Division staff presented a combined update on family engagement and restorative justice and education (RJE).

Bianca Johnson, family engagement lead, reviewed outreach and basic-needs programming: Emergency Food Network support (food bags, cards and hygiene supplies), Beaufort Eats monthly distributions at the middle school, and EdZone (Chris Long Foundation) essential-need closets in elementary schools. Johnson reported two-year totals including tens of thousands of dollars in food support, more than 1,000 backpacks/coats provided across two years and that on-site storage has materially reduced delays in responding to requests.

On restorative work, Johnson described a tiered model (tier 1 universal practices; tiers 2–3 responsive interventions) and provided counts: dozens of groundwork meetings, multiple full conferences, staff training sessions, and a pilot partnership with Central Virginia Community Justice during which facilitators connected with over 50 students and 15 staff and facilitated seven full conferences. She emphasized that restorative processes are voluntary, focus on repairing harm and restoring relationships, and that demand for basic needs and staffing capacity are increasing.

Board members praised the programs and asked how to expand capacity and coordinate support during budget season.