SEDLEY WOMEN'S CLUB, AND ONE OF THE PARENTS THERE TALKED ABOUT HER TWINS, EACH GOT ONE OF THESE, AND THEY STILL USE THEM. 
          THEY CONSIDER THEM TREASURE CHEST, AND HOW MUCH IT HAS HELPED THEIR CHILDREN. 
          OVER TO THE RIGHT, THIS IS ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY, LIKE I SAID, I'M COMMUNITY LIAISON. 
          WE WORKED WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WITH KASHEF SPEAK LIFE. 
          KASHEF SPEAK LIFE PRESENTED OR SUPPLIED MATERIALS TO GO INTO THE BOOK BAGS THAT THE VIRGINIA HOUND HERITAGE HAD PURCHASED FOR THE FAMILIES OUT AT WHAT IS NOW CALLED FRANKLIN FARM, BUT, AS WE ALL KNOW, AS SOUTHAMPTON MEADOWS. 
          WE DID THIS WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD WESTERN TIDEWATER, WHICH IS MY OTHER ME. 
          ALSO, WE HAVE A RESIDENT OUT THERE, ANGIE, WHO IS THE COMMUNITY LIAISON FROM OUT THERE THAT ALWAYS HELPS US TO HOST AND GET THE MESSAGE OUT AND TO GET THE PARTICIPANTS FOR ANY ACTIVITY THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE. 
          THE PICTURES ON THE BOTTOM ARE THE TITLE I FAMILY FALL NIGHTS FOR PARENT MEETINGS TO INFORM THE PARENTS THAT THEIR CHILD IS IN A TITLE I SCHOOL. 
          THEY EACH GET A PACKET. 
          YOU SEE THE PACKETS BEING DISTRIBUTED OVER TO THE FAR RIGHT. 
          IN THOSE PACKETS, IT HAS THEIR CHILD'S CURRICULUM, THE STANDARDS OF LEARNING, AND THE ASSESSMENT TOOLS THAT EACH OF THEIR CHILDREN WILL BE TAKING DURING THE YEAR. 
          IN ORDER TO ATTRACT FAMILIES, THESE PRINCIPALS HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB, ALONG WITH THE READING SPECIALISTS AT EACH OF THESE SCHOOLS TO MAKE THE ACTIVITIES FUN. 
          WE HAVE HAD HUNDREDS OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN, AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO COME OUT TO THESE EVENTS. 
          >> GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. 
          I STAND BEFORE YOU AS THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT. 
          MY NAME IS MICHELLE BLUNT, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. 
          I AM ADVOCATING FOR THE CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN VITAL PROGRAMS THAT FOSTER ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          FUNDING IS THE FUNDAMENTAL FOUNDATION UPON WHICH WE BUILD SYSTEMIC COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR DISTRICT LEADERS AND OUR SCHOOL LEVEL TEAMS AND OUR STAKEHOLDERS. 
          IT ENABLES US TO ANALYZE TRENDS, IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT AND TO CONDUCT REGULAR EVALUATIONS WITH FIDELITY, ENSURING THAT WE REMAIN STEADFAST IN OUR COMMITMENT TO STUDENT SUCCESS. 
          IT'S OFTEN SAID THAT A PICTURE IS WORTH 100 WORDS. 
          THERE ARE FOUR PICTURES ON THE SCREEN. 
          THOSE PICTURES SPEAK VOLUMES. 
          THEY DEPICT HOW WE USE DATA. 
          WE USE A ROBUST DATA SYSTEM, AND IT IS PARAMOUNT IN OUR EFFORTS TO MONITOR STUDENT PERFORMANCE, ATTENDANCE, AND ENGAGEMENT. 
          WE UTILIZE INFORMED MATRIX TO DRIVE DECISIONS THAT YIELD TANGIBLE RESULTS. 
          STRENGTHENING OUR ABILITY TO TRACK AND ANALYZE THESE FACTORS ALLOW US TO COMBAT TRUANCY AND CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM EFFECTIVELY, EMPLOYING THE EXPERTISE OF OUR ATTENDANCE OFFICER AND OUR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE TEAMS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN MEANINGFUL WAYS. 
          MOREOVER, INTERVENTION PROGRAMS SUCH AS COMPREHENSIVE TUTORING, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, 
          [00:55:07]
SUMMER SCHOOL INITIATIVES AND CULTURAL ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING BOTH STUDENTS AND PARENTS. 
          THESE INITIATIVES PROVIDE ESSENTIAL RESOURCES TO ADDRESS LEARNING GAPS, FOSTER ACADEMIC GROWTH, AND CREATE ENRICHING EXPERIENCES THAT INSPIRE LIFELONG LEARNING. 
          EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS THE CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATORS. 
          FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU LOOK IN THE MIDDLE BOTTOM ROW, THERE IS A PICTURE OF ASPIRING EDUCATIONAL PRACTITIONERS FROM VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY. 
          INVESTING IN ADVANCED TRAINING ON NEW TEACHING TECHNOLOGIES AND METHODOLOGIES, CURRICULUM UPDATES AND TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION EQUIPS OUR PRACTITIONERS WITH CUTTING EDGE INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES, ENSURING THAT WE ARE WELL EQUIPPED TO DELIVER FIRST CLASS STUDENT CENTERED LEARNING EXPERIENCES. 
          WITH FORWARD THINKING INITIATIVES, WE SEEK TO ENHANCE HEIGHTENED AND BROADEN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES THAT EMPOWER OUR STUDENTS. 
          OUR EDUCATORS AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY. 
          I HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT IN SUSTAINING AND EXPANDING OUR PROGRAMS AND I HUMBLY ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOUR PARTNERSHIP IS INTEGRAL IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          TOGETHER, WE CAN BUILD A STRONGER, MORE INNOVATIVE AND A STUDENT EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM THAT ENSURES THE SUCCESS OF EVERY LEARNER. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO EDUCATION AND FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING ADVANCED OPPORTUNITIES THAT UPLIFT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD EVENING AGAIN. THE THE PICTURE BEHIND YOU, THE NICHE BEHIND YOU DEPICTS OUR INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          AT PRESENT, WE HAVE 135 CONTRACTED TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, AND LIBRARIES. 
          THOSE WHO ARE PROVIDING SOME LEVEL OF INSTRUCTION TO OUR STUDENTS. 
          WE HAVE 25 ADMINISTRATORS WHO WORK IN DIFFERENT CAPACITIES. 
          WE HAVE 149 SUPPORT STAFF, AND AGAIN, WE'RE SPEAKING TO THOSE WHO SERVE INSTRUCTIONALLY. 
          WE HAVE 62 TEACHERS WHO HAVE ADVANCED DEGREES. 
          ON AVERAGE, OUR TEACHERS HAVE 14 YEARS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE. 
          WE HAVE TWO TEACHERS WHO HOLD NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATIONS, AND WE HAVE TWO WHO ARE IN PROGRESS. 
          WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD IN HUMAN RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT WE BRING EXCELLENT TEACHERS BEFORE OUR STUDENTS, AND WE CERTAINLY NEED YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> HELLO, EVERYONE. 
          MY NAME IS BILL HATCHIN. 
          I AM IN MY 30TH YEAR AS THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          BOTH MY WIFE AND I WORK FOR THE SCHOOL DIVISION AND BOTH OF OUR CHILDREN WENT THROUGH THE SCHOOL DIVISION, AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OUR KIDS AND OR YOUR GRANDKIDS WERE IN THE SAME GRADE, AND I MISS SEEING SOME OF YOU AT THE PARENT FUNCTIONS AND THE AWARD CEREMONIES. 
          THEY ASKED ME TONIGHT TO GO THROUGH THE DEMOGRAPHICS WITH YOU FOR THE STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION. 
          CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 2,372 STUDENTS ON ROLL AT THE TIME THAT THIS PRESENTATION WAS PUT TOGETHER FOR OUR BOARD, WHICH WAS FEBRUARY THE NINTH. 
          THAT OF COURSE, CHANGES AS PEOPLE COME AND GO, BUT FOR PURPOSES TONIGHT, 2,372 STUDENTS. 
          OF COURSE, IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTED AT HOME BY PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, WHICH NUMBER IN THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS. 
          YOUR FUNDING IS VERY IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY TO THOSE STUDENTS, BUT ALSO TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT THEM AT HOME. 
          OUT OF THOSE STUDENTS, WE HAVE 1,221 MALES, 1,151 FEMALES. 
          AS YOU WOULD EXPECT THAT'S ALMOST 50/50, 
          [01:00:02]
IT'S ACTUALLY 51% TO 49%. 
          DEMOGRAPHICALLY, AS FAR AS RACE, WE HAVE 40% BLACK STUDENTS, WE HAVE 54% WHITE STUDENTS,3.63% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE CONSIDERED HISPANIC, AND 5.4% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE IN THE OTHER CATEGORY. 
          THAT INCLUDES PACIFIC ISLAND, ASIAN, NATIVE AMERICANS, AND ALSO STUDENTS WHO IDENTIFY AS MORE THAN ONE RACE, 1.4% OF OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE ENGLISH LEARNER SERVICES. 
          THIS IS WHAT WE USED TO CALL. 
          ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE. 
          IT'S NOT CALLED THAT ANYMORE, BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS. 
          THAT'S FOR PEOPLE, STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION WHO DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AS THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE, AND THEY'RE BEING TAUGHT ENGLISH AS THEIR SECOND LANGUAGE. 
          SEVEN POINT FOUR PERCENT OF OUR STUDENTS ARE IDENTIFIED AS GIFTED AND TALENTED. 
          THAT IS 175 STUDENTS OUT OF THE 2,372 STUDENTS. 
          AS YOU'LL SEE IN A FEW MINUTES, IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL, WE HAVE 14.3% OF OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE SOME SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES RANGING ALL THE WAY FROM SPEECH THERAPY TO OTHER MORE INTENSIVE SERVICES. 
          I WILL ALSO NOTE ON THIS SLIDE THAT IT SAYS THAT 100% OF OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE FREE LUNCH AND BREAKFAST. 
          THAT IS BECAUSE THE SCHOOL DIVISION PARTICIPATES IN THE USDA COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROGRAM. 
          BECAUSE OF THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE COUNTY, WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH TO EVERY STUDENT. 
          BASICALLY FREE LUNCH AND BREAKFAST TO EVERY STUDENT IN THE SCHOOL DIVISION. 
          EVERYBODY EATS BOTH MEALS FOR FREE. THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD EVENING TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THIS EVENING. 
          I AM ANDREA LEONARD, THE SPECIAL EDUCATION RESOURCES SPECIALIST FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          I AM HONORED AND HUMBLED BOTH AT THE SAME TIME THIS EVENING TO BRING THIS PRESENTATION TO YOU WITH OUR STUDENTS WITH EXCEPTIONAL DISABILITIES. 
          SPECIAL EDUCATION MEANS SPECIALLY DESIGNED INSTRUCTION AT NO COST TO THE PARENTS FOR A FREE AND APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY, INCLUDING INSTRUCTION CONDUCTED IN A CLASSROOM. 
          SOME OF OUR STUDENTS MAY BE AT HOME IN THE HOSPITAL OR IN OTHER SETTINGS TO RECEIVE EDUCATION. 
          THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION EMPHASIZES THE CRUCIAL ROLE. 
          I WILL REITERATE A CRUCIAL ROLE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS IN PROVIDING INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION AND SUPPORT TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, ENSURING THEY RECEIVE THE NECESSARY SERVICES TO MEET THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS AND ACHIEVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS. 
          WHAT AN AWESOME TIME TO CELEBRATE THE STUDENTS WITH EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS. 
          THIS IS APRIL IS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH. 
          ON APRIL 2ND, OUR DISTRICT, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CELEBRATED AUTISM AWARENESS DAY. 
          WE COLLECTIVELY WORE BLUE OR EITHER HAT ON A BLUE RIBBON. 
          ALSO THIS WEEK, APRIL 8TH, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS C ACT. 
          THAT'S THE SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE HELD OUR MEETING ON APRIL 8. 
          WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO FAMILIES AND STUDENTS FROM THE VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY AC PROGRAM VIA THE IM DETERMINE PROJECT. 
          WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE PACKETS IN FRONT OF YOU, AND IT'S ALSO ON THE SCREEN THIS EVENING. 
          WE HAVE SPECIAL EDUCATION CATEGORIES. 
          THE CATEGORIES SERVING OUR STUDENTS IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE IT HERE FOR YOU THIS EVENING 2022-2025. 
          ON THE LEFT, YOU'LL SEE THE DISABILITY CATEGORIES THAT ARE BEING SERVICED IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITY. 
          A STUDENT MAY HAVE A SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITY IN MATHEMATICS, OR A SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITY IN READING, OR THEY COULD HAVE A SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITY IN BOTH SIMULTANEOUSLY. 
          2022 AND 2023, WE SERVED 128 STUDENTS IN THAT PARTICULAR DISABILITY CATEGORY, 2023-2024, WE SERVED 143 STUDENTS IN THAT DISABILITY CATEGORY, 2024 AND 2025, YOU SEE HERE WE'RE CURRENTLY SERVING, AND THAT MAY CHANGE EACH WEEK AS WE'RE CONTINUING TO HOLD 
          [01:05:02]
OUR ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION MEETINGS, 137 STUDENTS. 
          EMOTIONAL DISORDER, SO YOU CAN SEE THOSE. 
          THEN WE ALSO HAVE OTHER HEALTH IMPAIRMENT, WE'RE SERVICING STUDENTS, SPEECH LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENT. 
          HERE THAT NUMBER THAT YOU SEE DOES NOT INCLUDE SPEECH AS A RELATED SERVICE. 
          THIS IS ONLY SPEECH AS A STANDALONE DISABILITY. 
          INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY. 
          WE'RE SERVING STUDENTS WITH THE DIAGNOSIS OF AUTISM, HEARING IMPAIRMENT, VISUALLY IMPAIRED, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, MULTIPLE DISABILITIES, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, AND ORTHOPEDIC IMPAIRMENT. 
          FOR 2022-2023, WE SERVED 346 STUDENTS IN THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND STUDENT SERVICES, 2023-2024, WE SERVED 378 STUDENTS, AND 2024-2025, CURRENTLY AT THE TIME OF THIS PRESENTATION, SERVING 354 STUDENTS. 
          THE NEXT SLIDE, SPECIAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS. 
          WANT TO SHOUT OUT SOME OF OUR AMAZING ADMINISTRATORS WHO ARE HERE THIS EVENING, CAPRON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CUBS. 
          THE ADMINISTRATOR IS DEVONDA GARY. 
          MS. DEVONDA GARY. 
          WE ALSO HAVE MEHERRIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 
          THE ADMINISTRATOR IS SUSAN FOWLER, SO WE SHOUT OUT THE EAGLES THIS EVENING. 
          NOT AWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUGARS ADMINISTRATOR IS MISS SUSAN STREET. 
          RIVERDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CARDINALS. 
          THE ADMINISTRATORS ARE MR. PAUL KLEE AND MISSES AMITIA GRANT WARREN. 
          ALSO SOUTHAMPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL ARE BOTH INDIANS, AND WE HAVE INDIAN PRIDE THIS EVENING. 
          THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, THERE ARE THREE MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, DR. BARFIELD, MISS TIFFANY MATTESON, AND JASMINE GALLOWAY, AND SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, MR. BARAKA. 
          YOU CAN SEE HERE, 2022-2025. 
          AND YOU'LL SEE HERE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION BROKEN DOWN BY THE SCHOOL, AND ALSO THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS. 
          TONIGHT, WE WANT TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND FOR OUR TEACHERS. 
          WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT 2022-2023, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS AND THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS YOU SEE HERE, 2022-2023, 17 STUDENTS AT CAPRON WITH ONE TEACHER, 2023-2024, 22 SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS WITH ONE TEACHER, 2024-2025, 16 TEACH STUDENTS AT CAPRON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH ONE TEACHER. 
          MAC HARRAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 2022-2023, 45 STUDENTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION WITH TWO TEACHERS, 2023-2024, 50 STUDENTS WITH THREE TEACHERS, AND 2024-2025, 35 STUDENTS WITH TWO TEACHERS. 
          WE DO VALUE YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR TEACHERS. 
          NOT AWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 2022-2023 HAD 29 STUDENTS WITH ONE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, 2023-2024, 42 STUDENTS WITH TWO SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS, 2024-2025, 37 STUDENTS, AND ONE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER. 
          RIVERDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 2022-2023, 59 STUDENTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. 
          THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS FOUR, 2023-2024, 69 STUDENTS. 
          THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS SIX, 2024-2025, 78 STUDENTS WITH FIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS. 
          SOUTHAMPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, 2022-2023, 90 STUDENTS, NUMBER OF TEACHERS, FIVE, 2023-2024, 87 STUDENTS WITH TWO SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS. 
          YOU SEE HOW WE DROPPED FROM FIVE TEACHERS TO TWO TEACHERS, 2024-2025, 85 STUDENTS WITH ONLY FOUR TEACHERS. 
          SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL, 106 STUDENTS IN 2022-2023, WITH 6.5 SPECIAL EDUCATORS, AND 2023-2024, 108 STUDENTS WITH 6.5 SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS, AND 2024, 103 STUDENTS WITH 6.5 SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS. 
          ON THE BOTTOM, IN BLUES CODED HERE FOR US, WE'RE ABLE TO SEE THE TOTAL NUMBERS OF STUDENTS THAT ARE BEING SERVICED FOR EACH YEAR, 
          [01:10:05]
SO 2022-2023, SERVICE 346 STUDENTS, 2023-2024, 378 STUDENTS, 2024-2025, 354 STUDENTS. 
          AGAIN, WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH THIS EVENING FOR THE CONTINUED WORK THAT YOU DO FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF AND COMMUNITY HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> PIGGYBACKING ON THE SPECIAL EDUCATION REPORT, LOOKING AT THE TRANSPORTATION THAT IS REQUIRED OF US BY LAW UNDER A STUDENT'S IEP IF IT IS REQUIRED IN THEIR IEP. 
          WE TRANSPORT STUDENTS TO ALL SIX LOCATIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY, AND WE ALSO TRANSPORT OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY TO SUFFOLK, CHESAPEAKE, PETERSBURG. 
          THESE DATE TREATMENT FACILITIES, AS DR. HALL LEONARD SAID, THERE ARE SOME STUDENTS THAT ARE AT A VERY LOW LEVEL OF WHAT THEIR NEED IS TO A VERY HIGH LEVEL, WHERE THEY NEED A SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL NEEDS. 
          AS YOU CAN SEE, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE THIS YEAR IS AT 79, WHICH IS KEEPING LEVEL OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND THE NUMBER OF TRANSPORTS THAT WE HAVE TO USE TO GET THOSE STUDENTS WHERE THEY NEED TO GO. 
          WE ARE FACED WITH A VERY UNIQUE SITUATION IN THE COUNTY WITH THE SIZE THAT WE HAVE. 
          IT WOULD BE GREAT TO BE ABLE TO CONSOLIDATE, BUT THEN YOU'RE PUTTING KIDS ON A BUS OR IN A CAR FOR HOURS AT A TIME TO GET TO A LOCATION. 
          AGAIN, THIS IS JUST BREAKING DOWN THE TRANSPORTATION NUMBERS FOR YOU ALL TO SEE TO EACH OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WE SERVE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS. 
          >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS RACHEL DOYLE. 
          I RESIDE IN BOYKINS, AND HAVE FOR 17 YEARS. 
          I THINK I'M RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD FROM MR. PAYSON. 
          I'M THE PROUD MOM OF TWO SEPS STUDENTS, ELENA DOYLE, WHO ATTENDED NOTTOWAY ELEMENTARY, SOUTHAMPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL, AND SHE'S SET TO GRADUATE ON JUNE 14. 
          GRACE DOYLE, WHO IS A CURRENT NEWLY INDUCTED ELEMENTARY NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY MEMBER AND FOURTH GRADER AT MA HARAN ELEMENTARY. 
          I HAVE WORKED FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR ALMOST 19 YEARS AND CURRENTLY SERVE AS A CURRICULUM SPECIALIST IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION. 
          ON THIS SLIDE, YOU WILL SEE THE PERCENTAGE OF SHS STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN AP PLACEMENT OFFERINGS BY GRADE LEVEL OVER THE LAST THREE SCHOOL YEARS. 
          THIS DATA IS THE WORK OF MISS RACHEL BOK, OUR DIVISION DATA ANALYST. 
          SHE IS WONDERFUL IF YOU'VE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HER OR MEET HER. 
          I HOPE YOU GET TO IN THE NEAR FUTURE. 
          THE NUMBERS LISTED FOR THE '24/'25 SCHOOL YEAR REFLECT ONLY SEMESTER 1 AND DO NOT INCLUDE THE STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN AP COURSES. 
          PERCENTAGES FOR THE '24/'25 SCHOOL YEAR, INCLUDING SEMESTER 2 ARE AS FOLLOWS, 0% FOR NINTH GRADE, 1% FOR TENTH GRADE, 17% FOR 11TH GRADE, AND 3% FOR 12TH GRADE. 
          WE PARTICIPATE IN TWO LOCAL GOVERNOR SCHOOLS, APPOMATTOX REGIONAL GOVERNOR SCHOOL, ALSO KNOWN AS ARGS IN PETERSBURG, AND GOVERNOR SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS, GSA IN NORFOLK. 
          ALL SEVEN SLOTS FOR ARGS ARE CURRENTLY FILLED. 
          GSA HAS ONLY FOUR OF THE SEVEN SLOTS FILLED BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY FILLING ALL SEVEN SLOTS. 
          WE HOSTED A GSA VISIT, A GSA ZOOM NIGHT AND SENT FLYERS HOME. 
          WE ALSO TRIED TO RECRUIT STUDENTS IN THE FALL OF 2024 WITH PERMISSION FROM GSA. 
          WE DID HAVE ONE STUDENT APPLY THAT DID NOT QUALIFY AND ONE STUDENT THAT QUALIFIED AND DECIDED NOT TO ATTEND. 
          WE ARE CONTINUING OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS. 
          STUDENTS ATTEND FULL DAY AT APPOMATTOX REGIONAL GOVERNOR SCHOOL FOR ACADEMICS AND THEIR FOCUS AREA. 
          THE COST OF TUITION FOR ARGS PER SLOT IS $9,000, WHICH IS A TOTAL COST OF $63,000 TO THE DIVISION. 
          STUDENT FOCUS AREAS FOR ARGS INCLUDE LITERARY ARTS, TECHNOLOGY, VISUAL ARTS, AND THEATER ARTS. 
          FOR GOVERNORS SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS, STUDENTS ATTEND A HALF DAY FOR ACADEMICS AT SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL AND A HALF DAY AT GSA FOR THEIR FOCUS AREA. 
          THE COST OF TUITION FOR GSA PER SLOT IS $4,551.75, WHICH IS A TOTAL COST OF $31,862.25 TO THE DIVISION. 
          STUDENT FOCUS AREAS FOR GSA INCLUDE THEATER AND FILM, VISUAL ARTS, DANCE, INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC, MUSICAL THEATER, THEATER AND FILM, VISUAL ARTS, AND VOCAL MUSIC. 
          SEPS SUPPORTS STUDENTS IN TAKING DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES BY PAYING HALF OF 
          [01:15:04]
THE TOTAL COST OF THE DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES TAUGHT BY CAMP COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROFESSORS. 
          THE COST FOR TUITION AND FEES PER CREDIT HOUR FOR THE '24/'25 SCHOOL YEAR IS $167.05. 
          SCPS PAYS FOR ALL BUT A FEE OF $20 PER CREDIT HOUR FOR DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES TAUGHT BY SEPS PERSONNEL. 
          FOR EXAMPLE, ONE SEMESTER OF PRE CAL THROUGH CAMP IS THREE CREDITS OR $501.45. 
          IF THE STUDENT TAKES THE COURSE ONLINE IN THE SHS COMPUTER LAB WITH A CAL PROFESSOR, THE COST TO THE STUDENT IS $250.72. 
          IF THE STUDENT TAKES PRE CAL 1 WITH ANY SCPS TEACHER AT SHS, THE STUDENT PAYS JUST $60 AND SEPS WOULD PAY THE REMAINING $441.45. 
          ALL DUAL ENROLLMENT TEXTBOOKS ARE PAID FOR BY THE HIGH SCHOOL. 
          THESE TEXTBOOKS, E-BOOKS, AND E LABS RANGE FROM $25-300 PER STUDENT. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR ACADEMIC ENDEAVORS SO THAT THEY MAY BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. 
          AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO SHS PRINCIPAL, MR. JAFAR BARAKA, TO SHARE THE DUAL ENROLLMENT COSTS FOR SEMESTER 1 OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> GOOD EVENING, SEAM BOARD MEMBERS. 
          I AM JAFAR BARAKA, AND I'M THE PROUD AND FULLY VESTED PRINCIPAL OF SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL. 
          OUR DEDICATED LEADER, DR. SHANNON, OPENED UP THIS EVENING'S PRESENTATION, UNDERSCORING THE NOTION THAT OUR PLEA TO YOU IS ALL ABOUT CHILDREN. 
          MY COLLEAGUES ARE ALL ASSEMBLED HERE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IN SOLIDARITY BECAUSE WE ALL LOVE AND CARE FOR THE STUDENTS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. 
          I WANTED TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOU THIS EVENING TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND HOW THOSE STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM DUAL ENROLLMENT CLASSES AT SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL. 
          AT SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 100 STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN DUAL ENROLLMENT. 
          STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN DUAL ENROLLMENT AT SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVE ENHANCED ACADEMIC OFFERINGS AND RIGOR. 
          DUAL ENROLLMENT EXPANDS THE VARIETY AND DIFFICULTY OF COURSES AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS. 
          OUR STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM IMPROVED COLLEGE ADMISSIONS. 
          DUAL ENROLLMENT CLASSES ARE CRITICAL FOR TOP TIER STUDENTS SEEKING ACCEPTANCE INTO COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITIES, PARTICULARLY IN VIRGINIA AND IN THE SOUTH. 
          INCREASED COLLEGE ENROLLMENT. 
          A SIGNIFICANT RISE IN COLLEGE APPLICATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A VERY COMPETITIVE POOL OF APPLICATIONS. 
          OUR STUDENTS NEED THIS. 
          THEY NEEDED TO HAVE A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE, SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE TRANSITIONS. 
          STUDENTS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN DUAL ENROLLMENT FOR THREE YEARS ARE NOW ATTENDING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES NATIONWIDE. 
          ANOTHER BENEFIT TO OUR STUDENTS PARTICIPATION IN DUAL ENROLLMENT IS ADMISSION TO HIGHLY COMPETITIVE INSTITUTIONS. 
          OUR STUDENTS HAVE GAINED ADMISSION TO PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITIES SUCH AS THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA WITH A FULL ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP. 
          UNIVERSITY OF ADMISSIONS TO PLACES LIKE VIRGINIA TECH AND WILLIAM AND MARY ALIKE. 
          ALSO, DUAL ENROLLMENT PROVIDES AN INCREASED ATHLETIC AND ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES. 
          FOUR OF OUR DUAL ENROLLMENT STUDENTS RECEIVED ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS AND COMMITTED TO PLAY SOFTBALL AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL. 
          ALSO IN THE WORLD OF WORK, DUAL ENROLLMENT STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO DIRECT WORKFORCE ENTRY, WHERE OUR PROGRAM EQUIPS SOME STUDENTS WITH SKILLS THAT ALLOW THEM TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE IMMEDIATELY AFTER GRADUATION. 
          LASTLY, DUAL ROMAN STUDENTS AT SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL ARE BEING PREPARED FOR TRADES IN THE WORLD OF WORK. 
          OUR PROGRAM SUPPORTS STUDENTS PURSUING TRADES, ENABLING THEM TO SECURE WELL PAYING JOBS IN THEIR POST GRADUATION ENDEAVORS. 
          DUAL ENROLLMENT STUDENTS RECEIVE REDUCED COLLEGE COSTS WHERE THEY ARE COMPLETING 
          [01:20:06]
THEIR FIRST TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE AT A REDUCED RATE WHILE EARNING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, THE STUDENTS LEVERAGING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH OUR CAMP COMMUNITY COLLEGE. 
          THOSE TEACHERS AT CAMP COMMUNITY OFFER OUR SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS A WIDE RANGE OF COURSES THAT OUR HIGH SCHOOL ALONE CANNOT PROVIDE DUE TO STAFFING AND FACILITY LIMITATIONS. 
          ESTEEM BOARD MEMBERS, WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. 
          >> WHO IS NEXT. YOU WERE ASLEEP OVER THERE, WERE YOU? 
          >> NO, SIR. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOY CARL. 
          I'M ON THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, AND YOU'VE SEEN HOW WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE NUMBERS. 
          BUT I FIRST I WANT TO MENTION THAT STATE CODE SECTION 22 PART 1-92, WHICH BASICALLY STATES THAT IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF EACH DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AN ESTIMATE OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY DEEMED NEEDED DURING THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION. 
          OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES ARE TEACHER PAY AND RETENTION, MAINTAINING COMPETITIVENESS, EXPANDING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, AND FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND NEW SCHOOLS. 
          WE HAVE CERTAIN STATE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE MUST MEET IN THE AREAS OF STAFFING, INCENTIVES, BENEFITS, AND OTHER. 
          STAFFING REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE OUR ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, COUNSELORS, CLERICAL, AND TECHNOLOGY. 
          OUR INCENTIVE REQUIREMENTS. 
          SOME OF THOSE ARE AT RISK FUNDING, THE VIRGINIA PRESCHOOL INITIATIVE, AND TECHNOLOGY. 
          WE ALSO ARE REQUIRED TO OFFER BENEFITS TO OUR EMPLOYEES THROUGH THE VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEM, GROUP LIFE INSURANCE, AND HEALTH INSURANCE. 
          SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS OF REQUIREMENTS FROM THE STATE OR FOR OUR K3 CLASS SIZE INITIATIVE, OUR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, WE HAVE A READING INTERVENTION PROGRAM AND ALGEBRA READINESS, JUST TO MENTION A FEW. 
          JUST A LITTLE HISTORY ON THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS. 
          VIRGINIA HAS A BIENNIAL BUDGET SYSTEM IN WHICH THEY ADOPT A TWO YEAR BUDGET IN THE EVEN NUMBERED YEARS. 
          WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE BIENNIUM AND OUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY26 IS FOR THE SECOND YEAR. 
          GOVERNOR YOUNKIN PROPOSED HIS AMENDMENTS TO THE BIENNIAL BUDGET ON DECEMBER 18, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE. 
          THEY EACH PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AS WELL, AND EVENTUALLY, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTED ON AN AMENDED BUDGET BILL THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS REVIEW. 
          THE GOVERNOR THEN HAD THE OPTION TO VETO OR RECOMMEND ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS. 
          IF HE VETOED ANY PORTION OR RECOMMENDED THE AMENDMENTS, THE BUDGET BILL GOES BACK TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR ACTION IN A RECONVENED SESSION IN THE SPRING. 
          THAT RECONVENED SESSION OCCURRED LAST WEEK ON TUESDAY, AND WE ARE NOW WAITING ON THE GOVERNOR TO TAKE FINAL ACTION. 
          STATE BUDGET UPDATES INCLUDE AMENDMENTS TO THE FY26 BUDGET, AND THEY ARE TECHNICAL UPDATES TO THE ADM, SALES TAX PROJECTIONS, AND LOTTERY REVENUE ESTIMATES ALONG WITH TECHNICAL UPDATES TO THE SOQ AND OTHER FUNDED PROGRAMS BASED ON ACTUAL AND UPDATED PARTICIPATION. 
          OUR SALES TAX PROJECTIONS ARE DOWN BY 139,304 FROM OUR FY25 BUDGET, AND THE STATE HAS ESTIMATED OUR ADM, WHICH IS OUR AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP TO BE 2,114, WHICH IS DOWN BY 220 FROM OUR FY25 BUDGET OF 2,334. 
          JUST TO GIVE YOU A PICTURE OF THAT, WE ARE PROJECTED TO RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY $10,034 IN STATE REVENUE PER ADM AND FY26. 
          YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT'S A BIG LOSS IN STATE REVENUE FOR US DUE TO ENROLLMENT. 
          THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVED TO REMOVE THE FUNDING CAP FOR SUPPORT PERSONNEL, WHICH WOULD ACTUALLY ADD APPROXIMATELY 504,291 TO OUR STATE REVENUE ESTIMATES FOR FY26. 
          THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ALSO APPROVED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $118,022. 
          AS A REMINDER, THE BIENNIAL BUDGET INCLUDED A 3% SALARY INCREASE FOR ALL SOQ FUNDED POSITIONS, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025. 
          THIS BUDGET PRESENTATION INCLUDES A 3% INCREASE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. 
          STATE FUNDING FOR THIS INCREASE IS 832701 IN FY26. 
          AFTER OUR ADJUSTMENTS FOR SALES TAX REVENUE, ADM, AND CONSIDERING INCREASES FOR SUPPORT PERSONNEL, 
          [01:25:02]
SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND THE 3% SALARY INCREASE. 
          SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOLS IS STILL PROJECTED TO RECEIVE $1,118,491 LESS IN STATE REVENUE FOR THE FY26 OPERATING BUDGET. 
          OUR FEDERAL ESSER FUNDS EXPIRED IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. 
          WE WERE ABLE TO USE A PORTION OF THESE FUNDS FOR THE OPERATING BUDGET THIS YEAR THAT HELPED TO OFFSET STATE REVENUE LOSSES, AND THIS WAS OVER $1 MILLION. 
          THERE WILL BE NO FEDERAL ESSER FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR OUR FY26 BUDGET YEAR. 
          EFFORTS TO OFFSET ENROLLMENT LOSS, WE HAVE ALREADY CUT 1,320,757 FROM OUR CURRENT BUDGET REQUEST IN EFFORTS TO OFFSET THE STATE FUNDING LOSS DUE TO DECREASING ENROLLMENT. 
          WE BASE THESE CUTS ON A COMPARISON OF ENROLLMENT LOSS THROUGH THE CURRENT YEAR. 
          EVEN THOUGH THE STATE HAS ESTIMATED AN ADM OF 2,114 FOR FY26, WE BELIEVE OUR ENROLLMENT WILL REMAIN NEAR OUR CURRENT ESTIMATED ADM OF 2,210. 
          YOU'LL SEE HERE COMPARISON OF OUR BEGINNING TEACHERS SALARIES, AND MISS HUDGINSON WILL COME FORWARD AND PRESENT THAT TO YOU. 
          >> COMPARING BEGINNING TEACHER SALARIES ACROSS SURROUNDING DIVISIONS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE GOAL IS TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN QUALITY EDUCATORS. 
          AS YOU CAN SEE, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS THE LOWEST STARTING SALARY AMONG NEARBY DISTRICTS BY NEARLY $10,000. 
          THIS COULD HAVE SEVERAL LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS ON TEACHER MORALE, RETENTION, AND THE OVERALL QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN OUR DISTRICT. 
          WE KNOW THAT TEACHERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO SEEK POSITIONS IN DIVISIONS THAT OFFER HIGHER SALARIES. 
          IN FACT, I CAN ATTEST TO THAT RECENTLY, WE WERE EXCITED TO BRING A HISTORY TEACHER ON BOARD WITH SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THE TEACHER ENDED UP DECLINING OUR OFFER BECAUSE SHE WAS OFFERED BY HAMPTON CITY, WHO WAS PAYING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE MONEY. 
          THAT $10,000 DIFFERENCE COULD BE SIGNIFICANT WHEN WE'RE ATTRACTING TALENT. 
          WE MIGHT FIND OURSELVES LOSING OUT, AS I JUST SHARED ON CANDIDATES TO NEIGHBORING DIVISIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE COMPETITIVE WITH THEIR COMPENSATION. 
          TEACHERS WHO START IN A LOWER PAYING DISTRICT MAY MOVE QUICKLY TO A NEIGHBORING DIVISION THAT OFFERS HIGHER PAY AFTER GAINING EXPERIENCE IN OUR DIVISION. 
          THIS FURTHER IMPACTS CONSISTENCY AND THE QUALITY OF TEACHING. 
          IF A TEACHER DOESN'T FEEL VALUE THROUGH ADEQUATE COMPENSATION, THEY MAY LEAVE, AND THAT LEADS TO HIGH TURNOVER AND A LESS EXPERIENCED WORKFORCE. 
          TEACHERS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. 
          IF TEACHERS FEEL UNDERPAID RELATIVE TO THEIR PEERS, IT CAN AFFECT THEIR MORALE, IT CAN LEAD TO BURNOUT OR DISSATISFACTION. LET'S BE HONEST. 
          THIS IMPACTS STUDENTS' PERFORMANCE AS TEACHERS MAY NOT BE ENGAGED OR MOTIVATED AS THEIR BETTER COMPENSATED COLLEAGUES. 
          ULTIMATELY, IT IS CRUCIAL FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO UNDERSTAND THE COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE AND BE PROACTIVE IN ADDRESSING SALARY DISPARITIES BEFORE IT BEGINS TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR DISTRICT'S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARDS IN TEACHING AND LEARNING. 
          WITH A FULLY FUNDED BUDGET, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WOULD BE A MORE ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO TEACH AND THUS FOSTER BETTER OUTCOMES FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. 
          BUT THIS REACHES FURTHER THAN MY ROLE AS COORDINATOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND MARKETING. 
          I HAVE A CHILD IN THIS DIVISION, AND MY CHILD IS IN THIRD GRADE AND SOL TESTS FOR THE FIRST TIME. 
          CAN YOU EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE THE ANXIETY AND THE TOLL THAT THAT WOULD TAKE ON AN 8-YEAR-OLD TO TAKE A HIGH STAKES TEST WITHOUT A QUALITY TEACHER? MY CHILD, ANY CHILD. 
          THAT IS FRIGHTENING. 
          PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THE FULLY FUNDED BUDGET KEEPS US MORE COMPETITIVE. 
          I AM ASKING FOR YOUR HELP, NOT AS THE HR COORDINATOR, BUT AS A MOTHER WHO JUST CAN'T TAKE ANOTHER NO FROM THIS BOARD. THANK YOU. 
          [01:30:05]
          >> GOOD EVENING AGAIN. I AM UP HERE BEFORE YOU ASKING FOR YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER FUNDING SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR NOTTOWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 
          IF YOU LOOK BACK IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDES, NOTTOWAY HAS 37 STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, AND I ONLY HAVE ONE TEACHER. 
          IN ORDER TO BE IN COMPLIANCE, I NEED AT LEAST TWO. 
          I HUMBLY ASK THE BOARD TO PLEASE CONSIDER FUNDING THAT. 
          >> [INAUDIBLE] BACK OFF ON THE STREET. 
          REPRESENTING RIVERDALE, WE'RE REQUESTING ONE MORE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER TO SERVE OUR DIVERSE POPULATION. 
          WE HAVE A VERY DIVERSE POPULATION AT RIVERDALE WE SERVE. 
          CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 78 SPED STUDENTS WITH MORE BEING IDENTIFIED EVERY DAY. 
          CURRENTLY, WE HAVE FIVE TEACHERS AND PULLED FROM THE SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFF, THEM AS A STAFF FEEL THAT ONE MORE TEACHER IS NEEDED TO SERVE THIS. 
          THIS IS A REQUEST DIRECTLY FROM TEACHERS, OTHERING THAT WE'VE CREATED OURSELVES. 
          PIGGYBACKING OFF OF THAT WHILE [INAUDIBLE] TO PODIUM, LOOKING AT KINDERGARTEN, ADDING A PARAPROFESSIONAL TO THE KINDERGARTEN POPULATION. 
          THAT ONE PARAPROFESSIONAL WOULD BOUNCE BETWEEN THE FOUR CLASSES OF KINDERGARTEN WE HAVE AT RIVERDALE. 
          CURRENTLY OUR ENROLLMENT AT RIVERDALE IS 87 STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN WITH A TEACHER RATIO ROUNDING OUT ABOUT 21-22 PER TEACHER. 
          TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, OUR VPI PRE-K PROGRAM IS 18 STUDENTS TO TWO ADULTS IN THAT CLASSROOM. 
          IT'S TYPICALLY A 9-1 RATIO WITH A TEACHER AND A PARAPROFESSIONAL. 
          THOSE STUDENTS HAVE A VAST NEED. 
          THAT NEED JUST DOESN'T DISAPPEAR BETWEEN PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN. 
          THESE ARE THE FIRST ROUND OF WHAT WE CALL COVID BABIES COMING THROUGH. 
          THEY HAVE MUCH MORE OF A NEED THAN OUR PREVIOUS STUDENTS HAVE HAD. 
          LIKE I SAID, BOTH OF THESE POSITIONS COMING OUT OF RIVERDALE AND NOTTOWAY HAVE BEEN REQUESTS FROM TEACHERS THAT ARE IN THE TRENCHES TEACHING THESE STUDENTS. 
          >> ALSO, JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT FOR MY KINDER, WE HAVE A ABOUT 20-21 RATIO AS WELL WITH THE STUDENTS, AND I HAVE TWO ELEMENTARY KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS. 
          THIS IS A HUGE REQUEST FROM THESE TEACHERS. 
          THEY ARE BEGGING AND PLEADING FOR YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER FUNDING THIS FOR THEM. 
          THEY ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF EXTRA HANDS BECAUSE OF HOW AT RISK THESE STUDENTS ARE, AND THEY REALLY DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY SERVE THE POPULATION CORRECTLY. 
          >> GOOD EVENING AGAIN. AT SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL, WE'RE ASKING FOR TWO ADDITIONAL SPECIAL ED TEACHERS. 
          JUST TO UNDERSCORE THE POINT THAT TEACHERS MATTER, TEACHERS ARE WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD. 
          WE'RE ASKING FOR TWO ADDITIONAL TEACHERS BECAUSE WE LIKE TO CREATE A TRUE COLLABORATIVE TEACHING MODEL AT SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL. 
          HAVING A COLLABORATIVE TEACHING MODEL WILL REQUIRE US TO HAVE A CONTENT AREA TEACHER, ALONG WITH AN EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION TEACHER WORKING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM, THAT INCLUDES WHAT WE CALL REGULAR ED STUDENTS AND EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION STUDENTS. 
          THE BENEFITS OF COLLABORATIVE TEACHING OFFERS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP AND COLLABORATE AND BUILD A COLLABORATIVE TEACHING MODEL THAT HELPS OUR STUDENTS WITH ENHANCED LEARNING, WITH EXPOSURE TO DIFFERENT TEACHING STYLES AND PERSPECTIVES. 
          THIS CAN ALSO LEAD TO DEEPEN STUDENTS' UNDERSTANDING OF THE MATERIAL AND PROMOTE CRITICAL THINKING. 
          THE SECOND PIECE OF COLLABORATIVE TEACHING HELPS OUR STUDENTS WITH SUPPORTING THEM IN INCREASED IN STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, WHERE THE PRESENCE OF TWO TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM CAN LEAD TO MORE DYNAMIC AND ENGAGING LESSONS. 
          WE ALL KNOW AUTHENTIC STUDENT ENGAGEMENT KEEPS STUDENTS MORE FOCUSED AND MOTIVATED, AS WELL AS INCREASED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. 
          LASTLY, COLLABORATIVE TEACHING GIVES US OUR TEACHERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE MORE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT. 
          A PRESENCE OF A SECOND TEACHER WITHIN A COLLABORATIVE TEACHING MODEL ALLOWS FOR BOTH OUR TEACHERS TO HAVE ENHANCED TIME TO ADDRESS STUDENTS WHO HAVE SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITIES OR STUDENTS WHO STRUGGLE WITH SOCIOEMOTIONAL ISSUES, AS WELL AS HOPING AND HELPING TO SUPPORT THE OTHER REGULAR ED STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM. THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ALFRED CHARITY. 
          I'M THE PROGRAM MANAGER OF FRESH START CENTER. 
          I ALSO AM THE SAFETY AND SECURITY SUPERVISOR OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ALSO. 
          I'VE BEEN IN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION FOR 20 YEARS. 
          I'VE BEEN IN EDUCATION FOR 20 YEARS, SO ALL MY TIME HAS BEEN SPENT IN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION. 
          [01:35:02]
I'VE HAD FIVE CHILDREN TO COME THROUGH SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          I HAVE A 10TH GRADER, WHO'S THE LAST DRAGON THAT WANTS TO BE A RACE CAR DRIVER HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND HE'S ON HIS WAY, BUT HE NEEDS ASSISTANCE. 
          AGAIN, MY FIVE KIDS, ONE IS IN THE NAVY, HE'S SERVING IN A UNDISCLOSED LOCATION RIGHT NOW. 
          MY OTHER SON, JAMAL, HE'S BEING SUPERVISED BY SHERIFF WHITES. 
          HE'S A DEPUTY SHERIFF GRADUATED FROM VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY. 
          JOSHUA, HE'S A FORKLIFT DRIVER. 
          MY DAUGHTER, WHO'S AT CAMP COMMUNITY COLLEGE RIGHT NOW, AND AGAIN, MY LAST SON. 
          I AM THOROUGHLY INVESTED IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          I HAVE BEEN SINCE 2004, WHEN I CAME HERE. 
          MY MOTHER, ARTIA CHARITY, WAS VESTED IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR OVER 35 YEARS BEFORE SHE PASSED AWAY BEFORE SHE RETIRED. 
          I BEG AND I PLEAD WITH THIS BOARD TO FULLY SUPPORT THE BUDGET THAT IS BEFORE YOU. 
          I'VE BEEN LEADING FRESH START OR SOME FORM OF ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR 12 YEARS. 
          AGAIN, I'VE BEEN IN IT FOR 20 YEARS, BUT I'VE BEEN A LEADER OR A DIRECTOR FOR 12 YEARS. 
          I'M ASKING FOR A ELEMENTARY PER PROFESSIONAL AT THIS TIME, BECAUSE WHEN WE MOVE BACK TO THE FRESH START BUILDING, WE WILL BE ABLE TO SERVICE OUR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WHO GET INTO A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE AND NEED SOME TIME AWAY FROM THE REGULAR SCHOOL SETTING. 
          I WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROPERLY EDUCATE THEM AND THEN GET THEM BACK TO THEIR HOME-BASED ENVIRONMENT. 
          I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          AGAIN, I PLEAD WITH YOU TO PLEASE APPROVE THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU. 
          >> KEEPING YOU BUSY TONIGHT. 
          >> YES. THERE IS NOTHING THAT HAPPENS IN A SCHOOL DIVISION THAT DOESN'T, IN SOME WAY, COME BY HR. 
          THAT'S WHY I'M SO BUSY TONIGHT [LAUGHTER]. 
          A FLOAT POOL OF SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS IS A SYSTEM WHERE THERE IS ONE SUBSTITUTE PLACED IN EACH SCHOOL IN THE DIVISION THAT ALLOWS THAT SCHOOL TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S AVAILABLE TO WORK IN WHATEVER SITUATIONS ARISE. 
          THE FLOAT POOL ENSURES THAT THERE IS A CONSTANT SUBSTITUTE AVAILABLE IN THE SCHOOL. 
          THIS HELPS PREVENT STAFFING SHORTAGES AND LAST MINUTE SCRAMBLING WHEN THE TEACHERS ARE ABSENT. 
          WHEN I SHARED THIS WITH MY COLLEAGUES EARLIER, THEY WERE LIKE, AMEN. 
          A SUB POOL ALSO STREAMLINES THINGS SO THAT THAT PERSON IS ALREADY ONSITE AND READY TO MOVE INTO PLACE WHEN NEEDED. 
          ALSO, THE SUBSTITUTE TEACHER WHO IS WORKING IN THE SCHOOL BENEFITS BECAUSE HE OR SHE GAINS A BROADER EXPERIENCE IN VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTS AND SUBJECTS AND STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS, AND IT DOES MAKE OUR SUBSTITUTE POOL A BIT MORE VERSATILE. 
          WE WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN THAT NEXT YEAR, AND WE ARE DESPERATELY SEEKING YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. 
          >> I'M BACK AGAIN THIS EVENING FOR INSTRUCTIONAL NEEDS. 
          BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AND WE ALSO HAVE MEMBERS OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD HERE AS WELL THIS EVENING. 
          WE ARE THE VOICE. 
          WE ARE THE VOICE FOR OUR STUDENTS. 
          FOR INSTRUCTIONAL NEEDS, YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET THIS EVENING, SPECIAL EDUCATION REGIONAL TUITION, AND THEN IT SAYS SECEP. 
          SECEP IS THE SOUTHEASTERN COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. IT IS A CONSORTIUM PUBLIC SCHOOL. 
          WE ARE ASKING THIS EVENING FOR A BUDGETED INCREASE OF $106,314 BASED ON THE CURRENT YEAR TREND PLUS 3%. 
          RIGHT UNDER THAT, YOU SEE CONTRACTED SERVICES AND CONTRACTED SERVICES ARE OUR RELATED SERVICES, RELATED SERVICES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO ASSIST A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY TO BENEFIT FROM SPECIALLY DESIGNED INSTRUCTION. 
          THOSE RELATED SERVICES OR CONTRACTED SERVICES MAY INCLUDE, BUT THE LIST IS NOT EXHAUSTED, OT, PT, 
          [01:40:01]
SPEECH, VISION, AND/OR HEARING. 
          THE CONTRACTED SERVICES BUDGETED INCREASE, WE'RE ASKING FOR $263,515 BASED ON THE CURRENT NEEDS. 
          THEN WE SEE THE TOTAL BUDGETED INCREASE, $369,829. 
          ON THE NEXT SLIDE, AND IN YOUR PACKET, WE HAVE PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES. 
          WE SEE HERE, THE SERVICE THAT IS NEEDED IS FOR A PSYCHOLOGIST. 
          SALARY WITH FRINGES, THE BUDGETED INCREASE, AND THE DESCRIPTION. 
          THE BUDGETED INCREASE WOULD BE $57,494, RAISED PROJECTED SALARY TO AT LEAST $120,000. 
          SO YOU ASK WHY? WHY DO WE NEED PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES? WELL, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, THERE IS A GROWING NEED, A GROWING NEED FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS, A COMBINATION OF PRE-EXISTING SHORTAGES, AND A RISE IN SCHOOL STRESSORS THAT HAS LED TO A MAJOR EFFORT TO TRAIN AND HIRE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FOR SCHOOL SETTINGS. 
          IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, WE LOOK AT VIRGINIA, BUT ALSO IN THE NATION. 
          THE NATION IS ALSO SEEING AS VIRGINIA IS SEEING INCREASING NUMBERS OF STUDENTS EXPERIENCING POVERTY AND TRAUMA, AND GROWING NUMBERS OF CHILDREN WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. 
          SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE. 
          I'LL REITERATE A CRITICAL ROLE IN CREATING ONGOING, MEANINGFUL ASSESSMENTS OF STUDENT LEARNING AND PROGRESS AS A KEY FEATURE OF EFFECTIVE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS. THIS IS FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS. 
          THE EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE, TO ACCESS COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES TO IMPROVE STUDENT AND SCHOOL OUTCOMES. 
          AGAIN, WE ARE THE VOICE FOR OUR STUDENTS THIS EVENING. 
          WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. 
          WE THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS BUDGET INCREASE. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. 
          >> THE NEXT SLIDE REPRESENTS A BUDGETED INCREASE THAT WE FEEL IS NECESSARY FOR OUR LEGAL SERVICES. 
          WE HAVE INCLUDED $30,000, AND THIS INCREASE IS BASED ON THE CURRENT YEAR TREND FOR THE EXPENDITURES AND SERVICES THAT WE ARE HAVING TO CONTRACT THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. 
          >> BEFORE I GET TO THE OPERATIONAL NEEDS, I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING I DON'T NORMALLY DO AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION. 
          FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE SEEN TONIGHT, ALL THE NUMBERS THAT YOU'VE SEEN UP THERE, THESE ARE THE FACES THAT GO WITH THOSE NUMBERS. 
          WE BOTH STARTED AS TEACHERS HERE 17 YEARS AGO. 
          WE HAVE THREE GIRLS HERE. 
          TWO OF OUR GIRLS ARE DUAL ENROLLMENT KIDS. 
          OUR OLDEST WILL GRADUATE WITH HER ASSOCIATES BEFORE SHE GRADUATES HIGH SCHOOL THIS SPRING. 
          WE HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES OVER THE YEARS TO GO TO SOMEWHERE ELSE BUT CHOSE TO RAISE OUR KIDS HERE BECAUSE THIS WAS THE PLACE WHERE THEY DESERVED. 
          THEY GET THE SERVICES THAT THEY DESERVE BECAUSE THE SCHOOL DECIDES. 
          THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT. 
          OUR YOUNGEST WAS ACCEPTED INTO ARGS, THE APPOMATTOX REGIONAL GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL IN PETERSBURG. 
          SHE WILL ATTEND THERE BECAUSE SHE IS A SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY RESIDENT AND STUDENT. 
          THAT'S A SERVICE THAT WE GET TO PROVIDE. 
          AGAIN, THESE ARE THE FACES. 
          THEY'RE NOT JUST NUMBERS. 
          THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND IT OF WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> OPERATIONAL NEEDS, MR. DOWER, YOU REFERENCED IT EARLIER, WE CAN'T FIGHT INFLATION. 
          WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. 
          THIS ISN'T ABOUT WANTS. 
          THIS IS ABOUT HAVE TOS. 
          WE HAVE TO HAVE FUEL. 
          WE HAVE TO HAVE ELECTRICITY. 
          WE HAVE TO PAY OUR INSURANCE BILLS. 
          WE SEE INCREASES IN THOSE EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE DON'T HAVE A SAY IN AND CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT. 
          I REFERENCED EARLIER, HES. 
          THIS WAS THE CUSTODIAL MAINTENANCE CREW THAT WE BROUGHT IN TO HELP US OUT, BECAUSE OVER THE LAST SIX OR SEVEN YEARS, WE'VE SEEN OUR MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT DWINDLE FROM 14 PEOPLE DOWN TO ONE. 
          WE KNEW WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING, AND HES HAS BROUGHT IN A CREW THAT WE CAN RELY ON AND A SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH. 
          YOU CAN SEE HOW SOME THINGS HAVE SHIFTED OVER AND CHANGED FROM '25-'26. 
          [01:45:04]
NOW, THE INCREASE WITH HES IS WITH A 3% INCREASE FOR THEIR SERVICES, AND THAT IS ABOUT THE 147,000 INCREASE THAT YOU SEE THERE IN FRONT OF YOU. 
          YOU SEE DECREASES IN OUR SITE IMPROVEMENT BECAUSE WE ARE INVESTING IN OUR IN OUR MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. 
          SAME THING WITH MAINTENANCE SERVICE CONTRACTS. 
          THERE'S THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO. 
          WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN OUR FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM. 
          WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN OUR ALARM SYSTEMS. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE TO HAVE INSPECTIONS. 
          THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE MAINTENANCE BEHIND THEM. 
          IT'S NOT A WANT, IT'S A HAVE TO. 
          THESE ARE THE ITEMS IN THERE FOR OUR LOCAL NEEDS IN THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT. 
          >> THE SLIDE REPRESENTED HERE IS THE BUDGET RECAP FOR OUR EXPENDITURES FOR OUR BUDGET. 
          WE SHOW OUR FY 25 APPROVED LOCAL OPERATING BUDGET IS AT 36,970,753. 
          WE ARE REQUESTING FOR FY26 FOR THE OPERATING BUDGET, 38,282,007. 
          THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 1,311,254, WHICH IS A PERCENTAGE INCREASE OF 3.55%. 
          THE BUDGET RECAP FOR OUR REVENUE SOURCES FOR THE OPERATING BUDGET. 
          AGAIN, THE FY26 TOTAL REQUESTED BUDGET IS 38,282,007. 
          WE ARE ESTIMATING STATE REVENUE AT 24,128,651. 
          WE ALSO ESTIMATE OUR LOCAL NON-RESIDENT TUITION REVENUE AT $60,000, AND OUR FEDERAL TO SCHOOL OPERATING REVENUE FOR ADULT EDUCATION AT 44,300. 
          OUR CURRENT LOCAL REVENUE IS AT 11,549,311. 
          THEREFORE, WE WILL NEED A LOCAL REVENUE INCREASE OF 2,499,745 TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET. 
          IF WE REDUCE INCREASE FOR THE DEBT SERVICE, THE ESTIMATED LOCAL INCREASE FOR OPERATING IS 2,404,076. 
          HERE, YOU WILL SEE THE CATEGORICAL BUDGET FOR THE STATE CATEGORIES LISTED. 
          YOU'LL SEE 61,000 INSTRUCTION, WHICH WE'RE REQUESTING AN INCREASE OF 526,497, 62,000 CATEGORY IS FOR ADMINISTRATION, ATTENDANCE, AND HEALTH. 
          THAT'S AN INCREASE OF 338,083. 
          PUPIL TRANSPORTATION, AN INCREASE OF 77,330, 64,000 IS OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE WITH AN INCREASE OF 321,937. 
          SITE IMPROVEMENTS, 66,000 IS A DECREASE OF THE $95,000, THAT'S DUE TO THE CONTRACTOR SERVICES WITH HES. 
          OUR 67,000 CATEGORY DEBT SERVICE, AN INCREASE OF 95,669, AND AN INCREASE IN TECHNOLOGY CATEGORY 68,000 AT 46,738. 
          THEN AGAIN, YOU SEE OUR INCREASE FOR THE OPERATING BUDGET AT 1,311,254. 
          NOW, WHEN YOU INCLUDE ALL OUR PROGRAMS, LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL, SO THIS MAKES SURE THAT YOU CAN SEE OUR ENTIRE BUDGET. 
          WE START OFF WITH THE OPERATING BUDGET, WHICH WE JUST MENTIONED AT 38,282,007. 
          YOU'LL SEE THAT FOR '25, '26. 
          AS WE GO DOWN THE LIST, YOU'LL SEE THE DIFFERENT STATE PROGRAMS SUCH AS TEXTBOOKS, TECHNOLOGY, VPI AT-RISK FOUR-YEAR-OLDS, THE EARLY READING INITIATIVE PROGRAM. 
          THEN WE HAVE FEDERAL PROGRAMS, TITLE 1, TITLE 4, THE IDEA 611 SPECIAL EDUCATION, TITLE 2 PART A IS FEDERAL. 
          PERKINS IS FEDERAL. 
          IDEA 619, SPECIAL ED PRESCHOOL IS ALSO FEDERAL. 
          THEREFORE, WE'RE INCLUDING ALL OF OUR STATE PROGRAMS AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS. THE TOTAL IS 40,891,125. 
          WE INCLUDE FOOD SERVICE, WHICH IS INDEPENDENTLY OPERATED AT 1,549,148, THAT GIVES US A GRAND TOTAL FOR OUR '25, '26 BUDGET AT 42,440,273, WITH AN INCREASE OF 1,349,080. 
          >> TO STEP BACK AGAIN TO GO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, BOTH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND CAPRON ARE REACHING THAT 70-YEAR PLATEAU. 
          YOU GUYS ALL RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MYSELF ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION LAST WEEK OUTLINING THE VERY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY THAT IS AT OUR HANDS RIGHT NOW. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD A LITTLE BIT HERE TO MR. BARFIELD 
          [01:50:03]
AND MRS. MATTESON AND MRS. GALLOWAY HERE, JUST TO TALK ABOUT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL A LITTLE BIT. 
          THEN MRS. GARY. 
          [LAUGHTER] I'M LOOKING RIGHT AT YOU AND COULDN'T SAY YOUR NAME. 
          MRS. DEVONDA GARY TO TALK ABOUT CAPRON FOR A SECOND. 
          >> GOOD EVENING. IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE AS ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL AT SOUTHAMPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, I'M MARK BARFIELD, TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE GREAT LEARNING THAT IS TAKING PLACE AT SOUTHAMPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL. 
          ALL OF OUR SCHOLARS COME FROM WONDERFUL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 
          HOWEVER, ONE DAY AS WE WERE HAVING OUR PRINCIPAL'S MEETING, WE HAD TOURED MEHERRIN, WHERE WE TOURED NOTTOWAY, AND RIVERDALE. 
          I HAD AN EPIPHANY. 
          I WAS WONDERING WHY THERE WAS SO MUCH PUSHBACK WHEN IT CAME TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. 
          ALL OF OUR STUDENTS COME FROM PHENOMENAL FACILITIES. 
          UP TO DATE, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS OVER 70 YEARS OLD. 
          THEREFORE, AS MRS. MILLER STATED, THE NEED FOR A MODERN FACILITY WILL ALLOW OUR SCHOLARS TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE IN THIS GLOBAL SOCIETY. 
          WITH A NEW SCHOOL, OUR SCHOLARS AND TEACHER WILL HAVE IMPROVED PHYSICAL SPACE, BETTER DESIGNED CLASSROOM, A MEDIA CENTER AS THE HUB, AND OTHER SPACES THAT ARE BETTER SUITED FOR OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS. 
          SAFETY AND SECURITY WILL BE ON SECURITY. 
          AS YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE MANY ACCESS POINTS FOR OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AT THIS TIME. 
          HOWEVER, SAFETY AND SECURITY WILL ENHANCE MEASURES TO CREATE A SECURE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF. 
          AGAIN, I WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. 
          CONTINUE TO MAKE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL A GREAT PLACE. 
          YES, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS OLD. 
          WE'RE DOING PHENOMENAL NUMBER OF THINGS THERE, BUT WE'RE JUST ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER FOR THAT NEXT PHASE TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR SCHOLARS ARE PREPARED. 
          >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TIFFANY MATTESON. 
          I SERVED AS THE SPECIAL ED TEACHER AT NOTTOWAY ELEMENTARY FOR EIGHT-AND-A-HALF YEARS AND NOW HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AT SOUTHAMPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL AS THE SEVENTH GRADE PRINCIPAL. 
          I'M NOT A NATIVE OF SOUTHAMPTON, BUT SOUTHAMPTON HAS BECOME MY HOME SINCE I'VE MOVED HERE. 
          I HAVE THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY OF SEEING STUDENTS THAT I TAUGHT IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BOTH AT NOTTOWAY AND IN THE SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM, AND NOW I'M GETTING TO SEE THOSE STUDENTS AGAIN AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. 
          THESE ARE AMAZING YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THEY DESERVE A SCHOOL THAT THEY CAN BE PROUD OF AND TAKE PRIDE IN AND THAT CAN MEET THEIR NEEDS. 
          RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THE QUALITY OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT BROADLY CORRELATES WITH STUDENT OUTCOMES, INCLUDING ATTENDANCE, BEHAVIOR, AND ACHIEVEMENT. 
          ADDITIONALLY, PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT AN AESTHETICALLY PLEASING ENVIRONMENT CAN ENHANCE OVERALL WELL-BEING AND IMPACT STUDENTS' EMOTIONAL STATE. 
          FOSTERING A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT ENCOURAGES COOPERATION, CREATIVITY, AND BETTER OVERALL ATTITUDE TOWARDS LEARNING. 
          THE CONDITION AND AESTHETICS OF BUILDINGS PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN SHAPING THE BEHAVIOR AND ATTITUDES OF BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. 
          THEREFORE, I APPEAL TO YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER THE FUNDING OF A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL. THANK YOU. 
          >> HELLO. GOOD EVENING AGAIN. 
          BUILDING A NEW SCHOOL TO REPLACE A FACILITY THAT HAS BEEN IN USE SINCE 1954. 
          CAPRON IS 70 YEARS OLD. 
          IT'S GOING TO HAVE A BIRTHDAY. IT'S GOING TO BE 70 YEARS OLD. 
          IT'S A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN BOTH EDUCATION AND CAPRON'S COMMUNITY AND FUTURE. 
          AS A WIFE OF A FORMER STUDENT THAT WENT TO CAPRON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE PARENT OF NOT ONE, NOT TWO, NOT THREE, BUT FOUR FORMER STUDENTS THAT ATTENDED CAPRON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 
          AS A CAPRON RESIDENT, AND AS THE VERY PROUD PRINCIPAL OF CAPRON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, I ASK YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING, THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF CAPRON. 
          WHEN IT WAS BUILT, IT DID WHAT IT WAS PURPOSED TO DO. 
          BUT JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, AS TIME GOES ON AND IT AGES AND THE COMMUNITY EXPANDS, AND WE HAVE BEEN EXPANDING. 
          PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. 
          THEY'RE MOVING TO THE COUNTY. 
          IT'S HARD TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE HERE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE MOVING HERE, AND THAT'S A GREAT THING. 
          THAT'S GREAT FOR ALL OF US BECAUSE THAT PROVIDES MORE TAX BASE FOR THE COUNTY. 
          BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO PROVIDE THOSE SAME PEOPLE WITH SCHOOLS. 
          WE HAVE GREAT SCHOOLS. 
          WE HAVE PHENOMENAL SCHOOLS, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOVING TO CAPRON AS WELL. 
          THEY DESERVE THE SAME. 
          MODERN LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. 
          CAPRON DOES A WONDERFUL JOB. 
          [01:55:03]
THERE IS A DEDICATED STAFF. 
          THEY LOVE THE SCHOOL. 
          THE STUDENTS LOVE IT, THE PARENTS LOVE IT. 
          I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY REALIZE THAT SCHOOL IS 70 YEARS OLD. 
          I REALLY DON'T, BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT SCHOOL, AND EVERYONE LOOKS AT IT FROM THE INSIDE OUT, NOT FROM THE OUTSIDE IN. 
          IT'S THE SMALLEST SCHOOL WITH THE BIGGEST HEART. 
          WE HAVE OUTGROWN OUR SCHOOL. 
          WE CURRENTLY HAVE 174 STUDENTS ON RECORD, AND THE SCHOOL WASN'T BUILT TO HOLD THAT MANY STUDENTS. 
          EVERY YEAR, I HAVE TO DECIDE WHICH CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE OUTSIDE, WHICH CHILDREN ARE GOING TO WEATHER THE STORM, WHICH CHILDREN ARE GOING TO GET WET WHEN IT RAINS BECAUSE THERE'S NO AWNING TO COVER THEM WHEN THEY GO. 
          THEY DESERVE BETTER. 
          WE DO A PHENOMENAL JOB. 
          WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO A PHENOMENAL JOB, BUT THEY DESERVE BETTER. 
          THOSE ARE SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST KIDS I KNOW AT CAPRON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 
          SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST THAT I KNOW. 
          THEY'RE WELL-BEHAVED. THEY'RE BRIGHT. 
          THEIR PARENTS ARE INVOLVED. 
          IT'S A GREAT SCHOOL. 
          THE STUDENTS DESERVE. 
          WE'RE ALSO, AS FAR AS SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY, OLDER SCHOOLS STRUGGLE TO MEET THIS MODERN STANDARDS. 
          I DON'T THINK WE QUITE MEET. 
          WE DO WHAT IS REQUIRED, BUT WE COULD DO BETTER BY OUR STUDENTS. 
          INCLUDING FIRE CODES, ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, A NEW SCHOOL ENSURES COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT REGULATIONS, PROVIDING A SAFE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT. 
          THAT WAS MY SLIDE THAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, HAVING A SAFE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS. 
          MRS. MATTESON TALKED ABOUT IT. 
          HOW YOUR AESTHETICS OF YOUR BUILDING ALSO INCREASE LEARNING. 
          THEY NEED SOMETHING MORE. 
          WE WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE'RE JUST NOT ABLE TO DO. 
          WE DO NOT HAVE THE PARKING FACILITY TO HAVE LARGE EVENTS. 
          WE HAVE TO SEPARATE A LOT OF THINGS OUT OVER TIME BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE FACILITIES TO DO THOSE THINGS. 
          THE STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE A GYMNASIUM, SO THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT WHEN IT'S TIME FOR PLAY AND THE WEATHER IS NOT GOOD. WHAT DO WE DO? WE MAKE EXCEPTIONS. WE MAKE DO, BUT THEY DESERVE BETTER. 
          THEY DESERVE WHAT THE OTHER KIDS IN THE COUNTY HAVE TO BE FRANK. 
          THE OTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE NEW. 
          CAPRON IS 70 YEARS OLD. 
          NOT 25, NOT 50, IS 70 YEARS OLD. 
          THAT'S A LONG TIME TO BE A SCHOOL. 
          I SAY THAT IN ALL FRANKNESS AND HONESTY. 
          BUT WE CAN CONTINUE TO FIX THINGS, BUT THAT COSTS MONEY AS WELL. 
          SOME THINGS WE REALLY CAN'T FIX AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE REMEMBER, IT WAS BUILT IN 1954, AND SOME OF TODAY'S STANDARDS WERE NOT IN PLACE WHEN THAT SCHOOL WAS BUILT. 
          ACTUALLY, FUN FACT, ONE OF THE CLASSROOMS IN THAT BUILDING WAS ACTUALLY THE CAFETERIA MANY YEARS AGO WHEN THAT SCHOOL FIRST OPENED. 
          THE CLASSROOM WAS THE CAFETERIA WHEN THAT SCHOOL FIRST OPENED. 
          BUILDING A NEW SCHOOL DOESN'T JUST HELP ME. 
          IT DOESN'T JUST HELP THE STUDENTS. 
          IT HELPS US AS A COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BRING PEOPLE INTO OUR DISTRICT. 
          WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. 
          WE WANT THAT REVENUE. 
          WE WANT PEOPLE TO BUY HOUSES. 
          WE HAVE HOUSES FOR SALE. 
          WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME IN. 
          WE WANT THEM TO BUY, BUT WE DO ALSO HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM A PROPER SCHOOL IN ALL VICINITIES. 
          WE WANT TO DO THAT. JUST LIKE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME UP HERE AND TALKED. 
          LIKE I SAID, I HAVE FOUR KIDS. 
          THEY ALL WENT THROUGH SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          I'M DOWN 10 TOES FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. 
          WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO, YOU WANT TO RAISE MY TAXES, YOU GOT ME. 
          I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE. 
          I'M IN SUPPORT OF WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO TO DO WHAT IS PROPER FOR THE STUDENTS, BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT THE STUDENTS. 
          AT THIS POINT, MY STUDENTS HAVE GRADUATED. 
          SOME OF YOU ALL KNOW THAT BECAUSE MY STUDENTS HAVE PLAYED SPORTS WITH SOME OF THE PARENTS UP HERE, THEY'RE STUDENTS. 
          MY STUDENTS HAVE PLAYED SPORTS WITH THEM. 
          SO YOU KNOW MY STUDENTS HAVE GRADUATED. 
          [02:00:02]
BUT THE STUDENTS BEHIND MY STUDENTS, THE OTHER STUDENTS, THEY DESERVE IT. 
          THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES. 
          THERE ARE MORE STUDENTS IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. 
          WE CURRENTLY HAVE 174 AT CAPRON. 
          THEY DESERVE MORE. 
          I JUST ASK THAT YOU JUST CONSIDER THE OPPORTUNITY THAT IS BEING PLACED IN FRONT OF US TO HELP OUR STUDENTS HAVE MORE AND ACHIEVE MORE. THANK YOU. 
          >> TO CLOSE UP ON THIS. 
          LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE A VERY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY HERE. 
          AND I SAY WE. IT'S NOT ME. IT'S NOT MY. 
          IT'S NOT I. IT'S WE. IT'S US. 
          IT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE WE AS A SCHOOL DIVISION, CAN'T DO ANYTHING ON OUR OWN. 
          THIS BOARD CAN'T DO ANYTHING ON ITS OWN. 
          WE HAVE TO DO THIS TOGETHER. 
          IT'S A PIECE THAT IS VERY UNIQUE IN THE FACT THAT THE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GRANT WAS BROUGHT BACK, AND THE GOVERNOR IS PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO IT. 
          THE LITERARY FUND LOAN WAS JUST RE OPENED, AND THAT WINDOW IS BACK OPEN AGAIN. 
          WHAT WE SEEK HERE IS AN AGREEMENT TO GO FORWARD TOGETHER. 
          HEY, LET'S TRY TO GET THIS GRANT. 
          IF WE GET THIS GRANT, THEN LET'S HAVE OUR RESOLUTIONS SO THAT WE CAN APPLY FOR THE LITERARY FUND LOAN. 
          NEITHER ONE OF THOSE STEPS REQUIRES ANY FINANCIAL OBLIGATION FROM EITHER BOARD. 
          NONE. WE APPLY, WE MOVE FORWARD. 
          WE SEE IF IT'S ABSOLUTELY FEASIBLE FOR US, BUT WE'VE GOT TO GET TO THAT POINT. 
          WE'VE GOT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE PIECES IN FRONT OF US. 
          LOOKING AT THE TIMELINE UP THERE, WE TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER, IT'S A THREE TO FIVE YEAR PROCESS. 
          WE'VE TAKEN A COUPLE OF STEPS ALREADY. 
          WITH OTHER PROJECTS, WE HAVE AN ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING FIRM UNDER TERM CONTRACT TO WORK WITH US. 
          WE KNOW THAT GOING THROUGH STEPS PRIOR, WE CAN BUILD ON CAPRON SITE. 
          WE CAN PUT ANOTHER BUILDING ON THAT GLAND AND CONTINUE TO HAVE SCHOOL THERE AS WE BUILD. 
          WE'VE GOT SOME TIME THAT WE'VE TAKEN OFF OF THAT PROJECT THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE IT FORWARD. 
          WE JUST HEARD TWO VERY COMPELLING CASES FOR TWO NEW SCHOOLS. 
          BUT WE KNOW THAT CAPRON HAS GOT TO BE AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST. 
          CAPRON HAS BEEN ON THE RADAR OF BOTH BOARDS FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS. 
          WE KNOW THAT NEED IS THERE. 
          WE KNOW I CAN'T SAY MORE THAN NEED. 
          BUT I ASK THAT WE MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER, BOTH THE COUNTY BOARD, THE SCHOOL BOARD, AND ALL OF US TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS A REALITY BECAUSE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY NOT ONLY OF THE EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS, BUT THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE, IF WE TAKE THESE STEPS. 
          WITH THAT SCAP GRANT, WE CAN ONLY APPLY FOR ONE. 
          WE ONLY GET A CHANCE TO APPLY FOR ONE PROJECT EACH YEAR. 
          THIS YEAR, WE'RE ASKING, LET'S APPLY FOR CAPRON AND SEE WHERE IT TAKES US. 
          >> DR. CHAN. THANK YOU. 
          >> TONIGHT, YOU ALL HAVE HEARD FROM FORMER STUDENTS, PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CHURCH MEMBERS, AND OUR STUDENTS THROUGH OUR VOICES, AS WELL AS OUR HEARTS. 
          I EMPLOY YOU ALL TO FULLY FUND OUR BUDGET AND FULLY FUND THE CREATION AND BUILDING OF CAPRON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 
          SINCE WE CAN ONLY APPLY FOR ONE OF THE PROJECTS, OUR PRIORITY WILL BE CAPRON THIS YEAR, AND THEN WE'LL LOOK AT SOUTHAMPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL NEXT YEAR OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. 
          BUT THIS YEAR WE'RE ASKING FOR FUNDING AND US TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR CAPRON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 
          I STILL WOULD LIKE FOR MY TEAM TO STAY ONE MORE TIME, BECAUSE TONIGHT, YOU HEARD FROM TEAM SOUTHAMPTON, AND TEAM SOUTHAMPTON DOES CONSIST OF, AGAIN, LIKE I STATED, THESE PEOPLE, SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN STUDENTS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          SOME OF THEM ARE PARENTS. 
          WE'VE GOT SOME GRANDPARENTS. 
          I WAS THINKING WHO AND THEN I THOUGHT ABOUT IT. 
          WE'VE GOT A FEW GRANDPARENTS HERE. 
          MANY OF THEM ARE CHURCH MEMBERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THEY ARE ADMINISTRATORS. 
          MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN ANYTHING, THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS ENTRUSTED WITH THEIR CHILDREN. 
          WE WANT TO AGAIN MAKE SURE THAT OUR CONVERSATION IS ABOUT CHILDREN, THAT OUR PLANS ARE ABOUT CHILDREN. 
          AS WE TALK ABOUT AND DELIBERATE THE BUDGET PROCESS, 
          [02:05:01]
THAT WE DO SO WITH CHILDREN IN MIND. 
          AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE. 
          THEY'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS OUR SCHOOLS. 
          THE SCHOOL IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE COMMUNITY, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE COMMUNITY IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE SCHOOL. 
          YOU GUYS, WE HAVE GOT TO WORK TOGETHER. 
          WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS RIGHT. 
          THIS IS OUR ONE CHANCE TO GET THIS RIGHT. 
          I APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR COMING. 
          OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE IN THE BACK. 
          THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. 
          OH, THEY STOOD UP WITH US. THANK YOU. 
          YES, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. 
          ANY QUESTIONS TO YOU ALL? THANK YOU. 
          >> I JUST WANT TO SAY, I'M 70. 
          [LAUGHTER] 
          >> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, VERY THOROUGH COMPLEX PRESENTATION. 
          YOU'VE GIVEN US A LOT TO THINK ABOUT. 
          I ASK ANYBODY UP HERE HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANYBODY BEFORE WE MOVE ON. 
          >> MR. CHAIRMAN, EXCUSE ME. 
          DO YOU HAVE TIME FOR A PARENT THAT HAS KIDS IN SCHOOL THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE EMPLOYER IN SCHOOL? IF YOU DO, I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS THAT I'D LIKE TO SAY, PLEASE. 
          AS A PARENT THAT HAS KIDS IN THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM HERE. 
          >> YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT? 
          >> YES. 
          >> OKAY, TWO MINUTES. 
          >> THANK YOU, SIR. MY NAME IS CHIEF WALT BRAWN. 
          I'M CHIEF OF THE CHAO AND HOKA NATO INDIAN TRIBE. 
          I'M ALSO A PRESIDENT AND CEO OF A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR COMPANY THAT'S HOUSED HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY THE CHAIR HOKA NOW ENTERPRISES, LLC, THAT WE WORK OUT OF NINE DIFFERENT STATES. 
          BUT I AM ALSO RETIRED LIEUTENANT COLONEL UNITED STATES ARMY. 
          I'VE SERVED ON THREE GENERAL OFFICER STAFFS. 
          I HAVE NEVER, EVER, IN MY LIFE, SEEN A PRESENTATION SO IN DEPTH. 
          THAT PEOPLE CAN JUST WALK RIGHT INTO IT AND DO A DEEP DIVE ON WHAT THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS ASKING FOR, AND I GIVE YOU MY ACCOLADES AND MY KUDOS FOR A SUPER JOB IN THAT BRIEFING. 
          AND ALSO, FOR THE SUPER JOB THAT YOU ARE DOING, ESPECIALLY IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. 
          I'VE HAD SIX KIDS THAT COME THROUGH THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, THREE OF WHICH HAVE ADVANCED DEGREES. 
          I CURRENTLY HAVE A SIXTH GRADER AND A SEVENTH GRADER NOW THAT'S IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL. 
          MY SON, RED EAGLE WAS INDUCTED IN THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY AT MEHERRIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE FIFTH GRADE. 
          MY DAUGHTER WINSONG, IS A CLOQUA PROCESSOR. 
          SHE HAS A DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUE FOR HEARING. 
          AND I HAVE TO GIVE KUDOS AND ATHLETES TO THE SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT YOU'RE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY FOR THE SUPER JOB YOU'RE DOING WITH HER. 
          WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE WELL REWARDED. 
          IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL TEACHERS, WE NEED THEM. 
          YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN OLD TRIBAL PROVERB THAT SAYS IT TAKES A COMMUNITY TO RAISE A CHILD. 
          BUT IT'S ALSO AN AFRICAN PROVERB THAT SAYS THE SAME THING. 
          YOU ARE PART OF THAT COMMUNITY. 
          THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY EDUCATIONAL SCHOOL SYSTEM IS PART OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THE PARENT ARE PART OF THAT COMMUNITY. IT TAKES THREE. 
          AGAIN, I'D JUST EMPLOY YOU THAT WHATEVER THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS NEED TO GO FORWARD TO PLEASE PROVIDE IT, BECAUSE THE CHILDREN THAT THEY ARE WORKING WITH ARE OUR FUTURES. 
          20, 30, 40 YEARS FROM NOW, EVERYBODY IN THIS BUILDING WILL BE WALKED ON TO THE CREATOR. 
          WHO'S GOING TO COME AFTER YOU? YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TRACKS THAT YOU LEAVE ARE DEEP. 
          THOSE THAT FOLLOW YOU HAVE A DEEP PATH TO FOLLOW. 
          IT'S UP TO YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CHILDREN HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM HAVE VALUE ADDED IN THEIR EDUCATION. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. 
          [APPLAUSE] 
          >> ANYBODY ELSE BEFORE WE MOVE ON. 
          >> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE. 
          I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION HERE TONIGHT IN JOINING US. 
          I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE ADMINISTRATION FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND OUR TEACHERS AND FACULTY AND STAFF FOR TAKING UP YOUR TIME OF BEING HERE TONIGHT AND SHARING THAT WITH US. 
          MR. KEA AND MS. WARREN, AS FAR AS EXPANDED PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND EMPLOYEE RETENTION, YOU GOT AT DANE PAT ON THE HAMPTON ROAD SHOW. 
          I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPRESENTATION OF NOT ONLY YOURSELVES AS PROFESSIONALS, BUT OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY AT LARGE TO OUR REGION IN HAMPTON ROADS WITH THAT PRESENTATION ON THE HAMPTON ROAD SHOW. 
          EXCELLENT JOB. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT BEFORE WE. THANK YOU, MISS. 
          >> THANK YOU ALSO. AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU BEING HERE. 
          COMMUNICATION IS SO IMPORTANT. 
          YOU HAVE COMMUNICATED TONIGHT. 
          WE DON'T ALWAYS HEAR THIS COMMUNICATION. 
          >> OKAY, GOOD ENOUGH. THANK YOU. 
          WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON HERE. 
          WE'LL GET TO MR. COOK HERE BEFORE HE DIES OF DEHYDRATION AND OUR BABY. 
          THIS IS ERIC COOK. 
          [02:10:01]
IT'S OUR COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY, REPRESENTING THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. GOOD EVENING. 
          >> THANK YOU, AND GOOD EVENING. SOME OF THESE FOLKS I KNOW HAVE TO GET UP TO THE CRACK OF DAWN TO TEACH OUR KIDS, AND I WOULD CERTAINLY NOT BE OFFENDED IF THEY DON'T WANT TO STAY FOR MY PRESENTATION. 
          GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MR. THROWER, MISS LOWE AND STAFF. 
          I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU. THANK YOU. 
          I'VE ONLY GOT 74 SLIDES, SO I HOPE YOU DON'T. 
          MOST OF YOU KNOW, I TRY TO COME EVERY YEAR, AT LEAST TO ONE MEETING LIKE THIS ONE. 
          BASICALLY, TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT WE GET FROM THE BOARD. 
          WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS IMPORTANT AND YOU'RE SUPPORTING MY ROLE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          I MISSED LAST YEAR BECAUSE I HAD A MISADVENTURE WITH ONE OF THE COUNTY DUMPSTERS. 
          SOME OF YOU MAY BE AWARE OF THAT, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT THERE'S SOME MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR SOME IMPROVEMENTS AT THOSE SITES. 
          BUT I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY INCIDENT. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO SAY TONIGHT IS THAT WE'VE GOT THIS BEAUTIFUL NEW COURTHOUSE THAT YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING THE FUNDING FOR THAT AND GETTING IT DONE, AND IT'S MUCH APPRECIATED BY THOSE OF US WHO USE IT. 
          IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER AND SEE THAT FACILITY IN DETAIL. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT. 
          I'D BE HAPPY TO WALK YOU AROUND IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IT BECAUSE IT REALLY IS A VAST IMPROVEMENT. 
          A BIG PART OF THAT WAS THE SECURITY CONCERNS THAT EXISTED. 
          THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN A REALLY POSITIVE WAY. 
          I THANK YOU FOR THAT. THE OTHER THING IS, THE DRUG TREATMENT COURT. 
          FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THIS BOARD HAS SUPPORTED THAT BY USING THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT MONEY, AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET AGAIN THIS YEAR. 
          IT'S MUCH APPRECIATED. 
          THAT IS A PROGRAM THAT I HAD A GREAT DEAL OF SKEPTICISM ABOUT TO BE CANDID WITH YOU. 
          I'M MORE OF A CRIME AND PUNISHMENT KIND OF GUY THAN THE TREATMENT KIND OF GUY. 
          BUT I WILL SAY THIS. 
          I HAVE SEEN THE VERY POSITIVE IMPACT THAT THAT HAS HAD ON A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH ADDICTION ISSUES. 
          FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATED FROM THAT PROGRAM, KNOCK ONWOOD, I HAVE YET TO SEE ONE OF THEM COME BACK THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM SINCE WE STARTED THAT. 
          THERE'S SOME ADMINISTRATIVE HICCUPS HAPPENING WITH THAT PROGRAM. 
          HOPEFULLY, THOSE WILL BE SMOOTHED OUT. 
          WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF FAILURES WHERE PEOPLE WHO INDICATED THEY WANTED TO PARTICIPATE WERE FRANKLY UNSUCCESSFUL. 
          THAT'S TO BE EXPECTED. 
          BUT THAT PROGRAM IN GENERAL IS REALLY WORTHWHILE, AND I'VE COME TO REALLY BE A BELIEVER IN THAT AND THE METHODOLOGY THAT THEY USE. 
          STARTING ON MONDAY NEXT WEEK, I WILL BE AT FULL STAFF IN TERMS OF ATTORNEYS, REALLY ONLY FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE. 
          WE HAD THE LOCAL POSITION BUDGETED FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND WE WERE UNABLE TO FILL IT. THAT'S HAPPENED. 
          I'VE GOT A YOUNG MAN NAMED AUSTIN TOMLIN, WHO WAS WORKING OVER WITH BUSH AND TAYLOR IN SUFFOLK. 
          HE'S FROM THE CARSVILLE AREA AND HAS ROOTS IN SOUTHAMPTON AND HUNTS HERE AND SO FORTH. 
          HE'LL BE COMING ON BOARD WITH US ON MONDAY, AND THAT BRINGS ME TO FULL STAFF WITH RESPECT TO ATTORNEYS. 
          REALLY. I DON'T WANT TO SAY FOR THE FIRST TIME. 
          I DID HAVE A YOUNG MAN THAT CAME IN FOR ABOUT TWO OR THREE MONTHS A FEW YEARS AGO, AND THEN HE WENT ON TO CHESAPEAKE TO A BIG PAY RAISE. 
          BUT I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE ABILITY TO DO THAT. 
          WHAT YOU SEE THAT'S NEW REALLY IN OUR BUDGET REQUEST THIS YEAR IS A REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR A PARALEGAL WITH LOCAL MONEY. 
          IT'S PROBABLY NOT ON YOUR RADAR, BUT MAYBE 15 YEARS OR SO AGO WHEN THE STATE HAD SUCH BUDGET PROBLEMS. THERE WERE PROPOSALS TO FURLOUGH PEOPLE, AND RATHER THAN DO THAT TO KEEP EVERYBODY WORKING BECAUSE WE NEEDED THAT, I CHOSE TO USE THAT MONEY THAT WAS BUDGETED FROM THE COMP BOARD IN A PARALEGAL POSITION TO KEEP EVERYBODY WORKING. 
          UNFORTUNATELY, THE STATE NEVER HAS RESTORED THAT FUNDING. 
          SO FOR THE LAST 15 OR SO YEARS, THAT HAS SIMPLY SAT AT ZERO, EVEN THOUGH THE NEED IS THERE, THE POSITION IS AUTHORIZED, BUT SIMPLY UNFUNDED BY THE STATE, AND IT REMAINS THAT WAY. 
          EACH YEAR, I'VE ASKED FOR THEM TO RESTORE THAT FUNDING AND TO SUPPORT US THAT WAY. 
          IT HAS NOT HAPPENED, AND WE'RE NOT UNIQUE IN THAT REGARD. 
          I THINK MOST OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES ACROSS THE STATE PROBABLY HAVE UNFUNDED POSITIONS, AND WE'RE NO EXCEPTION TO THAT, BUT WE NEED TO FILL A POSITION LIKE THAT. 
          IT'S IMPERATIVE IN THIS MODERN AGE OF PROSECUTION TO HAVE THE TOOLS AND THE PERSONNEL THAT WE NEED. 
          IT'S MUCH MORE COMPLEX THAN IT USED TO BE. 
          IT'S MUCH MORE COMPUTER DRIVEN. 
          IT'S MUCH MORE LABOR INTENSIVE THAN IT USED TO BE, PARTICULARLY WITH THE BODY CAMERAS, AND WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE OF THOSE COME ON BOARD. 
          FRANKLY, I HAVEN'T COUNTED, BUT IT'S LIKELY THAT WE'RE OVER THE 75 NUMBER, IF NOT, WE'RE FAIRLY CLOSE, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THE LOCALITY TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR ANOTHER LOCAL ATTORNEY, 
          [02:15:02]
AND I'M NOT LOOKING FOR THAT THIS YEAR. 
          I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE FIVE AND KEEP FIVE COUNTING MYSELF FOR THE NEXT YEAR. 
          BUT I'M ASKING YOU TO FUND THAT POSITION. 
          IT'S IMPORTANT TO WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND IT WILL MAKE US MUCH MORE EFFICIENT. 
          I KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE SEEN WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE LOCALLY IN FRANKLIN, BUT IN SOUTHAMPTON TOO. 
          WE HAVE A VIOLENT CRIME PROBLEM. 
          WE HAVE A GANG PROBLEM THAT'S REAL. 
          WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE CRIMES INVOLVING SIGNIFICANT WEAPONRY. 
          WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THESE CRIMES COMMITTED WITH FAIRLY HIGH POWER WEAPONS, INCLUDING MILITARY STYLE RIFLES. 
          OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE'VE SEEN SOME GLOCK SWITCHES THAT YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT WHICH CONVERT A SEMI AUTOMATIC PISTOL TO A FULLY AUTOMATIC PISTOL, ILLEGALLY, OF COURSE, BUT WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF VIOLENT CRIME. 
          WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF HOMICIDE CASES THAT ARE IN THE HOPPER. 
          SOME WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH, SOME HAVEN'T BEEN CHARGED YET. 
          I KNOW THAT THIS IS NECESSARY FOR US. 
          I'M ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT THAT. 
          RECOGNIZING THAT IT'S EXPENSIVE, AND IT'LL BE AN ONGOING EXPENSE. 
          BUT I HOPE THAT YOU'LL DO THAT. 
          WE HAVE DISCOVERY OBLIGATIONS THAT ARE EXTENSIVE. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STARTED THIS YEAR IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAS THEY WERE PROPOSING TO HAVE THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY'S OFFICES PROSECUTE EVERY MISDEMEANOR CRIME THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR FAIL. 
          WELL, I CAN TELL YOU WE DON'T PROSECUTE PROBABLY 90% OF THE MISDEMEANOR CASES BECAUSE WE ARE SIMPLY UNFUNDED FROM THE LOCALITIES AND FROM THE STATE FOR THAT. 
          WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES. 
          I THINK THAT THAT'S STALLED OUT NOW MAYBE IN SENATE FINANCE, SO IT MAY NOT HAPPEN THIS YEAR, BUT THAT MOVE IS A FOOT THAT'S ON THE HORIZON, AND IF THAT HAPPENS, IT'S GOING TO REALLY BE TUMULTUOUS FOR ALL OF US. 
          WE'VE HAD SOME GOOD VACANCY SAVINGS THIS YEAR, BUT IT WAS UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE CAITLIN ANGEL, WHO WAS ONE OF MY ATTORNEYS, WENT INTO PRIVATE PRACTICE WITH EDWARD RILEY, AND JILL SCHMIKY, WHO WAS ONE OF MY OTHER ATTORNEYS, LEFT AND WENT TO SUFFOLK, WHERE SHE GOT A $20,000 PAY RAISE AND IS DRIVING AN HOUR AND A HALF A DAY LESS. 
          I'M HAPPY FOR THEM THAT THEY'VE MADE THAT TRANSITION. 
          WE HAVE FILLED THOSE TWO SPOTS. 
          I HIRED A NEW GRADUATE. 
          HIS NAME IS JOHN PEEK. 
          SO HE'S BEEN WITH ME ABOUT SIX MONTHS OR SO. 
          I ALSO HIRED A VETERAN PROSECUTOR WHO CAME OUT OF SUFFOLK AND PORTSMOUTH, ED FERRERA, AND HE'S COMMUTING EVERY DAY FROM PORTSMOUTH, AND THAT'S WORKED OUT VERY WELL SO FAR, AND I HOPE THAT CONTINUES. 
          BUT WE HAD SOME GOOD VACANCY SAVINGS. 
          WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THE FILE SERVER THAT WAS BUDGETED FOR THIS YEAR, USING MOSTLY MONEY FROM THE VACANCY SAVINGS THAT COMES FROM THE COMP BOARD. 
          AND ALSO, WE'VE HAD TO BUY COMPUTERS, OF COURSE, FOR THE NEW ATTORNEY THAT'S COMING ON NEXT WEEK. 
          >> IN TERMS OF THE CHANGES TO WHAT WE'RE DOING, I KNOW THAT MOST OF YOU ARE AWARE OF THE CHANGES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE THAT HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. 
          THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN GIVE OR TAKE 2021 WHICH HAS REALLY IMPACTED WHAT WE'RE DOING. 
          WE'RE TRYING A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF JURY TRIALS THAT DID NOT USED TO HAPPEN. 
          THERE WAS A DISINCENTIVE FOR CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS TO SELECT A JURY BECAUSE THE JURY WOULD RECOMMEND A SENTENCE, AND MOST PEOPLE WANTED TO AVOID THAT. 
          THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE. 
          UNLESS THE DEFENSE ASKS FOR IT, THE JUDGE IMPOSES SENTENCE, AND THEY USE SENTENCING GUIDELINES, JUST LIKE THEY WOULD IF THEY WERE TRYING THE CASE. 
          WE ARE NOW SPENDING MANY DAYS EACH MONTH TRYING JURY TRIALS IN A FACILITY WITH LIMITED RESOURCES AND LIMITED RESOURCES IN MY OFFICE IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND JUDGES AND SO FORTH. 
          THE SAME AS EVERY OTHER LOCALITY IS DOING ACROSS VIRGINIA, BUT THAT IS THE BIGGEST CHANGE THAT WE'VE SEEN. 
          THIS PAST TERM THAT WE'RE STILL IN RIGHT NOW. 
          I THINK WE'VE ALREADY TRIED THREE, IF NOT FOUR JURY TRIALS, AND WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE SET BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE TERM, WHICH IS MID MAY. 
          WHAT THAT MEANS FOR US IS THAT WE ARE SPENDING TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME TO PREPARE FOR THOSE, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO TRY THOSE THAT DID NOT EXIST BEFORE. 
          WE MIGHT HAVE TRIED MAYBE FOUR OR FIVE FOR A WHOLE YEAR ON AN AVERAGE YEAR, EVEN THOUGH WE GOT READY FOR MANY OTHERS ULTIMATELY RESOLVED OR GOT CONTINUED, WHAT HAVE YOU. 
          THOSE ARE NOW BEING TRIED. 
          BECAUSE I THINK THE DEFENSE BAR HAS REALIZED THAT THEY GET MUCH MORE FAVORABLE TREATMENT AND MUCH MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR NOT GUILTY OR REDUCED CONVICTIONS WITH THE JURY. 
          THAT'S JUST THE FACT OF THE MATTER WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PROFESSIONAL JURISTS TRYING THE CASE. 
          THAT'S REALLY THE BIGGEST CHANGE THAT WE'VE SEEN. 
          IT'S IMPACTED US IN A VERY NEGATIVE WAY. 
          IT HAS RESULTED, FRANKLY, IN ME HAVING TO PLEAD A LOT MORE CASES, TO TAKE REDUCED SENTENCES, TO TAKE REDUCED CHARGES, TO TRY TO AVOID THIS PRESS OF JURY TRIAL REQUESTS. 
          [02:20:01]
WE ARE MANAGING IT THE SAME AS EVERYBODY ELSE IS, WHICH MEANS THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING LESS TIME. 
          IN GENERAL, THEY'RE GETTING LESS TIME TO SERVE, FEWER CONVICTIONS FOR SERIOUS CRIMES, AND THAT IS JUST A REALITY OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE INVOLVED. 
          WE'VE HAD TREMENDOUS CHANGES WITH THE DISCOVERY PROCEDURES. 
          JOHN PEEK IS ONE OF MY NEW ATTORNEYS IS SITTING THERE WITH PROBABLY 40 DISCOVERY REQUESTS ON HIS DESK ALL THE TIME, AS HE'S WORKING THROUGH DISCOVERY FROM THE DISTRICT COURTS. 
          A PARALEGAL WILL BE OF GREAT VALUE TO US IN TERMS OF RELIEVING SOME OF THAT PRESSURE AND SO I'M ASKING YOU FOR THAT. 
          ASIDE FROM THAT, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE. 
          I DON'T REALLY HAVE 74 SLIDES, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM. 
          >> ANY QUESTIONS? MR. COOK. 
          >> WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE, SIR. 
          >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL TOO. TAKE CARE. 
          >> MS. LYNN BURGESS, DIRECTOR OF ELECTIONS. GOOD EVENING. 
          >> GOOD EVENING. HOW ARE Y'ALL? I'M HERE TONIGHT REPRESENTING THE ELECTORAL BOARD. 
          MY ELECTORAL BOARD MEMBERS ARE CHAIRMAN JR. FRANK URQUHART, VICE CHAIR CARLYN KINNEY, AND SECRETARY MR. BALLARD. 
          MR. BALLARD [INAUDIBLE] MR. BALLARD WAS HERE, BUT HE HAD ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT AND HAD TO LEAVE. 
          THEY ARE IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT. 
          I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE PROJECT TO YOU TONIGHT. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION AS I PRESENT THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY OFFICE OF ELECTIONS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT NEEDS. 
          OUR FIVE-YEAR PLAN WAS FIRST INTRODUCED TO YOU IN 2019. 
          IT WAS ESTABLISHED TO IDENTIFY ESSENTIAL RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS NEEDED TO MEET THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ELECTION SECURITY STANDARDS AND THE LOCAL ELECTORAL BOARD GOALS. 
          THEREFORE, ENSURING SOUTHAMPTON THE ABILITY TO CONDUCT SAFE, SECURE AND A VIABLE ELECTION PROGRAM. 
          ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR THE ELECTORAL BOARD SINCE WE ADOPTED THAT FIRST PLAN BACK IN 2019. 
          THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SPACE HAS BEEN AN EVOLVING FUNCTIONAL CRISIS. 
          WHY DO WE NEED ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOTAGE? I'VE GOT FIVE QUICK TALKING POINTS. 
          MAY I JUST INTERJECT, JUST TO RELIEVE A A LITTLE BIT. 
          THEY ASKED ME SEVERAL YEARS AGO AT CHURCH TO READ SCRIPTURE, AND I READ SO FAST, THEY NEVER ASKED ME TO DO IT AGAIN SO THIS ISN'T GOING TO TAKE LONG. 
          MY FIVE TALKING POINTS. 
          ADEQUATE SPACE TO CONDUCT LOGIC AND ACCURACY TESTING FOR ALL VOTING EQUIPMENT FOR EVERY ELECTION. 
          THIS IS WHY WE NEED THE ADDITIONAL SPACE. 
          THAT WAS NUMBER ONE. 
          LAST YEAR, 45% OF OUR TOTAL VOTER TURNOUT WAS PART OF THE ABSENTEE PROCESS, WHICH USES 90% OF OUR PRIMARY OFFICE SPACE. 
          NUMBER 3, WE HAVE UPDATED OUR POLL BOOK METHOD BY INVESTING IN ELECTRONIC POLL BOOKS THAT ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET, BUT THEY ALLOW US TO PERFORM PRECISE VOTER IDENTIFICATION AND ESTABLISH VOTER CREDIT PROMPTLY SO AS TO PREVENT VOTER FRAUD DURING EARLY VOTING AND ON ELECTION DAY. 
          THE FOURTH POINT WE HAVE HERE IS ABSENTEE BY MAIL PROCESSING. 
          AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE HAVE AROUND 600 PERMANENT VOTE BY MAIL APPLICATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO PROCESS FOR EVERY ELECTION. 
          THERE'S TWO LITTLE POINTS UNDER THIS BY MAIL PROCESS. 
          WE HAVE NO DEDICATED, SECURE SPACE FOR THE BY MAIL PROCESS. 
          WE ALSO ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE MANDATORY PRE-PROCESSING SESSIONS THAT REQUIRE A SEPARATE SPACE FROM THE EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING FOR BALLOT SECURITY PURPOSES. 
          THIS IS REQUIRED TO HAPPEN ON THE SEVENTH AND THIRD DAY BEFORE EACH ELECTION. 
          I JUST SIMPLY DON'T HAVE SPACE IN MY OFFICE TO DO THAT WHILE EARLY VOTING IS TAKING PLACE. 
          MY FIFTH POINT HERE IS VOTING EQUIPMENT, SECURE STORAGE FOR IN-HOUSE PURPOSES AND ELECTION DAY TRANSPORT. 
          WHAT THAT IS IS CAGES THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN FUNDING FOR TO MEET SECURITY TRANSPORT STANDARD. 
          THAT'S OUR FIVE TALKING POINTS AND WHAT WE CONSIDER THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR ELECTORAL BOARD CAPITAL PROJECT REQUEST. 
          [02:25:02]
FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THERE WERE GRANT FUNDS STILL AVAILABLE THROUGH THE HAMPTON ROADS PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION, REGIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT. 
          MR. THROWER AND I WENT TO A MEETING AND THERE WAS THE BOARD THERE WAS $75,000 THAT HAD TO BE USED FOR ELECTION SECURITY PURPOSES. 
          MY OFFICE WAS AWARDED $54,000 OF THAT $75,000 AND $40,000 OF THAT IS ALLOCATED FOR ELECTION SECURITY CAGES TO MEET THE SECURE TRANSPORT STANDARD. 
          THE ADDITIONAL $14,000 WILL BE USED FOR ACCESS CONTROL ON THE ADDITIONAL STORAGE FACILITY YOU ALL ARE GOING TO FUND. 
          OUR REQUEST IS THAT THE ELECTORAL BOARD IS ASKING FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO FUND OUR CAPITAL PROJECT, WHICH REQUESTS ADDITIONAL ADEQUATE STORAGE FACILITY FOR OUR CAGES THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO PURCHASE WITH THAT GRANT MONEY AND THE PREVIOUSLY LISTED SPACE NEEDS AND NECESSITIES. 
          I'VE SHARED WITH YOU JUST A LITTLE SIMPLE LAYOUT OF WHAT I'VE DONE A LITTLE RESEARCH, AND I'VE HAD THE HELP OF MR. PARKER, OUR NEW BUILDINGS AND GRANTS GUY, AND WE DID A LITTLE MOCK UP. 
          WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS THAT THE BUILDING DIRECTLY BEHIND MY OFFICE, WHICH IS PROBABLY OLDER THAN 70-YEARS-OLD, BE A TORN DOWN AND REPLACED WITH A 26 BY 45 FOOT LONG METAL BUILDING, AND WE FELT THAT THAT WAS HIGHLY APPROPRIATE. 
          I LOOK AT MY WINDOW EVERY DAY AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH, AND THAT'S A FINE FACILITY THAT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IN THE TOWN OF CORTLAND IS ASHAMED OF. 
          I THINK WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND IN A MOST RESPONSIBLE WAY IN OUR RESEARCH OF HOW WE CAN SPEND OUR FUNDS IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER. 
          WE'VE GOT THAT LITTLE SIMPLE LAYOUT, AND I'VE JUST GOT THAT, AND WE HAVE TO WORK ON GETTING SOME PRICES AND ALL IN, AND THINGS ARE CHANGING SO FAST AS FAR AS EXPENSES THAT I'VE JUST TOOK RIGHT OUT THE LITTLE ESTIMATE THAT WE HAD WE WERE COMING IN SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 60,000 AND 70,000 THAT WE COULD DO THIS AS A TURNKEY JOB, BUT WE GOT A GRANT AND WILL BE DEPENDENT. 
          WE GOT THE GRANT MONEY FOR THE CAGES, AND WE GOT GRANT MONEY THAT WE CAN ALSO SPEND FOR, IF YOU BILL ME THAT BUILDING, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUT SOME SECURITY PROTOCOL IN PLACE TO MAKE IT SECURE. 
          >> I THINK WE NEED TO PUT THIS OUR PRIORITY ON OUR LIST IF ANYBODY NEEDS SOME HELP WITH SOMETHING NEW. 
          THAT OFFICE, WHERE DOES IT STAND ON OUR CIP? 
          >> IT'S BUDGETED. 
          >> IT'S INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. 
          >> IT'S READY TO GO THEN? 
          >> YES, SIR. 
          >> YES. I WILL CUT MYSELF SHORT, I'M WILL GET TO MY VERY GOOD CONCLUSION HERE. 
          I CONCLUDE WITH WE, THE ELECTORAL BOARD AND MYSELF ARE CITIZENS OF SOUTHAMPTON, AND AS SUCH, WE ARE MORALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FISCAL SPENDING. 
          THE ELECTORAL BOARD HAS BEEN COMMUNICATING THIS ISSUE OF SPACE SINCE 2019. 
          WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THIS IS A REASONABLE REQUEST MADE WITH PRACTICAL CONSIDERATION, AND WE FEEL BLESSED THAT WE HAVE BEEN AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO UPGRADE OUR ELECTION PROCESS WITH THE ALLOCATED GRANT FUNDS. 
          THE ELECTORAL BOARD HAS CONFIDENCE IN YOUR GOOD JUDGMENT IN REVIEWING AND APPROVING OUR REQUEST SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR GRANT ALLOCATIONS AND STORAGE NEEDS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 
          THAT'S IT. THAT'S ALL I GOT FOR YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> I'D LIKE TO COME. I THINK LYNN AND I MAKE A GOOD GRANT REQUEST TEAM, SO THANK YOU, LYNN. APPRECIATE THAT. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MR. KARL HECK. GOOD EVENING. 
          >> BOARD SUPERVISORS, MR. THROWER, I DON'T HAVE 74 SLIDES, BUT I DO HAVE SOME. 
          I THINK THEY ARE IN YOUR PACKAGE. 
          THANK Y'ALL FOR HAVING US. 
          AS YOU'RE AWARE, WE HAVE A FIVE-MEMBER BOARD. 
          THREE FULL TIME AND ONE PART TIME STAFF PERSON MAKE UP OUR CURRENT STAFFING PATTERN. 
          WE ARE ASKING FOR RESTORATION OF OUR FUNDING TO $125,000, WHICH WAS THE LEVEL OF FSEDI HAD FROM 2013 TO 2020 BEFORE COVID. 
          WE'VE ASKED FOR SIMILAR INCREASES FROM OUR OTHER FUNDERS AS WELL TO RESTORE BALANCE OUR BUDGET AND ALLOW US TO DO SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO IN TOURISM, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, SOME OF THE MARKETING INITIATIVES AND AS MR. 
          [02:30:03]
THROWER SAID, KEEP UP WITH PRICES. 
          IN 2024-2025, BUSINESS CENTER WAS 100% CAPACITY FOR A LITTLE BIT OF A WHILE OUT HERE. 
          WE'VE HAD 12 ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESSES ATTEND THE FIRST START UP CLASS. 
          THAT IS ONGOING. 
          PITCH NIGHT IS TOMORROW NIGHT. 
          WE HAVE SIX PEOPLE PITCHING FOR THAT. 
          RETAIL SALES CONTINUE TO RISE. 
          WE DID DO A PROJECT WITH PROJECT WATER, WHICH IS WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE COUNTY, AND THEY WERE ISSUED A LAND DISTURBANCE PERMIT THIS WEEK. 
          REAGAN TOLD ME, SO THEY ARE MOVING AHEAD. 
          HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE STARTING TO DISTURB SOME LAND SOON TO THE BUSINESS PARK. 
          WE ARE WORKING ON BUSINESS READY SITES PROGRAM THAT WE GOT FOR THE COUNTY TO UPGRADE THE BEALE FARM, AND WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER A GO VIRGINIA GRANT FOR THE COMMERCE AND LOGISTICS CENTER FOR SIMILAR WORK TO BE DONE TO RAISE THE MARKETABILITY AND VISIBILITY OF THOSE SITES. 
          WE WORKED A NUMBER OF OTHER SITES DURING THE YEAR. 
          OUR MAIN FOCUS IS OUR BUSINESS ATTRACTION, BRINGING BUSINESSES IN, BUSINESS RETENTION, EXPANSION, WORKING WITH OUR EXISTING COMPANIES, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT A VARIETY OF WAYS, INCLUDING THE FRANKLIN BUSINESS CENTER STARTUP, AND OUR WORK WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AND OUR TOURISM AS A DESTINATION MARKETING ASSOCIATION FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. 
          WE'VE DONE A NUMBER OF EXPANSION PROJECTS OVER THE YEARS. 
          BEAVIS, ONE WE'VE WORKED WITH QUITE A BIT THIS YEAR AS THEY WENT THROUGH BANKRUPTCY AND ARE STARTING TO RENEW THEIR FACILITY THAT WE'RE HAPPY ABOUT. 
          WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH CLOSE TO 900 JOBS SINCE OUR CREATION AND PROJECTS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS IN THE AREA AS THEY COME TO FRUITION, REPRESENTING OVER $227 MILLION OF NEW INVESTMENT. 
          WE'RE ALSO THE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE EMPIRE ZONE, AND WE ARE STARTING TO WORK ON LOOKING AT THE ZONE, AGAIN. 
          IT'S BEEN OVER A DECADE SINCE IT'S BEEN LOOKED AT TO SEE IF WE CAN RENEW IT IN SOME WAY. 
          THERE WENT THE CLICKER. DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? 
          >> WHOSE SISTER PROBABLY KILLED THE BATTERIES, ISN'T IT? 
          >> YOU ALL GOT SHEETS. I CAN KEEP GOING THE OLD FASHIONED WAY. 
          JUST HIT THE NEXT ONE. 
          THERE'S NOT THAT MAY MORE ANYWAY. 
          SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HAMPTON ROAD SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER. 
          THEY ARE TEACHING START UP THIS YEAR, WHICH HAS ALLOWED US TO HAVE THEM IN THE OFFICE MORE, AND THEY'RE WORKING MORE WITH BUSINESSES IN FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON. 
          OUR MANAGER NOW ASK TO START UP CASES. 
          BEALE HAS ABOUT EIGHT OTHER BUSINESSES THAT HE'S WORKING WITH. 
          WE ALSO DO WORKSHOPS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS, INCLUDING QUICK BOOKS WE DID THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS WRITING A BUSINESS PLAN SEMINAR. 
          WE MENTIONED START UP FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON AND OTHER ONES. HIT THE NEXT ONE. 
          STARTUP HAS CREATED 14 BUSINESSES IN THE SIX ROUNDS TO DATE. 
          EIGHT OTHER NON-WINNERS ALSO STARTED BUSINESSES, AND OF THOSE 22, WE'VE ONLY LOST TWO, AND THE OTHER 20 ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN OUR AREA. 
          LIKE I SAID, THE NEXT ROUND IS JUST FINISHING. 
          NEXT ONE. WE EXPANDED OUR BUSINESS RETENTION EXPANSION PROGRAM THIS YEAR. 
          WE VISITED OVER A DOZEN, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BUSINESSES, AS WELL AS SOME IN FRANKLIN, THAT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW THEY'RE DOING, WORK ON RETENTION PROJECTS WHERE APPROPRIATE. 
          WORK ON THE SPIN OFFS THAT WE OCCASIONALLY RECEIVE, FOR INSTANCE, THE SILO THAT HAMPTON FARMS PUT UP AS A RESULT OF ONE OF THESE MEETINGS A YEAR AGO. 
          THOSE THINGS DO HAPPEN. 
          WE WORK WITH THE HAMPTON ROADS ALLIANCE ON CONTACT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER WAYS TO IMPROVE BUSINESS RETENTION EXPANSION. HIT THE NEXT ONE. 
          WE'VE BEEN ADMINISTERING THE BROADBAND INITIATIVE SINCE IT STARTED. 
          THAT PROJECT, AS ERIC COLLINS REPORTED THE LAST BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BEING IS GOING ABOUT AS WELL AS ANY PROJECT IN VIRGINIA AND SHOULD BE WRAPPING UP IN 2026. 
          THEY'RE FINISHING UP THE LAST SERIES OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND CHIEF BROWN LEFT, BUT HE'S ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH AS THE ONE OF THE LAST ONES IN THE CYCLE THAT'S GANG DESIGNED, AND THEY'LL BE WORKING TO FINISH UP THE NETWORK SO THAT EVERYBODY IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY HAS ACCESS TO BROADBAND. 
          I THINK THERE'S THREE MORE. 
          >> TOURISM, WE ARE THE DESTINATION MARKING ORGANIZATION FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. 
          [02:35:01]
THAT'S ONE THING WE'VE INCREMENTALLY ADDED FUNDS FOR SO THAT WE CAN DO A FEW MORE THINGS. 
          WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA. 
          WE'RE PART OF THE SALTY SOUTHERN MOUNTAIN IN COASTAL, VIRGINIA. 
          LAUREN RODE, OUR TOURISM MANAGER HAS BEEN GOING TO MORE EVENTS, SO WE'VE BEEN A LITTLE MORE VISIBLE WITH GIVING DISTRIBUTION TO WORK AT THE SITE, AND WE ARE WORKING WITH SOME OF THE LOCAL ATTRACTIONS TO TRY TO UP THEIR PROFILE AS WELL. 
          NEXT ONE. OUR COMMUNITY VISIONING INITIATIVE STARTED IN LATE 2023, AND IT'S CONTINUING FORWARD, WE HAVE A STEERING COMMITTEE OVER 20 MEMBERS, AND WE HAD FIVE SUBCOMMITTEES ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOURISM, EDUCATION, WORKFORCE, ECONOMIC UPLIFT, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. 
          THOSE REPORTS WERE PRESENTED AT OUR EVENT IN FEBRUARY. 
          WE WORKED TO CONTINUE ON THE FORTHCOMING STRATEGIC PLAN, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PITCH DECK OF PRIORITY PROJECTS THAT WILL BE COSTED OUT AND BE ABLE TO PITCH TO INVESTORS WITH TIME FRAMES AND THAT. 
          THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR. 
          NEXT SLIDE. WE DO A NUMBER OF ANNUAL EVENTS OVER YEAR. 
          SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY IS A POPULAR AND WELL KNOWN EVENT THAT WE ARE NEIGHBORHOOD CHAMPION FOR. 
          OUR PARTNERS IN PROGRESS/COMMUNITY VISIONING EVENT, THE ANNUAL STARTUP AWARDS AND EXPO AND OUR NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK EVENT, WHICH WILL BE MAY 2ND AT THE FRANKLIN BUSINESS CENTER. 
          WE PARTICIPATE WITH SEVERAL REGIONAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS TOO, TO EXPAND OUR REACH AND TO BRING MORE PROSPECTS IN. 
          I THINK THIS IS THE LAST ONE. 
          OUR MAIN GOALS AND ACTIVITIES, CONTINUING MOMENTUM ON RECENT PROJECTS. 
          WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THAT. 
          IT SHOULD BE FORTHCOMING IN THE COMING MONTHS. 
          CONTINUING WITH BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION AND HOTEL ATTRACTION. 
          KEEP FINISHING THE MAIN PRODUCTS OF COMMUNITY VISIONING, WHICH I MENTIONED. 
          ACTIVELY MARKETING, INCREASING THE PROPERTIES IN THE REGION, FINDING WAYS TO ENHANCE INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING. 
          MR. THROWER PUT IN THE WATER STUDY AND THE SITE STUDY. 
          THOSE ARE TWO IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY, THE WATER STUDY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. 
          BECAUSE PRETTY MUCH EVERY PROJECT WE DEAL WITH HAS TO DEAL WITH WATER, AND WE ARE SHORT IN THAT RESOURCE. 
          THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US, AS WELL AS THE SITE STUDY TO FIND APPROPRIATE SITES THAT MAKE THE BEST USE OF THE LAND FOR ALL POSSIBLE USES HERE. 
          CONTINUING ENHANCED THE BEALE FARM SITE AS THE BUSINESS READY SITE. 
          PROJECT SHOULD TAKE IT FROM TIER 2 TO TIER 4 IN THE VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP CATEGORY AND MAKE IT MORE MARKETABLE FOR, WE HAVE A PROSPECT, BUT IF WE HAVE TO GET ANOTHER ONE, THAT WILL REALLY HELP US, AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING WITH THE COMMERCE AND LOGISTICS CENTER. 
          CREATE ADDITIONAL BUSINESS SPACES AND SEEING ADDITION PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE MOVING THERE. 
          I THINK THAT'S IT, AND I'LL BE GLAD TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. 
          THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS ALWAYS. 
          >> THANK YOU. CARL. 
          >> ANY QUESTIONS? 
          >> THANK YOU, CARL. 
          >> THANK YOU, SIR. 
          >> THANK YOU. IF I HAD A BATTERY, I'D GIVE IT TO YOU. [LAUGHTER] 
          >> WE'LL MOVE ON TO BLACKWATER REGIONAL LIBRARY, MR. BEN NEAL, WHO'S THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR. GOOD EVENING. 
          >> GOOD EVENING. I'M JOINED JOINED BY DR. POPE, WHO IS OUR MANAGER OF THE RALL'S LIBRARY DOWN THE STREET. IS IT WORKING NOW? THANK YOU, DR. EDWARDS, REST OF THE BOARD, BRIAN, FOR HAVING US. 
          WE'RE GOING TO JUST TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THE LIBRARY'S BEEN DOING, AS WELL AS WHAT WE WILL BE DOING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. 
          IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE HAD OVER 14,000 VISITS TO THE LIBRARY. 
          WE'VE CIRCULATED OVER 32,000 ITEMS, WHICH IS A INCREASE OF 16% YEAR OVER YEAR. 
          BUT WE PROVIDED 128 PROGRAM FOR REACHING OVER 3,400 MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. 
          IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LIBRARY CARD, PLEASE SCAN THE QR CODE, AND YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR ACCESS TO OVER ONE MILLION E-BOOKS IN JUST A MATTER OF A FEW SECONDS. 
          FOR THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, I'M GOING TO TURN OVER TO MS. POPE AND SHE WILL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN DOING. 
          >> GOOD EVENING BOARD. IN ADDITION TO ALL THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AND WHETHER IT BE DIGITAL OR ITEMS IN THE LIBRARY, WE OFFER PROGRAMMING, PROGRAMMING FOR THE CHILDREN, PROGRAMMING FOR TEENS, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES. 
          SOME RECENT PROGRAMS WE JUST HAD IS DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, WE HAD THE HONORABLE RETIRED JUDGE HARRIS PRESENT A PROGRAM. 
          SHE DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUT SHE'S SO ACCOMPLISHED. 
          WE PUSHED HER INTO IT. 
          SHE DID A PHENOMENAL JOB. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. 
          [02:40:01]
WE ALSO DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE HAD THE GREAT-GREAT-GREAT GRANDSON OF NAT TURNER, HIS NAME WAS BRUCE TURNER. 
          HE TALKED ABOUT THE FAMILY SIDE OF IT. 
          THE THINGS THEY ENDURED. 
          STUFF THAT UNLESS YOU TALK TO FAMILY, YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW ABOUT. 
          WE HAVE A STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY. 
          SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOLS, THE PRE-K DEPARTMENT, IN PARTICULAR, THEY COME BACK TO THE LIBRARY ABOUT EVERY OTHER MONTH. 
          WE PROVIDED JOSH MILLER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND SMOKEY THE BEAR MADE AN APPEARANCE FOR ALL THE PRE-K STUDENTS IN THE COUNTY, AND THAT WAS LAST MONTH. 
          IT WAS AMAZING. NOBODY WAS SCARED OF SMOKEY BEAR. 
          THEY TALKED ABOUT FIRE SAFETY, AND IT WAS REALLY EDUCATIONAL. 
          WE HAVE STANDING PROGRAMS EVERY MONTH. 
          YEAH, THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO BE. 
          >> THIS ONE? 
          >> NO. WELL, THEN YOU CAN SEE THE PICTURES. 
          WE HAVE STANDING PROGRAMS EVERY MONTH FOR EVERYONE. 
          WE HAVE A STEAM PROGRAM FOR THE CHILDREN. 
          WE HAVE PAWS TO READ WITH OUR THERAPY DOG BELLA. 
          SHE WAS THERE TODAY. 
          WE HAD A HUGE TURNOUT. 
          WE HAVE TEEN PROGRAMS, WE HAVE A BOOK CLUB, WE HAVE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND WE HAVE AN ADULT CRAFTS PROGRAM, AND THEY ARE ALL SO WELL ATTENDED. 
          THE ADULT CRAFT PROGRAM FOR THIS MONTH IS ACTUALLY TOMORROW NIGHT. 
          I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH CHAIRS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP. 
          THAT'S A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE. 
          OUR SUMMER READING PROGRAM EVERY SUMMER, WE'LL BE KICKING OFF IN CORTLAND ON JUNE 24TH. 
          IT WILL RUN THROUGH JULY 29TH HERE AT OUR BRANCH, AND WE HAVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, PERFORMANCES. 
          WE HAVE VENTURED OUTSIDE TO DO A LOT OF OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING. 
          WE'VE DONE THAT SINCE COVID. 
          WE'VE GOT THESE NICE PICNIC TABLES. 
          WE GET OUT THERE AND WE DO OUR VERSION OF SUMMER GAMES, WE HAVE PET AND ZOOS AND A TOUCH-A-TRUCK PROGRAM. 
          JUST LAST WEEK, I'M GOING TO BACK UP A BIT. 
          WE HAD THOSE PRE-K STUDENTS FROM THE COUNTY JUST LAST WEEK. 
          OUR COMMUNITY SHOWED UP AND SHOWED OUT. 
          THEY BROUGHT THEIR TRUCKS, THEY BROUGHT THEIR PERSONNEL, THEIR EQUIPMENT, AND THE KIDS HAD A PHENOMENAL TIME. 
          IT WAS JUST WONDERFUL TO OFFER THAT TO THE PRE-K KIDS. 
          WE DO HAVE A BIG TRUCK TOUCH-A-TRUCK DURING SUMMER READING, WHICH WILL BE IN JULY THIS YEAR. I THINK THAT'S IT. 
          >> JUST BEFORE I LEAVE YOU, MS. POPE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF NEW SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE. 
          WE KNOW WE HAVE AN AGING POPULATION HERE IN VIRGINIA AND IN WESTERN TIDEWATER. 
          WE NOW CHECK OUT SOMETHING CALLED MEMORY KITS. 
          THESE ARE KITS BASED AROUND THE THEME LIKE AUTOMOBILES. 
          IT'S A BOOKLET WITH DISCUSSION QUESTIONS. 
          THERE'S OFTEN A CD OR A DVD WITH IT, AND IT'S A GREAT TOOL FOR CAREGIVERS OR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE HELPING LOVED ONES WITH MEMORY ISSUES, HELP JOG MEMORIES, SPARK MEMORIES THROUGH THOSE CONCESSION. 
          IT'S ALSO GREAT FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS OR THEIR TUTORS TO LEARN ABOUT SOMETHING THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE PREVIOUSLY KNOWN ABOUT. 
          THE OTHER THING WE'RE NOW CHECKING OUT IS ROKU KITS. 
          YOU CAN NOW PLUG THESE. 
          YOU CAN CHECK THESE OUT FROM THE LIBRARY, PLUG THEM INTO YOUR TV. 
          THEY'RE PRE-LOADED WITH THE HOTTEST STREAMING SERVICES LIKE NETFLIX AND DISNEY+, THE LIBRARY PAYS FOR THE SUBSCRIPTION. 
          ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS IS CHECK IT OUT, PLUG IT INTO YOUR TV. 
          SOME OF THESE CIRCULATE WITH HOT SPOTS IF YOU DON'T HAVE WIRELESS INTERNET YET, AND ENJOY ALL THE HOTTEST NEW SHOWS AND MOVIES, AND THAT'S HOW TO MAKE LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO SUBSCRIBE THE NETFLIX EVERY MONTH TO ENJOY THE SHOWS THAT THEY WANT TO WATCH ON NETFLIX IF THEY COME TO THE LIBRARY. 
          THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THAT'S MY CONTACT INFORMATION, AND BRIAN KNOWS WHERE TO FIND ME, BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS NOW. 
          >> ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU BOTH. 
          >> THANKS. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. 
          >> THEY NEED APPROVAL. MY WIFE TELLS ME I HAVE MEMORIES, I DON'T HAVE YET. [LAUGHTER] 
          >> EARLY CHILDHOOD, WESTERN TIDEWATER. 
          MS. WHITEHEAD, WE HAVE A PLEASURE OF HEARING YOU AGAIN TONIGHT. 
          [02:45:03]
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> BY THE WAY THE BUILDING THAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT TEARING DOWN WHEN I TAUGHT AT CORTLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL, THAT WAS OUR LUNCHROOM. 
          >> YEAH. CAFETERIA. [LAUGHTER]. 
          >> THAT'S TRUE. 
          >> DID TINA GET ONE? 
          >> YEAH. 
          >> EARLY CHILDHOOD WESTERN TIDEWATER. 
          THE FIRST PAGE DESCRIBES WHAT WE DO AND ALSO TALKS ABOUT GENERALLY OUR POPULATION. 
          HERE ON THIS SLIDE, WE ADDRESS POVERTY. 
          THAT'S ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT WE TRY TO MAKE SURE WE BATTLE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. 
          POVERTY IS THE NUMBER 1 CAUSE OF TOXIC STRESS, WHICH IS THE NUMBER 1 CAUSE OF LEARNING DISABILITIES, WHICH IS THE NUMBER 1 CAUSE OF SCHOOL FAILURE, WHICH IS THE NUMBER 1 CAUSE OF LOW PAYING JOBS BECAUSE THAT CAUSES POVERTY, WHICH CAUSES TOXIC STRESSES, CALLED THE POVERTY CYCLE. 
          ON THE NEXT PAGE, SOME RESEARCH IN A COMMUNITY FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION. 
          THE NUMBER 1 STEP IS HEALTHY EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOOL READINESS. 
          THE NUMBER 1 JOB OF THE BRAIN IS SURVIVAL. 
          SOME OF THE NEWER RESEARCH, IT MIGHT BE OLD RESEARCH, BUT IT'S RESURFACED AGAIN, TALKS ABOUT MASLOW BEFORE BLOOM AND BLOOM'S TAXONOMY, AND THAT'S HOW ALL THE NEW SOL QUESTIONS ARE. 
          THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT AREN'T JUST REMEMBER AND UNDERSTAND, THEY WANT YOU TO GO ALL THE WAY UP TO ANALYZE AND EVALUATE. 
          ACCORDING TO MASLOW, WE MUST FIRST ADDRESS BASIC PHYSICAL NEEDS AND SAFETY NEEDS, INCLUDING BOTH PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SAFETY BEFORE CHILDREN WILL BE PREPARED TO LEARN. 
          ON THE NEXT PAGE, IS A PICTURE OF MYSELF AND MARY BURGESS BRADSHAW IN ORANGE-GREEN AND ROSLYN CRENSHAW CUTCHINS, MEETING IS ONE OF THOSE EGGS AND ISSUES MEETINGS. 
          EVERY TIME I GET POOR NADARIUS CLARK, BECAUSE I TALK HIS EAR OFF. 
          HE GAVE ME HIS CARD THIS TIME. 
          HE ACTUALLY WANTS TO MEET WITH ME. 
          WE TALK ABOUT THE NEEDS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD AND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT, BUT I ALSO TALK ABOUT HOW I FEEL THAT THE PRACTICES HAS INCREASED OUR TEACHER SHORTAGE IN VIRGINIA. 
          THEN ALSO WITH THAT, HOW THE STANDARDS OF LEARNING HAVE INCREASED OUR DROP-OUT POPULATION. 
          THAT'S SOME OF THE THINGS WE TALK TO HIM ABOUT. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IS SAVE SLEEP-CRIBS FOR NEWBORNS THAT ARE IN UNDER-RESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          ON THE NEXT SLIDE, THESE ARE SOME PARENTS THAT WE WORK WITH THROUGH THE CHILDREN CENTER AND HELP THEM WITH MATERIALS AND RESOURCES TO TAKE BACK HOME AND WORK WITH THEIR CHILDREN SO THAT THEY DEVELOP HIGHER POTENTIAL. 
          WE PROVIDE CPR TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR EDUCATOR SUPPORT. 
          TRUST SAFETY AND A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP, ONLY WHEN WE HAVE ESTABLISHED SAFETY AND A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR STUDENTS, OR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR FAMILIES, WILL WE BE ABLE TO MOVE THEM THROUGH THE HIERARCHY OF THINKING AND BLOOM'S. 
          ONE OF MY FAVORITE SAYINGS IS, "WE CAN ONLY MOVE AT THE [NOISE] SPEED OF TRUST." EDUCATION HAS THREE MAIN COMPONENTS, INDIVIDUAL AND SPECIFIC SKILLS BUILDING, ACCOMMODATIONS, AND THEN AN ENRICHED ENVIRONMENT, BUT IT'S ALL HELD TOGETHER WITH HOPE. 
          ONCE ANY STUDENT, ANY CHILD, ANY HUMAN LOSES HOPE, THEY ACTUALLY BECOME DANGEROUS. 
          ON THE PAGE WITH SALLY VICK. 
          THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES EVER. 
          I WAS THE READING SPECIALIST AT NOTTOWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND SALLY VICK WAS IN FIRST GRADE, AND SHE WAS ONE OF THE STRUGGLING READERS. 
          SHE GAVE ME PERMISSION TO USE HER FOR THIS. 
          ONE DAY WHEN I CAME TO PICK UP THE GROUP FROM MS. SKATERS FIRST GRADE CLASS, SALLY CAME RUNNING UP TO ME AND THREW HERSELF ON AND SHE GOES, "MS. GREEN, YOU'RE MY ONLY HOPE." I KNEW SHE'D GOTTEN THAT FROM STAR WARS, BUT HEY, I'LL TAKE IT, IT MADE ME FEEL GOOD. 
          ABOUT 10 YEARS LATER, I WAS AT THE TOP OF MOUNT ST. HELENS IN WASHINGTON STATE. 
          I HAD BEEN SPENDING THE ENTIRE SUMMER RESEARCHING THE BRAIN, 
          [02:50:01]
APPLIED EDUCATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE BECAUSE AT THAT TIME, THE GRADUATION RATE FOR SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL, ON TIME GRADUATION RATE WAS 52%. 
          I HIT 50 TOO, SO IT MUST HAVE BEEN 20 YEARS AGO. 
          I HAD JUST HIT 50, AND THAT'S ONE OF THOSE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES WHERE IT'S THE LAST CHANCE, AND I'M THINKING, I'M HITTING 50, AND WE'RE NOT WINNING THIS GAME. 
          THAT'S WHEN I STARTED RESEARCHING THE BRAIN IN EDUCATION. 
          I HAD SPENT THE WHOLE SUMMER TRAVELING, BOSTON, SAN ANTONIO, ATLANTA, EVERYWHERE. 
          AT THE TOP OF MOUNT ST. HELENS, I HAD TO GO DOWN TO SAN DIEGO, AND I DIDN'T WANT, I WANTED TO GO HOME. 
          I WANTED TO GET BACK TO SEDLEY. 
          I'M THINKING, I'M JUST GOING TO GO BACK TO SEDLEY, I'M NOT GOING TO GO DOWN TO SAN DIEGO. 
          AT THE TOP OF MOUNT ST. HELENS, SALLY VICK APPEARED TO ME IN A VISION, AND AGAIN, SHE SAYS, "BUT MS. GREEN, YOU'RE MY ONLY HOPE." A CHARISMATIC IS ONE FROM WHICH WE DRAW ALL STRENGTH AND HOPE. 
          WHILE THIS NEXT SLIDE HERE CAME FROM A CHILD'S MOVIE. 
          THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I LIVE BY. 
          THIS IS A PLEDGE THAT JACK FROST HAD TO TAKE TO BECOME A GUARDIAN OF THE CHILDREN, "WILL YOU, JACK FROST, VOW TO WATCH OVER THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD, TO GUARD THEM WITH YOUR LIFE, THEIR HOPES, THEIR WISHES, AND THEIR DREAMS, FOR THEY ARE ALL THAT WE HAVE, ALL THAT WE ARE AND ALL THAT WE WILL EVER BE? " 
          >> I'M GOING TO GET THE NEXT SLIDE AND COME BACK. 
          BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A READING SPECIALIST AND HAVE HAD CHILDREN OF MY OWN, I WATCH A LOT OF CARTOONS. 
          THE RAILWAY DRAGON ASKED THE LITTLE GIRL, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR TIME HERE IN ETON. 
          WHILE THAT'S JUST A LITTLE QUESTION OFF OF A CHILD'S CARTOON, TO ME, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT. 
          RIGHT HERE, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR FUNDING THE JOB THAT I DO, THAT TO ME, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TASK THAT ANY GENERATION HAS IS TO PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION FOR A BETTER LIFE ON THIS PLANET. 
          THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL FUND. 
          NOT JUST WITH MY JOB WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD WESTERN TIDEWATER. 
          BUT LIKE I SAID, THIS IS 48 YEARS WITH SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THERE IS NO BETTER JOB ON THIS PLANET THAN TO HELP THE NEXT GENERATION. 
          THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT. 
          THE REST OF IT, LOOK AT IT AT HOME. 
          ANY QUESTIONS? 
          >> ANY COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? WE THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> MOVING ON TO WESTERN TIDEWATER COMMUNITY SERVICE. 
          WE HAVE MR. BRANDON ROGERS HERE TONIGHT. 
          >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE GOOD SPOT ON THE AGENDA OR THE BAD ONE BECAUSE I'M THE ONLY THING PREVENTING YOU FROM GETTING TO SLEEP TONIGHT. 
          I'M GOING TO TRY TO DO MY BEST TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, DEVELOPMENTAL, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES AT WESTERN TIDEWATER AND HOW THAT IMPACTS THE WORK THAT WE DO OUT HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. 
          FIRST OF ALL, YOU PROBABLY RECOGNIZE ME. 
          I'M A RESIDENT HERE, ALSO SERVE ON OUR SCHOOL BOARD, AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU PROVIDE TO ALL OF OUR CITIZENS. 
          THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SUPPORT OUT HERE. 
          I WANT TO ALSO THANK MY BOARD CHAIR, WHO'S STILL HERE TONIGHT, MS. CINDY EDWARDS. 
          HOPEFULLY, I WILL NOT EMBARRASS MYSELF IN FRONT OF HER. 
          I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO SAY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS THAT WE ARE A STAFF OF ABOUT 750 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES THAT PROVIDE THESE CARE AND SUPPORTS TO INDIVIDUALS ACROSS SUFFOLK, FRANKLIN, ISLE OF WIGHT, AND SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. 
          WE HAVE NINE RESIDENTIAL GROUP HOMES. 
          WE OPERATE AN 80-BED ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY THAT SERVES INDIVIDUALS WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. 
          WE OPERATE TWO CRISIS RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS AND A 24 HOUR A DAY WALK IN URGENT CARE CENTER FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, JUST TO NAME A FEW OF THE SERVICES. 
          I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT I THINK ARE MOST IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND AS BASIC SERVICES, AND TALK JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THEY DO AND HOW THEY HELP OUR CITIZENS. 
          START OFF WITH SAME-DAY ACCESS. 
          THERE USED TO BE WHEN I STARTED WORKING AT WESTERN TIDEWATER 
          [02:55:02]
20 YEARS AGO THAT YOU WOULD CALL AND YOU WOULD GET A SCREENING ON THE PHONE, AND IF YOU WERE LUCKY, WE GOT TO YOU IN 30 DAYS AND PROVIDED YOU SOME TREATMENT. 
          THE STATE SHIFTED THAT MODEL OF CARE AND ASKED US TO SEE PEOPLE THE VERY SAME DAY, ENGAGE THEM IN CARE THE VERY SAME DAY, AND HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THEIR TREATMENT PROVIDER WITHIN 10 DAYS. 
          WE DO THAT. ACTUALLY OPERATE SAME DAY ACCESS FIVE DAYS A WEEK IN SUFFOLK, AND OUR FRANKLIN, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY CENTER OPERATES THAT ON FRIDAYS FROM 8:30-2:00 PM. 
          NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED, NO PRE-SCREENING NEEDED. 
          YOU WALK IN, YOU'RE ASSESSED FOR CARE, AND WE HOOK YOU UP WITH YOUR PROVIDER WITHIN 10 DAYS. 
          SOME OF THOSE SERVICES THAT YOU MAY BE LINKED TO WHEN YOU'RE ASSESSED INCLUDE TARGETED CASE MANAGEMENT. 
          TARGETED CASE MANAGEMENT IS REALLY YOUR GUIDE THROUGH A MENTAL HEALTH OR DEVELOPMENTAL, OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICE SYSTEM. 
          IF I WAS TO ASK ANY OF YOU HERE TODAY, HOW DO I GO AND APPLY FOR A WAIVER, WHICH IS REALLY THE GOLDEN TICKET FOR SOMEBODY WITHIN DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS SUCH AS AUTISM OR AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY, I WOULD VENTURE A GUESS THAT NO MORE THAN ONE OF YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY GET THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION RIGHT. 
          CASE MANAGERS HELP YOU NAVIGATE A COMPLEX SYSTEM WITHOUT HAVING TO KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS YOURSELF. 
          HELP YOU TO CARE FOR A LOVED ONE, HELP YOU TO ADVOCATE FOR THE SERVICES YOU NEED, AND THEY HELP YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HOLDING THOSE PROVIDERS ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR CARE. 
          PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES IS WHAT ALL OF US KNOW AS A PHYSICIAN THAT PRESCRIBES MEDICATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. 
          WE ALSO PROVIDE NURSING SUPPORT. 
          WE SERVE, I THINK, ON AVERAGE, SOMEWHERE AROUND 3,000 INDIVIDUALS WITH PSYCHIATRIC CARE IN A YEAR. OUTPATIENT THERAPY. 
          THIS USED TO BE WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF GOING LAYING DOWN ON SOMEBODY'S COUCH AND TALKING ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT YOU HAD WITH YOUR MOTHER, BUT IT IS MUCH MORE THAN THAT. 
          WE HAVE THERAPISTS THAT PROVIDE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES LIKE COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, DIALECTICAL BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, EMDR, FAMILY SYSTEMS THERAPY, MULTIPLE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT HAVE EVIDENCE-BASED OUTCOMES BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE TREATMENT IS PROVIDED. 
          THOSE TRAINED THERAPISTS HAVE BEEN IN PRACTICE ANYWHERE FROM A FEW YEARS ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH 30. 
          WE, OF COURSE, HAVE EMERGENCY AND CRISIS SERVICES. 
          WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL IS HAVING A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUE, OFTENTIMES SHERIFF WHITE AND HIS STAFF WILL RUN ENCOUNTER THEM. 
          WE DO SERVICES CALLED PRE-ADMISSION SCREENING WHILE AN INDIVIDUAL IS UNDER AN EMERGENCY CUSTODY ORDER TO DETERMINE IF THEY NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. 
          BUT WE ALSO PROVIDE 24-HOUR A DAY, SEVEN-DAY-A-WEEK, MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE INVOLVEMENT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, DOESN'T REQUIRE INVOLVEMENT WITH ANYBODY ELSE BUT US. 
          WE TYPICALLY RESPOND IN ABOUT AN HOUR TO ANYWHERE IN THE ENTIRE SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA REGION AND OPERATE THAT ON NOT JUST BEHALF OF OUR FOUR LOCALITIES, BUT ALL OF THE NINE COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD LOCALITIES IN SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA. 
          THOSE SERVICES ALL CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE OR 988, WHERE WE ACTUALLY HOLD THE CONTRACT WITH THE VENDOR THAT PROVIDES THAT WARM LINE SERVICE AND LINKAGE TO CARE AT WESTERN TIDEWATER. 
          SOME OTHER SERVICES, AND THESE ARE THE ONES THAT I THINK ARE REALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT WHEN I TALK TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS, ARE THE TRAININGS THAT WE OFFER, THINGS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID. 
          MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID IS EXACTLY WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE. 
          IF YOU'VE TAKEN A FIRST AID COURSE THROUGH THE RED CROSS, YOU LEARNED HOW TO PUT A BANDAGE ON SOMEBODY, YOU MIGHT HAVE LEARNED HOW TO CLEAR AN AIRWAY. 
          YOU MIGHT HAVE ALSO ENGAGED IN CPR TRAINING, MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TEACHES YOU HOW TO IDENTIFY THE SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE NEEDS, AND HOW TO GO AND GET HELP FOR SOMEBODY THAT MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING THOSE SYMPTOMS. SAFE TALK IS A SUICIDE PREVENTION AND ALERTNESS PROGRAM. 
          MY FAVORITE TRAINING OF ALL IS ACES, ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES. 
          AS YOU HEARD MS. LORRAINE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE IMPACT OF TOXIC STRESS ON YOUNGSTERS AND HOW THAT CHANGES THEIR OUTCOMES FOR LIFE. 
          IT ALSO SPEAKS VERY WELL TO THE EFFECT OF TRAUMA IN CHILDREN. 
          WE KNOW THAT IT'S COMPOUNDING IN THE WAY THAT IT ADDS ON TO INDIVIDUALS. 
          THE MORE TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES THE CHILD HAS, THE LESS LIKELY THEY ARE TO DEVELOP NORMAL BRAIN FUNCTION, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO HAVE ONGOING MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, AND LESS LIKELY THEY ARE TO SUCCEED IN THEIR ADULT LIVES. 
          WHAT WE KNOW, THOUGH, FROM THE SCIENCE IS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE TRUSTED ADULT IS THE GREATEST PROTECTIVE FACTOR AGAINST THOSE CUMULATIVE STRESSFUL SITUATIONS THAT A CHILD IS PUT INTO PLAY. 
          ANY ONE OF YOU THAT SITS HERE TONIGHT CAN CHANGE A CHILD'S LIFE SIMPLY BY HAVING A STRONG, TRUSTED RELATIONSHIP WITH A CHILD AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT THEY DO. 
          WE PROVIDE THOSE TRAININGS FREE OF CHARGE. 
          WE DO THAT IN CHURCHES, WE DO THAT IN SCHOOLS. 
          WE DO THAT PRETTY MUCH ANYWHERE. 
          IF THE BOARD WAS EVER INTERESTED, CALL ME. 
          WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE SET UP A TRAINING, AND YOU GUYS CAN LEARN ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. 
          BY PROVIDING SOME OF THOSE TOOLS, I BELIEVE THOSE ARE THE BEST WAYS THAT WE CAN EQUIP OUR COMMUNITY TO GET HELP FOR INDIVIDUALS WHEN THEY NEED IT. 
          [03:00:04]
NOW I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MONEY. 
          I COME TO YOU. I KNOW I'M GOING TO ASK YOU FOR ABOUT A 20% INCREASE, AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY THAT IS. 
          IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, THERE IS A CODE THAT REQUIRES CSBS, AND THERE'S 40 OF US, BY THE WAY, TO GET A 10% MATCH FROM THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR STATE GENERAL FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVE. 
          WE ARE ACTUALLY NOT ALWAYS IN CONTROL OF THOSE STATE GENERAL FUNDS. 
          WE ARE SOMETIMES JUST GIVEN THEM THROUGH INITIATIVES LIKE STEP VIRGINIA. 
          THAT'S PRIMARILY WHERE THE INCREASE IN OUR FUNDS HAVE COME FROM OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS BEEN THROUGH STEP VIRGINIA INITIATIVES THAT ENSURE WE IMPLEMENT NINE CORE SERVICES ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH. 
          I'VE LAID OUT FOR YOU HERE WHAT THAT MATCH IS TYPICALLY LOOKED LIKE ACROSS ALL OF OUR FOUR LOCALITIES, AND I'M GOING TO DRILL DOWN INTO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IN A MOMENT. 
          WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS THAT WE PROVIDE OVER $75 MILLION WORTH OF TREATMENT IN THIS COMMUNITY OR IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE. 
          WE SERVE OVER 5,000 INDIVIDUALS IN A YEAR, AND OUR AVERAGE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS AROUND $57 FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT A LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTS IN US. 
          SPECIFIC TO SOUTHAMPTON. 
          YOU GUYS ARE AROUND 11% OF THE POPULATION OF THE CATCHMENT AREA THAT WE SERVE. 
          THERE ARE 328 SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY RESIDENTS RIGHT NOW IN ONGOING TREATMENT SERVICES WE'RE IN FY24, AND WE PROVIDED AROUND 177,000 HOURS OF CARE. 
          THE TOTAL VALUE OF SERVICES WAS ABOUT $2.4 MILLION, AND YOUR LOCALITY FUNDING WAS AROUND $8,128. 
          THAT'S ABOUT $4.53 PER CAPITA SPENDING. 
          FUN FACT, MAYBE THEY'LL BE ON JEOPARDY SOMEDAY, IF YOU WANT TO MINIMIZE. 
          IT'S GETTING LATE THAT JOKES ARE NOT EVEN WORKING AT ALL. 
          [LAUGHTER] THIS IS JUST A DEPICTION OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, WHAT YOU'VE PROVIDED US WITH LOCAL FUNDING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. 
          WE ARE CURRENTLY AT $81,428, AND I AM ASKING YOU TONIGHT TO INCREASE THAT TO $98,016. 
          THAT IS, AGAIN, TO HELP US MEET OUR LOCAL MATCH THAT WE ARE OBLIGATED TO CODE, AS WELL AS MY PERFORMANCE CONTRACT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES. 
          I AM OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK. 
          >> ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? 
          >> HE COVERED IT PRETTY GOOD. 
          >> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU. OTHER GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS. 
          AT THIS TIME OF THE NIGHT, IT BETTER BE GOOD. 
          [LAUGHTER] SERIOUSLY. 
          ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING, ANY OTHER GROUP? 
          >> GRANT. DO YOU SOLICIT FROM CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL NONPROFITS OR? 
          >> GOOD QUESTION. WE TYPICALLY DO NOT SOLICIT FROM LOCAL CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, BUT WE DO WORK ON LOCAL GRANT FOUNDATION AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS. 
          OBVIOUSLY, HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION WILL BE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE GET SOME LOCAL FOUNDATION FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE WORK WE DO. 
          THEY PAY FOR SOME POSITIONS IN SCHOOLS AND SOME OF THE OTHER LOCALITIES. 
          THOSE ARE SOME OF OUR CRISIS SERVICES. 
          >> WERE THERE EVER BE ANY FUNDING AVAILABLE TO EXPAND THE MARKET SERVICES TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS BEYOND SUFFOLK AND SOUTHAMPTON, AND ISLE OF WIGHT? 
          >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. 
          THE WAY MARKET FUNDING FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, MARCUS ALERT IS A TOTAL RESPONSE MODEL TO PROVIDE TETRAHEDRAL HEALTHCARE TO PEOPLE IN CRISIS, WHERE YOU HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OR A FIRE AND RESCUE OFFICER CORRESPONDING WITH A TETRAHEDRAL HEALTH PROFESSION, RATHER THAN JUST ONE OR THE OTHER. 
          MARCUS ALERT WAS APPROPRIATED AT $600,000 PER LOCALITY AND REQUIRED ONLY FOR THOSE LOCALITIES OF 40,000 POPULATION OR MORE. 
          IN OUR CATCHMENT AREA, SUFFOLK WAS THE ONLY ORIGINAL LOCALITY THAT ACTUALLY APPROACHED OR EXCEEDED THAT POPULATION COUNT. 
          ISLE OF WIGHT HAS SINCE DONE SO, BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE INITIAL LEGISLATION BECAUSE THEIR POPULATION DOES NOT EXTEND THAT OF SUFFOLK. 
          I WOULD RECOMMEND THEM TO DO IT. 
          I'M OPEN TO TALKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE MARCUS' RESPONSE THINGS WORK IN ANY OF OUR LOCALITIES REGARDLESS. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> ANYTHING ELSE? ONLY THING ONE WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM TODAY IS SHERIFF, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING. [LAUGHTER] 
          [03:05:02]
          >> GOOD EVENING, BOARD. GOOD EVENING. 
          >> GOOD EVENING. 
          >> TO GET THE BEST SERVICES THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE TO HIRE THE BEST. 
          I'M HERE TO ASK FOR THE RAISES FOR THE DEPUTIES, AND THE REASON THAT I'M ASKING FOR THE RAISES FOR THE DEPUTIES IS BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE COMPETITIVE TO THOSE THAT ARE AROUND US. 
          BUT NOT ONLY THAT. I WANT TO BRING THE BEST QUALIFIED DEPUTIES HERE. 
          WE'RE BLESSED HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY TO HAVE SUCH GREAT DEPUTIES THAT WE HAVE FOR THE LITTLE PAY THAT WE DO GET. 
          EACH ONE OF THOSE DEPUTIES THEY DO THEIR BEST. 
          THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT IN MY MIND. 
          I FELT BAD THAT I'M ON A BOARD AT WESTERN TIDEWATER REGIONAL JAIL, WHERE I HAD TO BE HAD TO APPROVE A RAISE FOR THE DEPUTIES THERE. 
          BUT HERE, THAT'S WHY I FEEL MORE THAT I NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR RAISES FOR THE DEPUTIES HERE AS WELL, BECAUSE IF I'M DOING THAT, THEN I FEEL THAT I HAVE TO DO FOR MY OWN. 
          I FEEL THAT WE MUST RECRUIT THE BEST, BECAUSE IF WE'RE NOT RECRUITING THE BEST, THEN WE'RE JUST GOING DOWN THE ROAD OF DESTRUCTION, BUT NOT ONLY THAT, WE'LL BECOME A TRAINING GROUND FOR OTHER AGENCIES. 
          WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE'RE TRAINING THEM, AND THEN THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE DOLLAR. 
          AS SOON AS THEY GET TRAINED UP, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE GONE SOMEWHERE ELSE. 
          THAT'S SIMPLE AS THAT. THEREFORE, I'M ASKING YOU AS THE BOARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMPETITIVE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE. 
          I DID HIRE A YOUNG LADY FIVE YEARS AGO. 
          WHEN SHE CAME HERE, SHE SAID, HOW DO Y'ALL PAY MORE? WE WAS $3,000 OVER THE AGENCY THAT SHE DID COME FROM. 
          HERE, WE ALL FIVE YEARS LATER, THAT SAME AGENCY IS NOW $6,000 OVER WHAT WE ARE PAYING. 
          THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO WHERE THAT MONEY IS. 
          AGAIN, I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE RAISE TO PAY FOR THE DEPUTIES, TO MAKE IT COMPETITIVE TO EVERYONE ELSE. THAT'S IT. 
          >> ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, SIR. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. 
          >> ANYBODY ELSE? IT'S A GOOD NIGHT. 
          WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. 
          >> SO MOVED. 
          >> OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE ONE WEEK FROM NOW. 
          >> APRIL 16TH, NEXT WEDNESDAY. 
          >> AT SIX O'CLOCK. 
          >> YES, SIR. 
          >> YOU SERVING SUPPER AGAIN? 
          >> WE'LL SERVE SUPPER.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.