Culpeper County School Board backs three VSBA legislative proposals

The Culpeper County School Board voted unanimously Oct. 27 to support three Virginia School Boards Association legislative proposals that a board delegate will carry to the VSBA Delegate Assembly in November. Patricia Baker, a school board member who presented the recommendations, described them as measures to give schools more time for major policy implementation, to change accreditation metrics and to widen access to advanced coursework through Virtual Virginia.

Baker told the board that the three proposals recommended by the VSBA Legislative Positions Committee were: (1) an amendment to the Assessment and Accountability Reform position to require at least one year for implementation of major policy changes; (2) a new position removing Chronic Absenteeism as an accountability indicator for school accreditation; and (3) an amendment to the Virtual Virginia Enrollment Cap to expand access to Advanced Placement, dual enrollment and similar courses. Baker noted the committee had recommended only these three out of eleven proposals submitted statewide.

The board discussed the recommendations and their implications for local policy before taking action. Elizabeth Hutchins moved to approve support for the three VSBA proposals, Christina Burnett seconded, and the motion carried with all seven members voting aye: Patricia Baker, Barbara Brown (Chair), Christina Burnett, Deborah Desilets, Elizabeth Hutchins, Kelley Pearson and Elizabeth Smith.

The vote directs the board’s delegate to the VSBA assembly to support the three positions described above. No additional motions or amendments were recorded during the vote.

The board took no further action on other VSBA proposals at this meeting; Baker said remaining proposals would not be considered by the assembly unless a delegate formally brought them forward and secured a two-thirds vote.