8/28/2018 - Special
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Roanoke County Administration Center
5204 Bernard Drive
Roanoke, Virginia 24018
The Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia met this day for the
purpose of a joint work session with the Roanoke County School Board. Audio
recording of is meeting will be held on file for a minimum of five (5) years in the office of
the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors.
IN RE: CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Hooker and Chairman Moretz called their respective boards to
order at 12:58 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Martha B. Hooker; Supervisors George G. Assaid,
Phil C. North, Joseph P. McNamara and P. Jason Peters
STAFF PRESENT: Thomas C. Gates, County Administrator, Daniel R.
O’Donnell, Assistant County Administrator; Ruth Ellen
Kuhnel, County Attorney; Rebecca Owens, Director of
Finance; Richard L. Caywood, Assistant County
Administrator, Christopher Bever, Director of Management
and Budget and Madeline Sefcik, Deputy Clerk to the Board
SCHOOL BOARD
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Jason Moretz; School Board members Donald
Butzer, Tim Greenway, David Linden and Mike Wray
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION
STAFF PRESENT: Dr. Ken Nicely, Superintendent; Penny A. Hodge, Assistant
Superintendent of Finance; Jessica McClung, Director of
Human Resources and Personnel; Angela Roberson, Clerk
to the School Board
IN RE: SCHOOL SAFETY – STATUS UPDATE ON COMMUNITY SCHOOL
SAFETY COMMITTEE WORK
Dr. Nicely and Chief Hall provided a PowerPoint presentation; a copy of
which is on file in the office of the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors. Dr. Nicely advised
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it is not reactive, but proactive. Chief Hall informed the meeting there is no way to fully
guarantee safety.
School Board Member David Linden asked if the numbers on slide 7
include athletic events or after-school activities with Chief Hall responding in the
negative stating the numbers represent school hours only.
School Board Member Donald Butzer inquired who is on the SAC
committee with Dr. Nicely advising parents, Attorney General’s Office, Blue Ridge
Healthcare and other with a wide variety of expertise.
School Board Member Mike Wray inquired of Chief Hall if the number of
students in the room were posted outside of the rooms with Chief Hall advising they are
looking at additionally the Police Department also has plans of the schools
School Board Member Donald Butzer asked with regard to Slide 12 and
asked if the analysis of the fire pulls could be shared with the public with Dr. Nicely
advising he was not comfortable sharing publically.
School Board Member Tim Greenway inquired of Chief Hall how much an
additional SRO would cost. Chief Hal responded $116,000 for the first year of service
and $75,000 for the second year. He added a new officer would not be assigned to a
school, but would rely on an existing office to volunteer and be tasked with a school.
Supervisor Phil North noted Florida has mandated armed officers in the
school and they are having a difficult time. Supervisor McNamara inquired how many
schools were there, with Chief Hall advising thousands.
School Board Member Wray asked for a comment on metal detectors with
Dr. Nicely advising it is not in the best interest for our schools.
Chief Hall noted the amount of checks currently being done in the schools
have amounted to more than just a few each day. He is pleased with the current
outcome. School Board Member Tim Greenway stated he would like to see 8 officers,
which allows 1 for every 2 schools, which would be an additional 6 officers.
School Board Butzer commented when he looks at all the work/study
being done, he is very pleased with the work being done. He added that mental health
may help identify these children, but we must figure out a way to decrease the amount
of loaded weapons that make their way into the school.
Chairman Hooker commented she appreciated the effort and time in this
initiative.
IN RE: LEGISLATIVE ISSUES - REVIEW OF LEGISLATIVE ISSUES FOR
UPCOMING GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION
Eldon James and Sue Rowland of Eldon James and Associates provided
a PowerPoint presentation on the upcoming General Assembly Session; a copy of
which is on file in the office of the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors.
Roanoke County’s Board of Supervisors and School Board jointly support
legislative or administrative actions that would serve to mitigate the increasing CSA
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costs for Private Day School services and that assure clearly defined performance
outcomes linked to services based upon the need of each student enrolled.
Additionally, both Boards jointly support the current General Assembly's policy to limit
any increases in private day school rates to 2% from one fiscal year to the next
beginning in July 2091.
County Attorney, Ruth Ellen Kuhnel, noted the legislative agenda is not
brought before the Board until October, so there is time.
Assistant County Administrator, Daniel O'Donnell, noted they will need to
be careful with the language because we want to keep in CSA funds and not in
education because the money is guaranteed.
IN RE: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - UPDATE ON COUNTY ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
Jill Loope, Director of Economic Development, provided a PowerPoint
Presentation on an update on the County's Economic Development Strategy; a copy of
which is on file in the office of the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors.
IN RE: ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Hooker adjourned the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors at
2:35 p.m. Chairman Moretz recessed the School Board to a Closed Session.
itted by:
• Approved by:
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/ D.- .•rah C. J-c Martha B. Hooker
Chief Deputy Cl- to the Board Chairman
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