MINUTES CALLEDMEETING SEPTEMBER 10, 2020  As special called meeting oft the Council for the City ofCovington was. heldj jointly with the Covington City Schooll Board at 6:30 p.m. in Curfman Hall Auditorium in Covington) High Alli members of Council were present asi follows: Mayor Thomas H. Sibold, Jr., Vicel Mayor David S. Crosier, Councilman Edmond. J. "Eddie. Joe" Entsminger, Councilman Raymond C.  School located onl Lexington Avenue, Covington, Virginia.  Hunter and Councilman S. Allan' Tucker. City Manager: Krystal Onaitis City Attorney: Mark) Popovich Erika) Hunter and" Tonya Jones.  Thei meeting was called to order by Covington School Board Chairman Tamala Preston with the following members present: Chairman Preston, Vice Chairman Bert Baker, Jonathan Arritt, Thej purpose of the meeting was: (1). Public Hearing held byt the Covington City School Board regarding the proposed merger ofthe Covington City School System and the. Alleghany County School System; (2) Consideration of adoption ofl Resolution R-20-33 to consolidate the City of  Covington School Superintendent Melinda Snead-Johnson  Covington School System and the. Alleghany County School System. School Board Chairman Preston opened the Public) Hearing.  There were approximately twenty-five speakers and five letters read during the Public Hearing. Approximately: seventeen oft the speakers and three ofthel letters written were opposed tot the merger of thes school systems. Issues discussed included: pasti failure of consolidation of governments due toi inability to reach agreements; transportation; quality of education with smaller class size; dedication ofCovington's teachers; noted aj poll taken with 93% oft the, . educators opposed to the merger; funding recently cut byt the State of Virginia for this merger and overall funding cuts to education; parent's concerns with larger classrooms andi many other The speakers and lettersi ini favor of the merger included issues such as: more opportunities for students; ar need for vision for the future; financial concerns and the need for the community to The speakers were passionate about this issue and all wanted what was best for the students in both the Covington City School System and the Alleghany County School System.  issues.  come together.  The Public) Hearing was closed. Ai five minute recess was called.  Following the recess, Chairman Preston called the meeting to order and read the Resolution of Authorization for Consolidation of Covington City Public Schools and. Alleghany County Public Following the motion to authorize the merger oft the Covington City School System and the Alleghany County School System, comments were. heard from the members of the Covington Erika Hunter expressed her opposition tot the merger stating thats she is concerned about the children, staff andj parents noting thatt thisi isal life changing situation. She expressed concerns that thisi issue and action is all about the money and that there are too many unanswered Bert Baker expressed his opposition to the merger stating that thisi issue was not initiated byt the Covington City Schools. Hei noted the: success stories oft the Covington Schools and the need for  Schools = Code of Virginia Sec. 22.1-79(8).  School Board.  questions.    9/10/2020 Pg.2  choices. Students should bet the topi priority and the size of our schools allows teachers ands staff Tamala Preston spoke in favor oft the merger while expressing appreciation: for the outstanding group of teachers and their passion for the: students. She stated that shei is looking att the big picture with more opportunities for students, combining resources and that we are better and At thist time, ar roll call vote oft the Covington School Board was held as follows:  tol better connect with the students.  stronger together. Mr. Arritt- - Yes Mrs. Hunter- - No vote was Yes. Mr. Baker- No Mrs. Preston- - Yes  Ms.. Jones read the Conflict of Interest section regarding her legal ability to vote ont thisi issue as shei is employed byt the Alleghany County School Board andi is ai member of the Covington City School Board. Ms.. Jones stated that shel had determined that she could vote ont thisi issue andl her  The vote of3 to 2 carried and the consolidation/merger was approved.  Following the vote by the Covington City School! Board, Covington City Council prepared to address the consolidation oft the Covington City Schools and the. Alleghany County Schools. Vice Mayor David Crosier read the Resolution Authorizing the Consolidation of Alleghany Ar motion was made by Vice Mayor Crosier, seconded by Mr. Hunter, to approve Resolution R- 20-33. Authorizing the Consolidation of Alleghany County and City of Covington School Following the motion, comments were heard from members of Council.  County and City ofCovington Schooll Districts.  Districts.  Mr. Entsminger noted that he works with EMS andi ist responsible for the care of those ini need. Hes stated thats sitting inl his chair on this night, was one oft the: most difficult decisions he hasl had tor make. He feltt that the plan presented is not the best] plan and expressed his opposition tot the Mr. Tucker stated his opposition to the consolidation oft the Covington School System and Alleghany School System. He noted thatt there are many unanswered questions. Mr. Tucker taught in the Covington City Schools and knows the teachers and thej positive aspects of the City Mayor Sibold noted that hei is a member oft the Joint Committee and has been through this Vicel Mayor Crosier praised Mr. Entsminger: for his courage in his comments. He statedt that hei is noti ini favor of the plan presented and that it needs al lot ofv work before iti is presented to the  consolidation.  Schools, lengthy process.  State Board of Education. Mayor Sibold- - For Vicel Mayor Crosier - Far Mr. Entsminger - Against Mr. Hunter- For Mr. Tucker- - Against  Att this time ar roll call vote of Council was held asi follows:  The vote of3to2 carried and the consolidation/merger oft the Covington City Schools and the  Alleghany County Schools was approved.  2    9/10/2020 Pg.3  No: further business to come before Council, thei meeting was adjourned.  heLuls THOMAS H. SIBOLD,JR,MAYOR  ATTEST:  Chipail EDITH S. WOOD, CITY CLERK  3