[Call to Order]
[00:00:08]
GOOD EVENING. AT THIS TIME, I ASKED THE GOVERNMENT PLEASE MEET YOUR DEVICE TO AVOID INTERRUPTIONS UNTIL CALLED UPON. I CALLED THE ORDER THIS BOARD BUSINESS MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARPER COUNTY ON SEPTEMBER 12TH. 2022 AT 6 33. PE CONDUCTED IN A HYBRID FASHION MISSES. RALLO, PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL CALL. PRESENT. SHE'S HERE. PRESENT. PRESENT. PRESENT.
YOU'RE PRESIDENT. PRESENT. PRESIDENT. HERE. PRESIDENT. RIGHT, MR RICCARDI. THE FOLLOWING PROCESS WILL BE USED THIS EVENING. BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF WILL MUTE THEIR DEVICES UNTIL CALLED UPON BOARD MEMBERS. PLEASE HOLD ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS TILL THE END OF EACH PRESENTATION. FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION, MS KATIA WILL CALL ON EACH BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AND ASK QUESTIONS. BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF MEMBERS SHOULD RESTATE THEIR NAME BEFORE SPEAKING DOCTOR BOLSON WILL RESPOND TO QUESTIONS ARE CALLING THE APPROPRIATE STAFF MEMBER TO DO SO. WHAT A ROLL CALL IS TAKEN FOR EMOTION. I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE REPLY WITH A YES OR NO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BOARD MEMBERS. YOU HAVE THE AGENDA BEFORE YOU DO HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. DAVID, I MOVED TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. HMM. SECOND AND THIS IS PARTICULARLY SONIA I SECOND MARKET TREES THERE ONE CHOICE. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN PAPER. PLEASE SAY YES. YES, YES. I MEAN, YES. ANY OF THOSE. PLEASE SAY NO. ALL RIGHT. MS RICCARDI. LET'S GET READY TO RISE FOR THE PLANE. FIVE STATES OF AMERICA. WHICH STANDS. AND JUST. ALRIGHT. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. DR BAUER.
[A. Board Member Comments]
I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU. THANK YOU SO. GOOD EVENING, OR I HAVE ONE QUICK COMMITTEE REPORT.SO LAST WEEK, THE CALENDAR COMMITTEE HAD ITS FIRST MEETING THEIR WORK ON THE CALENDAR FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. THE PRESENTATION WILL BE NEXT WEEK, AND I DON'T MISS SPOIL THAT. BUT I DID WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT DID NOT MAKE IT INTO THE CALENDAR. FOR NEXT YEAR. BUT WHICH WE DISCUSSED QUITE A BIT. SO AS MANY OF YOU KNOW. SO COUNTY.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS GET OUT EARLY EVERY WEDNESDAY DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. UM SO WE HAD A PROPOSAL. FOR HARFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS, TOO. GET OUT IN OUR EARLY EVERY WEDNESDAY TO ALLOW FOR MORE TEACHER PLANNING TIME. WE BASICALLY SAID NO, THERE'S A LOT OF DETAILS THERE. NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO TRY TO DO FOR NEXT YEAR. BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP BEFORE IN DISCUSSION. AND SO JUST LIKE EVERYONE TO BE THINKING ABOUT IT FOR DOWN THE ROAD IN THE FUTURE, WHETHER WE WANT TO DO IT, HOW WE WANT TO DO IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS KARWACKI. I JUST WANT TO SAY, WELCOME BACK TO ALL OF OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS, AND I WISH YOU A HAPPY, PRODUCTIVE AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR. THANK YOU, DR HAROLD. NO COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR ROBINSON. NO COMMENTS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. MISS KELLY. I'M JUST SORRY I'M NOT THERE TONIGHT IN PERSON. MY HUSBAND'S OUT OF TOWN, SO I HAVE CHILDCARE DUTY TONIGHT. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, NO COMMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT , MISS BLANKEN COMMENTS THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. MR CARNEY. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT GAUTIER AGAIN. WELCOME READER AND COMMENTS EARLIER. WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL, EVERYONE. WE'RE LOOKING FOR A REALLY, REALLY GREAT YEAR UNEVENTFUL BUT A PRODUCTIVE NEW YEAR AND I WAS PROUD TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MILLION FATHER MARCH. IT WAS REALLY FUN. UM YEAH, IT WAS AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME OUT
[00:05:05]
IN THE RAIN AT BAKERSFIELD ELEMENTARY, AND IT WAS JUST A BLAST. WE HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME AND THE STUDENTS WERE HAPPY AND WAVING. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE YOUTUBE, THE VIDEO YOU HAVE TO SEE IT IT IT WAS GREAT A LOT OF GREAT MUSIC AND GREAT PUBLICITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.UM VERY BRIEFLY. I TOO WOULD LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE BACK TO SCHOOL STUDENTS, STAFF FACULTY UM HOPEFULLY A RELATIVELY CONTROVERSIAL FREE YEAR. WHERE WE CAN TALK ABOUT STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHOOL, UH, DEBATE TEAMS AND CHOIRS AND BANDS COMPETING FOR TOP HONORS AND A LOT OF COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE IN THE SPRING, SO GOOD YEAR FOR EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. YES. GREAT. UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE WELCOME BACK TO EVERYBODY, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A VERY NORMAL SCHOOL YEAR. AND I SAY THAT REALLY HOPING IT'S THE CASE. UM I KNOW THAT KIDS WERE EXCITED TO COME BACK. MY KIDS WERE EXCITED TO GO BACK, PARTLY SO I WOULD STOP ASKING THEM TO DO CHORES. UM, TEACHERS. IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE SO MANY OF YOU BACK. UM IT'S THERE ALREADY LEARNING. I MEAN, I DON'T THEY'RE ALREADY IN IT TO WIN IT. THEY'VE HAD FOUR DAYS AND WELL, NOW FIVE BECAUSE TODAY, BUT THEY'RE ALREADY COMING. MY KIDS ALREADY COMING HOME WITH HOMEWORK. BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS ARE HAPPENING BOTH IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY PARENTS ARE BEING INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN TODAY S PLEASE AS A PITCH FOR THE CHEETAHS OF THE COUNTY. PLEASE JOIN YOUR P T. A THEY HELPED OUT OUR KIDS IN A LOT OF WAYS AND HELP OUT OUR TEACHERS IN A LOT OF WAYS AND HELP FUND FIELD TRIPS AND CLASS FUN THINGS AND IT'S A GOOD WAY TO GET INVOLVED AND STAY INVOLVED IN YOUR SCHOOLS. UM I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS ONE. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY. WE DID REWORK IT AT OUR LAST MEETING, WHICH WAS LENGTHY AND I I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR EVERYBODY FOR STICKING WITH US BECAUSE IT DID GET A LITTLE STICKY AND COMPLICATED, BUT I'M PRETTY PLEASED WITH HOW IT LOOKS . NOW IF YOU ONLY READ THE FIRST EDITION OF IT, PLEASE GO BACK AND READ THE SECOND EDITION OF IT BECAUSE WE DID LISTEN TO A LOT OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND MADE A GREAT NUMBER OF CHANGES. UM, ALSO DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND JUST HAVE A LITTLE MOMENT OF SILENCE? MR JEFF FRIEDL, ONE OF OUR LONGSTANDING STAFF MEMBERS PASSED AWAY EXTREMELY, UNEXPECTEDLY LAST WEEK. UM HE HAD JUST RETIRED. IT'S JUST HEARTBREAKING THAT WE COULD JUST HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR A MAN WHO REALLY GAVE HIS ALL TOO HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU ALL. AND, UM THE BEST TO THE FIDDLE FAMILY AND THE FAMILY HERE AT HTTPS. I KNOW THIS WAS REALLY HARD FOR EVERYBODY AND WE ARE WITH YOU IN ALL OF THAT, UM WITH THAT I DO WANT TO KEEP OUR VERY SHORT.
[B. Public Comments]
AGENDA MOVING UM, WE'RE GOING TO DO PUBLIC COMMENTS. SO. FOLLOWING RULES IN PERSON.SPEAKERS WILL PROCEED FIRST, THEY WILL BE CALLED BY THE BOARD SECRETARY. REMOTE SPEAKERS WILL PROCEED NEXT. THEY WILL BE ADMITTED TO THE MEETING BY AN HTTPS STAFF. REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS THEIR TURN TO SPEAK ILL. SPEAKERS WILL RECEIVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK DUE TO THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED SPEAKERS. SPEAKERS MAY BE INTERRUPTED AND BE GIVEN NOTICE WHEN THEY HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT WHEN SPEAKERS HAVE REACHED THEIR THREE MINUTE MARK. THEIR TIME WILL EXPIRE.
MISS RALLO, PLEASE ANNOUNCE THANK YOU MUCH. BE SUPPORTIVE. YES. COVID EPIDEMIC AND TO PRESENT DAY I HAVE LEARNED THAT WE HAVE SUCH EDUCATED PARENTS THAT THEY KNOW BETTER THAN OUR TEACHERS HOW TO PROPERLY EDUCATE CHILDREN AT ALL STAGES. SAME TEACHERS THAT DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO TEACHING AND HELPING TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN. THE SAME EDUCATORS WHO NOW LISTEN TO SOME PARENTS SPEAK SO RELEVANT. HTTPS HAS A LARGE LIST OF OPEN ALL ARE WELCOME TO APPLY. SO IF THE PEOPLE THAT COME HERE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR EDUCATORS FEEL THEY ARE CAPABLE OF DOING A BETTER JOB, WHY NOT APPLY TO MAKE A CHANGE? THERE HAS BEEN AN UNFOUNDED CLEAN THAT IS THE CENTER OF THE REASONING FOR EDUCATORS LEAVING IN BUT THE TRUTH IS A CONSTANT ABUSE FROM THESE PARENTS AND SHARE ON GRATEFULNESS. PHONE CALLS, EMAILS AND INCURS AND HARASSMENT IS WHAT IS CAUSING OUR EDUCATORS TO LEAVE. NOT ONLY DO A GOOD MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME HERE FOR THEIR FIVE MINUTES OF FAME, NOT HAVE CHILDREN AROUND SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUT THERE ARE ALSO THOSE WHO CALL HIM THAT DON'T EVEN LIVE IN OUR STATE.
[00:10:04]
INDOCTRINATION IS A PROCESS OF TEACHING A PERSON OR GROUP TO ACCEPT A SET OF BELIEFS UNCRITICALLY. INDOCTRINATION IS NOT THE PROCESS OF ALLOWING CHILDREN TO LEARN THROUGH LIFE.AS PARENTS. WE SHOULD LOOK AT EDUCATORS AS ADVOCATES AND A PART OF OUR VILLAGE AND RAISING OUR CHILDREN. CHILDREN ARE LIKE FLOWERS. NO ONE FAMILY HAS THE SAME VALUES AND NO ONE STUDENT HAS THE SAME NEEDS. GENERALIZING OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM BASED ON A MATTER OF OPINION FROM HOW ONE PARENT PERCEIVED A CLASSROOM IS NOT THE WAY TO ADDRESS CONCERNS. GET INVOLVED AND TRY ASSISTING OUR EDUCATORS WITH POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT, JUST AS YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO DO FOR YOUR CHILDREN BY ATTEMPTING TO ISOLATE CHILDREN WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM YOUR OWN. YOU AUTOMATICALLY LOSE THE ARGUMENT WHICH STATES THAT YOU ARE FIGHTING FOR ALL CHILDREN.
HARFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS RATED SEVEN OUT OF 10 AS OF 2022, WHICH IS IN THE TOP 50TH PERCENTILE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND. THE AVERAGE MATH PROFICIENCY IS 46% VERSUS THE STATE 38. AND READING PROFICIENCY IS 51% VERSUS STATE 46% SO, THOUGH WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO, WE ARE NOT FAILING OUR STUDENTS AS IS BEING UNFAIRLY. DISCUSSED HERE. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU GUYS. LONG WALK. GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS. YESTERDAY SEPTEMBER 11TH MARCH, THE 21ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE TERRORIST ATTACK ON AMERICA AND LAWSON NEARLY 3000 LIVES. 9 11 IS OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED AS PATRIOT DAY. BUT IN THE COVER OF COVID DARKNESS, THIS OBSERVANCE WAS REMOVED FROM THE HCPS 21 22 CALENDAR. 9 11 REMOVED, BUT RIDE YOUR BIKE TO SCHOOL IS STILL OBSERVED. SEPTEMBER 17TH CONSTITUTION DAY AND DISCOVERS STATE IN OCTOBER, BOTH FOR ME. BUT RIGHT YOUR BIKE TO SCHOOL IS OBSERVED. PEARL HARBOR DAY, A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY. REMOVED BUT RIDE YOUR BIKE TO SCHOOL IS OBSERVED. NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY, ARMED FORCES DAY IN FLAG DAY. ALL THREE REMOVED, BUT RIDE YOUR BIKE TO SCHOOL IS OBSERVED. IT IS SHOCKING THAT AT LEAST SEVEN PATRIOTIC OBSERVANCES WERE REMOVED FROM THE CURRENT HCPS SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR AND ESCAPE PUBLIC SCRUTINY UNTIL NOW. WHEN I SPEAK TO BRING AWARENESS TO IMPORTANT ISSUES. I ALSO TRIED TO PRESENT SOLUTIONS. SO WHILE OTHERS, ESPECIALLY HARFORD COUNTY VETERANS MAY LOOK FURTHER INTO HOW THESE OBSERVANCES WERE DIRECTED TO BE REMOVED. I'M HERE TO ASK THE BOARD TO ASK TO ACT HONORABLY UNTIL ITEMS NUMBER ONE. REINSTATE THESE OBSERVANCES FOR THE UPCOMING 22 23 CALENDAR YEAR. THEY TOOK UP SUCH LITTLE SPACE AND INK, BUT THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT. NUMBER TWO. AMEND BOARD POLICY TO OH OH OH, OH, 2-00 TO INCLUDE A TRANSPARENCY CLAUSE IN WHICH TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF OBSERVANCES BEING REMOVED FROM THE CALENDAR DURING THE ANNUAL REVIEW PROCESS. CHILDREN'S CURIOSITY SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED. TO ASKING WHAT THEY THEY CAN RIDE THEIR BIKE TO SCONE. I WANT TO HEAR CURIOUS VOICES ASKED. I LIE. WHAT IS FLAG DAY? HIGHLIGHT. WHAT IS 9 11? I WILL TELL THEM. I AM NOT FORGOTTEN WHERE I WAS. OR WHAT I WAS DOING WHEN I HEARD THE AWFUL NEWS. I WILL TELL THEM. IT WAS TRULY A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN HARFORD COUNTY THAT DAY. BUT THE SADDEST EVENING AND ALL OF AMERICA, I WILL TELL THEM THOUSANDS OF PARENTS FLOODED THE SCHOOLS WITH PHONE CALLS THAT DAY, CHECKING TO SEE IF THEIR KIDS ARE OKAY.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, I STAND HERE THIS EVENING 21 YEARS LATER. I WILL TELL THE CHILDREN WHAT I HAD SERVED ON THE DAY AFTER 9 11. I WILL TELL THEM ON SEPTEMBER THE 12TH THIS COUNTRY STEW CONNECTED AS ONE AND IMPROVE. AND IN YOUR LIVING THANK YOU ESTABLISH ALLY.
BREATHING SUPERINTENDENT POULSEN AND BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JOSIE COSGROVE, AND I'M, A PAIR EDUCATOR AT WILLIAM S. JAMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THEIR STRIDE PROGRAM. I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECENT RESPONSE ON MY WRITTEN ENQUIRIES REGARDING YOUR POSITION ON THE REBRANDING AND EARNED SALARY INCREASE. FOR THE PAIR. EDUCATORS IN STRIDE CSP AND AT HARVARD ACADEMY. I WAS A BIT CONFUSED BY THE WRITTEN RESPONSE THAT SAYS, QUOTE. THE BOARD HAS ALWAYS CONSIDERED PROPOSALS SUBMITTED BY EIGHT C. A E S P ASSOCIATION AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO AND FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS, END QUOTE. WHEN IN REALITY, THIS PROPOSAL WAS PRESENTED BY THE H
[00:15:06]
C, A NEGOTIATION TEAM IN 2021 2020-21. IT WAS REJECTED WITHOUT EXPLANATION BY THE HCPS.NEGOTIATION TEAM. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. THIS PLAN HAS CONTINUED TO BE PRESENTED TO HCPS SEVERAL TIMES AS AN INVITATION AS A CONVERSATION TO DISCUSS THIS PLAN. HTTPS CONTINUES TO IGNORE THIS INVITATION TO A CONVERSATION. MYSELF AND OTHERS ARE AGAIN REQUESTING AN IN PERSON CONVERSATION REGARDING THIS MATTER WITH YOU. OUR LEADERSHIP AND STAKEHOLDERS. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING ME TO COMMUNICATE MY CONCERNS TO YOU REGARDING THE REBRANDING AND EARNED SALARY INCREASE FOR PAIR EDUCATORS AND STRIKE CSP AND IT HAS FOR THE ACADEMY. TINA GRAPH. UM AS I LOOK AROUND THE ROOM AT EACH BOARD MEETING, I SEE NEW FACES. FIRST GLANCE YOU MAY THINK OF CROWDED BOARDROOM IS A POSITIVE, BUT THE NEGATIVITY HURT WITHIN THESE WALLS IS DISHEARTENING. THE PEOPLE THAT NOW CROWD OUR BOARD MEETINGS HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY WERE AWAKENED TO WHAT WAS GOING ON INSIDE THE SCHOOL AS WELL. WE WERE ON LOCKDOWN. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE DISCOVERED THAT WE ARE NOT EDUCATING THEIR CHILDREN, BUT WE ARE INDOCTRINATING THEM WITH OUR LEFTISTS AND WOKE IDEOLOGIES. WHILE WE WERE ON OUR GOVERNMENT IMPOSED LOCKDOWNS TO OUR GOVERNMENT FUNDED PUBLIC SCHOOLS , PARENTS REALIZED THAT SCHOOLS WERE NOT JUST FOR EDUCATION AND TEACHERS WERE MUCH MORE THAN GLORIFIED BABYSITTERS. WE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE SITTING HERE NOW THAT SCHOOLS PROVIDED SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, THIRD COUNSELING SERVICES TO THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS. CHILD EXERCISE SCHOLARSHIPS APPARENT FIGURE WHEN THERE MAY NOT BE ONE AT HOME, AND FOR MANY A MEANS FOR THEM TO CONTINUE WORKING.
THIS WAS ALL IN ADDITION TO READING, WRITING AND ARITHMETIC . IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT IT TOOK THE PANDEMIC SHUTDOWNS FOR MANY PEOPLE TO SEE ALL THE VITAL ROLES. SCHOOLS PLAY IN SOCIETY. NOW THESE SAME PEOPLE WANT PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO JUST STICK TO THE ESSENTIALS AND FORGET ABOUT WHAT THEY SO PASSIONATELY FOUGHT FOR. I GUESS I'M JUST CONFUSED AND SITTING HERE MONTH AFTER MONTH, MY CONFUSION GROWS. WE NOW HAVE A MOM'S OF LIBERTY GROUP COMING TO OUR MEETINGS AND I WELCOME THEIR OPINIONS AND HAVE AGREED WITH SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS. I LIKE OTHERS. WHAT MANY OF THE SAME THINGS THEY ARE ASKING FOR TO INCLUDE TRANSPARENCY, PARENT INVOLVEMENT AND PUTTING OUR STUDENTS FIRST.
SINCE HIS MOM'S APPEARED IN HARFORD COUNTY ATTRACT TO LISTEN WITH AN OPEN MIND, BUT I'VE GROWN SUSPICIOUS OF THEIR MOTIVES AND HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THEIR CONSTANT BARRAGE OF RELIGION AND FEW SPEECHES, CLAIMING WE NEED TO HAVE GOD BACK INTO OUR SCHOOLS. I ALSO FIND IT CONTRADICTORY TO THE PUBLIC STATEMENTS MADE BY THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BALTIMORE, ST MARGARET'S CATHOLIC CHURCH IN BEL AIR AND ST MARK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH IN BOSTON, SAYING THEY DO NOT ENDORSE THE AGENDA FOR MONTHS FOR LIBERTY. I'VE ALSO FELT THE NATIONAL MOMS GROUP AND HAVE BEEN DISGUSTED SEEING SOME OF THEIR TWEETS, TIKTOK'S AND PERSONS, SOCIAL MEDIA AND THEIR CONNECTIONS TO THE PROUD BOYS. I'M HOPING THAT OUR LOCAL GROUP DOES NOT HARBOR SOME OF THE SAME IDEALS AS THE NATIONAL ONE, AND WE COULD WORK TOGETHER TOWARD A COMMON GOAL. WE ARE A PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. THE LINE I HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN AS WE DON'T CO PARENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
BUT ONCE YOU MAKE THE DECISION TO SEND YOUR CHILD TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING. EDUCATORS ARE NOT PROMOTING PORN OR INDOCTRINATION , BUT I THINK THE REAL QUESTION IS WHEN YOU MAKE THE DECISION TO SEND YOUR CHILD TO PUBLIC SCHOOL WHO GETS TO DECIDE WHAT'S INAPPROPRIATE IN WHICH AGENDA IS CONSIDERED INDOCTRINATION. THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BEN HEUSER. I'M JUST GONNA GO OVER SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AS FAR AS, UH WHAT YOU ALL ARE VERY NON LATER OFF TODAY. UM SO. YOU WOULD LIKE US TO GO LINE BY LINE AS FAR AS CERTAIN ISSUES AS YOU DESCRIBED ON YOUR LAST MEETING, SO WE'LL DO THAT. SO UNDER PURPOSE UNDER YOUR POLICY. IT HAS, UM, THE BOARD MADE GRANT ADDITIONAL TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. BY GROUPS RECOGNIZED BY HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS . I E P T A UNION SO ON AND SO FORTH. UM THAT REQUIRES A DEFINITION. AS TO WHAT EXACTLY THOSE GROUPS ARE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE PART OF THAT GROUP. IT NEEDS TO BE A SUBSECTION OR REFERENCE TO HOW TO BECOME PART OF THAT GROUP. YOU CAN'T JUST KIND OF PEANUT BROAD LIKE THAT. IT'S JUST NOT HOW POLICIES OPERATED. MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. UM SO. ONCE WE GET INTO THOSE DEFINITIONS, SECTION TWO POINT A MENTIONS THE PRESIDING OFFICER PRIOR TO SECTION C, WHICH INTRODUCES A PRESIDING OFFICERS, AUTHORITIES. SO I RECOMMEND MOVING SUBSECTION C TWO, SUBSECTION A THAT THEN ADDS THE
[00:20:05]
DEFINITION OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER AND THE AUTHORITY THEREOF BEFORE THE INTRODUCTION OF ACTUALLY USING THE NAME OF PRESIDING OFFICER DOES THAT IS EVERYBODY KIND OF FOLLOW ME THERE, SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE SAYING YOU'RE THROWING A JOB TITLE AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE JOB TITLE. BUT YOU'RE NOT REALLY TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE JOB TITLE IS, UNTIL KIND OF FURTHER DOWN THE PATH. SO WE WANT TO INTRODUCE THAT IN THE VERY BEGINNING, SO WE KNOW WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT WERE REPRESENTED. SO IN IN A POLICY THAT'S GENERALLY WHAT WE DO. UM SO, UH, ALSO WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW THE DEFINITION OF EXACTLY WHO THE PRESIDING OFFICER IS. WHY CAN'T PEOPLE WERE PRESENT THE VICE PRESIDENT'S OWN AND SO FORTH. IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, HARFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, UM, DOES NOT HAVE DIRECT REPRESENTATION WITHIN THE ROOM. THE PRESIDING OFFICERS SUPPOSED TO BE GRANTED THE AUTHORITY UNDER THE BOARD OF ED UM, PRESIDING OFFICER CANNOT BE A DIRECT REPORT UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENT. THAT'S ONLY THE CHAIR VICE PRESIDENT WOULD NORMALLY HANDLE SUCH DUTIES.THAT'S PER 24 OTHER COUNTIES IN THE STATE SO NOT QUITE SURE WHY WE'RE DIFFERENT. 23 OTHER COUNTIES MY FAULT. UM SECTION FOUR. SUBSECTION B. PUBLIC COMMENTS SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO A TOPIC, WHICH WHICH IS NOT THE SUBJECT OF THE HEARING. UM THAT'S A BIT ON THE CONTROVERSIAL SIDE, BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY'S EXHAUSTED ALL OPTIONS , THEY WANT TO COME HERE. THEY WANT TO SPEAK. THEY WANT TO ASK FOR REDRESS FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT. AND THAT TECHNICALLY VIOLATES THE FIRST AMENDMENT. BELIEVE IT OR NOT? YES IT DOES. YOU MAY WANT TO READ IT. YOU MAY WANT TO READ IT. THERE'S SOME GOOD STUFF IN THERE. I WOULD HAVE COVERED MORE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE A BAD TIME. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. DO YOU WANT? THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ARVIND A PILLOW. MURRAY UM, WENT TO SCHOOL HERE. MY DAUGHTER WENT TO SCHOOL HERE. I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, BUT I ALSO UM YOU KNOW, WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE TEACHERS AND STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS. UM I? WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THAT I HAVE I'VE BEEN IN GROUPS. UM, WHERE I WAS. IN THE CENTER AND SORT OF AN INSIDER AND I'VE BEEN IN GROUPS WHERE I HAVE BEEN IN THE MARGINS. IT'S JUST HUMAN NATURE.
IT'S USUALLY MORE OBVIOUS WHEN, WHEN ONE IS AT A DISADVANTAGE, UH THAN WHEN YOU KNOW WHEN ONE IS IN THE CENTER. SO WHEN WE'RE ACCUSTOMED TO BEING AT THE CENTER OF ANY STRUCTURE THAN MAKING ROOM FOR OTHERS TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE. AND I THINK IT'S UM. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE LEARNED THIS KIND OF COURAGE, UH, AS YOUNG AS POSSIBLE AND ASK OURSELVES AT EVERY STEP IF WE'RE TEACHING THIS KIND OF COURAGE AND ALLOWING FOR THE VULNERABILITY THAT COMES WITH WORKING THROUGH THIS HEARING PERSPECTIVES THAT. MAY HAVE BEEN SILENCED BEFORE VOICES OF OTHERS AS WELL AS VOICES WITHIN OURSELVES. VOICES. QUESTIONING HIERARCHIES, BREAKING BARRIERS AND CHALLENGING OPPRESSIVE STRUCTURES. I KNOW I'M BEING VERY BROAD, BUT I'M SPEAKING IN GENERAL ABOUT ABOUT CONCERNS THAT I'VE HEARD UM, JUST FROM HEARING THE VIRTUAL BOARD MEETINGS OVER THE YEARS AND SOME SOMETIMES, UM, I MEAN, A LOT OF THESE MIGHT BE NEW AND BEWILDERING IT FIRST, BUT SO HAVE ALWAYS BEEN, UM YOU KNOW SUCH RADICAL IDEAS AS EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN OR OR CIVIL RIGHTS. EQUAL RIGHTS REGARDLESS.
OF RACE AND GENDER AND DISABILITY STATUS AND IMMIGRATION STATUS. IF WE WANT TO MAKE OUR SCHOOLS ARE WELCOMING AND SAFE PLACE FOR ALL, REGARDLESS. OF THE STATUSES , THEN CHALLENGING THESE OPPRESSIVE STRUCTURES, MAKING SAFE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO BE VULNERABLE AND MAKE MISTAKES AS THEY QUESTION AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO MAKE HOW TO SHARE.
SPACE EQUALLY WITH OTHERS THAT WILL BE WE RECOGNIZE ALL OF THIS IS ESSENTIAL FOR REALIZING THE PROMISE. OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. SO, IN THAT CONTEXT, I WAS VERY TOUCHED BY, UM, ONE OF THE SIGNS WHICH CAME TO ATTENTION POSTED BY A TEACHER, WHICH SAID IN OUR AMERICA ALL PEOPLE ARE EQUAL LOVE WINS. BLACK LIVES MATTER. IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES ARE WELCOME.
DISABILITIES ARE RESPECTED. WOMEN ARE IN CHARGE OF THEIR BODIES, PEOPLE AND PLANET ARE
[00:25:03]
VALUED OVER PROFIT DIVERSITY IS CELEBRATED. THANK YOU. EVENING. MY NAME IS KATIE YORK.UM I DON'T REALLY CONSIDER MYSELF AND ELEGANT PUBLIC SPEAKER, BUT I FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT TO COME TO ADDRESS YOU TONIGHT. I APPRECIATE IT IN LAST MEETINGS, THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT AND WORK THAT I SAW THE FOUR MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN TO TRY TO UPDATE THE COMMENT TO RESPOND TO INDIVIDUALS CONCERNS ABOUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY. UM I'M ALSO HERE TO IN GENERAL TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND I CONTINUALLY SEE A MINORITY. UM SPOUTING DISINFORMATION OUTRIGHT FALSEHOODS DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLINE ABOUT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. ALSO HERE SPOKE FOLKS SPEAK ABOUT PARENTAL RIGHTS. BUT I ALSO WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT CHILDREN HAVE RIGHTS. CHILDREN ARE PEOPLE, ALL CHILDREN, INCLUDING THE QUEER BLACK INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR. ALL CHILDREN SHOULD FEEL SAFE IN THEIR SCHOOLS. I HAVE ALSO HEARD CLAIMS ABOUT HCPS NOT BEING TRANSPARENT WITH GUARDIANS AND PARENTS. I CANNOT SPEAK FOR EVERYONE AND EVERYONE'S EXPERIENCE BUT MY EXPERIENCE WITH MY CHILD IN HCPS THIS YEAR , AS IN YEARS PAST, I RECEIVED A LETTER INFORMING ME ABOUT WHAT MY GRADER WOULD LEARN IN THEIR HEALTH CLASS. I EMAILED MY CHILD'S ENGLISH TEACHER TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT BOOKS ARE BEING COVERED, RECEIVED A RESPONSE WITHIN A BUSINESS DAY. UM, THERE'S I DON'T SEE THE CONTINUED. UH, INDOCTRINATION EFFORTS AND TRANS AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY THAT OFTEN HEAR RAILED AGAINST UM, I ALSO AS A FORMER PT OFFICER WANT TO ECHO PRESIDENT GROUPIES POD FOR PEETA AND PTS S. PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING YOUR LOCAL P T. A AND P T S A. AND IF YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL DOESN'T HAVE ONE, PLEASE CONSIDER VOLUNTEERED TO HELP ESTABLISH ONE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, MISS WALL. ARE YOU READY TO DO OUR VIRTUAL PUBLIC SPEAKERS? YES, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT GAUTIER. GREAT. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. YOU ARE NOW IN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING. PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME. YOUR TIME WILL CONCLUDE IN THREE MINUTES. YOU WILL HEAR A BELL RING WHEN YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS REMAINING, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. JILL FERRARO. I AM PARTICIPATING THE BOARD TO ADOPT AN OFFICIAL POLICY OF NEUTRALITY WITH RESPECT TO POLITICAL CANDIDATES, AS WELL AS POTENTIALLY DIVISIVE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES WITHIN HARPER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FRIENDLY HCPS HAS ONLY A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES POLICY THAT HAS NOT BEEN AMENDED OR REAFFIRMED IN 20 YEARS. THAT POLICY IS OUTDATED AS IT ALLOWS TEACHERS THE RIGHTS TO EXPRESS THEIR PERSONAL OPINION REGARDING CONTROVERSIAL POLITICAL AND SOCIAL TOPICS. INSTEAD OF ALLOWING STUDENTS TO INTERPRET THE DATA WITHOUT PREJUDICE. TEACHERS AND SCHOOL PERSONALITY, NOT ENGAGE IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES OR DEBATE DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME UNLESS DISCUSSION AND ANY RELATED ACTIVITIES ARE ALIGNED WITH APPROVED CURRICULUM. STUDENTS DISAGREE. TEACHERS SHOULD SERVE AS A NEUTRAL MODERATOR AND ENCOURAGED CIVIL DISCOURSE RESPECTING OPPOSING VIEWS. FURTHERMORE THIS POLICY SHOULD INCLUDE THAT TEACHERS AND FACULTY DO NOT DISPLAY DEMONSTRATED ITEMS EXPRESSED EXPRESSING PERSONAL VIEWPOINTS ON CLASSROOM WALLS OR BULLETIN BOARDS AT THESE AREAS WITHIN THE SCHOOLS BELONG TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM PAID FOR BY TAXPAYERS, NOT THE EMPLOYEE. STUDENTS HAVE ENDURED ENOUGH THIS PAST YEARS, AND HCPS HAS AN OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE A WELCOMING AND TRUSTWORTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS FREE FROM POLITICAL AND SOCIAL BIASES THAT COULD TRIGGER DISTRESSED FINALLY, SINCE SEVERAL INCIDENTS OCCURRED ALREADY THIS YEAR OF TEACHERS SERVING STUDENTS ABOUT PREFERRED PRONOUNS, I WILL AGAIN REITERATE ASKING HER SURVEYING ABOUT HIS STUDENTS, SEXUAL BEHAVIOR OR ATTITUDE IS PROHIBITED BY THE PROTECTION OF PEOPLE RIGHTS AMENDMENT, A FEDERAL LAW THAT HAS WORKED CERTAIN RIGHTS OF PARENTS OF STUDENTS, INCLUDING NOT ASKING ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT.
PARENTS DESERVE TRANSPARENCY AND ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. ONE WAS OR WILL THERE BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO HOW THIS GROSS VIOLATION OCCURRED? IT'S THE WHEN WILL THE INVESTIGATION BE COMPLETED? IF IT HASN'T BEEN ALREADY? IF NOT, WHY DO YOU ENCOURAGE THE DATA
[00:30:02]
COLLECTION? THREE STEP TAKEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEARNING ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR THE DOCTOR BOTH AND IMMEDIATELY IMMEDIATELY ISSUE A SEASON DESIST ITSELF. TO WHOM IF NOT, WHY DID ANY INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP OF STAFF MEMBERS RECEIVED TRAINING INTO Y . THEIR ACTIONS WERE IN VIOLATION OF PPR A. IF NOT AGAIN, WHY? OUR SCHOOLS INSTRUCTED REGARDING WHAT TO DO WITH THE DATA THEY COLLECTED ON CHILDREN AND SCHOOLS WERE NOT INSTRUCTED TO IMMEDIATELY DESTROY THE DATA. CPS WOULD ALSO BE IN VIOLATION OF FERPA, AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION COLLECTED ILLEGALLY AND IMMEDIATE RESOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE IS NECESSARY SO THAT CPR TRAINING CAN BE EMBEDDED INTO STAFF TRAINING SO THAT THESE VIOLATIONS DON'T CONTINUE TO OCCUR AND OCCUR FINALLY. I WILL CONCLUDE THAT IT IS THANK YOU.GOOD EVENING. YOU ARE NOW IN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME. YOUR TIME WILL CONCLUDE IN THREE MINUTES. YOU WILL HEAR A BELL RING WHEN YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS REMAINING, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. GOOD EVENING. I AM CRYSTAL DON PARKS FIRST. I NEED TO THANK THE BOARD FOR SHOWING YOUR WORK LAST MEETING. WITNESSING THE DEBATE AND AMENDING THE POLICY WAS INDEED A TEACHABLE MOMENT. THERE REMAINS SOME CONFUSION IN REGARD TO THE TIME ALLOTTED TO SPEAKERS AND SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT. AS A COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR DEADLINES TO PUBLIC INTO THE INPUT TO ACCOMPANY THE POLICY ON THE WEBSITE. AS WE OBSERVED 9 11 REMEMBRANCE YESTERDAY. MAYBE REFLECT ON THE UNITY OF CITIZENS. DEMONSTRATED A NATION COMMITTED TO THE GOOD OF ALL.
UNDIVIDED AND ACTING IN LOVE. A POSTER IN THE CLASSROOM SHOULDN'T CREATE CHAOS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT ADDRESSES CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND ESTABLISHED LAW. HARTFORD STANDS AGAINST HATE. WE DO THAT THROUGH LOVE AND COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER. NOT NEUTRALITY. NOT CENSORSHIP. NOT BY TERRORIZING FAMILIES OR PUBLIC OFFICIALS. I WELCOME ANYONE TO SIT DOWN WITH ME OVER A CUP OF COFFEE AND COMMON GROUND. NONE OF US ARE HOLY RITES INSTANCES. WE ALL HAVE BIASES AND DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES THAT WE BRING TO THE TABLE. LET HER CHILDREN IN THE FUTURE UNITED COMMUNITY. GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT GAUTIER. THIS CONCLUDES THE
[C. Consent Agenda]
VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT CONSENT AGENDA. DR PHILIP SURE. ITEM NUMBER ONE CONTRACT AWARD. ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES. HARFORD TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL LIMITED RENOVATION. NUMBER TWO CONTRACT AWARD CONTRACTUAL REGISTERED BEHAVIOR TECHNICIANS AND A BEHAVIOR TECHNICIAN. ITEM NUMBER THREE CONTRACT AWARD PROFESSIONAL LEARNING. I DON'T NUMBER FOUR CONTRACT AWARD HDMI CABLES. I DON'T NUMBER FIVE CONTRACT AWARD CONTRACTUAL SPEECH LANGUAGE THERAPIST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. THIS IS DAVID. I MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU IN A SECOND. THIS IS NOAH. I MOVED TO SECOND. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL IN FAVOR. PLEASE SAY YES. YES, YES. YES. ANY OPPOSED. PLEASE SAY NO. ALRIGHT, EMOTIONAL CLASSES. YEAH. YOU CAN STARE AT[D. Proposed Recommendation to Delete Board Policy 04-0024-000, Final Examinations, Kimberly H. Neal, Esq., General Counsel]
WHERE YOU ARE. MISS NEIL PROPOSED RECOMMENDATION TO DELETE BOARD POLICY 04-0024-0.FINAL EXAMINATIONS WHICH YOU HAVE AN EXPLANATION FOR US, WHICH IS KIND OF FUNNY. YEAH. SO THE GOOD NEWS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS THAT THIS WILL NOT TAKE 15 MINUTES AS A LOT OF, UM, ACTUALLY, THIS IS ON THE AGENDA. SOMEWHAT IN ERROR, OR BASED ON PAST PRACTICE THAT IS LIKE NOT LEGALLY NECESSARY OR REQUIRED BY POLICY. UM BACK AT THE JUNE BOARD MEETING I PRESENTED ALONG WITH PHIL SNYDER, UM, THE PRESENTATION ABOUT THE NEW FINAL EXAMINATIONS, REPORT CARDS AND CALCULATION OF FINAL GRADES POLICY THAT WAS POSTED FOR ACTUALLY MORE THAN 30 DAYS BEFORE THEN, THE AUGUST 22ND MEETING. WHERE IT WAS BROUGHT TO A UNANIMOUS VOTE TO REPLACE THE
[00:35:04]
ORIGINAL POLICY, WHICH WAS JUST FINAL EXAMINATIONS. WITH THIS NEW FINAL EXAMINATIONS, REPORT CARDS AND CALCULATION OF FINAL GRADES POLICY, UM, THE CURRENT OR THE PRIOR FINAL EXAMINATIONS POLICY, UM, IS NO LONGER NEEDED BECAUSE THAT PIECE OF INFORMATION IS ALREADY CONTAINED IN THE NEW POLICY. SO JUST TO CLOSE THE LOOP. I BELIEVE THE RECORD IS CLEAR, BOTH FROM JUNE AND FROM THE AUGUST VOTE, UM, THAT THE FINAL EXAMINATIONS POLICY WHICH IS 400 TO 4000 CAN[E. Superintendent's Report]
BE DELETED AT THIS POINT, AND THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL VOTE REQUIRED. ALREADY. EXCELLENT WHICH BRINGS US TO SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT BECAUSE THAT WAS OUR ONLY THING ON THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SLIDE IN, UM SO I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD, UM, MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF MR FRIDDLE WAS AN ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING UH, NEWS THAT WE GOT LAST WEEK, LEARNING THAT HE PASSED AND HE CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND WAS SO MUCH A PART OF YOU KNOW, EVERY CONTRACT ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE WORKED IN EMPLOYEE. I MEAN, HE WAS SERVED AS A PRINCIPAL AND MANY OTHER THINGS, BUT I THINK HIS WORK AND EMPLOYEE RELATIONS WAS REALLY WHERE HE MADE IT ABSOLUTELY HUGE MARK, AND HE WILL BE MISSED. UM AND SO I KNOW ARRANGEMENTS FOR HIM OR LATER THIS WEEK. AND AGAIN JUST MY CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY AND HIS SUPPORT FOR HIM. SO I WOULD LIKE TO AGAIN NOW CHANGE. UH CHANGE DIRECTION FOR A SECOND WE HAD. I THINK A REALLY FANTASTIC BUT DESPITE THE RAIN WHICH LAST WEEK WAS A LITTLE BIT TRYING ON TUESDAY MORNING BECAUSE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. YOU ALWAYS HAVE A FEW MORE PEOPLE WANTING TO DROP THEIR KIDS OFF THE FIRST DAY JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING GOES OKAY. AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE MORE PEOPLE COMING NATURALLY COMPOUNDED BY ALL THE RAIN, I THINK WE HAD SOME LONG LINES AT SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS. BUT THAT DIDN'T DETER ANYBODY. THE SPIRIT WAS FANTASTIC. I HAD A CHANCE LIKE MR CARDI. IN FACT, SHE AND I SORT OF LED THE LINE FOR A LITTLE WHILE AT BAKERSFIELD. I SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY IN WET CLOTHES AS I WENT TO A TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS AFTER THAT. UM BUT IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THE ENERGY. I THINK I'VE HEARD SOME THINGS ABOUT THIS YEAR ONE JUST SO MUCH MORE HOPE THAT PEOPLE FEEL VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN GO THROUGH WITHOUT THE DISRUPTIONS AND JUST GENERALLY MORE EXCITED I HAVE HEARD FROM PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE COMING IN A LITTLE MORE READY FOR SCHOOL. UH, PARTICULARLY THOSE KINDERGARTNERS WHO I HADN'T SEEN DAYCARE OR PRE K IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, AND SO AGAIN , YOU KNOW SOME GOOD ENERGY THERE. I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE OTHER 23 DISTRICTS IN THE STATE LAST WEEK, AND I WAS HEARING SIMILAR PATTERNS, EVEN SOME OF THE DISTRICTS THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO HIRE OTHER TEACHERS. I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN SO FORTUNATE THAT WE NOW HAVE A TEACHER IN EVERY SINGLE CLASSROOM. UM BUT EVEN STILL VERY, VERY POSITIVE ENERGY COMING OUT OF THIS YEAR, JUST A LOT OF HOPE, AND SO I'M HOPING WE CAN BUILD ON THAT AND FIND ROOM TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP AS CHALLENGES AND, YOU KNOW, FIND MORE ROOM TO, YOU KNOW, FOCUS ON ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT WE KNOW CAN HAPPEN. AND UM, YOU KNOW, BUILD ON SOME OF THE THINGS WHERE WE'VE SEEN OUR KIDS GROW IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. I WANT TO GET INTO ONE OR TWO OTHER DETAILS. JUST ONE ANNOUNCEMENT. NATIONAL INTERSTATE SCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATORS ASSOCIATION AND I A ANNOUNCED THAT TIMOTHY W.LINDECAMP WHO'S A PE TEACHER AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL, HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A CERTIFIED MASTER ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATOR. HE IS ONE OF THE VERY ELITE GROUP OF INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATORS NATIONWIDE TO ATTAIN THIS LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM, SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HIM. CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM. AND ANOTHER THING I WOULD NOTICE ONE OF THE THINGS I ABSOLUTELY LOVE ABOUT THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT. UM BUT IT'S ON DISPLAY LITERALLY RIGHT HERE AROUND US. IS THE ART IN OUR ARTS EDUCATORS. UM. IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY WE KEEP THE FRAMES. WE RECYCLE THE FRAMES IN THIS ROOM, BUT WE CHANGED THE ART. UM AND ALL OF THE ART IN THE HALLWAYS, WHICH, IF YOU HAD LOOKED CLOSELY THE LAST FEW MONTHS, WE ACTUALLY HAD STAFF ART ON DISPLAY BECAUSE WE DID THAT DURING SUMMER, AND SO YOU KNOW, NOT JUST OUR TEACHERS, BUT ACTUALLY, SOME OF OUR OTHER PROFESSIONALS WHO JUST HAVE ART AS A HOBBY OR A SIDELINE OR A SEPARATE LOCATION . SO WE HAD THAT ON DISPLAY WITH IT JUST IN THE LAST WEEK PRIOR TO THE NICE MEETING, THEY COMPLETELY REFRESHED. AND ONE OF THE REASONS I BRING THIS UP IS IT IS A NATIONAL ART EDUCATION WEEK, AND DURING THIS WEEK THE FIELD OF ARTS EDUCATION JOINS TOGETHER IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. TELL THE STORY OF THE IMPACT THE TRANSFORMATIONAL POWER OF THE ARTS AND EDUCATION. AND SO TODAY, UH, MARYLAND'S FIRST LADY YUMI HOGAN ANNOUNCED ARTWORK FROM STUDENTS, INCLUDING SOFIA DRACO OF PROSPECT MILL ELEMENTARY AND ROADS. NEWKIRK OF
[00:40:03]
PFOSTEN HIGH WILL BE PART OF THE BIENNIAL EXHIBITION OF ARTWORK BY MARYLAND STUDENTS, SO THAT'S EXCITING TO KNOW THERE'LL BE REPRESENTED IN ANNAPOLIS. AND THEN FINALLY, UM. AGAIN. WE'RE OFF TO A NEW YEAR. THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION STILL COMING AT PEOPLE. I HOPE YOU GOT WHAT YOU NEEDED BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTED SO THAT EVERYONE GOT IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND EVERYTHING WAS TURNED IN. BUT DON'T FORGET TO BOOKMARK HCPSS ORG AND FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. ONE THING TO MISS LATER ASKED ME TO ADD TO THIS IS, UM YOU KNOW THOSE ANNOUNCEMENTS GO OUT QUICKEST AND SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE THEIR PHONE CALLING SYSTEM IT TAKES SOMEWHERE ABOUT HALF AN HOUR TO 45 MINUTES TO GET TO ALL 65,000 PHONE NUMBERS ON THE LIST. SO IF YOU WANT THE INFORMATION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, THE SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE WAY TO SEE IT. SO[Future Meetings Review]
WITH THAT SAID, THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR THIS BRIEF MEETING AND WE'LL SEE YOU BACK NEXT.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.