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03-26-2020 Called Meeting - DRAFT March 26, 2020 Called Meeting PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CALLED MEETING MARCH 26, 2020 VIRGINIA: The Called Meeting of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors was held on March 26, 2020, in the Gallery Room of the Chatham Community Center, 115 South Main Street, Chatham, Virginia 24531. Robert (“Bob”) W. Warren, Chairman, called the Meeting to Order at 7:00 PM. The following Members were present: Attendee Name Title Status Robert ("Bob") W. Warren Chairman - Chatham-Blairs District Present Ronald S. Scearce Vice Chairman - Westover District Present William (“Vic) Ingram Supervisor - Tunstall District Via Phone Timothy W. Dudley Supervisor - Staunton River District Present Ben L. Farmer Supervisor - Callands-Gretna District Present Charles H. Miller Supervisor – Banister District Via Phone Joe B. Davis Supervisor – Dan River District Present Mr. Ingram called into the Meeting due to COVID-19 precautions from 1301 Deercrest Lane, Danville, Virginia, 24540. Mr. Miller also called into the Meeting due to medical issues from 181 Friendship Road, Chatham, Virginia 24531. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion to approve the Agenda. RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Joe B. Davis, Supervisor – Dan River District SECONDER: Ben L. Farmer, Supervisor – Callands-Gretna District AYES: Davis, Miller, Ingram, Dudley, Farmer, Scearce, Warren PUBLIC HEARINGS FY2021 Proposed Pittsylvania County School Budget David M. Smitherman, County Administrator, gave a condensed version of the Budget Presentation. Mr. Warren opened the Public Hearing at 7:17 PM. No one signed up to speak, but Earl Glass had previously sent an email in regarding the Public Hearing and Mr. Hunt read the following. “To Mr. Smitherman and Board members Mr. Warren, Mr. Scearce, Mr. Ingram, Mr. Davis, Mr. Dudley, Mr. Farmer, and Dr. Miller, My name is Earl Glass, and I am a physical education teacher at Dan River Middle School in my 30th year of teaching. I want to start by saying “THANK YOU” to the board for all your support especially in recent years where since 2016 you have provided an additional $2.5 million in local funding to our school system. I am grateful for that. I come to you again(I spoke at the last two years meetings but unfortunately cannot make it tonight) to ask that you grant the Pittsylvania County Schools request of the Board of Supervisors March 28, 2019 Called Meeting increase of 1.3 million which will be used not only for but especially the final phase of the Compensation Study. That will be such a great boost for our profession and our teachers. Pittsylvania County Schools has continued to excel in major areas like having 100% of our schools fully accredited; the state average is only 92%; also, the division’s pass rate on the reading, writing, mathematics, history, and science SOLs are all above the state average and PCS has on-time graduation rate of 90.9%. PCS is continually recognized in state and national BETA, DECA, FBLA, FFA, SkillsUSA, and band competitions, and VHSL activities; also our schools do many service projects of giving back like programs that honor veterans, first responders and has schools that raise money for projects like pediatric cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease!! However, the division ranks at the bottom, 125 out of 132 school divisions in the state in total per pupil funding for education. Again thank you for what you have done, but respectfully I ask you to fully fund the PCS financial request. Stay well, stay healthy, and God bless each of you. Respectfully, Earl Glass.” Mr. Warren closed the Public Hearing at 7:20 PM. FY2021 Proposed Pittsylvania County Budget Mr. Warren opened the Public Hearing at 7:20 PM. No one signed up to speak and Mr. Warren closed the Public Hearing at 7:20 PM. Christopher C. Slemp, County Director of Public Safety, gave a COVID-19 Pandemic. Update. Mr. Slemp stated the virtual emergency operations center has been opened. He is also having conference calls at least twice a week with others in our region. Many citizens from the community have donated supplies that are needed, and employees have been notified to keep track of all expenses incurred due to this pandemic. The Honorable Mike Taylor, Sheriff, stated once the Federal, State, and Local Orders began coming in on March 5, 2020, they implemented a COVID-19 Task Force within the Sheriff’s Department. The “Shelter in Place” Order is helping with reduced calls and responses throughout the County. Sheriff Taylor also stated they have moved twenty-five (25) inmates to Blue Ridge Regional Jail to make space for isolation if needed. Dr. Mark Jones, County School Superintendent, also spoke and stated the School Division has put Feeding Programs into place for students and the offices are still operating, but not open to the public. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Warren adjourned the Meeting at 7:37 PM.