Among the concerns raised by the public during comments was acting superintendent Kelly Guempels contract. school apologizes after video shows White students singing n-word, Perspective: Navigating the wilderness, avoiding predators urban and rural, Teacher quits in protest after being punished for banned-books sign, BYU says probe found no evidence of racial slurs at Duke volleyball player. . Board member Nicole Cole asked how staff know these positions were unadvertised and unfilled and whether they are included in the current number of vacant positions or are in addition. 2018. click here to learn more about . Together, we prepare our students for their future. What's offensive to one person, might not be to another, board member Baron Braswell noted, echoing the request for time. At Monday's board meeting, one major topic of discussion will be the shortage of teachers and bus drivers . FOX 5's Sierra Fox explores the divisive debate going on over the Spotsylvania County School Board's new superintendent nominee. For more information, go to: https://www.spotsylvania.k12.va.us/Page/1967. They also headed to the polls as soon as early voting opened. Rock Out Knock Out Homelessness is THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY at the Southpoint Walmart. How does this make sense? About a week later, shortly after the board held an emergency closed session to appoint an acting superintendent, the Spotsylvania Education Association voted that they had no confidence in the school board. She said her group is supporting two people who plan to run, and that Power 2 Parent is currently seeking additional qualified candidates who believe in parents rights. HR Retirement webpage for updated information and the new Aetna Welcome Packet, Live Streaming & Archive of School Board Meetings, 2022-2023 Parking Permit Application & Agreement, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). What is critical race theory? A total of 55 library books have been challenged in Spotsylvania schools since May 2022, according to information provided by the school divis, The Spotsylvania School Board on Wednesday approved a $461 million operating and capital improvement budget for fiscal year 2024, which begins. Spotsylvania parents concerned over superintendent candidate Live Feed | Spotsylvania County Public Schools A message from the Superintendent: TAKE THE DAY OFF! Asked about their motivations for pushing parents rights, a deeply conservative Texas pastor and a lifelong liberal and father in San Francisco gave answers more remarkable for their similarities than their differences. Attendees take their seats ahead of a contentious Spotsylvania County School Board meeting. burning books. The board also requested a report next week on how books are selected for digital and hard copy library collections and indicated that it will consider a division-wide library audit. You can use this area for legal statements, copyright information, a mission statement, etc. Spotsylvania superintendent vote shows how charged school meetings have On Monday, the board went into recess when the mood on the dais and in the audience grew hostile. 5 months ago, Spotsylvania County Public Schools. I have covered education, local government and social services for the Free Lance-Star since 2016. Spotsylvania school board fires Superintendent Scott Baker | wusa9.com According to William Scheff, following the June 21 meeting at which the board approved Guempels appointment, Twigg asked Guempelwho had been principal of Spotsylvania High Schoolto stay behind to sign some documents. Hes not going to lie to me about that, Shelley said. 2 min read. In a 4-3 vote during Monday's meeting, the Spotsylvania County Public School Board elected Lisa Phelps as its new chair. We believe in a merit-based admissions system and that accelerated programs should be expanded, not canceled.. Meeting Live Streaming; Members; Schools & Voting Districts; Superintendent Search; . School board meetings have been tumultuous for weeks as the board and the public has discussed the controversy surrounding superintendent candidate Mark Taylor. In the coming months, Baker will prioritize ending pandemic-related school closures, he said. Please subscribe to keep reading. UPDATE: The ESSER III survey will be open until September 2023, instead of the original closing date of December 23, 2022. News4's Derrick Ward has more on the tense meeting and scorching criticism of the new chair, Kirk Twigg. The approved changes reduce the amount of time given to individuals for public comments from five to three minutes; ensure that only the board chair can add old or new business to the agenda before the meeting; and remove School Board members from the definition of school personnel who are subject to the divisions prohibition against harassment and retaliation. Parent-activists, seeking control over education, are taking over school boards, Biden set for first veto on Senate bill opposing climate-friendly investing, Global carbon dioxide emissions hit new highs last year, says IEA report, Young women are criticized for this vocal tic but it helps whales survive, recently suggested the school district should burn books, most of the PACs funding came from one Republican donor, reversed a policy allowing parents to choose, empowers conservative parents to seek change in their school systems, ended mask requirements and contact tracing, Md. Great job! She won the jackpot. The board probably violated Virginia open meetings law, and it failed to identify an interim superintendent. Critics have said Taylor isn't qualified to lead the school district and that the process in bringing his name forward was flawed. Mom says trans eighth-grader was questioned by Texas officials at school, Floridas largest school system blocks LGBTQ History Month declaration, Trust in teachers is plunging amid a culture war in education. Helpful Links. On January 27, 2022, the Virginia Board of Education received for first review the proposed revisions to the 2015 Physical Education Standards of Learning (SOL). Wed not been paying attention, and now we are.. Three more animal cruelty charges were filed Thursday in the case of Byrd Rareshide, a former Virginia horse show judge who stands accused of . This was captured on the broadcast before you adjourned, Scheff said. The end came unceremoniously for Superintendent Scott Baker. Taylor and his wife are directors of Twigg's nonprofit corporation called Emerging Stars. Attempts to reach Taylor were unsuccessful. The board listened to several hours of public comments. September 12, 2022 Spotsylvania parents concerned over. Part-time and hourly SOQ-funded positions will receive $500 bonuses. But its an effective message, Schneider said. 2016. Bakers ouster is especially noteworthy because he had already announced in December, shortly after the elections in which Twigg and his coterie gained a majority, that he would retire. "The connection with our school board chair is really worrisome," Floyd said. We find ourselves in a sort of perpetual defensive posture, he said. 'Hold us accountable': inside the marathon 9+ hour Spotsylvania school A parent stepped up to a microphone in a nondescript room, glanced at a sheet of prepared remarks and claimed the school board . Meeting Agendas and Minutes | Spotsylvania County, VA For more information, go to: https://www.spotsylvania.k12.va.us/Page/1967. Mondays meeting of the Spotsylvania School Board ended after five hours over the objections of three members, and without the board taking up any new or unfinished business. A Spotsylvania woman was killed early Thursday in a two-vehicle crash in the county, police said. Public Comment Period: Proposed 2022 Physical Education SOL. Blue Bell Ice Cream came by to congratulate 2023 VA Teacher of the Year Ms. Fabiana Parker and surprise her with four of her favorite flavors of ice cream! When board member Kirk Twigg was elected . Twigg, Gillespie and the two other members of the newly dominant faction Rabih Abuismail and Lisa Phelps did not respond to requests for comment. Serving as vice chair will be April Gillespie, a mother with no prior school board experience who won her seat this fall. This is the second time Wilderness ES has earned this distinction. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Baker could not be reached for comment. Similar scenes played out across the country last fall, with highly motivated and organized parents involving themselves at an intimate level with every step of the school board election process. The proposed 2022 Physical Education SOL reflect a comprehensive review of the standards and include edits to enhance clarity, specificity, rigor, alignment of skills and content, and reflect current research and practice. The SCTC Caf is opening up this Wednesday, October 5! Public comments regarding thePhysical Education SOL will be received atvdoe.stem@doe.virginia.govfromFebruary 11-March 11. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Education Department leaders involved in Spotsylvania schools The two write-in candidates shed supported, Holbrook and Nelms, won their races. Regional Web TV. The start of the Spotsylvania County Public Schools school year is just three weeks out. Everyone, cross your fingers for Thornburg MS teacher Ms. Fabiana Parker tonight! (Community education councils are akin to county school boards in other states.) Division staff are proposing to spend $1 million on transportation for special education students, $1.8 million to address a rise in utility costs and $3.1 million on renovations to Spotsylvania Middle School. And Snead knew nothing about school board elections: A stay-at-home mother for the past 15 years, with some experience in hotel management before that, she had no political or activism experience. An area superintendent is out of a job after a contentious Spotsylvania County Public School Board meeting Monday night shifted the board's majority and put a member who supports.