Day 16

Yesterday I drove down to Richmond for the Virginia School Board Conference. Wyck Knox and I presented "Lessons and Opportunities of Net Zero Energy Schools." Although I was eager to speak to the educational opportunities, most people wanted to get down to the dollars and "sense" of it all. Bottom line, net zero energy schools are a no brainer for Wyck and I, but we enjoyed taking people through the why. Wyck answered many great questions (I always learn something new when I am around him) and we both enjoyed meeting people from all over the state. Dr. Patrick Murphy and Deirdra McLaughlin also were in attendance and conducted a session called "Building Community Engagement for a Smooth Budget Process." To be honest, they did the session five times, as did we. I wish I had gotten to some of the other sessions, but I was too engaged with my favorite topic to wander around. Governor Terry McAuliffe made remarks, but the Westside Elementary School Debate Team really stole the show. Three students demonstrated their debate skills on the topic of Brown vs. Board of Education. These fine eleven and twelve year olds made an impression on the nearly four hundred attendees. I was supremely impressed by their teacher/coach Mr. Jeffery May who exuded high expectations and positive praise. Way to go Westside Elementary!