The only location specified in a new policy concerning professional development considered at Monday’s Fredericksburg City School Board meeting was Virginia.
But school board member Jarvis Bailey (at-large) asserted that the proposed policy, which would require approval for school board members prior to attending conferences and other events, was motivated by his attendance at out-of-state conferences, including one such trip to Hawaii.
“Much of this was precipitated, in my opinion, by back-office conversations about me going to Hawaii, or the way I went COSSBA [a national conference in Atlanta],” Bailey said during discussion of policy BHB1.
Bailey also revealed that he’s received detailed Freedom of Information (FOIA) requests specific to his recent travels for professional development — including for rental-car expenses — insinuating that the queries were the result of frustration among staff and/or colleagues.
“I don’t imagine for a second that a reporter was walking down the street and had a bright idea that, ‘Oh, I need to ask about that,’” he said.
The policy states that school board members are required to participate annually in “high-quality events” and that attendance at the annual Virginia School Board Association (VSBA) conference is considered pre-approved.
“Attendance at all other events that require use of school funds must be approved by the school board in open session prior to the event,” the policy states. “Requests for reimbursement from school board funds will be honored only for activities approved in advance by the school board and for which a statement of travel with documentation is submitted at the conclusion of travel.”
School Board Chair Matt Rowe (Ward 1) revealed that he wrote the proposed policy in response to the school board exceeding its budget line item for professional development during the most recent budget cycle. According to Rowe, the budget was approximately $16,500, and the school board exceeded it by about $5,000.
“The problem,” he said, “is that we don’t actually have anything that governs what conferences school board members can go to, to what extent they can go, and how to maintain the budget.”
Bailey and Ward 4 representative Malvina Rollins Kay came out strongly against the policy, with Kay opining that she doesn’t think her peers should have a say in which opportunities she chooses to take advantage of, or vice versa.
“I don’t want to be involved in making a decision about where you go,” said Kay, who has served on the body for nearly three decades. “I have had school board members I’ve served with over the years who have said no to every professional development.”
Kay noted that she’s attended the same two conferences every year, one in Virginia and one out of state. However, she added that she wouldn’t allow “2, 3, $400” to prevent her from attending opportunities she found worthwhile.
“If you want to go somewhere, I want to say to the superintendent, the deputy superintendent, the clerk: find the money,” she said.
“If that conference you wanted to go to is beyond the budget, isn’t that irresponsible with taxpayer dollars?” countered at-large rep Molly McFadden.
Bailey made a substitute motion to pull the policy until the board could discuss it further. It failed 3-3, with him, Kay and Ward 3 rep Jen Boyd voting in favor and Rowe, Ward 2 rep Katie Pomeroy and McFadden voting against.
“I think we do need a policy,” said Bailey, “but I don’t think this is the one. That’s all I’m saying.”
The policy package ultimately passed 4-2, with Bailey changing his vote to yes, as he noted that it contained a long list of revisions — approximately 100 — beyond the professional development proposal.
“We’ve been a board that doesn’t operate like some other boards,” Bailey said. “Knowing my board, what’s the harm in discussing it?… But we’ve done what we’re going to do, and it is what it is.”
Retention bonus approved
In other, less contentious business, the school board unanimously approved retention bonuses for all full-time employees. According to FCPS Deputy Superintendent Matt Eberhardt, employees will receive one-time bonuses totaling about $500 on Aug. 28.
