Typically, there is minimal debate regarding the potential for a student representative to join a school board. But the Spotsylvania School Board does not operate in a typical fashion, as dissension and various conflicts have plagued the board over the past several years.
Yet, the school board voted 4-1 Monday night to approve a policy that invites a student representative to participate on the board.
Carol Medawar of the Courtland District is not sold that her fellow representatives will set a positive example for a youth board member as she cast the lone dissenting vote.
“We’ve had parents remove their children from the audience during our meetings,” Medawar said. “I hope we don’t ever have that issue again. But can we commit to also saying that if we have a meeting that goes off the rails — I don’t know how else to put it —that we can also exempt the student from participating?”
Board Chair Megan Jackson, who represents the Livingston District, said it is “crazy” to have to express Medawar’s sentiment in policy, but added that she understands why.
“I’m not comfortable because I’m not sure we’ve demonstrated the ability to do this yet,” Medawar said.
Battlefield District representative Nicole Cole had to depart the meeting early and did not vote. April Gillespie of the Berkeley District did not attend the meeting. During Cole’s board comments earlier in the meeting, she said she is supportive of having a student representative.
“I am a strong advocate that we have representation by our main client who are our students, so we are continually getting feedback from students as to how the policies that we vote on are impacting them or before we make those votes, that we have an understanding as a school board how those policies might be affecting the student body,” Cole said. “But it also gives the students a chance to learn some civic and public service responsibility and leadership.”
The board requested a few caveats for the student representative: Attendance will be optional when school is not in session; there will be a timeframe for late meetings; transportation will be provided for students who do not have access to a ride; students can earn community service hours by participating; and the board will be flexible about permitting online attendance.
“It allows a great opportunity for the students who will be representing us,” Cole said.
In other business, the school board listened to a safety report from Jeremy Siefker, the director of school safety and risk management. Siefker shared results of recent school safety initiatives and highlighted trends and data from this past school year that will inform planning for 2025-26.
Siefker noted that there were no guns, knives or miscellaneous threats in 493,814 visits since the school division implemented weapons detection systems at all five high schools plus Spotsylvania Career and Technical Center and the John J. Wright Educational and Cultural Center earlier this year. Screening and safety monitoring continued during summer school, and staff will be retrained on the systems when the new school year begins next month.
Siefer also highlighted a Trauma Informed Student Support initiative that alerts counselors when a student has an emergency call to their home. No details are provided to the counselor other than that a call occurred. The goal is for the counselor to know if they encounter a student who may have experienced trauma to handle them with care. A total of 263 alerts were sent out this past school year, up from 62 and 68 in 2022-23 and 2023-24, respectively.
The board voted 5-0 to allow county resident Jaimie Ashton to spearhead a memorial garden for deceased students.
The board also heard from Chief Human Resources Officer Amy Williams, who provided a breakdown of staff departures following the most recent school year.
Williams noted that the turnover rate was 12.5%, down from 15.5% in 2022-23 and 13% in 2023-24. Family was the primary reason for departures, followed by retirement. Sixty-three employees accepted a position with another school division, including 33 who left for neighboring Stafford County. Six went to Caroline County; five left for Fredericksburg City Schools, and three headed to King George.
The board voted 4-1 to table a policy requiring members to attend personal development activities with the Virginia School Board Association and the Consortium of State School Board Associations.
Lorita Daniels of the Salem District cast the lone dissenting vote against tabling the policy, noting that she did not get an opportunity to speak about the issue.
