Ms. Malvina Rollins-Kay was voted in as Vice Chair.

Mrs. Angela Chance Wilson was reappointed as Clerk.

Ms. Angela "Angie" Roenke was reappointed as Deputy Clerk.

Dr. Matthew Eberhardt was approved to attend School Board meeting in the absence of the Superintendent.

The Board approved its Norms and Protocols: https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/frcps/Board.nsf/files/C4VKCU49BC91/$file/NormsandProtocols_Fredericksburg_2021.pdf

The Board approved its Code of Conduct: https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/frcps/Board.nsf/files/CAJK3W4FF5EF/$file/Code%20of%20Conduct.pdf

Apparel & Accessories Marketing Series

Ciaran Cubbage, 1st place

Lillian Hutcherson, 4th place

Automotive Services Marketing Series

Khalil Gil-Perez, 3rd Place

Angelina Baldwin, 4th Place

Business Services Marketing

Ryland Holland, 3rd Place

Food Marketing Series

Margaret Rowe, 1st Place

Hotel and Lodging Management Series

Palmer Van Zandt, 1st Place

Sarah Rigual, 2nd Place

Olivia Coulon, 3rd Place

Human Resources Management

Payton Billingsley, 2nd Place

Job Interview - VA Only

Grace Crow, 1st Place

Payton Spellman, 3rd Place

Personal Financial Literacy

Kyle Snider, 4th Place

Principals of Business Management

Kate Yaun, 1st Place

Elliott Van Vorst, 3rd Place

Principles of Finance

Jacob Wigglesworth, 1st Place

Amelia Garman, 2nd Place

Principles of Hospitality and Tourism

Jamie Weis, 2nd Place

Principles of Marketing

Nooria Durrani, 3rd Place

Quick Service Restaurant Management

Noah Lucas, 1st Place

Restaurant and Food Service Management

Olivia Adams, 1st Place

Celia Constantine, 2nd Place

Selling - VA Only

Sophia Coulon, 1st Place

Nicole Lopez, 2nd Place

Addyson Hough, 3rd Place

Social Media - VA Only

Jeb Brough, 2nd Place

Evan Craig, 3rd Place

WHEREAS, school principals work cooperatively to direct, develop, and inspire all members of the school staff and student body, and to communicate effectively with parents to engage them in the learning process; and

WHEREAS, principals serve as educational leaders, responsible for managing the policies, regulations, and procedures necessary to ensure a safe and effective learning environment for all students in Virginia’s public and private schools; and

WHEREAS, principals and teachers are entrusted with the opportunity and the responsibility of guiding, directing, nurturing, mentoring, and imparting knowledge to our children while they are at school; and

WHEREAS, principals must work collaboratively with teachers, staff, students, parents, and the community at-large to proactively prepare students to be self-reliant and productive citizens; and

WHEREAS, Virginia School Principals Appreciation Week is an opportunity to recognize the hard work of Virginia school principals and to recognize the importance of principals in ensuring that every child has access to a quality education;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize January 8-14, 2022, as VIRGINIA SCHOOL PRINCIPAL APPRECIATION WEEK in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

The following FCPS principals were acknowledged:

James Monroe High School - Rickie Hopkins

Walker-Grant Middle School - Angela Hinrichs

Lafayette Elementary School - Courtney Wheeler

Hugh Mercer Elementary School - Kimberly Doucette

Preschool Programs - Laura Dove

December 6, 2021 Regular School Board meeting:http://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/frcps/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4VKDA49BC99

The Board voted to approve Rev. Bailey, Ms. Boyd, & Mrs. Pomeroy to serve, on the Disciplinary Committee and Ms. Holmes would serve as an alternate.

Dr. Eberhardt provided the following COVID update:

1. FCPS has been closely monitoring COVID-19 numbers and developments.

2. FCPS maintains weekly communication with the local health department and participate in state level COVID-19 meetings.

3. Virginia law requires Virginia schools to be open for in-person learning this 2021-2022 school year.

4. Decisions to temporarily close school would be decided with input from the local health department. There are 4 components FCPS would review:

• problematic community transmission,

• several school outbreaks in a short period of time or large outbreaks,

• low staff capacity, and/or

• high student absenteeism.

5. Serious decisions would be made for everyone’s safety.

6. FCPS would look at closing classrooms first, followed by grades/or areas, then whole school closures. This is in line with state guidance.

7. In the event of a closure, FCPS would provide virtual learning opportunities. Remember this would be for a short period of time.

8. Breakouts could happen quickly necessitating a decision on one particular day for a closure the next day.

9. A serious concern is the ability to staff buses and schools. FCPS would watch absences several times a day. Beginning today, FCSP was asking staff to notify their building level designee by the end of the workday (3:30 – 4:00 PM) if they anticipate not being able to report to work the next day. If there is a significant shortage that cannot be addressed through substitutes or other coverage, a grade or building may need to close and go virtual.

10. There was considerable discussion going on right now what virtual could look like in difference buildings with different grade levels.

11. FCPS encouraged everyone to get vaccinated because we know it is a critical step to get us back to normal.

12. People need to stay home when they are sick – especially if they have a fever. FCPS has a limited number of at-home tests for people who are symptomatic. However, with national shortages, FCPS is going through these quickly and have placed another order.

13. Masks and distancing (at 6 feet to the greatest extent possible) continued to be required in schools.

14. Buildings continue to be cleaned daily and high traffic areas are cleaned more frequently throughout the day.

15. Schools are currently establishing outside eating criteria as colder conditions arise but still need to separate children as much as possible while eating.

16. FCPS participates in the state ViSSTA program which does pooled COVID testing. FCPS has partnered with a third party vendor who is in the process of getting it up and running.

17. FCPS was contacted about the Test to Stay Program that is a practice of contact tracing and daily COVID-19 testing of student close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to continue to attend school during their quarantine period and is investigating participating.

18. Lastly, FCPS has not adopted the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for K-12 schools that include reduced days for quarantine and isolation. In order to effectively plan for thoughtful implementation of changes to the new guidance, our current health protocols regarding quarantine and isolation will remain the same until further notice. Quarantine and isolation lengths remain unchanged at 10 days.

Ms. Bridi shared that HMES and LES was maintaining a wait list of students who wanted to participate in virtual learning. Parents were asked to join the Virtual Virginia wait list. Another alternative to in-person instruction was Home Instruction. Grade level specific options would not be offered at this time but it would be reconsidered if the interest increased.

The Monthly Financial Report may be viewed at the following link: https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/frcps/Board.nsf/files/CAEQ6K64F83F/$file/2022%2005%20Monthly%20Financial%20Report.pdf

This policy is based on an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) established by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Although the ETS is not currently in effect, VSBA is distributing this sample policy in order for school boards to become familiar with the requirements of the ETS and to begin preparing to comply with it if/when OSHA reinstates implementation and enforcement of the ETS.

The proposed policy may be viewed here:

In late June 2021, the ECE decided to move forward with a new middle school. The School Board adopted that recommendation in July 2021. FCPS issued an RFP for a PPEA to build a new middle school in July 2022 then a committee of school board members, school and city staff interviewed 4 companies. The School Board held a Public Hearing in September 2021 and selected First Choice in late September 2021. FCPS began working on the Interim Agreement with the City which was posted in December 2021 and has been online since. The joint School Board-City Council Public Hearing and Meeting will be held Thursday, January 13 at 7pm in JM Auditorium. First Choice will present. The schools will give an overview of school capacity followed by a City presentation on the Agreement and financial overview. Then there will be the Public Hearing and Discussion.

School Board meetings are held at the Walker-Grant Center.

• Regular School Board Meeting: February 7, 2022 - 6:30 Closed Session/7:30 Open Session