At its August meeting, the Fredericksburg City School Board announced plans to hold a work session to review norms and protocols.
Two months later, however, the board had proven unable to schedule such a discussion.
It wasn’t for a lack of trying.
“We’ve gone through three or four rounds of scheduling options, but we haven’t gotten to the point where we’ve been able to solidify everyone on the board to attend,” school board Chair Matt Rowe said Monday.
A potential date of Sept. 30 fell through at the last minute when it became clear not all board members would be in attendance, Rowe added.
After Rowe noted that Dec. 2 or Dec. 8 worked as potential dates for himself and members Katie Pomeroy (Ward 2), Molly McFadden and Jarvis Bailey (both at-large) as well as Superintendent Marci Catlett, he turned to the apparent holdout: Ward 4 representative Malvina Rollins-Kay.
Asked about her availability, Kay said that she just started a new job and “it’s not practical” for her to take off additional time beyond regularly scheduled school board meetings.
“Don’t let me stop you,” said Kay, a longtime incumbent. “I’ve never really been to all the meetings where we’ve had full participation anyway. That’s fine.”
In July, Kay vehemently opposed adopting a new policy regarding board member travel for professional development — a discussion that came amid revelations board members had exceeded their annual budget by more $5,000 and a clear catalyst for the work session.
Rowe noted that, given the timing of the work session, the board would invite elected school board members who would take office in January. Interim Ward 3 representative Elizabeth Rehm, who was sworn in at 6:15 p.m. Monday and will serve through Dec. 31, would also be invited to take part.
Bailey said that, while he agreed with the necessity of holding such a work session, he argued that it should be held in January, after the new board is seated.
“We have outgoing members, incoming members, let’s talk about why we do it in December,” he said.
McFadden responded that the December timing would allow outgoing members to offer their perspective.
“If you have the new board coming in,” added Rehm, “I think you establish expectations.”
Bailey, whose trip to a professional conference in Hawaii was scrutinized following the board’s July meeting, accused Rowe of “holding the meeting hostage because we couldn’t get 100-percent [participation].”
“No, I was not holding it hostage,” Rowe said. “I was just trying to ensure 100-percent participation, given all of the reporting in the Fredericksburg Advance and Fredericksburg Free Press in the past few months, I think it would be good for the school board to hold ourselves accountable.
“People are watching, and we need to get this done.”
Following a heated discussion, the board settled on Dec. 8 from 5-8 p.m. to hold the work session.
Upperco to retire
During closed session held earlier Monday evening, the board approved the retirement of Director of Operations Don Upperco, effective at the end of the calendar year, sources tell the Free Press.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Upperco started working with FCPS in 2021, following administrative stints in Stafford and Spotsylvania counties.
