The Loudoun County School Board held a meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.

 

Board Member Attendance

• Chair Ian Serotkin: Present

• Vice Chair Harris Mahedavi: Present

• Jeff Morse: Present

• Atoosa Reaser: Present

• Tiffany Polifko: Present

• John Beatty: Present

• Erika Ogedegbe: Present

• Brenda Sheridan: Present

• Denise Corbo: Absent

 

School Board Work Session

The Work Session included a presentation to the School Board of the proposed plan for the STEP program to transition to a full-day model over the course of the next three years. The proposal includes adding classrooms in the future to maintain the number of students able to be served by the program.

 

The Board received an update regarding an overview of continuous improvement efforts to support student mental health including the Student Mental Health Taskforce recommendations and Unified Mental Health Team (UMHT) roles and responsibilities.

 

The School Board then received an update it had requested regarding safety and privacy in school restrooms including compliance with VDOE policies introduced in 2021 and plans moving forward.

 

Recessed Meeting

 

Pledge Leaders and National Anthem

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by members of Loudoun County High School’s NJROTC. The National Anthem was then performed by students from Discovery Elementary School.

 

Student and Staff Recognition

The School Board recognized eight Loudoun County middle schools: Brambleton, Eagle Ridge, Farmwell Station, Harper Park, River Bend, J.L. Simpson, Sterling, and Willard. These schools are designated or have been redesignated as National Schools to Watch (STW) by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. 

 

On behalf of the SBP Executive Council, created by the Loudoun School Board, the following businesses were recognized as the 2023 VSBA Honor Roll recipients: ProJet Aviation, Asha-Jyothi Foundation and PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs.

 

One LCPS: 2027 Strategic Plan for Excellence Spotlight

Mercer Middle School's team, including Principal Nikisha Diehl, presented an overview of how they are building a culture of rigorous instruction for all students.

Student School Board Representatives

Trish Guevara, Stone Bridge High School

Rushil Umaretiya, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology

 

Advisory Committee Update

The Board then heard a Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Quarterly Update.

 

Public Comment

39 community members registered to participate in person and provided the School Board with comments on a range of topics, while 25 community members signed up to participate virtually. 

 

Acting Superintendent’s Report

Dr. Smith shared operational updates including: LCPS hosted its first annual Student Leadership Conference, possible scenarios impacting LCPS based on the state budget, upcoming community listening sessions around the division, and the search for a new LCPS Superintendent, including a survey and stakeholder sessions. For the full operational update, visit the LCPS website.

 

Action Items

The Board addressed two Action Items from the agenda: the Board approved revisions to Policy 8010-Fundraising to align with VSBA and LCPS practices and responsibilities, and the Board approved revisions to the LCPS Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

 

Information Items

The School Board then discussed several information items, including:

• Collective Bargaining

• Student Dress Code - Policy 8270

• Autism Acceptance Month Proclamation

• Month of the Military Child Proclamation

 

The Board then adjourned for a closed session and then for the evening.

 

For the full Board meeting, visit the LCPS Website.

 

*The summary is provided as a quick reference to School Board meeting activity but does not serve as an official record. Official minutes are posted as soon as available.

Published March 15, 2023