Incumbent Kristen Pence Responds on Public School Policy Guidelines, Counseling Resources, Parental Review

This letter is in response to a recent Royal Examiner segment regarding the upcoming school board election. It should first be noted that it is the duty of the school board to set policy for the school division and to ensure those policies are in line with state and federal laws.

In 2021 the Virginia Department of Education, not the Virginia School Board Association, as incorrectly stated by my opponent, released model policies pursuant to § 22.1-23.3 of the Code of Virginia. Those model policies became the center of a controversial debate in our community in July and August 2021. Warren County Public Schools’ existing policies were found to be in compliance with applicable nondiscrimination laws, and the policies were updated only by adding the code number to the legal reference footnote in our school division policies prior to the start of the 2021-22 school year.

While a school division must remain in compliance with state and federal laws, there are opportunities to adapt policies to fit within our community’s values. A bathroom study to investigate retrofitting multi-stall bathrooms into private stalls was conducted and found to be financially out of reach at the time. Instead, secondary schools added unisex signage and opened up numerous single-user restrooms previously closed to student use. Since the start of the 2021-22 school year, principals at both high schools have found those unisex restrooms to be popular among students for a variety of reasons.

During the October 5, 2022, board meeting, the current Warren County School Board voted unanimously to discontinue policy services through the Virginia School Board Association. Policy services continue to be contracted through Sands Anderson PC to ensure Warren County Public Schools policies are tailored to meet our community values and needs. On Tuesday, July 18, the Virginia Department of Education released the 2023 Model Policies on Ensuring Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools. The new model policies emphasize parental rights, consent, and involvement in all aspects of their child’s education and counseling services. I will work with my fellow school board members to ensure that Warren County Public Schools are in compliance with these updated policies.

The next concern mentioned by my opponent is the use of the Second Step program, which is just one of many resources used by our school counselors. The Second Step program has been used in most of our elementary schools since 2015 to address the Virginia Department of Education’s mandated counseling standards, which have not changed since 2004. While social-emotional learning has proven to help students learn strategies for coping with bullying, modifying behavior issues, reducing test anxiety, and improving academic performance, it is important to note that Warren County Public Schools did not adopt the optional social-emotional learning standards in its counseling programs. In January 2022, the Board took action to pause the school counseling program while it could be reviewed by parents, the Board, and community members. School counselors gave a presentation at the January 21, 2022, school board work session to publicly address board and community concerns. Parents were invited to meet with counselors and administrators to discuss and review the counseling program at each school. Counselors are happy to discuss curriculum used with parents, and all parents and guardians have the option to opt their child out of counseling services.

Over the past 3.5 years, I have demonstrated my ability to work with my fellow board members and listen to parental and community input while maintaining focus on the academic education of our children.

Kristen J. Pence
Candidate, South River School Board

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