♫ COME MOVE YOUR HEAD TO THE BEAT GET ON YOUR FEET MOVE YOUR FEET ♫ ♫ YOU´RE ONLY UNIQUE ♫ ♫ THE CITY THAT WE STAY IN THE TOWN THAT WE MEET ♫ ♫ GRAFFITI STREET ♫ ♫ REVIEW THE ISSUES THAT YOU RESPECT ♫ ♫ FOREVER WE CENTRAL WE MOVING AHEAD ♫ ♫ WE BE TAKING TRIPS LIKE ARUBA BARBADOS MARTINIQUE ♫ ♫ MOVE YOUR HEAD TO THE BEAT MOVE YOUR FEET YOU´RE ONLY UNIQUE ♫ ♫ MOVE YOUR HEAD TO THE BEAT GET OFF YOUR FEET MOVE YOUR FEET ♫ ♫ YOU´RE ONLY UNIQUE ♫ >>> WELCOME BACK TO "GRAFFITI STREET," WELCOME TO PART TWO OF OUR TWO-PART MINISERIES ON PERSONAL LEARNING.

I´M YOUR HOST FROM THE ST. JOHN DISTRICT.

TODAY OUR GUEST IS AN ELECTED MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

I WANT TO START THINGS OFF.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION?

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

FIRST I´D LIKE TO THANK THE "GRAFFITI STREET" HOSTS AND PRODUCTION TEAM FOR THE INVITE.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PROVIDES FINANCIAL AID TO THE VIRGIN ISLAND STUDENTS, TEACHERS, OTHER PROFESSIONALS IN EDUCATION, GOVERNING STANDARDS AND POLICIES OF THE VIRGIN ISLAND PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

OKAY.

SO I THINK MY FIRST MAIN QUESTION TO YOU IS, YOU KNOW, AWHILE AGO WE JUST HAD EXAMS.

THIS YEAR SINCE WE´RE ONLINE, GIVING OPTIONS TO IT´S DOER A PERFORMANCE TASK OR DO LIKE A STANDARDIZED EXAM FOR TWO HOURS.

SO MY QUESTION IS, DO YOU THINK IN THE FUTURE WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THAT OPTION?

BECAUSE PERSONALLY, I THINK I DID BETTER WITH THE PERFORMANCE TASK BECAUSE I HAD A CHANCE TO BE WITH MY COMMUNITY AND LEARN MORE WITH IT.

DO YOU THINK I CAN DO MORE OF THAT IN THE FUTURE?

>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT PSAT?

>> JUST EXAMS IN GENERAL.

>> EXAMS IN GENERAL.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT´S NOT A BOARD FUNCTION, SO TO SPEAK, IT´S REALLY AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS UNDER THE SCHOOL AND ITS COUNSELORS.

BUT THE BOARD CAN PARTAKE AND SUPPORT STUDENTS AND FIND OTHER COLLABORATIVE WAYS WHILE WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.

>> OKAY.

SO I HAVE A QUESTION MYSELF.

WHAT ARE THE MOST, LIKE, PRESSING CONCERNS ON THE BOARD ITSELF?

IS THERE ANY AGENCIES TO FIX THOSE CONCERNS?

>> THERE IS.

RIGHT NOW, CURRENTLY, ONE OF THE MOST -- WELL, THERE´S A FEW.

BUT ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING MATTERS CURRENTLY IS TO DEVELOP A DIGITAL LEARNING POLICY FOR THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

ALSO, WE NEED TO HIRE A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HERE AT BOARD OF EDUCATION.

WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE ONE.

WE ALSO NEED TO START RAMPING UP OUR COMMUNITY WORK, PERTINENT PROJECTS, AND START WORKING ON POLICIES, NEW POLICIES FOR THE BOARD.

ALSO, MOST IMPORTANTLY AS WELL, JUST SORT OF LIKE LOOKING AT THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, MEANING THE DIGITAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT STUDENTS SUCH AS YOURSELVES HAVE BEEN PARTAKING IN SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

SINCE THE STORMS CAME, SOME STUDENTS IF NOT THE MAJORITY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A FULL DAY OF SCHOOL.

WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE DATA AND INFORMATION SURROUNDING THAT.

WE WANT TO KIND OF PUT THEM ON THE SCALE, VIRTUAL VERSUS LEARNING IN PERSON.

I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THAT ARE LEARNING COMPREHENSION, RETENTION, LOOK AT THAT AND SEE WHAT´S LOOKING AND NOT WORKING.

>> WHAT DOES A DIGITAL POLICY ENTAIL?

LIKE WHAT IS IT?

>> WELL, IT WOULD INCLUDE -- CURRENTLY, WE DON´T HAVE ONE.

BUT I SUPPOSE WHEN WE AS A BOARD -- BECAUSE I´M JUST ONE MEMBER -- START DEVELOPING SUCH A POLICY, IT WOULD INCLUDE ALL THE TECHNOLOGY THAT SURROUNDS LEARNING FROM A VIRTUAL STANDPOINT, ALONG WITH GRADING MATRIXES AND WHAT DIFFERENT SORT OF GRADING SYSTEMS WOULD BE IN PLACE FOR THE VIRTUAL LEVEL.

ALONG WITH POLICIES AND REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE DIGITAL LEARNING.

>> SO I HAVE A QUESTION WITH REGARDS TO ADMINISTERING THE DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES THAT YOU WOULD NEED FOR A VIRTUAL ONLINE PROGRAM.

HOW WOULD YOU SEE TOWARD -- IN THE FUTURE DEVELOPING THIS VIRTUAL POLICY LOOK LIKE, INCLUDING ACCESS TO DIFFERENT -- YEAH, DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES?

LIKE THE COMPUTER, THE PHONES?

LIKE JUST BASIC INTERNET ACCESS?

BECAUSE THAT´S A STRUGGLE HERE IN THE VI.

>> I AGREE, I AGREE.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM LEAPS FORWARD INTO THE ERA OF TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT.

WE HAVE NEEDS IN TECHNOLOGY FOR SOME TIME NOW, MEANING WE PEOPLE, AND WE HAVE PROGRAMS SUCH AS TITLE V WHICH CREATED FUNDING TO BRING IN CHROMEBOOKS, TABLETS, LAPTOPS, ALL OF THAT, TO THE SCHOOLS SO THAT WE COULD START THE TECHNOLOGICAL DIGITAL LEARNING PROCESS.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT THERE´S STILL A LOT MORE WORK TO DO.

AND THE DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH THE BOARD, ALL PARTS OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL STUDENTS HAVE ALL OF THE PREREQUISITES CONCERNING DIGITAL LEARNING.

WHETHER WE HAVE TO ISSUE LAPTOPS OR CHROMEBOOKS OR TABLETS OR WHATEVER IS DEEMED ADEQUATE, AS WELL AS GIVING THEM THE ACCESS TO INTERNET.

AND THAT SHOULD ALL BE DELIVERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

>> THANK YOU.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GO BACK JUST A LITTLE BIT.

WHEN YOU SAY MORE ADMINISTRATIVE TYPE THINGS, THEN HOW CAN STUDENTS ADDRESS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SO WE CAN ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE?

>> OH, THAT WOULD BE EXCELLENT.

I AM ALWAYS A LISTENING EAR.

AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE ALSO MORE THAN WILLING TO HEAR FROM ANYONE, INCLUDING MOST OF OUR STUDENTS, CONCERNING THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY PARTICIPATE IN DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

SO IT WOULD BE VERY EASY FOR ANY OF YOU TO REACH US.

YOU CAN CALL OUR OFFICE.

774-4546 ON ST. THOMAS.

I CAN´T RECALL THE ST. CROIX NUMBER.

BUT ONCE YOU CALL, AND ALSO WE HAVE A WEBSITE, WWW.MYVIBOE.COM.

YOU CAN FIND OUR CONTACT INFORMATION THERE.

JUST SEND A LETTER OR EMAIL OR WHATEVER YOU DEEM NEEDS TO BE DONE CONCERNING WHATEVER YOU FEEL, I KNOW YOU GUYS DO A LOT AND YOUR VOICES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY TO YOUR GENERATION.

SO WE´LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HEAR WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO SAY.

>> SO, LIKE, LIKE I KNOW WE CAN´T PICK WHO´S ON THE BOARD.

BUT, LIKE, AS STUDENTS -- ARE THERE ANY PLANS FOR STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION?

>> I AM A LONE MEMBER HERE, SO IF THERE IS SOME SORT OF POLICY OR PLAN SURROUNDING HAVING A STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD, I AM UNFORTUNATELY UNAWARE OF IT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THAT´S AN EXCELLENT SUGGESTION.

AND I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE INCORPORATING YOU, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, OUR NEXT GENERATION, IN ALL ASPECTS OF NOT ONLY EDUCATION, BUT THIS ENTIRE GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE HERE.

THE YOUTHS ARE THE FUTURE, AND THAT´S SOMETHING THAT I TRULY BELIEVE IN.

I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU ALL DECIDE TO, PLEASE GET INVOLVED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WHEN IT´S TIME FOR YOU GUYS TO REGISTER TO VOTE, PLEASE DO SO, GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY.

I´M ALWAYS AN OPEN EAR FOR THAT AND HOPE THAT YOU DO BECOME MORE INVOLVED, NOT ONLY WITH EDUCATION, BUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS AS WELL.

>> SORRY, I JUST WANTED TO ASK ANOTHER FOLLOW-UP.

SO CURRENTLY THERE´S NO WAY, REALLY, TO, LIKE, MAKE MORE DECISIONS TOWARD THE BOARD, RIGHT?

OR DO WE HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES?

RIGHT NOW?

>> WHEN YOU SAY MAKE MORE DECISIONS -- >> LIKE, CAN WE MAKE MORE SUGGESTIONS?

TO THE BOARD?

>> WELL, I BELIEVE YOU CAN.

YEAH, OF COURSE.

I MEAN, YOU CAN CONTACT US AND REACH OUT TO US AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS, AS I EARLIER RELAYED -- CONTACT US.

WE´RE MORE THAN WILLING TO HEAR WHAT "GRAFFITI STREET" HAS TO SAY AND ANY STUDENTS, MAYBE THE STUDENT BODY IF THEY CHOOSE TO REACH OUT TO US, YOU KNOW, RELAY THEIR THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS OR EVEN IDEAS.

WE´RE MORE THAN WILLING TO HEAR THOSE AS WELL.

>> SO I HAVE A QUESTION.

WITH THE DYNAMIC OF STUDENTS LEARNING FROM BOTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, IS THERE UNIVERSAL POLICY THAT CAN BE PUT IN PLACE ACROSS THE BOARD FOR STUDENTS?

>> COULD YOU REPEAT THAT ONE MORE TIME?

>> OKAY, NO PROBLEM.

WITH DYNAMICS LIKE ACROSS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, IS THERE POLICY THAT CAN BE PUT INTO PLACE ACROSS THE BOARD FOR STUDENTS?

>> I BELIEVE WHAT YOU´RE ASKING IS CONCERNING DIGITAL LEARNING?

IS THAT WHAT I´M GETTING?

>> YES.

>> OKAY, YES.

SO WE HAVEN´T, UNFORTUNATELY, DEVELOPED THAT LEARNING POLICY AS YET.

IT IS ONE OF OUR HIGH-PRIORITY ITEMS, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER.

AND IT ALSO REVOLVES AROUND -- TO ENSURE FAIR ACADEMIC INTEGRITY, FAIR STUDENT ASSESSMENT, AND COMPLIANCE.

WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS -- IN THE DIGITAL POLICY, THAT STUDENTS ALSO UNDERSTAND THINGS SUCH AS PLAGIARISM, THINGS LIKE THAT AS WELL.

>> SO I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU GUYS HAVEN´T COME UP WITH THE POLICY, BUT HOW DO YOU GUYS PLAN ON COMING UP WITH THE POLICY?

WHERE ARE THE STEPS YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO TAKE TO FIND THE POLICY?

>> WELL, THAT´S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND THE LAW JUST RECENTLY PASSED, SO THE BOARD HAS BEEN MANDATED TO HAVE A NUMBER OF MONTHS TO BEGIN THE PROCESS, OR TO DEVELOP THE PROCESS, I SHOULD SAY.

HOW THAT LOOKS FOR ME AS A SINGLE MEMBER, ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION, MIGHT LOOK DIFFERENT TO ANOTHER MEMBER.

BUT IN MY MIND, I ENVISION LOOKING AT THE POLICY IN TRANCHES OR PIECES AND WORKING ON EACH SECTION OF THE POLICY ONE BY ONE AND DEVELOP ALL OF THE DATA METRICS CONCERNING HOW WE WILL ACHIEVE THAT PORTION OR WHAT COMPLIANCES OR POLICIES SURROUND THAT ONE SPECIFIC AREA.

DIGITAL LEARNING IS RELATIVELY NEW.

IN MY MIND, THE BEST THING TO DO IS LOOK AT WHAT HAS BEEN WORKING FOR OTHER JURISDICTIONS SUCH AS OURS AND INCORPORATE, IF POSSIBLE, THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO OUR TERRITORY AND OUR CHILDREN AS WELL.

WE WANT THE STANDARS TO BE JUST AS GOOD OR EVEN GREATER FOR OUR NEXT GENERATION.

LOOK AT OTHER JURISDICTIONS TO BEGIN WITH, LOOK AT WHAT THE REGULATIONS OF TITLE 17, WHICH IS VIRGIN ISLANDS EDUCATION LAW, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE DEVELOP THE POLICY, IT´S IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR CURRENT LAW AND ALSO WITH OUR CURRENT POLICIES SO THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE THEM ALONG WITH TECHNOLOGY.

>> OKAY.

SO FOR GRADING, LIKE WHEN IT COMES TO GRADING ASSIGNMENTS AND STUFF, CAN THE BOARD -- DOES IT SEEM LIKE THEY´RE MAKING AN OVERACHIEVING POLICY TO MAKE THINGS MORE FAIR?

FOR EXAMPLE, WITH PARTICIPATION BEING 25% OF YOUR GRADE, DO YOU THINK THAT´S TOO MUCH, OR DO YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE LOWERED?

>> WELL, THE BOARD HAS POLICIES CONCERNING GRADING.

BUT THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION REVOLVES AROUND THE BOARD DEVELOPING THAT SAME DIGITAL LEARNING POLICY THAT WE´RE TALKING ABOUT.

BECAUSE IT HAS TO INCLUDE THE GRADING MATRIX, AS I MENTIONED, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS TO SUPPLY EACH STUDENT WITH SUFFICIENT TECHNOLOGY AND ACCESS TO INTERNET AND MAKE IT REASONABLE FOR STUDENTS BUT ALSO CHALLENGING.

NOT ALL STUDENTS LEARN THE SAME, SO THEY SHOULDN´T BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE SAME TYPE OF GRADING, GRADING MATRIX, BECAUSE OF -- PERHAPS THEY MAY HAVE A DISABILITY OF SOME SORT.

BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT 25%, I BELIEVE THAT WAS DEVELOPED -- MEANING THE 25% FOR PARTICIPATION, THAT WAS DEVELOPED BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

BUT ONCE THAT POLICY IS DEVELOPED, I DON´T BELIEVE 25% PERSONALLY, AS A SINGLE MEMBER, SHOULD BE FOR PARTICIPATION, I THINK THAT´S A RELATIVELY HIGH PERCENTAGE.

PARTICIPATION, YOU HAVE TO BE THERE TO LEARN, IT´S VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT 25% IS QUITE HEAVY.

>> THANK YOU.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW, WITH REGARDS TO HOW LONG OUR CLASSES ARE -- BECAUSE PERSONALLY, ANTILLES HAS 80-MINUTE CLASSES.

AND THAT IS EXTREMELY LONG FOR BEING ON ZOOM.

AND JUST BEING IN CLASS.

IT´S ROUGH.

BUT I WANT TO KNOW, IS THERE GOING TO BE, LIKE, A STANDARD ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ZOOM AND VIRTUAL LEARNING IN GENERAL?

AND TO DIVVY IT UP?

IS IT GOING TO BE DIFFERENT FROM IN-SCHOOL LEARNING?

>> OKAY.

SO THAT´S A GOOD QUESTION.

IT´S IMPORTANT -- KNOW THAT, BEFORE I ANSWER THAT QUESTION, IT´S IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE CAN STAY IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER ALL DAY LONG.

AND OTHERS MAY NOT HAVE THE FOCUS REQUIRED, IF YOU CAN CALL IT THAT, TO SIT IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER ALL DAY LONG.

SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT VIRTUAL VERSUS IN-PERSON.

I THINK THAT THAT´S A VERY IMPORTANT FACTOR IN DEVELOPING OUR DIGITAL POLICY AS WELL.

BECAUSE WE´RE TALKING ABOUT RETENTION.

AND IT´S RETENTION MEANING WHAT CAN YOU RETAIN WHAT YOU´RE HOLDING IN YOUR MIND, WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED, BASICALLY.

AND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, ALONG WITH MYSELF, BELIEVE THAT PRACTICUM, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT IS BASICALLY HANDS-ON, IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE EDUCATION PRACTICE.

AGAIN, WE HAVE TO DEVELOP THAT DATA MATRIX.

IT NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED TO TRACK THIS PROCESS.

IT´S VERY IMPORTANT.

BECAUSE WE NEED TO KNOW RETENTION, AND TEACHERS SHOULD ASSESS THEIR STUDENTS QUARTERLY TO SHOW PROGRESS OR SETBACKS.

80 MINUTES, WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL, I WENT TO CLASS FOR 60 MINUTES.

DON´T ASK ME HOW LONG AGO THAT WAS, I´M OLD.

SO IT HAS CHANGED.

AND IT IS NOW, IN YOUR SCHOOL, IT´S 80 MINUTES.

AND WE CANNOT CONTROL HOW MUCH TIME THE PRIVATE OR PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS DECIDE TO HAVE THEIR STUDENTS IN CLASS FOR.

SO THAT´S A DECISION BY THEIR ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE.

SO THAT WOULD BE OUTSIDE OF THE BOARD´S PURVIEW.

>> AND SO PIGGYBACKING ON YOUR ANSWER, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BEING ABLE TO RETAIN INFORMATION AND STUFF, IT CAN BE HARD FOR STUDENTS, BEING BEHIND A COMPUTER FOR SO LONG.

BUT ASIDE FROM THAT, THERE ARE ALSO DISTRACTIONS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE AT HOME THAT PREVENT THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN CLASS.

SIMPLE DISTRACTIONS AROUND YOU WHICH SHOULD BE ELIMINATED AS A STUDENT, BUT HOW DO YOU THINK THE BOARD FEELS ABOUT THAT?

DO YOU THINK THEY TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION WITH THE 25% OF PARTICIPATION?

>> IT WOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT ALONG WITH THE PARENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT -- AND OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS TOTALLY OUT OF OUR CONTROL.

THE STORMS CHANGED EVERYTHING.

COVID-19 CHANGES EVERYTHING.

SO NOW WE HAVE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE.

AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PARENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ENVIRONMENT IS AS QUIET AS POSSIBLE AND BEST FOR LEARNING.

BUT IN FACT, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, ALONG WITH THE BOARD AND ANY OTHER ENTITY THAT IS WITHIN EDUCATION, SHOULD ALSO DO THEIR BEST TO ENSURE THAT THE STUDENTS, AND EVEN THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS, HAVE ALL OF THE -- WHAT WE CALL WRAP-AROUND SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR THEM.

WHETHER IT´S THE TEACHERS TO ACCLIMATE TO THIS NEW DIGITAL LEARNING OR LONG-DISTANCE LEARNING, WHETHER IT´S TUTORIALS, COUNSELING, TELESERVICES, EVEN SERVICES FOR CYBER BULLYING.

BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND CYBER BULLYING HAS NOW BECOME A LARGER THING HERE.

I MEAN, EVEN IN THE MAINLAND, BUT HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AS WELL.

I´VE HEARD A FEW STORIES ABOUT STUDENTS -- NOT TO SAY LIKE THAT, BUT HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH THE TEACHER WHILE HAVING A CLASS.

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FOR TELESERVICES, CYBER BULLYING, TUTORIALS, ADDITIONAL LEARNING COMPONENTS AS WELL.

>> SO I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS.

FIRSTLY, I´M IN TENTH GRADE, AND I HAVE ZERO HOURS BECAUSE I HAVE THE REST OF THIS YEAR BUT ELEVENTH AND TWELFTH YEAR TO GET COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS.

BUT FOR THE SENIORS WHO REALLY DON´T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME LEFT TO GET THEIR HOURS, WHAT WAS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROACH ON COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS THIS YEAR?

>> WELL, I KNOW THAT IT´S A 100-HOUR REQUIREMENT.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT WAS INSTITUTED BY LAW OUTSIDE OF THE PURVIEW OF THE BOARD.

BUT AREN´T YOU GUYS GETTING SOME COMMUNITY SERVICE BEING ON "GRAFFITI STREET"?

>> YES, SIR.

>> YEAH, GOOD, GOOD.

I´M GLAD YOU ARE GETTING SOME COMMUNITY SERVICE, THAT´S GOOD.

BUT IF YOU NEED MORE COMMUNITY SERVICE, HEY, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAN USE STUDENTS, ALLOWING STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, ALONG WITH ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY.

BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION MORE CLEARLY, 100 HOURS IN A COVID ENVIRONMENT MAY BE CHALLENGING.

IT´S NOT IMPOSSIBLE.

BUT IT MAY BE CHALLENGING.

AND WE HAVE TO FIND NEW WAYS OF TRYING TO GET BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WHEN WE SAY THE 100 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, WE DON´T WANT YOU TO FEEL THAT IT´S A BAD THING.

BECAUSE WE SHOW OUR LOVE AND CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT WE LIVE IN.

AND I THINK IT´S A VERY IMPORTANT LESSON FOR A YOUNG PERSON TO LEARN.

BECAUSE IF YOU TRULY, IN FACT, WANT TO REMAIN HERE AND LIVE YOUR LIFE HERE BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE YOUR CULTURE AND YOUR TRADITION AND YOUR HERITAGE IS, WE SHOULD ALL, YOUNG AND OLD, BE GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.

IT´S A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT LEARNING ASPECT.

SO WE HAVEN´T LOOKED AT CHANGING THE 100 HOURS, BUT IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE.

IF YOU NEED EXTRA HOURS, I HAVE SOME THINGS TO DO, COME SHRED SOME PAPER.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I THINK ANOTHER CONCERN, SOMETHING TO HAVE, IS LIKE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, LIKE YOU KNOW, SOME KIDS WANT TO KNOW -- A CREDIT SCORE, MAKE SURE IT´S GOOD.

DO YOU THINK AN ADULTING 101 TYPE CLASS, YOU CAN DO THINGS LIKE CREDIT SCORE, WHAT TAXES ARE, TAX REQUIREMENTS, THINGS THAT DON´T MAKE MUCH SENSE TO ME.

DO YOU THINK I CAN TAKE A CLASS LIKE THAT, SO I CAN UNDERSTAND, AND OTHER STUDENTS TOO?

>> I LOVE THAT QUESTION.

BECAUSE I´M BIG ON THAT, TOO.

I THINK THAT´S ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPONENTS THAT I WAS NEVER ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN FULLY IN MY EDUCATION.

BECAUSE AS AN ADULT, I HAD TO LEARN ABOUT BUILDING CREDIT, HOW TO MANAGE MY CHECKBOOK, THINGS LIKE THAT.

I THINK THAT THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT AREAS OF LEARNING AS WELL.

WE ALL NEED TO HAVE RESPONSIBLE CREDIT AND UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN MANAGE OUR FINANCES PROPERLY.

IT´S A VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT, AND I´M FOR IT AS WELL.

I´M LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING THAT TO THE BOARD IF IT´S NOT BEING BROUGHT ALREADY.

WE ARE WORKING ON A LOT OF POLICIES, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

AND SOME OF THEM, MOST OF THEM I SHOULD SAY, ARE POLICIES THAT WE´VE HAD BEFORE THAT WE WANT TO REVISE AND UPDATE AND BRING INTO THIS NEW ERA.

BECAUSE OF THE SOME OF THE POLICIES ARE VERY OLD AND ANTIQUATED.

BUT WHEN I SAY OLD AND ANTIQUATED, IT DOESN´T NECESSARILY MEAN A BAD THING.

WITH MY BOARD MEMBERS NOW, I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE TRANSCENDING, WE ARE A LOT MORE DIVERSE IN REPRESENTATION NOW.

WE HAVE A FEW MEMBERS THAT CAME IN THAT AR BIT OLDER.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE EQUAL REPRESENTATION OR CONTRAST WITH YOUNG AND OLD IS VERY GOOD ON THE BOARD RIGHT NOW.

AND I THINK THAT THAT´S GOING TO BE A REAL GAME CHANGER FOR US.

BECAUSE AS YOUNG PEOPLE, WE WANT TO LEAN ON OUR ELDERS AND THE ONES WHO HAVE MORE TENURE, UNDERSTANDING THAT HAVE BEEN HERE, DONE THAT, AND ALSO THEY THEMSELVES MAY BE MORE OPEN TO WHAT WE KNOW NOW AS GENERATIONS, AS A NEW GENERATION OR YOUNGER GENERATION.

BECAUSE WHEN I GET OLD, I´M GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR YOU GUYS TO HELP ME WITH WHAT I NEED TO DO AS WELL.

SO ONE HAND WASHES THE OTHER.

>> YEAH.

I WANTED TO SAY, SPEAKING OF OLD AND ANTIQUATED, SO THE SCHOOL HAS A RECOMMENDATION OF 180 DAYS OF SCHOOL TIME.

SO WOULD THERE BE ANY REVISIONS?

BECAUSE 180 DAYS, IS THERE LIKE SOME PROVEN THEORY BEHIND THAT?

>> THAT DISCUSSION HAS NOT COME UP AS YET.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT THAT -- THAT IS DECIDED UPON BY THE BOARD AND THE DEPARTMENT.

I DO NOT KNOW IF IT´S IN THE CODE AS WRITTEN LAW.

SO I WOULD HAVE TO REFER, TO CHECK ON THAT.

BUT IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE BOARD AND THE DEPARTMENT CERTIFIES OR APPROVALS THE AMOUNT OF DAYS FOR EACH SCHOOL YEAR, BUT THAT CONVERSATION HAS NOT COME UP SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE FROM THE PREVIOUS BOARD THAT WE HAVE TO ADHERE TO IN THIS CURRENT TIME.

>> SO I DON´T WANT TO CUT YOU OFF, BUT THE SHOW IS ENDING, SO WE HAVE TO CUT OFF FROM HERE.

I WANT TO THANK, FOR ANGEL BOLQUES, FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

I WANT TO SAY A THANK YOU TO THE CAST.

I APPRECIATE YOU FOR COMING ON AND ANSWERING SOME OF OUR QUESTIONS THAT WE´VE BEEN DYING TO KNOW THE ANSWERS TO.

SO WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOYED YOUR TIME WITH US.

I´M JADYNN.

JOIN US AGAIN NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER EXCITING EPISODE OF "GRAFFITI STREET."

>> THANK YOU, GUYS.

♫ COME MOVE YOUR HEADS TO THE BEAT GET ON YOUR FEET MOVE YOUR FEET ♫ ♫ THE ONLY UNIQUE SHOW YOU GET TO SPEAK ♫ ♫ THE CITY THAT WE STAY IN THE TOWN THAT WE MEET ♫ ♫ THE BLOCK THAT WE LIVE WE LIVE GRAFFITI STREET ♫ >> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.