The Spotsylvania School Board voted 4 to 3 in favor of Taylor getting the approval for a superintendent license. Comments (-1) . Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Phelps was nominated by Gillespie and elected by a 43 vote, with previous chair Kirk Twigg and Abuismail joining Phelps and Gillespie. Contact Us. This is the second time Wilderness ES has earned this distinction. The idea that parents are experiencing less control than they ever have is just wrong. Spotsylvania County Public Schools8020 River Stone DriveFredericksburg, VA 22407Phone: 540-834-2500webmaster@spotsylvania.k12.va.us. The. Great job! Another tense and chaotic Spotsylvania School Board meeting ends with little action taken. Twigg forged a contract and if people up here are defending him, then theyre just as guilty as he is.. Four board members who describe themselves as advocates of parents rights drove the decision, said Baron Braswell, a long-serving Spotsylvania board member who stepped down last year but has kept in touch with his former peers. TAKE THE DAY OFF! But after the mask flip-flop, she decided to start a chapter of Moms for Liberty, a national group that empowers conservative parents to seek change in their school systems, which she had heard about through a friend in Florida. We have to be clear on what is offensive and should not be in our schools and what should be, he said. Parents should have as much control as they wish [over education], Earl wrote in an email. 2016. Twigg banged his gavel and ordered deputies remove a woman who was speaking at the podium during a meeting Monday night. Harris said his department will continue to staff a school resource officer at all 31 county schools. Spotsylvania County 9104 Courthouse Road Spotsylvania, VA 22553. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. January 19, 2022 at 8:50 a.m. EST. We wanted to make sure the voices of parents continued to be heard, but also recognized and listened to, she said. In a December video titled School Board Bootcamp, the director of the right-leaning 1776 Project PAC, Ryan Girdusky, said his group supported more than 50 school board candidates across seven states last year, 42 of whom he said won their elections. If you dont use it, the Bb footer will slide up. The Spotsylvania County School Board directed staff to remove books with sexually explicit material from libraries after a parent raised concerns about books available through a schools digital library app at Mondays meeting. Spotsylvania County Public Schools did a nationwide search for a new superintendent after Dr. Scott Baker was fired in January. The carryover amounts to $5.9 million, which Taylor said is 1.6% of last years budget. At a special meeting Tuesday, the Stafford School Board approved a $442 million operating budget for fiscal year 2024, which begins July 1. A Washington Post review of websites and social media accounts identified more than 180 active parent groups in at least 34 states, the vast majority of them formed within the last two years to push for greater parental involvement in public-school education and many of which fielded or supported candidates in last years elections. Harris said that was the final straw after many contentious meetings. Harris said his deputies have been unnecessarily put in the middle between citizens and School Board Chair Kirk Twigg, who he believes is interfering with the first amendment right people have to speak their mind. Shelley said she gave information about the acting superintendents contract to Virginia State Police and that everything has now been turned over to the state Attorney Generals office. 2016. Pre-Registration for 2022-2023 School Year is Now Open. She won the jackpot. He asked Spotsylvania Sheriffs Office deputies to remove two people from the meeting when they started to address Taylors appointment, and threatened others with removal. About Spotsy. People attending Monday's Spotsylvania County School Board meeting wear red to protest the board's superintendent selection process. I cannot comment further as it is an ongoing investigation, LaCivita said in an email Tuesday. 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. Three more animal cruelty charges were filed Thursday in the case of Byrd Rareshide, a former Virginia horse show judge who stands accused of . Taylor has not said if the posts belong to him. Taylor has experience as a county administrator and attorney, but has no experience in education. John J. Wright Educational & Cultural Center. Spotsylvania County schools will present the school budget at the Board of Supervisor's meeting tonight at 6pm. Forrest said he did not have an explanation and would need to get a response. Abuismail also did not offer an explanation. The meetings live feed ended about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, as board member Nicole Cole was still speaking. The couple said they dont believe books with sexually explicit content, like pedophilia and prostitution, belong in a high school library. These schools join Spotswood ES, which currently holds a Purple Star designation. Taylor said he is preparing to make his budget presentation later this month and announced that through a small, internal audit of full- and part-time positions, the finance and human resources team discovered 25.5 teaching positions that have been funded but unadvertised and unfilled since at least 2019. Deborah Alexander, one of those who won, also attributed her victory in part to a widespread sentiment among parents that theyd been excluded from important educational decisions. Superintendent Dr. S. Scott Baker said he has faith in the librarians. Screenshots of the agenda are below. Monday's 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. School board member Dawn Shelley, however, made a correction stating 11 names did not come to them and they interviewed way fewer than 10 candidates. The Spotsylvania County School Board voted for new officers and approved changes to its code of ethics and policies and regulations surrounding harassment and how meetings are conducted during its first regular meeting of the year Monday evening. Will Uncle Rich ask the Supervisors to fund sugary unhealthy snacks that cause diabetes for the students? The board agreed to remove one proposed change to the public comments policy that would limit the number of speakers who are able to address the board on any one topic. SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. Spotsylvania County School Board's superintendent is suddenly without a job, after being abruptly fired at a chaotic meeting Monday night as a new conservative. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). The Spotsylvania School Board will be considering a Prepackaged Food Donation policy at their February 13th meeting. This was captured on the broadcast before you adjourned, Scheff said. Public comments regarding thePhysical Education SOL will be received atvdoe.stem@doe.virginia.govfromFebruary 11-March 11. Wed not been paying attention, and now we are.. Twigg, Gillespie and the two other members of the newly dominant faction Rabih Abuismail and Lisa Phelps did not respond to requests for comment. Previous Archives. School board meetings have been tumultuous for weeks as the board and the public has discussed the controversy surrounding superintendent candidate Mark Taylor. Helpful Links. The school district says the process yielded 21 applicants and 11 were interviewed. Thank you Blue Bell! The fight is real.. 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. The meetings live feed ended about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, as board member Nicole Cole was still speaking. 2 min read. Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. This is an inclement weather update. There was a problem saving your notification. Spotsylvania County Public Schools - Simple Agenda Detailed Agenda Current Agenda Item Current Policy Item Current Library Item Goal Progress Report Minutes PrintClose Audio Player Video Agenda Yes or no? Two school board members, Rabih Abuismail and Kirk Twigg, said they'd like to see the removed books burned. The district also ended mask requirements and contact tracing, effective Feb. 1. Spotsylvania County Public Schools8020 River Stone DriveFredericksburg, VA 22407Phone: 540-834-2500webmaster@spotsylvania.k12.va.us. The board approved a motion by Gillespie to have staff provide information about the two donations to board members prior to the next regular meeting. Officials add Taylor has a long history in the area and appropriate credentials sine he has overseen the money allocated to the school division and has knowledge of school budgets and organizational administration. The dethroned superintendent, it was felt, had not left enough decision-making power to the families of some of his students, although Braswell said personal enmity also played a role. Public Comment Period: Proposed 2022 Physical Education SOL. You can cancel at any time. Jan 10, 2023 0 The Spotsylvania County School Board voted for new officers and approved changes to its code of ethics and policies and regulations surrounding harassment and how meetings. Live Streaming & Archive of School Board Meetings; FY2023 Budget Information; Cole, along with board member Dawn Shelley, was pressing for board Chair Kirk Twigg to schedule a work session and special meeting to address needed capital improvement projects. Elections. How is this good for the students, the children of Spotsylvania County? At this years inaugural board meeting, on Jan. 13, one of the first things Holbrook said he did was vote for a new policy extending public comment to 40 minutes and allowing four minutes of speaking time per person. Attention rising 7th & 12th graders! 2023 FOX Television Stations, Maryland 529 whistleblower says he warned agency about negative impacts to parents' accounts, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' Actor, Dies at 61 after suffering brain aneurysm. Kirk Twigg, 65, who. Taylor and his wife are directors of Twigg's nonprofit corporation called Emerging Stars. burning books. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). "It makes us scared for our kids' future. A Spotsylvania woman was killed early Thursday in a two-vehicle crash in the county, police said. For example, she said, New York City public schools decided against offering a broad remote-learning option this academic year, leaving many parents who preferred virtual feeling angry and ignored. Spotsylvania County Public Schools new chief of staff will be responsible for general staff administration and serving as the legislative li. Taylor said "no" and that he hadn't seen them. In the coming months, Baker will prioritize ending pandemic-related school closures, he said. There is now no restriction in division policy on the number of people who can speak on any given topic during public comments at board meetings. John J. Wright Educational & Cultural Center. "No one parent should dictate what every child reads, what every family has access to, because we have such varied and diverse values," Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the association's Office for Intellectual Freedom, said. Meeting Agendas for the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission and other commissions and committees. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, By ADELE UPHAUSCONNER The first of our Advanced HS Programs Information Night is TONIGHT at Courtland HS. Pre-Registration for 2022-2023 School Year is Now Open. UPDATE: The ESSER III survey will be open until September 2023, instead of the original closing date of December 23, 2022. Live Feed | Spotsylvania County Public Schools A message from the Superintendent: TAKE THE DAY OFF! Please subscribe to keep reading. After the meeting, you approached the acting superintendent with copy of the contract. Also in a 4-3 vote, the board chose to re-elect April Gillespie. Dawn Shelley nominated Lorita Daniels to serve as chair, but Twigg, Phelps, Gillespie and Abuismail did not support that nomination. One of the items was a $4,500 monthly stipend, on top of his principals salary, for him to assume the role of interim.. "When the chairman of the school board says to the deputies, 'Ive heard enough. News4's Derrick Ward has more on the tense meeting and scorching criticism of the new chair, Kirk Twigg. He said deputies will continue to be available to respond to any emergencies that might occur at school board meetings. Its pretty ugly out here in school board races. The Spotsylvania County School Board also directed staff to report on the number of books that have been removed at a special meeting called for next week, The Free Lance-Star reported. To enter Kindergarten next fall, a child must be 5 years old on or before September 30, 2022. SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (7News) Spotsylvania County School Board members left Monday night's meeting a few hours before sunrise Tuesday, ending a nine-hour meeting with little action taken . Meeting Live Streaming; Members; Schools & Voting Districts; Superintendent Search; . 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Moss Free Clinic & Extra Community Resources will also be available. So many times since the pandemic hit, the 39-year-old father of four, who works as a building contractor, had tried and failed to speak at Bedford school board meetings. Serving as vice chair will be April Gillespie, a mother with no prior school board experience who won her seat this fall. (540) 656 - 2050. amsva@amsva.tv. Hes not going to lie to me about that, Shelley said. We have GREAT NEWS! Board member Lorita Daniels was attempting to address concerns raised to her by parents of special education students when Twigg called for a vote to adjourn the meeting. Were bringing awareness back to that and educating parents on the importance of local government.. You can cancel at any time. In Oregon, a parent group called Oregonians for Liberty in Education developed a voters guide for local school board races across the state, said vice president Natalee Maxfield, although the guide which the group posted on its website and sent out in email newsletters included only candidates who aligned with our organizations values.. Head over to Longhorn Steakhouse Southpoint this Saturday, September 24th between 9am and 1pm for a car wash to help our CHS Choir make it to Universal Studios this January! At its last meeting, Twigg abruptly fired well-regarded Superintendent Dr. Scott Baker, who had . Click here for more: 9 days ago, Spotsylvania County Public Schools. Theyve been shut off and shut down at school board meetings, said Clarice Schillinger, founder of a parent advocacy group, the Back to School PA PAC, who is now running for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania. Although Schillinger is conservative and most of the PACs funding came from one Republican donor, the PAC itself says it is bipartisan and single-issue, willing to support anyone pushing for school opening. To enter Kindergarten next fall, a child must be 5 years old on or before September 30, 2022. I dont think that this is an earnest movement. Parents say it's alarming that Taylor and the school board chair Kirk Twigg seem to be good friends. A message from the Superintendent: This is a developing story. The vote came after hours of public comments from dozens of people, mostly against allowing Taylor to lead the school system. Spotsylvania School Board members Lorita Daniels and Rabih Abuismail attended a town hall me. bottom of page . Superintendent Mark Taylor in his comments said he will address the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to present the School Boards request to spend carryover funds from the fiscal year that ended June 30. All rights reserved, Julie Carey, Northern Virginia Bureau Chief, Calls for Justice After Shoplifting Suspect Killed by Fairfax County Police, DC Leaders Respond to Federal Interference Over Criminal Code: The News4 Rundown, Eagles Wide Receiver Zach Pascal Robbed at Gunpoint in Maryland, College Park Mayor Arrested on 56 Counts of Possession, Distribution of Child Pornography, Travesty for Statehood': DC Leaders Fire Back at Congress, Biden Over Crime Bill. In response, Twigg told Shelley, You give me a superintendent, I give you a meeting.. 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. The board probably violated Virginia open meetings law, and it failed to identify an interim superintendent. The firing in Spotsylvania is a dramatic example of a parent-led takeover of school boards that is happening nationwide, with mothers and fathers seeking seats, recalls of sitting members or both. Ultimately, 64 PLACE NYC-supported candidates won seats on their councils, Chu said and were the top vote-getters in 14 of the 16 contested council races. See more: 6 months ago, Spotsylvania County Public Schools. You have permission to edit this article. Phone: 540-507-7000. Looking for a new lunch spot? A Fredericksburg woman who bashed her former roommate in the head with a softball bat last year pleaded guilty to a felony charge Wednesday. Attendees take their seats ahead of a contentious Spotsylvania County School Board meeting. At Monday's board meeting, one major topic of discussion will be the shortage of teachers and bus drivers . They also headed to the polls as soon as early voting opened. The election saw a record number of parents campaign for council positions, according to New York government data reported by Chalkbeat up from about 1,000 in 2019 to 1,785 candidates in 2021. Careers. 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 burning books in charge. Attendees take their seats ahead of a contentious Spotsylvania County School Board meeting. The Virginia Board of Education would still need to approve or certify Taylor for consideration due to the lack of specific qualifications he has for the superintendent role. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. This article was published more than1 year ago. Board of Supervisors Seating Chart Planning Commission Other Regional Meetings Agenda & Meeting Minutes Meeting agendas and minutes are available for review. All rights reserved. . Public comments regarding thePhysical Education SOL will be received atvdoe.stem@doe.virginia.govfromFebruary 11-March 11. In a 4-3 vote during Monday's meeting, the Spotsylvania County Public School Board elected Lisa Phelps as its new chair. The firing, in other words, wasnt just superfluous. Both will go on to compete at the Regional Spelling Bee for a shot at competing at Nationals. You can use this area for legal statements, copyright information, a mission statement, etc. Spotsylvania County Public Schools Recognized as a 2021 America's Best Midsize Employer.