Work Session Date: September 2, 2025
Board Members Present: Beachley, Burkett, Evans, Guessford, McCusker, Murray, Zentmeyer, Student Representative Nora Murthy
Board Members Absent:

Video to full work session HERE

Agenda Item / Topic #1
Preliminary Report from the Facilities and Enrollment Advisory Committee
Presenter(s)
Chad Criswell, Senior Project Manager and Planning Supervisor, Joseph Jefferson, FEAC Co-chairperson, Kristina DiMonte, FEAC Co-chairperson, Robert Rollins, Director of Facilities, Jeffrey Proulx, Chief Operating Officer, were to present the preliminary boundary realignment recommendations for the new Downsville Pike Elementary School attendance zone and additional elementary attendance zone realignments resulting from the work of the FEAC. The FEAC co-chairpersons will be able to respond to questions related to their committee’s recommendations.
Summary
Mike Guessford tabled the presentation at the Tuesday citing the board received the information in their Friday Packet and wanted more time to review.

Note: Guessford did not make a motion to table the agenda item, thus there was not a second for the motion to proceed. Guessford proceeded regardless. 

Click here to go directly to the slideshow.
General Board Member Comments /Questions 
No presentation.
Agenda Item / Topic #2
Strategic Plan Priority 1 and 2 Update
Presenter(s)
Dr. Gary Willow, Deputy Superintendent, provided an update on WCPS Strategic Plan Priorities 1 and 2, with a focus on student success and access to opportunities. It outlines progress toward literacy, math, and college and career readiness goals, as well as efforts to ensure all graduates are prepared with the knowledge, skills, and experiences outlined in the WCPS Strategic Plan.
Summary
  • K-2 Literacy Assessment Data
  • MCAP Data
  • Advanced Placement® (AP ®) results
  • International Baccalaureate® (IB®) results
  • Dual Credit Participation and Results
  • Career Technical Education (CTE) participation and Industry-Recognized Credentials (IRC)

 

AREAS OF STRENGTH
Literacy Data for Primary Grades
AP Results
Dual Credit Enrollment
Dual Credit Pass Rate
High School ELA MCAP Proficiency Rate

AREAS FOR GROWTH
Student Attendance
Literacy Data for Primary Grades
AP Results
ELA & Math Proficiency Rate on MCAP
CTE Concentrators

 

Click here to go directly to the slideshow.
General Board Member Comments /Questions 
Evans asked about the numbers looking good for kindergarten and 1st, but when students reach 2nd, the numbers seems to drop.
Evans praised the AP/IB dual enrollment participation and the improvement. Worries about balance between number of kids taking the test compared to students passing the course.
Zentmeyer asked if we are trying to maintain statistics on our dual enrollment students to see who completes their 4th year of college.
Agenda Item / Topic #3
FY27 Budget Priorities
Presenter(s)
David T. Sovine, Superintendent of Schools, Jeffrey Proulx, Chief Operating Officer, and Eric Sisler, Executive Director of Finance, discussed how funding was allocated toward the FY2026 Budget Priorities. This discussion will provide the Board an opportunity to begin developing its FY2027 Budget Priorities.
Summary
Review of FY26 Priorities
Culture, Safety & Wellness $17.98M
Student Success $4.49M
Access & Opportunity $1.13M
Community Engagement $51K
Reductions & Adjustments -$1.28MClick here to go directly to the slideshow.
General Board Member Comments /Questions 
Burkett asked what culture looks like as related to the budget.
Sovine explained that part of the budget are the surveys that are administered in terms of perspectives of staff, parents and students regarding overall culture.
Beachley wants to look at healthier school lunches- would support adding to the budget for it. She would like to see more farm to table.
Proulx explained that the greater challenge is 3-fold: student palette, availability of skilled culinary staffing, and cost.
Burkett asked if we can get an open salad bar.
Evans in favor of revamping menus. Would like to continue looking at safety and behavior. He said he knows that last year they took out of the budget the school safety officers, not against having more of the officers, is against having clusters and managers. Another thing he wants to look at is that he feels as student needs evolve, our school system does not evolve at the same rate, and it's everywhere across the country. He would like to look at other potential programming opportunities by thinking outside the box and to see if there is something that we can do. Looking for different programming available for students who have violent outbursts with IEP's.
McCusker asked about how the student apprenticeship, ConnectED and summer school is going.
Guessford wants to see an enhanced band program in elementary school.
Murray agreed with Guessford.
Agenda Item / Topic #4
N/A
Presenter(s)
Summary
General Board Member Comments /Questions