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Montgomery County Public Schools board meeting, Sep 15, 2026

2 h 47 min · 4 public speakers

Reading and test scores ▶ 29:13

This board doesn’t post agenda times. Click a board member to jump to where they first speak; we list only members whose voice our check named. Video length 2 h 47 min.

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What happened

What happened at this meeting

Montgomery County school board approves amended resolution to protect public school funding 1:56:18

  • The superintendent presented assessment data, reporting reading performance rising to a 78 and math performance rising to a 78, with math well above the state average of 73. 23:11
  • The board approved the Christiansburg High School renovation project supplemental appropriation request 7 in favor. 1:23:26
  • Ed Gitre offered a friendly amendment to include a paragraph stating that private institutions receiving public funds are not legally bound by the Individuals with Disabilities Act, and the motion carried 5 in favor, 1 abstained and 1 opposed. 1:58:38

Until Nov 4, lines where a board member takes a side don't name the member. Why →

Item by item (15)
  1. Return to open session and certification 4:42
    • The return to open session passed 6 in favor, and the certification passed with 6 in favor and 1 abstained. 5:15
  2. Personnel report 8:41
    • Laura Purcell called for a motion to approve the personnel report as presented. 8:41
    • The personnel report was approved 7 in favor. 9:12
  3. Public address 11:35
    • Students from the Future Business Leaders of America chapter at Blacksburg High School described the chapter's community service and fundraising plans. 13:34
    • A speaker at public comment said September is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Month and asked for ongoing training on the disorder for all MCPS employees, including the school board. 15:01
  4. Financial summary and payment of bills 21:39
    • The board considered acknowledging receipt of the financial summary report for July 2026 and approving payment of the bills. 21:39
    • Both motions passed 7 in favor. 22:40
  5. Superintendent report and assessment data 23:11
    • The superintendent said the division is kicking off its strategic plan and noted National Arts in Education Week, September 13th through 19th. 24:15
    • The superintendent reported science scores dropped from 81 to 76 but remained above the state average of 71, and said dual enrollment reached 1,095 students and AP tests taken rose from 503 to 739. 29:13
    • The superintendent said a school-by-school presentation would probably come at the next business meeting in October. 29:13
  6. Education association update 43:21
    • Ed Gitre asked whether a provision allowing the association to recruit new members had been left out of a revised policy. 49:01
  7. Strategic planning process presentation 51:01
    • A presenter said the strategic plan team will include 25 to 30 people, half of whom represent the community. 51:26
    • A presenter said a draft plan would be on the website probably in December and board approval would probably occur in May or June. 1:02:00
    • Penny Franklin asked whether the presenters would meet with the community in person, and a presenter said a community summit and a dedicated website are planned. 1:18:29
  8. Golf simulator and renovation appropriations 1:22:09
    • Laura Purcell said the Patrone Endowment appropriation is for a golf simulator at Christiansburg High School. 1:22:09
    • A staff member said the Christiansburg High School renovation appropriation returns about $45,000 reimbursed by a subcontractor for lighting. 1:24:20
    • Both appropriations were approved 7 in favor. 1:23:24
  9. Grant proposals 1:25:27
    • A staff member said the items are proposals and not awards. ~1:28:16
    • A staff member said the division was notified it received an extended school year grant of approximately $400,000. 1:34:36
    • The school-based mental health grant proposal was approved 7 in favor. 1:33:53
  10. Summer professional development report 1:36:11
    • A staff member said the middle school training cost $45,000, of which $41,177.02 was funded through a VDOE school improvement grant. 1:36:28
    • Derek Rountree said sending the staff to Atlanta for training would have cost $488,000 to $689,000. 1:49:23
    • Dana M. Partin asked whether the payment of bills could note when a grant covers most of a cost, and a staff member said the question would go to the cabinet. 1:51:36
  11. Resolution to protect public school funding 1:56:18
    • The board considered three versions of the resolution, and a motion was made to approve the shortest version. 1:56:18
    • Ed Gitre offered a friendly amendment to add a paragraph on the Individuals with Disabilities Act. 1:58:38
    • The resolution passed with 5 in favor, 1 abstained and 1 opposed. 1:59:47
  12. Item 1:59:53
    • Derek Rountree asked whether the policy date would be updated after approval. 2:00:35
    • The policy was approved 7 in favor. 2:01:18
  13. Policy review priorities 2:01:21
    • A staff member presented options to review the 53 legislative policy updates in 4 batches or 8 batches. 2:02:43
    • One board member made a motion to use batches of 6, and another board member said to go with option number one. 2:11:17
    • Derek Rountree said the board would do 6 batches with full policy updates, not just the legislative changes. 2:22:39
  14. Board retreat agenda 2:22:56
    • Laura Purcell listed possible retreat items, including norms and protocols, a board self-evaluation and a school finance overview. 2:22:56
    • One board member said adding finance to the retreat would leave too little time to do it justice. 2:26:43
    • One board member said the board needs 2 members on the strategic planning committee and proposed a survey to rank priorities. 2:27:33
  15. Legislative agenda 2:31:19
    • One board member said a one-pager makes the most sense, and another board member agreed. 2:32:34
    • One board member asked that language referencing that SROs and SSOs be funded through law enforcement and not through schools be added back. 2:33:16
    • Derek Rountree asked whether the list could be sent to the VSBA as the county's legislative priorities. 2:40:51

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

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Video: posted by the district as “September 15, 2026 MCPS School Board Meeting”