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At its last meeting, Twigg abruptly fired well-regarded Superintendent Dr. Scott Baker, who had . amsva.tv. (Video: Granite School District). Skip to Main Content. After the meeting, you approached the acting superintendent with copy of the contract. We hope to hear answers to the following questions. |, Culture wars: 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, Virginias fight over schools: Youngkin criticizes trans rules, eases path to becoming a teacher in Va. | Judge thwarts Va. Republicans effort to limit book sales at Barnes & Noble | Virginia Board of Education delays review of history standards, Entering a third academic year disrupted by the pandemic, and in the midst of another covid-19 wave, parents, students and teachers are near a breaking point. 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. Copyright 2023 Spotsylvania County Public Schools. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. Shelley corroborated Scheffs account and stated that Guempel told her about the incident himself. Critics have said Taylor isn't qualified to lead the school district and that the process in bringing his name forward was flawed. The SCTC Caf is opening up this Wednesday, October 5! Website Feedback. 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. 2017 (540) 656 - 2050. amsva@amsva.tv. Will Uncle Rich ask the Supervisors to fund sugary unhealthy snacks that cause diabetes for the students? He was thrilled to receive help from Recover America, he said, whose members prayed for him and held meetings around Houston with pastors to advertise Bakers candidacy. Congratulations to Brock Road ES, Lee Hill ES, and Wilderness ES for earning Virginia Purple Star Awards for the 2022-2023 school year! Community members voiced. 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. In Virginia, Spotsylvania County schools superintendent S. Scott Baker announced he would be retiring at the end of the year. Together, we prepare our students for their future. Meeting Live Streaming; Members; Schools & Voting Districts; Superintendent Search; . Spotsylvania County schools will present the school budget at the Board of Supervisor's meeting tonight at 6pm. Were bringing awareness back to that and educating parents on the importance of local government.. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. They would now be compulsory. To hire Mark Taylor as superintendent, the Spotsylvania County School Board took the unusual step of engaging state Department of Education officials. I mean this is really terrifying for what theyre trying to do for public education," said Rich Lieberman, a Spotsylvania County Public Schools parent. Our school board has generously approved Friday, March 10th as a day off for all teachers, students, and staff. In Loudoun and Fairfax counties, parents recently read passages from some books aloud and berated board members. "Weve had one of the best school systems anywhere around and now all of a sudden we are looked upon as a jokester situation.". Attention rising 7th & 12th graders! 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. She was more upset when she came across Adam Rapp's 33 Snowfish," which is about homeless teens trying to escape from pasts that include sexual abuse, prostitution and drug addiction. Spotsylvania County Sheriff Roger Harris says his deputies will no longer provide security for school board meetings due to a situation that has become a "festering sore.". Im loving it so far, Baker said, However, theres a lot to learn.. 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. Our school board has generously approved Friday, March 10th as a day off for all teachers, students, and staff. Elections. Please subscribe to keep reading. If you dont use it, the Bb footer will slide up. 5 months ago, Spotsylvania County Public Schools. This is an inclement weather update. Government; Business; Services; How Do I. Mondays meeting of the Spotsylvania County School Board ended after five hours over the objections of three members, and without the board taking up any new or unfinished business. Taylor has experience as a county administrator and attorney, but has no experience in education. "It makes us scared for our kids' future. Screenshots of the agenda are below. 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! The two write-in candidates shed supported, Holbrook and Nelms, won their races. The vote came after hours of public comments from dozens of people, mostly against allowing Taylor to lead the school system. A Jan. 13 board meeting for the Orange Unified School . Attendees take their seats ahead of a contentious Spotsylvania County School Board meeting. The push for parents rights in education is a break from a more traditional public-school notion in which all residents of a county, not just parents, fund school systems, vote for school board members and hold school officials accountable, said Jack Schneider, associate professor of education at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. FOX 5's Sierra Fox explores the divisive debate going on over the Spotsylvania County School Board's new superintendent nominee. 2018. click here to learn more about . The Spotsylvania School Board voted 4 to 3 in favor of Taylor getting the approval for a superintendent license. I dont think that this is an earnest movement. 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. She won the jackpot. September 12, 2022 Spotsylvania parents concerned over. The SCPS Division is so proud and grateful for everyone's hard work this school year! Come by between 11:45-1:15 and enjoy a meal prepared by our talented Culinary Arts students. A message from the Superintendent: The Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning for a proposed techno campus at Tuesday nights meeting. Also in a 4-3 vote, the board chose to re-elect April Gillespie. Click for more info: 16 days ago, Spotsylvania County Public Schools. Moss Free Clinic & Extra Community Resources will also be available. 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. Anger erupted at a Spotsylvania County School Board meeting with divisions on the board and community on full display Monday. Discord in San Francisco schools, on race and reopening, looms large. Victoria LaCivita, a spokeswoman for the Attorney Generals Office, confirmed that the complaintas well as one alleging that Twigg misappropriated public funds by paying for board members April Gillespie and Lisa Phelps to attend a conference with ties to a conservative political action committee in Marchhas been received by the office. I have covered education, local government and social services for the Free Lance-Star since 2016. 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. Earlier in the meeting, Twigg stated that he would be enacting a School Board policy that permits the chair to limit the number of speakers on any given topic to five. A special rallying cry on the right from parents who seem to have become energized during the turbulent era of Trumpian politics is the growing call to banish critical race theory, a college-level academic framework examining systemic racism whose name has become a catchall for school districts diversity and equity initiatives and their attempts to rethink the teaching of race in American history. Daniels and Cole had not voted when Twigg declared the meeting over. One of the first actions the group took at its inaugural meeting in January apart from firing the superintendent was to appoint as chairman Kirk Twigg, one of the board members who proposed burning books. Spotsylvania County Public Schools new chief of staff will be responsible for general staff administration and serving as the legislative li. 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. Live Streaming & Archive of School Board Meetings; FY2023 Budget Information; All Spotsylvania County Public Schools will operate on a 2-hour delay on Thursday, December 15. 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). Melissa Floyd, the parent of a 6th grade and a 9th grade Spotsylvania County Public Schools student said her kids have lots of years left in the school district. It's everything Spotsylvania County Copyright 2023 Spotsylvania County Public Schools. A revised list of December donations was presented to the board for approval on Monday with two items missingan innovative teaching, or IDEA, grant for $1,996 for Salem Elementarys Diversity Book Project and a $1,497 grant from the Spotsylvania Education Foundation for Thornburg Middle Schools Social, Emotional Learning Project.. For so many years, so many people just filled in whatever bubble [for school board] these races had really fallen off peoples radars, Snead said. A Fredericksburg woman who bashed her former roommate in the head with a softball bat last year pleaded guilty to a felony charge Wednesday. Taylor said he will provide that information as part of the budget process. The end came unceremoniously for Superintendent Scott Baker. Come by at 6pm and learn about IB, CGS, and CTE opportunities! Live streaming available during active meetings. 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. Riverbend High School Principal Troy Wright and school librarians have been looking into the parents concerns since they were raised with the school last week, Teaching and Learning Director Darnela Sims said, asking for more time to review existing vetting processes. Nonetheless, she plunged in: The roughly 200 local members of Moms for Liberty which grew through word of mouth and social media posts started sharing a flood of information about the election on Facebook, as well as attending community events. Part-time and hourly SOQ-funded positions will receive $500 bonuses. We're thrilled to announce the new app for Spotsylvania Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. "When the chairman of the school board says to the deputies, 'Ive heard enough. 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. The couple said they dont believe books with sexually explicit content, like pedophilia and prostitution, belong in a high school library. Schools will open two hours late. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Will college students show up to vote in November? 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. I cannot comment further as it is an ongoing investigation, LaCivita said in an email Tuesday. You can cancel at any time. 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. The parent movement spans the political spectrum and reflects a grievance born during the pandemic when parents queued for hours at school boards nationwide to share their concerns with upended schooling, often running over their allotted speaking time that school officials are not listening to the people whose children they were supposed to serve. Victoria LaCivita, a spokeswoman for the Attorney Generals Office, confirmed that the complaintas well as one alleging that Twigg misappropriated public funds by paying for board members April Gillespie and Lisa Phelps to attend a conference with ties to a conservative political action committee in Marchhas been received by the office. Twigg forged a contract and if people up here are defending him, then theyre just as guilty as he is.. Together, we prepare our students for their future! The board later went into recess when the mood on the dais and in the audience grew hostile. 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. On July 9, School Board Chair Kirk Twigg wrote former Culpeper councilman Jon Russell, then a special counsel at the Virginia Department of Education, telling him Mark Taylor was the final candidate for the superintendent position.. He was hoping to advocate for parental rights but said he was stymied by rules that limited public comment to 25 minutes total and three minutes per person. He said the positions have a value of $1.9 million and that we have very definite ideas of the highest and best use of those 25.5 positions to meet the needs of this division.. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, By ADELE UPHAUSCONNER The, 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. Days 1-7 will not be made up. This is the second time Wilderness ES has earned this distinction. You can cancel at any time. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. "Im all about the kids, and when I look at this national disgrace that we see from some of the school board members, it'sjust gut-wrenching to me, to be perfectly honest with you," he said. You have permission to edit this article. This article was published more than1 year ago. Comments (-1) . 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. Download for Android: NOTICE OF CANCELLATION: PLEASE BE INFORMED THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD'S REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022, HAS BEEN CANCELED. Books with sexually explicit content have come under fire across the country. Do Not Show Again Close. John J. Wright Educational & Cultural Center. 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. This is the disclaimer text. Spotsylvania County 9104 Courthouse Road Spotsylvania, VA 22553. Spotsylvania County schools will present the school budget at the Board of Supervisor's meeting tonight at 6pm. . It is incumbent on us to make sure that whatever the policy says we need to do, were doing, and if something needs to be strengthened, its on us to do it, Sims said. And in New York City, a parent advocacy group called PLACE NYC, which formed in 2019 to advocate for advanced academics, identified and supported 94 candidates for 16 community education councils across the city, said PLACE NYC co-founder Yiatin Chu. Twigg then led the effort to name Taylor, who is one of his friends, as the new superintendent. 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. (FOX 5 DC) - An area superintendent is out of a job after a contentious Spotsylvania County Public School Board meeting Monday night shifted the board's. 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. God has spoken to a number of parents who, during covid, became fully aware of what was being taught to their children, said Rick Scarborough, leader of Recover America, a Texas-based group that works to politically mobilize evangelical voters and is turning its attention to school board races. Twigg asked that the microphone be cut off on several people who started to express concerns about the boards appointment of Mark Taylor as superintendent, stating that the limit on speakers who could address that topic had been reached. Archives. Preparing Our Students for the Future at SLE 2022, Vaccine Clinic for Rising 7th & 12th Graders. Mr. 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. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). All other employees will report two hours late. Superintendent Dr. S. Scott Baker said he has faith in the librarians. 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. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. See what's LIVE here! The board will meet again Thursday and Friday in special meetings with closed sessions to discuss the superintendent search, according to its posted agendas. All rights reserved, Julie Carey, Northern Virginia Bureau Chief, He's Got No Experience': Spotsylvania Parents Raise Questions on Superintendent Candidate, Spotsylvania School Board Appoints Chair Who Backed Burning Books, Fires Superintendent, Superintendent of Spotsylvania County Public Schools Resigns, 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. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. 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). 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. People attending Monday's Spotsylvania County School Board meeting wear red to protest the board's superintendent selection process. The board will meet again Thursday and Friday in special meetings with closed sessions to discuss the superintendent search, according to the posted agendas. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. We have to be clear on what is offensive and should not be in our schools and what should be, he said. Among the concerns raised by the public during comments was acting superintendent Kelly Guempels contract. Spotsylvania County Public Schools Recognized as a 2021 America's Best Midsize Employer. I have covered education, local government and social services for the Free Lance-Star since 2016. bottom of page . spotsylvania County school board. In Spotsylvania, the hotly contested superintendent search began this year after the longtime schools leader was abruptly fired by a board that included a new bloc of members, a move many saw. Education Department leaders involved in Spotsylvania schools superintendent search Skip to main contentSkip to main content Register for more free articles. All rights reserved. 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. The letter, which The Free LanceStar obtained through a Virginia Freedom of Information Act request, is dated the day after the School Board met in a closed session to discuss the two finalists for the superintendent position. The board took no public vote at that July meeting to recommend Taylor, who formerly was the Spotsylvania County administrator and is a longtime friend of Twigg, for the position. Together, we prepare our students for their future. Click for more details: 22 days ago, Spotsylvania County Public Schools. The meetings live feed ended about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, as board member Nicole Cole was still speaking. 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. Live Feed | Spotsylvania County Public Schools A message from the Superintendent: TAKE THE DAY OFF! More information: 4 months ago, Spotsylvania County Public Schools. In a 4-3 vote during Monday's meeting, the Spotsylvania County Public School Board elected Lisa Phelps as its new chair. Public Comment Period: Proposed 2022 Physical Education SOL. The Virginia Board of Education is hosting two virtual public hearings for the proposed Driver Education and Physical Education Standards of Learning Tuesday, February 8, 2022 and Wednesday, February 16, 2022. Reporting on Earths changing climate and the people trying to find solutions to one of the biggest challenges of our era. Taylor and his wife are directors of Twigg's nonprofit corporation called Emerging Stars. The, 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. Lee Hill District representative Lisa Phelps will serve as chair this year, and Berkeley District representative April Gillespie will serve as vice chair for a second year. The start of the Spotsylvania County Public Schools school year is just three weeks out. In response, Twigg told Shelley, You give me a superintendent, I give you a meeting.. Spotsylvania County Public Schools8020 River Stone DriveFredericksburg, VA 22407Phone: 540-834-2500webmaster@spotsylvania.k12.va.us. Public comments regarding the, For complete details, visit https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/VADOE/bulletins/308feea. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Archives. SCPS Retirees - please be sure to check out the HR Retirement webpage for updated information and the new Aetna Welcome Packet. School board meetings have been tumultuous for weeks as the board and the public has discussed the controversy surrounding superintendent candidate Mark Taylor. Together, we prepare our students for their future. Congratulations to our 2022-2023 Division Teacher of the Year, Battlefield Elementary special education teacher Mrs. Laura Brooks! The criteria for pulling books from circulation this week is sexually explicit, but the board plans to refine how material is determined to be objectionable for a further review of library holdings. And in Virginia, Matthew Holbrook, one of the candidates assisted by Sneads Moms for Liberty chapter, said he is relishing the moment. Loading. Part-time and hourly SOQ-funded positions will receive $500 bonuses. Phone: 540-507-7000. Attendees take their seats ahead of a contentious Spotsylvania County School Board meeting. 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. Enjoy the time with family, friends or however you wish and have fun! 2016. 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. ", Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information, Twigg said he wants to see the books before we burn them so we can identify within our community that we are eradicating this bad stuff.. SCPS Retirees - please be sure to check out the HR Retirement webpage for updated information and the new Aetna Welcome Packet. How is this good for the students, the children of Spotsylvania County? Taylor said "no" and that he hadn't seen them. PreviousArchives. Don't forget! Public comments regarding thePhysical Education SOL will be received atvdoe.stem@doe.virginia.govfromFebruary 11-March 11. Please subscribe to keep reading. Phelps was nominated by Gillespie and elected by a 43 vote, with previous chair Kirk Twigg and Abuismail joining Phelps and Gillespie. I think its a cynical movement and politicians are using it for their own gain.. That faction which is difficult to characterize politically, Braswell said, falling somewhere between the tea party and libertarianism now has a majority after last falls elections, which saw a mother who campaigned partly on parents rights win a seat. It was symbolic. They also gave free ice cream away to every student and staff member at lunch. 12-month employees and essential employees are to report to work on time as safety permits. Mr. At Monday's board meeting, one major topic of discussion will be the shortage of teachers and bus drivers . Will Shameful Shelley ask the Supervisors 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. Shelley asked Kenny Forrest, executive director of operations, why these two donations were missing from the list for approval Monday. This means students and staff will have the entire week of November 21-25 off, and will return to class on Monday, November 28. The meeting stretched into the early hours of Tuesday morning, with public comments lasting for almost two hours. burning books. By Hannah Natanson. The firing, in other words, wasnt just superfluous. The discussion was prompted by concerns raised by Christina Burris, the mother of a Riverbend High School student, who said she was alarmed that LGBTQIA fiction was immediately available through the library app. Careers. 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