Superintendent highlights NAEP declines, Virginia Literacy Act rollout, Chromebook guidance and cell‑phone pouch pilot; finance tool shows potential $1.6M–$2.1M

Superintendent DePere told the Bedford County School Board on March 13 that national and state NAEP test results show declines in fourth‑ and eighth‑grade reading and math since 2019 and that local leaders should emphasize recovery strategies.

"This needs to be a focal point of where we are," DePere said, urging the division to publicize recent gains and the role of teachers and instructional staff. He described NAEP as a sample‑based national measure and directed listeners to the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) national report card for further detail.

DePere said the division has fully implemented the Virginia Literacy Act for kindergarten through fifth grade and expects additional statewide literacy materials and professional development for 2025–26. He told the board the Virginia Literacy Act provides a core curriculum, supplemental intervention materials for grades 4–8 and professional development aligned to science‑based reading research.

On classroom technology, the superintendent recommended continued use of Chromebooks for instruction because state SOL and benchmark testing are digital and because Virginia standards require technology integration. He cautioned against excessive off‑task time and said the division will work with school leaders on appropriate device use and more face‑to‑face instruction.

DePere reviewed inclement‑weather decision procedures: BCPS staff consult Bedford County Emergency Management, the National Weather Service and VDOT, drive bus routes when feasible, check neighboring divisions and aim to make closure or delay decisions by 5 a.m. to help parents plan. He detailed the division’s approach to accounting for hours and makeup days; the state requires makeup of the first five missed days and the division tracks banked instructional hours.

On student and campus conduct, DePere updated the board on implementation of Yondr phone pouches following Executive Order guidance referenced by staff. "All reports indicate that teachers feel the students are more engaged and that they appreciate the consistency of implementation through the policy and the use of the pouches," he said, adding that discipline referrals have stabilized after an initial uptick and that some parents needed explanation before supporting the change. He noted a hardware issue: pouch locking pins are breaking and staff are working with the vendor on replacements.

DePere proposed a stronger volunteer program as part of the strategic plan’s workforce and community engagement goals, suggesting PTAs help organize volunteers and proposing a part‑time coordinator where PTAs are not active. He said volunteers and retirees could provide in‑class support to supplement teachers.

Finance officer Hagler reported the division received a state funding calculation tool after the General Assembly passed a biennial budget now awaiting the governor’s action. He said the legislature’s package could add roughly $1.6 million to $2.1 million to local revenue projections; about $400,000 of that is a special‑education add‑on whose allowable uses and restrictions are not yet clear. Hagler said the board must wait for the governor’s decision (by March 24) and the county supervisors’ funding decision before finalizing the division budget.

Board discussion and questions focused on whether the special‑education add‑on could be used for general balancing (Hagler said the Department of Education had not yet clarified allowable uses), the practical mechanics of Chromebook use, and steps to publicize literacy progress and student gains.

Ending: Superintendent DePere closed by inviting the board and public to the superintendent page where he will post the remarks and FAQ items (weather protocols, makeup day schedules and Yondr updates) so parents can refer back to the information.