[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6038952,"mediaKeyId","3803402-3854dc51e2ac649146f80e93e783f93f","parentId",3803402,"title","Board certifies closed session, approves personnel docket and passes consent agenda","audioSeconds",98,"startMs",7000,"endMs",105000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3803402-3854dc51e2ac649146f80e93e783f93f&start=7&end=105","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3803402-3854dc51e2ac649146f80e93e783f93f/thumbnail_7000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6038952/Virginia/Board-certifies-closed-session-approves-personnel-docket-and-passes-consent-agenda","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6038952-4c09638715beb438d20c01fd17e50ebf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137893&Signature=aAMdNwsHkH5kjHFBNELVSfubokbuv-RWHN147kPc5q8eAHunZ3bc9eSo-JotwIflPR8KnQAnlgnv6gP6sujhV6mWJejUTqwJtO-vlSDEFDR6J0bzC5eGdbYK9QHjrPRpJrlM6A5yp2h9sAGyQ3k6MbzO0i3XeaPpSnp0GY-G7F1Ejft0hjiLHW9N6o78WYm3qF1zvdvCofwWwIwgnqRtiuirW9~Aj0zR44GP1KRoFvMVCtA4Vvz-rQPtk7Ukve4XEd~AvgpggVKko-3szcsP8dDHpcaC3d7mbxh338KsXdbL-fVW92NN7WxyaR8odyTLqYnZ0PXBY6edcdCJ~ihVPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Powhatan County Public Schools","date","2025-04-16T14:06:28Z","article","Powhatan County School Board took routine governance actions at its April regular meeting, including certifying a closed session under state law and approving personnel and consent items by unanimous vote.

Closed session certification: The board certified that a closed meeting had been held in accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and specifically referenced Code of Virginia §2.2‑3712(D) in the certification language. The roll call certification concluded with recorded \"Aye\" votes from members present.

Personnel docket and addendum: After returning to open session the board voted to approve the personnel docket and addendum. A board member moved to approve the personnel docket and addendum; the chair called the vote and the motion carried, recorded in the meeting as \"Motion carries 5‑0.\"

Consent agenda and minutes: The board approved the agenda and minutes earlier in the meeting, and later voted to accept the consent agenda (including facility use reports, policies and a donation to Powhatan Elementary) on a 5‑0 vote. The chair presided over the votes and the clerk recorded the motions and results.

Other formal actions: The meeting adjourned at 9:22 p.m. following the completion of the agenda.

Ending: The votes were procedural approvals that concluded the business portion of the board’s regular April meeting and set the record for personnel and consent matters.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Powhatan County Public Schools - April 2025 Monthly Board Meeting April 2025.","oneSentenceSummary","At its April meeting the Powhatan County School Board certified a closed session under Virginia FOIA, approved a personnel docket and addendum and passed the consent agenda and minutes in unanimous votes.","taxTitle","POWHATAN CO PBLC SCHS, School Districts, Virginia","taxId",56924,"location","Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6038957,"Board agrees to study re‑establishing sick‑leave bank; motion to table and research passes unanimously",2077,11233000,13310000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3803402-3854dc51e2ac649146f80e93e783f93f&start=11233&end=13310","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3803402-3854dc51e2ac649146f80e93e783f93f/thumbnail_11233000.jpg","/articles/6038957/Virginia/Board-agrees-to-study-reestablishing-sickleave-bank-motion-to-table-and-research-passes-unanimously","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6038957-d11ee1e702d451433d5eda241d9db22e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137893&Signature=CxMJpLtUnQ1AUBA2pvwkE4Tn4F9IMg2FCBYeDfNUbd6Iq8h2NNFH0J4MGsH~DKee4t7GMs16adxC7nURquD4NZrT1dz9si0ZINHzky83KRxQgpq1gNRlQCfuDo8ocV3EvZAnMYJQtQrjf8tQFEbwsPxsjdfI8Ihk38mlHbsjlJd2Z9bQAslf8GcK2wK4tgXrOcdWs2G0DFe8CKYw4iwNLHqbqzu3aL~MOLMs-AGLemho1RG5ANtYTXOnrv6XA~LzReoZwAoUoqT7eA7~e~cDvmHSwF5-ZXRlkM9udDA5IVvnikuKWqtXECRZ8S5-M6F5MpU8EDPto~Ek7qnZYEUgpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Powhatan County School Board discussed restoring a centrally administered sick‑leave bank for employees and voted to table any immediate reintroduction while board members and staff research options and cost models.

District staff reviewed the history: a sick‑leave bank existed previously but was discontinued around the 2009–2010 fiscal period amid tight finances. The presentation noted an historical cost estimate of about $91,000 from that earlier era; presenters cautioned that modern costs would likely be substantially higher because of salary growth and substitute pay.

Staff explained how a typical sick‑leave bank works: employees opt in during a designated enrollment period and donate a day (or more) of accrued sick time to create a pool. To receive benefits, employees generally must exhaust their own leave first and meet eligibility rules; banks typically limit disbursements per recipient and include re‑entry and waiting‑period rules. The presentation also noted that newer Virginia Retirement System (VRS) hybrid hires have short‑ and long‑term disability benefits built into their retirement package, which affects who would be eligible and how a local bank would interact with existing benefits.

Board discussion focused on fiscal feasibility and design options. Board members raised alternatives such as encouraging employees to buy short‑ and long‑term disability insurance and exploring donation‑based models where colleagues directly contribute to a coworker’s hardship rather than placing days in a central pool. One board member summarized the practical challenge: reinstating a bank could require upfront contributions and would carry substitute‑pay and payout implications that must be modeled.

Outcome: A board member made a motion to table action on creating a sick‑leave bank and directed the board to individually research a potential outline for a future implementation. The board voted 5–0 to table and to pursue additional analysis and draft an implementation outline for later consideration.

Ending: District staff said they will provide additional comparative policy materials from other Virginia divisions, and the board asked staff and trustees to return with a clearer cost estimate and a proposed implementation blueprint if reinstatement is feasible.

","After staff outlined a prior bank and estimated costs, the board voted 5–0 to table immediate reinstatement and to research a phased or alternative approach to support employees.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6038962,"Sodexo briefs board on new sugar, sodium and color‑additive rules for school meals",1068,8171000,9239000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3803402-3854dc51e2ac649146f80e93e783f93f&start=8171&end=9239","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3803402-3854dc51e2ac649146f80e93e783f93f/thumbnail_8171000.jpg","/articles/6038962/Virginia/Sodexo-briefs-board-on-new-sugar-sodium-and-coloradditive-rules-for-school-meals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6038962-e8c5f7dd4b49295a709e3b8ad9e838a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137893&Signature=b~eoJgpkjPSdOV2~esKFOI3hMFVsIcTE3oa4JHJXImspFq1SbWgNkge4gEvJuZkkjFWZrprO13jTSPDXoJwfrm6dOcR8o-Klo0pcThRPNEP9oNh-kBm7oFMJj4GmwTZymcC76YzIbt-35-1Xb8ArL5S6hwv93OunplRYmRXzIaUsUPKUFIkulzxOth0K2xCO0o0YC4YbQtCZybgGIjJBLSIW6MNBnxFaw~DdVIctuHpWWFGrSWxms~DzOuKnLvu6CDi-nbXTi2Y~g-meyxO3ZEkmi9dEpF5s07CL85-r1f0RKksNcgq-s76L9YYT~Pk1s2Xjooc~bA0Td~pSB4SXbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Powhatan County School Board received an update from Sodexo and district nutrition staff on upcoming federal/state nutrition changes that will affect school menus and a la carte offerings.

Sodexo staff explained two sets of changes: product‑level added sugar limits that the district must begin implementing July 1, 2025, and additional nutrition and ingredient changes that take effect July 1, 2027.

Immediate (July 1, 2025): the vendor said breakfast cereals served in the district must contain no more than 6 grams of added sugar per dry ounce, yogurts may not exceed 12 grams of added sugar per 6 ounces, and flavored milks must meet a 10‑gram per 8‑ounce limit when manufacturers have reformulated products. Sodexo said those limits will be implemented in time for the 2025–26 school year and that the district has recently rolled out expanded breakfast choices and more scratch‑cooked items at some schools.

Longer term (July 1, 2027): presenters described a phased industry response to a recently passed state bill that prohibits several synthetic color additives in school meals and snacks. The additives named in the presentation were Blue 1 and 2, Green 3, Red 3 and 40, and Yellow 5 and 6. Sodexo said manufacturers are already planning reformulations and the vendor will phase out a la carte items that contain those colors as inventory is depleted. In the district’s current a‑la‑carte inventory, Sodexo listed Doritos, Cheetos, certain flavored chips and some sports drinks as items that contain color additives.

Nutrition and menu context: the presenter reviewed existing program constraints, including meal‑component rules (fruit, vegetable, protein, grain and milk), sodium limits by grade band, whole‑grain requirements and Smart Snacks standards for competitive foods. She said Sodexo pursues additional standards beyond USDA requirements — for example, avoiding deep frying, purchasing cage‑free eggs and promoting plant‑based menu options such as the new elementary “kitchen bite” item.

Board members asked whether lower‑sugar cereals and yogurts are already available; the vendor said several options meet the 6‑gram per ounce threshold for cereals and that flavored milk manufacturers are working to offer compliant products in time for summer and next school year. District staff said they will phase out items with banned dyes as inventories run down and will track student acceptance of revised menus.

Ending: Sodexo and district nutrition staff said they will continue to prepare menus and vendor orders to comply with the upcoming nutrition limits and the 2027 color‑additive prohibition, and they asked the board for patience while product reformulations and supplier inventories are adjusted.

","The district’s food services vendor summarized immediate changes (added sugar limits to begin July 1, 2025) and later mandates (sodium reductions and a 2027 ban on certain artificial color additives) and said the division will phase out noncompliant a‑la‑carte items where possible.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6038967,"Powhatan schools outline AI pilot and guidelines; board presses on critical‑thinking safeguards",1052,4998000,6050000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3803402-3854dc51e2ac649146f80e93e783f93f&start=4998&end=6050","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3803402-3854dc51e2ac649146f80e93e783f93f/thumbnail_4998000.jpg","/articles/6038967/Virginia/Powhatan-schools-outline-AI-pilot-and-guidelines-board-presses-on-criticalthinking-safeguards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6038967-b91399a7c16d1bc57f89fcd3fcdcf325/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137893&Signature=Sj9eCKc3-Oddq0ortof760ZdO3Ws14J9rIP83sRQZKYXUweivgQ9NgT-7IOWrPisHb7J9IDuwBI-HTx5Kwu~hy4LoyN9zWVJ9zVrLScObK~ruUoOaOIBu54q8InT2d5bhYQWsvoAQJ97TP3GiH-R9fqPgoRoQzfqTAAndwvmvRlClO6R3rmpZdPeDvgVBBWQaANcXow9nV91G0LGKLRtKmAoMyU75aaggJZtc8mL3JWdcBSAoO~HVMFub3LUXdn46rDMu1KiNXlHP~~S~luuEgIBmEMxmuIGthtFHEkRcNZGoIXg4OMP45jy12VTg6murPLZ5iiF-CaqdjjLSlY7CA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Powhatan County Public Schools briefed the board on current and planned work around artificial intelligence, including teacher pilots, professional learning and student safeguards.

Dr. Michelle Markle, who presented the update, described AI broadly and said the district is piloting two teacher‑facing tools and has formed teacher groups to evaluate classroom applications. \"AI is now,\" she said during the presentation, adding that the district’s work aims to \"ride those waves skillfully, strategically, and always for students.\"

What the district has done: Dr. Markle said staff participated in a Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS) GenAI year‑long learning cohort and ran a local pilot of two classroom tools (DIFIT and Magic School). The district asked k–12 teachers to complete a usage survey in January; among secondary teachers she reported roughly 47% said they are using AI for school work, 28% for personal use and 25% not at all. For elementary teachers, she said 27% reported school usage, 26% personal usage and 47% not using AI intentionally.

Applications and limits: Dr. Markle emphasized teacher efficiency, differentiated materials and assessment as near‑term benefits. She also stressed ethical safeguards and compliance with federal student‑privacy laws: \"We will do all the work that we need to do to protect our student data and adhere to FERPA and COPPA and CIPA,\" she said.

Board questions focused on classroom practice and critical thinking. One board member asked for concrete examples of how the district will teach verification and critical analysis rather than allow AI to replace student thinking. Dr. Markle described an approach she has seen in higher education: ask AI to draft a paper or response and assign students to verify, critique and validate the output as the classroom exercise. \"They spent time basically picking it apart and verifying all of the information,\" she said of the activity.

Other operational points from the presentation:
- The district plans follow‑up teacher feedback collection from a 21‑teacher pilot and to offer parent informational sessions in 2025–26.
- Dr. Markle said the district will develop professional learning pathways for staff and common lessons so students receive consistent instruction on AI ethics and proper use.
- The presentation referenced Governor Youngkin’s Executive Order 30 (February 2024) as a statewide call to action for responsible AI use in education and public agencies.

Board members voiced mixed reactions. Several expressed support for controlled, teacher‑led use tied to critical‑thinking instruction; others urged caution about screen time and data privacy for students. The board asked for continued evaluation of the pilot and training plans.

Ending: District leaders said the next steps are to collect pilot data through the end of the school year, adjust professional learning offerings based on teacher feedback, and continue community outreach about responsible AI use.

","Powhatan staff described a year of teacher pilots, district guidelines and planned parent outreach for generative AI while board members pressed for classroom safeguards and student critical‑thinking instruction.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6038972,"Powhatan Schools’ solar arrays have cut energy costs; board hears plan to expand to high school",175,2655000,2830000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3803402-3854dc51e2ac649146f80e93e783f93f&start=2655&end=2830","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3803402-3854dc51e2ac649146f80e93e783f93f/thumbnail_2655000.jpg","/articles/6038972/Virginia/Powhatan-Schools-solar-arrays-have-cut-energy-costs-board-hears-plan-to-expand-to-high-school","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6038972-032dbc927470b1f393447f0a921dc6ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137893&Signature=flcAIDNaKS7NpGhQGqbuvZMEDqpSo-HHYskGnZxyhG8B4~~kMi7QHLldOx6SDUkalPGlbYpX1iIfA57xuRplxjsSUE~PAiH1SYfvjvsFvIHPwBLPLAUoQy7GkoB25kCpTMquaiq~v0KO1NZSlhUWdnenkZDd-XDmFlXP0lR23HcxPK~jYh~5YoKXVfuFe-OQi2u-Pl91NyRrqnykWL3UAzgg3HavRd7lsgqdZoz64knI853emevy77h4mfPW3nJJchd4o2U7s4BWr7no~TM7z2cvZQDXwZCjTmQ6Og1~Ytjpm4lXRmWuWz~7yVWy0rD3PKQ4uaRCxPmyovT7DPsWnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Powhatan County School Board heard a briefing on existing solar installations and a possible expansion to Powhatan High School, with officials saying the district’s power purchase agreement has produced measurable savings.

The presentation, given by Bob Benway, said Powhatan’s solar arrays — installed in 2019 on the middle school and three elementary schools through a partnership with SunTribe Solar and Dominion Energy — have generated energy credited under a net‑metering arrangement and produced roughly $375,000 in savings over five years. \"We could pay 8.57¢ per kilowatt hour for the life of these cells,\" Benway said, comparing that fixed price to an average utility price of about 12.32¢/kWh used for the savings calculation.

Those numbers matter because the panels are covered by a long‑term power purchase agreement (PPA): Benway said the contracted rate is fixed for about 25 years, which protects the school division from future market increases. He added the system does not include on‑site storage: \"There is no energy storage capability in this system,\" Benway said, so any excess generation is exported under the agreement and Dominion may sell it at market rates.

Why it matters: the PPA enables the district to host solar equipment with no upfront installation cost and to buy the resulting power at a below‑market fixed price, producing budgetary relief and predictability for energy spending.

Key technical and financial details from the presentation:
- Benway reported the district system’s historical production figure of roughly 10,000,000 kilowatt‑hours (aggregate production cited in the presentation) and said one site has roughly 400 kilowatts of capacity. (Figures described in the meeting were presented as system totals and are treated as approximate.)
- Using a 3.57¢/kWh spread between the PPA and the historical average utility price, the district calculated nearly $375,000 saved over a five‑year span.
- The high school’s roof was cited as the primary barrier to adding panels in 2019. Benway said the district hopes to replace the high school roof in 2026 and that SunTribe and Dominion have modeled an expansion that would not require an upfront payment from the division: \"We really didn't pay anything upfront,\" he said, describing how the program uses district roof space in exchange for below‑market energy pricing.

Board members asked technical and operational questions during the discussion. In response to whether the system ever produces more energy than the schools can use, Benway said, \"On a good sunny day, especially in the summertime, there is excess energy, and that is just pushed right back out to the grid.\" He also described how SunTribe performs maintenance visits and inverter service without charging the district for routine upkeep under the contract.

Board members and staff discussed educational uses for the arrays. Benway and the district said SunTribe has offered lesson‑level support, including data and demonstrations for middle and high school classes to use in STEM or environmental curricula.

Ending: The presentation left two operational constraints in place: the system currently has no battery storage and any high‑school expansion depends on a roof replacement. District staff and the vendor described the PPA as a long‑term cost‑saving arrangement that also offers potential hands‑on learning opportunities for students.

","A district presentation documented about $375,000 in avoided utility costs over five years from a power purchase agreement; the vendor and district said the high school could be added at no direct cost after a planned roof replacement in 2026.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board certifies closed session, approves personnel docket and passes consent agenda

Board agrees to study re‑establishing sick‑leave bank; motion to table and research passes unanimously

Sodexo briefs board on new sugar, sodium and color‑additive rules for school meals

Powhatan schools outline AI pilot and guidelines; board presses on critical‑thinking safeguards

Powhatan Schools’ solar arrays have cut energy costs; board hears plan to expand to high school