TRANSITION AND matriculation team

The Board of Trustees fully supports the efforts of the head of school to continue implementing what many perceive to be very divisive, racist, Marxist and anti-American indoctrination programs at Cape Henry Collegiate. Half the families in the school community reject the efforts while roughly half the families seem to support the endeavor that mimics the critical race theory and social justice programming in the local public schools. While this conflict has created a divided school community and damaged the school's reputation in the press, there remains an opportunity to create a smooth transition and matriculation plan for the legacy families associated with the school.

Facing expressed concerns from families and employees, the Board of Trustees, head of school and faculty have directly instructed those students, families and teachers who disagree with the racist and divisive political programming to simply leave the school. This is not an equitable response. There is a more reasonable path for transition and exit from the conflict.

We have formed the "Transition and Matriculation Team" to work with the Board of Trustees to formulate a plan that allows students and teachers to safely and gradually transition away from the school without harm to their prior investment in their education or employment and in a manner designed to prevent unknown financial issues for the school due to unexpected changes in enrollment or from potential employee or customer litigation.

In an email from Dr. Garran dated June 9. 2020 he stated the following: “Our Diversity and Inclusivity Committee with our larger faculty and staff will develop actionable steps.” Who represents and chairs this committee? Have actionable steps been suggested? If so, what? What is discussed during the parental zoom meetings that are divided by race category?

The program for international students currently is comprised of more than ninety percent of the students from China. Is there a specific reason for this lack of diversity in this program? Is there any effort to bring the program into a more diverse balance that reflects the world as a whole?

For the first time in school history, the Cape Henry Collegiate Parents' Association was prohibited from providing any Christmas or Jewish Holiday related programming and decorations. Why did the board approve this directive and is there room for Christian and Jewish representation on this committee?

Will the school require a periodic COVID testing program similar to Norfolk Academy? Does a student have the option of protecting their individual freedom and privacy by obtaining a test from their personal doctor? Are proper protections in place to protect release of private health information? Will vaccinated children be required to continue to wear masks? Are children who test positive for the antibodies required to continue to wear masks? Will vaccinations become mandatory? Has the school consulted with professionals to weigh the potential damages to the very young children as a result of the mask and separation policies versus the actual risks? 

Define diversity and inclusivity as being used by the school? Define racism? Racist? Anti-racist? Not racist? as being used by the school?

Do parents have a right to know the advisory activities, guidance counselor community activities, and assembly topics? If so, can a frequent means of communicating these non classroom lessons be established?

The head of school declared the country and the school as systemically racist. Does the Board of Trustees consider Cape Henry Collegiate to be systemically racist? If so, what changes in the system, oversight and leadership have been made to address this important issue?

On page 32 of the campus reopening plan, it is stated that Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities will be providing staff training. Has this taken place? What did the training entail and how is it being implemented?

Did any officer, director, or trustee have a family relationship or business relationship with any other officer, director, trustee, or key employee during the past five years?

Are students required to learn and utilize gender inclusive pronouns?

What concepts related to sexual identity are introduced to the children and at what age. Are there any policies surrounding this topic? Who determines where the "safe spaces" are located and do the teachers with the "safe spaces" have specialized training?

If an administrator, counselor, or teacher believes the critical theory worldview, is it possible for them to accept those who do not adhere to that worldview especially since critical theory is a closed minded theory? By closed minded, those who espouse critical race theory only label those that do not as unconsciously racist not as someone they can simply agree to disagree with.

American Patriots are, by definition, anti-socialist and anti-communist. Many of the recent initiatives of the board of trustees are rooted in socialist or communist ideology and are causing division in the community by design. Is Cape Henry Collegiate the proper forum for these initiatives?

What is the school policy regarding employee communications with the students before and after graduation? If a parent does not wish to have a faculty member directly texting or messaging their child via social media is there is process in place to ensure this does not occur?

Approximately half the student body enrolled in Cape Henry Collegiate prior to the arrival of the new strategic plan and current head of school. Will the Board consider segmenting those students who do not wish to receive social justice training? Alternatively will the Board approve a plan that allows students to withdraw from the school, physically, yet receive a diploma and transcript utilizing structured AP coursework from an organization such as the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth or an appropriate dual enrollment program?