Beginning with its January 8 meeting, the Charlottesville City School Board will be experimenting with moving meetings an hour later, to 6pm, to see if public participation at the meetings increases. The Board views this as a trial for the January 8, February 5, and March 5 meetings, after which it will decide whether to keep the 6pm start time or return to 5pm. The Board’s monthly closed session would also move an hour later, starting at 5pm.

“Hearing public feedback is foundational to the work we do,” said Board Chair Emily Dooley. “Our hope is that by shifting the meeting to a later time, we can encourage more community members to participate either in person or via Zoom.”

The Board decided to move the start time at its September 4 meeting (after an initial discussion at the School Board “Advance” in August). 

Ways to Watch or Participate in Charlottesville City School Board Meetings

Meetings are typically held the first Thursday of the month at 6pm in the Booker T. Reaves Media Center at Charlottesville High School, 1400 Melbourne Road. Community members can watch or participate in a number of ways. 

Watch:

• In-person: The community is invited to attend meetings in person at Charlottesville High School, in the Booker T. Reaves Media Center.

• Via Zoom: The registration link is sent monthly to all Charlottesville City Schools staff, families, and CHS students, as well as to subscribers of School Board notices. In addition, the notice is posted to the division’s website.

• On Facebook: The Cville Schools Facebook page shows meetings live (and the recordings are available later).

• On YouTube: The meetings stream live and are later available for viewing on the Charlottesville City Schools YouTube channel. 

• On TV: Meetings are simulcast live on Education Channel 14 (Comcast Channel 14 in Charlottesville); they are also later broadcast on Thursday & Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday at 12 and 7 p.m. of the same week as the meeting, and throughout the following month.

Give Public Comment at Meetings:

• In-person: Attend the meeting in person at CHS and sign up to speak at the dais. 

• Via Zoom: The registration link is sent monthly to all Charlottesville City Schools staff, families, and CHS students, as well as to subscribers of School Board notices. In addition, the notice is posted to the division’s website. Use the Zoom “raise your hand” feature to speak during public comment sections. 

Other Ways to Share Your Voice: The Board continually accepts feedback or comments.

• The community can also email the School Board at schoolboard@charlottesvilleschools.org. 

• Board members regularly attend school and community events.