Jan 23, 2023 Board Meeting

[00:00:01]

GOOD EVENING. AT THIS TIME I ASK THAT EVERYONE PLEASE MUTE YOUR DEVICE TO AVOID INTERRUPTIONS UNTIL CALLED UPON.

[Call to Order]

THIS BUSINESS MEETING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN A HYBRID FASHION.

MRS. ROLLO, PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL.

MISS ALVAREZ.

PRESENT. MISS BRUCE.

HERE. MISS HAHN.

PRESENT. DR.

HARROLD. HERE.

MISS PERRY. HAIR.

DR. PHILLIPS.

MISS RICCARDI. PRESENT.

MISS LINCOLN AS VICE PRESIDENT, CEO HERE.

PRESIDENT MUELLER.

YES, SUPERINTENDENT BOSTON.

HERE. THIS COMPLETES THE ROLL CALL.

ALL RIGHT. THE FOLLOWING PROCESS WE USE THIS EVENING.

BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF WILL MUTE THEIR DEVICE INTO COURT UPON BOARD MEMBERS.

PLEASE HOLD ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END OF EACH PRESENTATION.

FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION, I WILL CALL ON EACH BOARD MEMBER FOR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.

BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF MEMBERS SHOULD RESTATE THEIR NAME BEFORE SPEAKING.

DR. PAULSEN WILL RESPOND TO QUESTIONS OR CALL ON THE APPROPRIATE STAFF MEMBER TO DO SO.

WHEN A ROLL CALL IS TAKEN FOR A MOTION, I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE REPLY WITH A YES OR NO.

BOARD MEMBERS. YOU HAVE THE AGENDA BEFORE YOU DO.

I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.

THIS IS NOAH. I MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.

CAROL. BRUCE, I SECOND MOTION.

GREAT. OKAY.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES.

YES, YES, YES, YES.

ANY OPPOSED? SAY NO.

ALL RIGHT, THIS MOTION PASSES.

ALL RIGHT. THIS IS PERRY. WOULD YOU LEAD US AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

AT THIS TIME, I HAVE THE PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE OUR HARVARD COUNTY EXECUTIVE, BOB CASSERLY.

[A. Special Budget Address from Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly]

YES. YOU.

THANK YOU. PRESIDENT MILLER.

VICE PRESIDENT, SOLE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

SUPERINTENDENT WILSON, IT'S A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU ALL THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR FOR ALLOWING MYSELF AND MR. LOUIS TO COME TO COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING.

AND I GUESS I SHOULD EXPRESS MY DELIGHT AT SUCH AN ENTHUSIASTIC ATTENDANCE HERE AT YOUR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING.

THAT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE DEMOCRACY IN ACTION.

SO IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE ALREADY TO HAVE MET WITH MOST OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY.

AND I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD COME HERE AND JUST EXPRESS PUBLICLY WHAT I'VE SAID TO TO TO YOU ALL PRIVATELY, WHICH IS, FIRST OF ALL, THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO A AN EXCELLENT AND CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

AT LEAST WE ALL SHARE THE SAME MISSION.

AND THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT HARVARD'S NEXT GENERATION HAS THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR OWN LIVES.

AND AS MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, OUR MISSION IS BEST SERVED WHEN ALL OF US WORK TOGETHER, WHEN WE'RE TRANSPARENT WITH THE CITIZENS THAT WE SERVE.

WITH THAT IN MIND, I WANTED TO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO BE AS FORTHCOMING AS POSSIBLE WITH YOU AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT OUR COUNTY BUDGET.

AS YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST PORTION OF OUR COUNTY'S BUDGET IS YOUR BUDGET, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE WE HAVE A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO DEVELOP YOUR BUDGET PROPERLY.

BOTH YOU AND I ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING OUR BUDGETS NOW, AND MY BUDGET WILL BE BASED UPON THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS, OUR ANTICIPATED EXPENSES AND OUR OVERALL ECONOMIC OUTLOOK.

LAST YEAR'S BUDGET WAS A FAIRLY AGGRESSIVE BUDGET, MEANING WE SPENT FAIRLY AGGRESSIVELY.

AND THIS YEAR, ALTHOUGH HARFORD COUNTY'S ECONOMY IS RELATIVELY STRONG, THERE IS CONSIDERABLE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY WITH HIGH INFLATION.

WE HAVE HIGH, HIGH INTEREST RATES, LOSS OF THE FEDERAL COVID DOLLARS AS A BACKUP.

ALL THESE CONCERNS WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE FINAL BUDGET THAT WE ULTIMATELY COME BACK BEFORE YOU AND THAT I PRESENT TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL IN APRIL.

SO WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO ALLOW MY TREASURER, ROBBY SANDLER, SORT OF EXPOUND A LITTLE BIT UPON WHERE WE ARE AND WHY WE

[00:05:09]

ROB, GOOD EVENING.

AS THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES SPOKE TO, WE DID HAVE A VERY AGGRESSIVE BUDGET.

THIS PAST BUDGET THAT WAS ADOPTED FOR FISCAL YEAR 23, IT'S APPROXIMATELY $750 MILLION AND THAT REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 14% OVER THE THE PRIOR YEAR.

AND IN THAT BUDGET WE SAW A RANGE OF SIGNIFICANT INCREASES.

SCHOOL SYSTEM WAS FULLY FUNDED, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS FULLY FUNDED, LARGE INCREASES, SIGNIFICANT INCREASES FOR THE COLLEGE, THE LIBRARY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES, INCLUDING THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT ITSELF, AND NOT HERE TO DISCUSS ANY OF THE MERITS OF THOSE INCREASES BECAUSE WE'RE ALL DEALING WITH THE SAME COST PRESSURES OF HIGHER ENERGY COSTS, HIGHER FUEL COSTS, SUPPLY COSTS ARE UP, AND OF COURSE, JUST LABOR IN ORDER TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN TALENT.

SO THERE'S CERTAINLY A JUSTIFICATION FOR FOR THE SPENDING.

HOWEVER, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE SPENDING IS ALL DEPENDENT UPON OUR OUR REVENUE FLOWS AND OUR REVENUES HAVE BEEN STRONG THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

THIS PAST BUDGET HAD TO HAVE REVENUE GROWTH OF AROUND 7%.

THE ISSUE IS, IS YOU HAVE REVENUE GROWTH OF 7% BUT SPENDING OF 14%.

SO WHERE WAS THE GAP MADE UP? AND THE GAP WAS LARGELY MADE UP THROUGH THE USE OF FUND BALANCE AND FUND BALANCE BEING A ONE TIME REVENUE SOURCE THAT WAS GENERATED FROM EITHER EXPENDITURE SAVINGS ON THE COUNTIES FROM, BUT IN LARGE PART THROUGH SOME HIGHER REVENUE GROWTHS IN IN PRIOR YEARS.

SO THE SIZE OF THAT FUND BALANCE WAS ABOUT 90 $90 MILLION.

SO IN A OUT OF A $750 MILLION BUDGET, $90 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE AND USING FUND BALANCE IS APPROPRIATE, BUT IDEALLY YOU WOULD LIKE TO MATCH MOST OF THAT FUND BALANCE TO ONE TIME EXPENDITURES.

AND A PORTION OF THAT WAS, I WOULD SAY, ABOUT 30 MILLION OR SO SOMETHING IN THAT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT ONE TIME EXPENDITURES, MEANING, HOWEVER, THAT ABOUT 5560 SOMETHING IN THAT RANGE OF OF THE OF THE USE OF FUND BALANCE WAS FOR ONGOING ONGOING EXPENDITURES.

AND ULTIMATELY THAT'S WHAT A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT IS WHEN YOU'RE USING ONE TIME REVENUES FOR ONGOING EXPENDITURES.

SO AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS UPCOMING BUDGET SEASON, WE ARE EXPECTING REVENUES TO GROW.

WE HAD STRONG ASSESSMENT GROWTH IN THE BEL AIR AREA, 16%.

THOSE WILL BE PHASED IN OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME OTHER REVENUES THAT ARE CONTINUING TO GROW AS WELL.

HOWEVER, ON THE DOWN SIDE ARE RECREATION TRANSFER TAX.

THINGS THAT DEAL WITH PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS HAVE LARGELY TAKEN A HIT AS HIGHER INTEREST RATES HAS SUPPRESSED SOME OF THAT ACTIVITY.

SO YOU HAVE HIGHER, HIGHER PROPERTY VALUES LEADING TO A HIGHER ASSESSABLE BASE, BUT SOMEWHAT OFFSET BY A REDUCTION IN TRANSACTION LEVELS, HURTING THOSE REVENUE SOURCES.

AND THOSE REVENUE SOURCES ARE HOW WE PRIMARILY FUND SCHOOL DEBT SERVICE.

THE BIG QUESTION, THOUGH, IS JUST GOING TO BE OUR INCOME TAX AND INCOME TAX HAS GROWN IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

IT HAS BEEN A VERY STRONG REVENUE, I THINK A TESTAMENT TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND THE RESILIENCY OF THIS ECONOMY.

HOWEVER, WHILE WE STILL ARE SEEING A STRONG LABOR MARKET, WHICH LEADS TO HIGHER WITHHOLDING AND ALL OF THAT, THAT IS GIVES US A REASON TO BE OPTIMISTIC.

WE ARE HEARING LOTS OF TALK ABOUT RECESSION.

AND AGAIN, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE A SHARP RECESSION THAT'S SHORT OR A FAIRLY MODEST RECESSION.

SO FAR, WE'RE NOT HEARING A WHOLE LOT ALONG THE LINES OF ANYTHING LIKE WHAT WE SAW BACK IN 2008.

BUT IT DOES SEEM THAT A CONSENSUS IS FORMING, THAT THERE WILL BE SOME TYPE OF AN ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN AND, OF COURSE, THAT WILL IMPACT THAT REVENUE SOURCE.

SO WHILE WE ARE EXPECTING OVERALL REVENUES TO GROW, IT WILL NOT BE ENOUGH TO OFFSET ALL OF THE COMMITTED SPENDING THAT WE HAVE.

SO THERE WILL NEED TO BE A CONTINUED USE OF FUND BALANCE.

BUT JUST THE SIZE OF THE FUND BALANCE WILL PRECLUDE IT FROM BEING IN THAT $90 MILLION RANGE.

SO REVENUES WILL BE UP A LITTLE BIT.

WE'LL NEED TO CONTINUE TO USE FUND BALANCE, BUT THERE WON'T BE A LOT OF ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL GROWTH BEYOND THAT.

AND AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT OUR REVENUE SOURCE.

WE HAVE A GROUP OF OF BUSINESS LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY SPENDING AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE THAT HELPS US EXAMINE THAT.

AND WE'RE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE STATES COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE AND OTHER FORMS OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO GET A HANDLE ON THIS.

BUT THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE STAND NOW.

AND I SHOULD MENTION THAT STATE GOVERNMENT IS A BIT OF A UNCERTAINTY AS WELL.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, THERE'S THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF OF MANDATES AND REQUIREMENTS THAT CAN COME DOWN FROM THE STATE.

AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THOSE AS WELL.

AND OF COURSE, WITH A NEW ADMINISTRATION AND A NEW GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THERE'S CERTAINLY A POTENTIAL FOR ALL OF THAT.

AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, YOU JUST HAVE THE OVERALL LEVEL OF OF UNCERTAINTY SOMETIMES JOKE THAT IT SEEMS LIKE WE USED TO HAVE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENT, ONCE IN A LIFETIME, AND NOW IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENT EVERY MONTH.

SO BY THE TIME WE COME BACK WITH THE WITH THE BUDGET IN APRIL, WE MAY VERY WELL SEE THREE OR FOUR ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENTS.

AND THEN TRYING TO TAKE ALL THAT INTO CONSIDERATION IS, IS THE CHALLENGE.

AND THAT'S WHY I THINK WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO BE TRANSPARENT, CONTINUE TO TRY TO BE CONSERVATIVE WITH OUR BUDGET, WITH OUR REVENUE FORECAST SO THAT WE CAN BUILD A SUSTAINABLE, SUSTAINABLE BUDGET.

[00:10:03]

SO NONE OF US HAVE EASY JOBS HERE, AND I APPRECIATE THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU ALL FACE.

MY PLEDGE TO YOU IS I'LL WORK WITH YOU TRANSPARENTLY, DILIGENTLY, AND IN GOOD FAITH TO DO THE RIGHT TO HELP ALL OF US DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE CHILDREN THAT WE ALL LOVE SO MUCH. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

I THANK THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR HAVING MET WITH ME A NUMBER OF TIMES AS WE WORK OUR WAY THROUGH THIS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

SO WITH THAT, UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THAT ENDS OUR PRESENTATION.

SAY SOMETHING. I'LL JUMP IN FOR A SECOND FOR YOU.

THAT'S RIGHT. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, WE DID INVITE SOME PEOPLE TONIGHT, BUT WE HAD A LOT MORE SHOW UP THAN EVEN I ANTICIPATED.

AND THERE WAS NO YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NO INTENT TO THAT.

IT WAS THIS IS MAYBE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME.

PROBABLY NOT, BECAUSE I'VE SEEN YOU LEAD FOR SOME TIME NOW AND YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN WILLING TO ENGAGE.

AND I ABSOLUTELY VALUE THAT.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, YOU KNOW, AND I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED THIS SINCE COMING HERE AND, YOU KNOW, HAVING A COUNTY EXECUTIVE COME TO A BOARD MEETING AND PRESENT IN THIS WAY.

AND SO IT DOES GIVE ME HOPE THAT WE CAN HAVE A PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION.

WE DO HAVE A LOT TO SORT OUT, AND WE'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT, BUT WE DEFINITELY HAVE SOME CHALLENGES BETWEEN NOW AND A FINALIZED BUDGET.

AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR SORT OF KICKING IT OFF EARLY AND OPENING A DIALOG AND KNOW THAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING ON OUR SIDE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN DO AND WE'LL KEEP WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED. NOW THE BOARD HAS.

SO OUR NEXT THING ON THE AGENDA, WE DID THIS DELIBERATELY.

YOU HAD A CHANCE TO TO DO YOUR BOARD COMMENT.

SO IF YOU DO, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, WHEN WE'D GO AROUND AND DO THAT, THAT MAYBE YOU COULD WE CAN TOUCH ON THIS AND THEN WE'LL MAYBE CREATE A TIME FOR A DIALOG IN ANOTHER SETTING. SURE. BUT.

OKAY. SO REMEMBER.

CLOSE OUT, THEN? SURE.

YEAH. YOU'LL DO THAT. ALL RIGHT.

NO, THAT'S GREAT. I JUST. YEAH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANKS FOR COMING BY.

ALL RIGHT. SO AT THIS TIME, WE'LL MOVE INTO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.

[B. Board Member Comments]

I'LL START WITH YOU, MS.. ALVAREZ.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

WOW. QUITE A SHOW OUT.

AND WE MIGHT BE HERE LONG IF EVERYBODY.

I THINK WE HAVE 15 COMMENTS.

ANYWAY, A LOT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO DOWN TO THE INAUGURATION OF OUR NEW GOVERNOR.

IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD HIS SPEECH, IT WAS PRETTY ENCOURAGING.

THE THINGS THAT HE HAD TO SAY, I, I WAS ENCOURAGED.

AND THEN ALSO WHEN I WAS CANVASING, I DID I, I'VE TOLD EVERYBODY, I THINK THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO THAT I WANT TO HAVE GOOD DIALOG WITH WITH THE CONSTITUENTS IN MY AREA.

SO I DO PLAN ON HAVING TOWN HALLS AND THEY WILL START THE THEY WILL BE ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 10:00 AT THE GRACE REC CENTER. SO I INVITE YOU TO ATTEND THOSE SO WE CAN HAVE MORE CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU. WHISPERS.

YES. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF AT THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR ALL OF THE PATIENCE THEY'VE HAD WITH US AS NEW BOARD MEMBERS IN MEETING WITH US AND PROVIDING INFORMATION.

IT'S BEEN ENCOURAGING TO WORK WITH THE STAFF AND THEY'RE VERY, VERY EFFECTIVE.

AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE HERE AND WE WORK WITH THEM DILIGENTLY ON ALL THE TOPICS THAT THEY PROVIDE TO US.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M EXCITED FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I'VE ALSO BEEN APPOINTED TO THE MARYLAND.

I HAVE TO GET THE ACRONYM STRAIGHT MARYLAND ASSOCIATION BOARD OF EDUCATION COMMITTEE ON THEIR AWARDS COMMITTEE.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO AWARD SUBMISSIONS AND WILL BE ENCOURAGING YOU TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE YEARS TO COME.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MRS. HAHN. HELLO, EVERYONE, AND GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S AWESOME TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE.

I ALSO HAVE MADE SOME PROMISES TO CONSTITUENTS THAT I WOULD HOLD TOWN HALL MEETINGS SEPARATE FROM THE BOARD MEETINGS FOR

[00:15:06]

I'M HAVING MY FIRST TOWN HALL MEETING ON FEBRUARY 11TH AT JAMESVILLE LIBRARY FROM 1030 TO 12, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO COME OUT AND ASK QUESTIONS.

WHATEVER YOU HOWEVER I CAN HELP YOU, LET ME KNOW.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE AND GETTING TO KNOW EVERYONE AND.

I THINK THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU, GUYS, AND HAVE A ENJOY THE REST OF THE EVENING.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR.

DOCTOR HAROLD. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

WELCOME TO OUR BOARD MEETING.

I WANT TO ALSO ECHO DR.

BOLTON'S SENTIMENT AND THANKING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR COMING AND SHARING THAT UPDATE WITH US.

IT WAS A PLEASURE JUST TO HAVE HIM SHARE THAT DIALOG AND WE CERTAINLY, DEFINITELY APPRECIATE IT.

HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THIS PAST WEEK I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A LEARN WITH ME PROGRAM AT HOMESTEAD, WAKEFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHERE WE ENGAGE WITH THE STUDENTS IN A LAND SURVEY LOOKING AT EROSION AND ALL KINDS OF AMAZING, YOU KNOW, ISSUES WITH THE LAND.

SO WE DID THE SURVEY WITH THE STUDENTS IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR TRIP, THEIR UPCOMING TRIP TO HARFORD GLEN.

SO THAT'S AMAZING WORK.

THAT WAS SUPER FUN.

AND THEN ALSO HAD A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE SOUTH HAMPTON MIDDLE SCHOOLS PLANETARIUM.

SO CERTAINLY JUST ENGAGING WITH THE STUDENTS AND SEEING THE HARD WORK OF THE STAFF, I CALL THEM LEARNING LIGHTS, SEEING THOSE LEARNING LIGHTS GO OFF AND ALL THE AMAZING PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN OUR IN OUR COUNTY WAS AWESOME.

SO I WANT TO THANK THE SCHOOLS FOR HAVING ME AND LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT WINTER SEASON WITH OUR STUDENTS AS WELL.

THANK YOU. GREAT.

THANKS. MRS. PERRY. SO I'M GLAD TO SEE ALL THESE PEOPLE HERE THAT WE SHOWING.

WE'RE SHOWING THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT WE HAVE FOR OUR STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS.

AND IT'S REALLY ENCOURAGING.

I GOT A CHANCE TO GO TO A COMMUNITY SCHOOL MEETING.

AND AT THAT MEETING, WE HAD PEOPLE MAYBE LIKE 30 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THERE TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL STUDENTS AT EDGEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

THIS IS LIKE THE PILOT MEETING, BUT THEY'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND THAT AND TO HAVE ALL OF THAT INPUT AND ALL THAT SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS GREAT.

AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN EXPAND THAT PROGRAM.

I BELIEVE IT'S LIKE THAT WAS THE FIRST MEETING, BUT IT'S LOOKING TO EXPAND AND THAT WOULD BE GREAT FOR OUR CHILDREN.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. PERRY.

DR. PHILLIPS, GOOD EVENING AGAIN.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.

I, TOO, WOULD LIKE TO ECHO DR.

BOLTON'S COMMENTS ABOUT THANKING MR. CASSERLY FOR TAKING TIME OUT FROM HIS SCHEDULE AND SHOWING UP HERE THIS EVENING.

I THINK THE MESSAGE THAT WAS SENT WAS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME BOOT STRAPS TO TIGHTEN PRETTY FIRMLY COME BUDGET SEASON OR WE'RE IN BUDGET SEASON BECOME THE FINAL RESULT. SO WE ALL NEED TO BE PREPARED TO TAKE A GOOD, HARD LOOK AT OUR BUDGET AND OBVIOUSLY FALL WITHIN WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE FROM THE FROM THE COUNTY. AND SOME HARD CHOICES MAY NEED TO BE MADE.

SO THE TEN OF US, INCLUDING DR.

MUELLER, WHO'S NOT HERE THIS EVENING, WILL BE OBVIOUSLY DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE BUDGET PROCESS THIS SEASON.

AND HOPEFULLY THE RESULT WILL BE A.

ADEQUATE FOR FOR ALL OF US IN THE COUNTY, BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO KEEP OUR KEEP OUR CHILDREN EDUCATED.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND SO WONDERFUL TO SEE EVERYONE HERE THIS EVENING AGAIN, ECHOING WHAT DR.

BOLTON SAID. THANK YOU TO THE RANKING EXECUTIVE FOR BEING HERE.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH ROBBIE'S ANALYST, BUT AS THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE FOR THE COUNTY, HE'S BEEN IN THAT POSITION A WHILE AND HE'S A TREMENDOUS RESOURCE. HE'S REALLY, REALLY UNDERSTANDS THE COUNTY, THE FINANCES, WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL HEAR WHAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SAID ABOUT TIGHTENING UP OUR BOOTSTRAPS, WHICH WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO ACCOMMODATE SO THAT WE CAN KEEP MOVING HARVARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR.

[00:20:01]

THAT'S THE CITIZENS ADVISORY FOR CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY.

AND IF YOU GO TO THE HARVARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PAGE, THERE'S A NUMBER OF ADVISORY BOARDS THAT ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

AND THAT'S HOW I KIND OF STARTED GETTING INVOLVED WITH HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT VERY, VERY PROUD THAT WE ARE NOW GOING TO BE BIRTHING AN ROTC PROGRAM WITH THE FIRST 60 STUDENTS, GOING TO BE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY, AND IT WILL BE AT GEORGETOWN HIGH SCHOOL.

AND I THINK YOU'VE SEEN THE ANNOUNCEMENTS ON IT.

THAT'S REALLY, REALLY EXCITING NEWS.

AND THANK YOU, MR. LEMPERT, FOR FOR ALWAYS LEADING THAT GROUP SO SUCCESSFULLY.

THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING.

GOOD EVENING. I'D LIKE TO FIRST APOLOGIZE FOR MY ABSENCE.

FOR LAST MEETING. I WAS SICK, BUT DON'T WORRY, I'M ALL GOOD NOW.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO REACH OUT TO THE CLASS OF 2024 RISING SENIORS.

WE ARE STARTING TO PUT FEELERS OUT FOR THE NEXT STUDENT MEMBER ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

MY EMAIL IS NOAH BLANK AT STUDENT DOT ORG.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME.

CONTACT ME IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.

I'M REALLY EXCITED. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT.

YEAH. SO I'D LIKE TO FIRST THANK COUNTY EXECUTIVE CARSLEY AND ROBBIE ST LOUIS FOR COMING OUT TO SPEAK WITH US TONIGHT. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE DIALOG THAT WE'VE ALREADY HAD THE TIME THAT HE SPENT WITH US TO TALK THROUGH THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY'RE SEEING IN IN THEIR BUDGET.

WE'VE HAD GREAT, GREAT CONVERSATIONS, FULLY TRANSPARENT.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT.

SO I ALSO REALLY WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME ON A MONDAY NIGHT TO COME OUT AND BE WITH US TONIGHT.

IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE ALL OF YOU HERE.

REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

THIS PAST WEEK, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A CULTURE FAIR AT FALSE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THAT WAS THAT WAS REALLY COOL.

THE SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS HAD PUT ON THIS THIS RESEARCH PROJECT FOR ALL THE SIXTH GRADERS, WHERE THEY RESEARCHED A DIFFERENT COUNTRY AND LOOKED AT THE DIFFERENCES IN THEIR CULTURE TO TO THE US AND THE SIMILARITIES.

AND THAT WAS AMAZING.

AND THEY THEY INVITED ALL THE PARENTS TO COME IN, WHICH WAS WAS POWERFUL.

YOU KNOW, THE LIBRARY WAS COMPLETELY FILLED WITH STUDENTS AND AND AND PARENTS.

IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE THAT COMMUNITY INTERACTION AND THE PARENTS GETTING IN THE SCHOOLS AND SEEING THEIR KIDS AND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT FOR FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, THAT TYPE OF TYPE OF THING.

MRS. BRUCE HAD MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS SHE SELECTED FOR ONE OF THE COMMITTEES.

SO YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS, BUT ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS PARTICIPATE ON DIFFERENT COMMITTEES FOR DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.

WE HAVE INTERNAL COMMITTEES.

THERE'S THE ORGANIZATION THAT SHE MENTIONED, THE THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATED ASSOCIATION OF BOARD OF EDUCATION.

THERE'S ALSO THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF OF MARYLAND, STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION COMMITTEES.

SO WE ALL PARTICIPATE ON ON COMMITTEES TO STAY UPDATED ON ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN EDUCATION. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT.

BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TONIGHT.

I'LL TURN IT OVER TO PRESIDENT MUELLER.

THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING THERE IN PERSON TONIGHT.

I THINK THIS IS NOT USUAL FOR ME, BUT I AM STAYING FULLY ENGAGED IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS MEETING.

AGAIN, I DO APPRECIATE MR. CASSERLY COMING TODAY AND SPEAKING TO THE BOARD, LETTING US KNOW WHERE HE STANDS ON ISSUES, ON THE BUDGET ISSUE ESPECIALLY.

AND I ALSO APPRECIATE EVERYBODY THERE TODAY AND LOOKING FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

BEING ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS REALLY A FULL TIME JOB, AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT I SPENT MY ENTIRE DAY IN MEETINGS TODAY AND IT'S WHAT WE DO.

AND THAT'S NOT A COMPLAINT.

THAT'S ACTUALLY A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO BE SO ENGAGED IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS AND WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND I ALSO APPRECIATE ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THEY'RE NEW, THIS GROUP HAS REALLY JUMPED IN FEET FIRST AND GOTTEN INVOLVED, VERY ENGAGED IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU. GREAT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS NOW.

[C. Public Comments]

[00:25:01]

REMOTE SPEAKERS WILL THEN PROCEED.

THOSE SPEAKERS, THEY WILL BE ADMITTED TO THE MEETING BY AN HBS STAFF MEMBER.

ONE IS THEIR TURN TO SPEAK.

ALL SPEAKERS WILL RECEIVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK DUE TO THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED SPEAKERS, UNLESS THEY'RE REPRESENTING AN ORGANIZATION AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE 5 MINUTES.

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.

JUST JUST A LITTLE NOTE HERE.

DISPARAGING COMMENTS, PERSONAL ATTACKS AND INFLAMMATORY REMARKS ABOUT SPECIFIC SCHOOLS, PERSONNEL.

ANY PERSON OR GROUP ARE NOT PERMITTED SPEAKERS TO ENGAGE IN.

THESE COMMENTS WILL BE REMINDED THE RULES AND THE BOARD RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REMOVE THE SPEAKER.

IN ADDITION, PUBLIC COMMENT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

PLEASE DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD AND NOT TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN THE AUDIENCE.

SO, MRS. ROLLO, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN THE IN-PERSON REGISTERED PUBLIC SPEAKERS.

YES. THIS EVENING WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 22 IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.

WE WILL START OFF WITH JOSIE COSGROVE, FOLLOWED BY CASSANDRA BEVERLY.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOSEPH COSGROVE AND I'M A PARENT EDUCATOR IN THE STRIVE PROGRAM AT WILLIAM JAMES ELEMENTARY.

THE AREA OF SPECIAL EDUCATION HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS MANY DIFFERENT LAYERS AND PROGRAMS. TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE STRIVE PROGRAM.

THE STRIVE PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON OFFERING HIGHLY SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION TO OUR YOUNGEST KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS AND TO OUR 21 YEAR OLD ADULTS.

ITS FOCUS IS TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNIFICANT COGNITIVE COMMUNICATION AND BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES.

THE EDUCATORS IN THIS PROGRAM ARE LEGALLY MANDATED TO PARTICIPATE IN RIGOROUS TRAINING CERTIFICATIONS AND ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT EXCEEDS THAT OF A GENERAL OR SPECIAL EDUCATION PAIR EDUCATOR.

SO WHY IS THIS THIS ADDITIONAL TRAINING NECESSARY? IN ADDITION TO HAVING COMMUNICATION AND BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES, MANY OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE DIFFICULTY PROCESSING THE SENSES AROUND THEM.

WHAT THIS MEANS IN THE CLASSROOM IS THAT THE LIGHTS MIGHT BE TOO BRIGHT, TOO DIM.

A WORKER CAN BE HAMMERING OUTSIDE OR THE STUDENT'S CLOTHES OR SHOES MAY BE TOO TIGHT, TOO ITCHY, OR THEY JUST DON'T LIKE THEM.

SORRY. THESE ARE EVERYDAY OCCURRENCES THAT YOU AND I EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY AND FOR THE MOST PART ARE ABLE TO IGNORE.

HOWEVER, THESE STUDENTS CAN BECOME FIXATED ON THESE THINGS AND IT CAN LEAD TO SEVERE ANXIETY WHICH MAY RESULT IN YELLING, RUNNING, HITTING THEMSELVES OR OTHERS.

ANOTHER COMMON SITUATION IS CREATED WHEN AN EDUCATOR IS WORKING WITH THE STUDENT ACADEMIC COMMUNICATION OR SOCIAL SKILLS, AND THE STUDENT IS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS ASKED OF HIM OR HER, OR THEY JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE DOING THE WORK.

MANY OF THEM LACK THE SKILLS TO SAY, MRS. COSGROVE, I DON'T GET THIS OR MRS. COSGROVE, I NEED A BREAK.

SO WHAT MIGHT THEY DO? RUN. THEY MAY RUN AROUND THE ROOM SCREAMING AND KNOCKING THINGS OFF OF SHELVES AND HITTING WHOEVER OR WHATEVER MAY BE IN THEIR WAY.

AND IF YOUR TEAM ISN'T FAST ENOUGH OUT THE DOOR, THEY GO.

LASTLY, AND THE MOST COMMON OCCURRENCE IS WHEN AN ADULT IS WORKING WITH A STUDENT AND THE STUDENT GETS FRUSTRATED.

ONE MAY ANTICIPATE GETTING SPIT AT, SLAPPED IN THE FACE, PUNCHED, KICKED OR HAVE SOMETHING THROWN AT THEM.

EVERY STRIDE MEMBER THAT I HAVE MET HAS EXPERIENCED THIS.

AND MANY OF US, MYSELF INCLUDED, HAVE ALSO SUFFERED CONCUSSIONS BECAUSE OF THESE BEHAVIORS.

BUT PROBABLY WORSE THAN GETTING MYSELF INJURED IS HELPLESSLY WATCHING THE CHILD INTENTIONALLY INJURE HIMSELF BY PULLING OUT THEIR HAIR, POUNDING THEIR FIST INTO THEIR FOREHEAD, OR SLAMMING THEIR HEAD INTO THEIR DESK.

DESPITE WE AS EDUCATORS ENDURE.

WE LOVE WHAT WE DO.

WE UNDERSTAND OUR STUDENTS INDIVIDUALITY AND SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN AND STRIVE AS WELL AS ALL SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS DESERVE QUALITY CARE AND ADDITIONAL ADULT SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.

AS A CONVERSATION AND REVISION AND REMOVAL OF SERVICES FROM THE BUDGET EVOLVES, CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT THAT ACTION WILL AFFECT THE SAFETY OF ALL THE STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THIS AFFECTS TO ONLY AFFECT A SMALL NUMBER OF STUDENTS, ALL STUDENTS AND ADULTS ARE AFFECTED.

THANK. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS REPRESENTING A GROUP.

SO CAN YOU PLEASE GO OVER 5 MINUTES? THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT OLSON.

BOARD PRESIDENT MUELLER AND VICE PRESIDENT SEWELL AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

MY NAME IS CASSANDRA BEVERLY.

[00:30:01]

THE CAUCUS IS A NONPARTIZAN GROUP OF LEADERS FROM EVERY SEGMENT OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY CLERGY, BUSINESS EDUCATORS, FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS, PROFESSIONALS, AND OTHERS WHOSE MISSION IT IS TO ADVOCATE FOR FAIRNESS, EQUITY AND INCLUSION FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THIS COUNTY.

I WANT TO FIRST EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR YOUR SERVICE.

AS A FORMER ELECTED MEMBER OF THE BOARD, I'M I FULLY APPRECIATE THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU HAVE MADE TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF OUR SCHOOLS.

EDUCATION IS ALWAYS ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES FOR THE CAUCUS.

WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD EDUCATION TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS IN LIFE.

MY PREDECESSOR, JIM THORNTON, MYSELF AND OTHER CAUCUS MEMBERS HAVE APPEARED BEFORE THE BOARD TO ADVOCATE FOR INCREASED DIVERSITY IN THE HIRING OF ADMINISTRATORS AND CLASSROOM TEACHERS.

THIS COUNTY HAS HISTORICALLY LAGGED BEHIND IN THE EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR.

IN JULY OF 1992, JOE BOND, WHO WAS THEN THE HARTFORD COUNTY PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP, WROTE A LETTER TO SECRETARY TO STATE SUPERINTENDENT NANCY GRACE GRAYSMITH CRITICIZING THE HIRING AND PROMOTION PRACTICES INVOLVING MINORITY TEACHERS.

IN 1998, JANICE GRANT, THEN HARFORD COUNTY PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP, COMMENTING ON SIX BLACK APPS BEING PROMOTED, RAISING THE TOTAL NUMBER TO 14, SAID, QUOTE, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT WE DON'T SEE PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE POLICY AND DECISION MAKING POSITIONS, UNQUOTE.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT YOU WILL PROBABLY CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM HARTFORD, THE CURRENT HARTFORD COUNTY NAACP PRESIDENT.

IN 2018, THERE WERE 11 BLACK ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS WHEN SUPERINTENDENT BOSTON MADE A DECISION THAT RESULTED IN THE DEMOTION OF FOUR BLACK FEMALE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS.

CLEARLY A LARGE STEP IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

MY PREDECESSORS AND I APPEARED BEFORE THE BOARD TO EXPRESS OUR EXTREME DISSATISFACTION WITH THAT DECISION AND HAVE WORKED CONTINUOUSLY SEEKING JUSTICE TO HAVE THAT WRONG RIGHTED.

BLACK STUDENTS DESERVE TO SEE PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE THEM AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND NOT SOLELY AMONGST THE CUSTODIAL OR LUNCH STAFF.

WE WILL BE MONITORING THIS ISSUE AND WILL HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE TO IMPROVE ITS PERFORMANCE IN THIS REGARD.

SCHOOL CLOSINGS DUE TO COVID HAVE RESULTED IN ACHIEVEMENT LOSSES FOR OUR STUDENTS.

THERE ALREADY EXISTED AN ACHIEVEMENT GAP BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE STUDENTS.

COVID HAS SERVED TO EXACERBATE THIS GAP.

EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT AND ADDITIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS ARE NOT LOST.

WE KNOW THE SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACT FOR CHILDREN OF COLOR WHO ARE NOT READING PROFICIENTLY BY THIRD GRADE.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT A BUDGET THAT PROVIDES FOR THESE VULNERABLE STUDENTS TO, IN EFFECT, DEPLETE THE OXYGEN FROM THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE.

I'M ASKING YOU NOT TO BE INFLUENCED BY VOICES OF DISTRACTION THAT SEEK TO HAVE YOU DEVOTE YOUR TIME TO NON-EXISTENT PROBLEMS. SCHOOLS ARE FOR EDUCATING, NOT PLACATING.

YOU MUST NOT FEAR TRUTH.

FACTS AND NOT FICTION MUST BE TAUGHT.

TRUTH MUST BE TAUGHT EVEN WHEN IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE.

WE WILL BE DOING OUR STUDENTS A DISSERVICE IF WE CHOOSE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH ROSE COLORED GLASSES RATHER THAN HELPING THEM TO DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS TO NAVIGATE THE WORLD THEY WILL ENTER.

WE MUST KNOW OUR HISTORY SO THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM IT.

FINALLY, I ASK THAT ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY LEARN TO DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE.

PLEASE MODEL THE BEHAVIOR THAT YOU WANT TAUGHT TO OUR STUDENTS.

OUR CHILDREN ARE WATCHING.

THANK YOU. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS DIALOG WITH YOU ABOUT THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES.

GOOD NIGHT. OUR NEXT SPEAKERS ARE DAVID BAUER, FOLLOWED BY DR.

MARLA TILLMAN.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

SO I'M DAVID BAUER.

I EMAILED YOU ALL A PREVIEW OF THIS, INCLUDING LINKS TO SOURCES.

SO IN THE USA, WE ARE CURRENTLY DEALING WITH A MORAL PANIC, MAYBE SEVERAL CONNECTED MORAL PANICS.

[00:35:01]

I'VE NOTED BEFORE THAT THE DEMONIZATION OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY CAN BE TRACED TO A SINGLE PERSON.

HE LATER MOVED ON TO ATTACKING TRANSGENDER RIGHTS.

AND JUST AS WE HAD A FLOOD OF LEGISLATION ABOUT BANNING CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEING A FLOOD OF LAWS AND BILLS TARGETING TRANSGENDER PEOPLE.

SUPPORTERS OF THESE ATTACKS SAY THEY'RE PROTECTING CHILDREN AND PARENTAL RIGHTS, BUT IT'S EASY TO SEE THAT THOSE FALSE.

LET'S START WITH SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE BILL 3730.

THIS BILL MAKES IT A FELONY FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO PERFORM OR EVEN JUST REFER ANY PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 26 FOR GENDER TRANSITION PROCEDURES.

UNDER THIS BILL, A PHYSICIAN IN SOUTH CAROLINA COULD BE IMPRISONED FOR FIVE YEARS FOR SIMPLY REFERRING A 25 YEAR OLD ADULT TO A MARYLAND DOCTOR.

THIS IS NOT PARENTAL RIGHTS.

25 YEAR OLDS ARE NOT CHILDREN.

NEXT OKLAHOMA SENATE BILL 250.

THIS BILL TRIES TO BAN GENDER TRANSITION PROCEDURES FOR PEOPLE OF ANY AGE BY BANNING ANY GOVERNMENT FUNDING OF ANY FORM FROM GOING TO MEDICAL PROVIDERS WHO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES OR ARE AFFILIATED WITH SUCH A PROVIDER ANY AGE.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT PROTECTING CHILDREN.

THIS IS ABOUT FEAR AND PANIC.

MEANWHILE, IN TEXAS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ISSUED A MEMO STATING THAT IN HIS LEGAL OPINION, MEDICAL TREATMENT OF TRANS CHILDREN COULD BE CONSIDERED CHILD ABUSE UNDER EXISTING TEXAS LAW.

THE GOVERNOR THEN ORDERED THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO INVESTIGATE PARENTS OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN.

IF A SET OF PARENTS, THEIR CHILD AND THEIR DOCTOR ALL AGREE THAT A NATIONALLY APPROVED MEDICAL TREATMENT IS APPROPRIATE, THE TEXAS EXECUTIVE BRANCH WANTS TO INVESTIGATE AND HAVE THEIR SAY TOO TO.

THAT IS NOT PARENTAL RIGHTS.

THIS MOVEMENT IS SHOWING THEIR TRUE BELIEFS.

PLEASE LOOK.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF EDUCATION.

MY NAME IS THE REVEREND DR.

MARLYN MA LON TILLMAN, TLG MAN.

I HAVE A RESIDENCE HERE IN HARTFORD COUNTY AND I AM THE PASTOR OF AMES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, JUST A STONE'S THROWS AWAY.

MY GRANDCHILDREN ARE SEVEN AND 14 YEARS OF AGE.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR EDUCATION, IT'S PRIORITY ONE.

PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS, IS WHAT I ALWAYS SAY WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR EDUCATION.

WHEN OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE, WHO I HAVE HOPES IN.

SAY THE DEMOCRACY IN ACTION IS WHAT HE SAW TODAY.

I PRAY THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT DEMOCRACY MEANS, BECAUSE DEMOCRACY IN ITS FIRST DEFINITION, IS A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT BY THE WHOLE POPULATION.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CUTTING BUDGETS FOR OUR CHILDREN, WE NEED TO PUSH BACK.

PERIOD. BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

I BELIEVE THAT'S WHY ALL OF YOU TOOK THIS POSITION.

IT'S FOR OUR CHILDREN.

AND SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE BLUEPRINT FOR OUR STUDENTS FUTURE, THERE ARE TWO THINGS I REALLY NEED YOU TO PUSH BACK ON THAT ARE DEAR TO MY HEART.

DIVERSITY AND RETENTION.

I PRAY THAT YOU ALL REALLY MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT AT DIVERSITY AND RETENTION.

I'VE SEEN HOW EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THIS SYSTEM.

BY CIRCUMSTANCES OF WHICH THEY WERE NEVER GIVEN AN EXIT INTERVIEW AS TO WHY THEY WERE WHY THEY WERE EXCUSED.

WE NEED TO WORK ON DIVERSITY INTENTIONALLY AND NOT HAVE LIP SERVICE.

SECOND. THERE'S ALSO THE PORTION ABOUT COUNSELORS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS, AS YOUR STATEMENT SAYS, THAT ARE THEIR DAILY.

DAILY TO ME MEANS THEY'RE THERE EVERY DAY.

THAT'S HOW I DEFINE DAILY.

BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT COUNSELORS ARE MOVING AROUND THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE DAY, AND YOU MAY NOT SEE A COUNSELOR IN THAT SCHOOL ON A GIVEN DAY.

IF WE'RE GOING TO PUSH BACK HOW CHILDREN ARE DEALING WITH TRAUMA, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE COUNSELORS IN THE SCHOOLS TO DEAL WITH THEIR SITUATIONS AND NOT ARRESTING

[00:40:07]

NOW, I GREW UP IN A GENERATION WHERE I KNOW DIDN'T LOOK AT, BUT WHEN YOU WHEN YOU GOT A LITTLE SCUFFLE, YOU DIDN'T GET PUT IN JAIL.

YOU SIMPLY WENT TO A COUNSELOR.

YOU IRONED IT OUT.

OR IF THINGS WERE REAL BAD, YOU HAD TO YOU HAD EXPELLED FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND YOU CAME BACK, BUT YOU WEREN'T GIVEN HANDCUFFS.

WE NEED TO PUSH BACK ON MAKING SURE THAT WE PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN RECEIVE THE EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHY ALL OF YOU RAN.

IF YOU DIDN'T, SAME YOU.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATIE YORK, FOLLOWED BY JOE RIDDLE.

GOOD EVENING. HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR.

A LITTLE BIT LATE. IF I'D KNOWN THERE'D BE SUCH A CROWD, I WOULD HAVE TRIED TO WRITE A BETTER, BETTER SPEECH.

BUT JUST WANTED TO KIND OF BRING A COUPLE OF POINTS TO YOUR ATTENTION.

NEXT MONTH IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

TO ME, THAT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NOT JUST IN FEBRUARY, BUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THERE'S ALSO BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT. LGBTQ+ YOUTH.

TO ME, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE CARING FOR ALL CHILDREN EQUALLY AND WE ARE AFFORDING OUR LGBTQ+ RIGHTS.

LGBTQ+ YOUTH, THE SAME RIGHTS THAT ALL STUDENTS HAVE, THAT THEY'RE KNOWN BY THE NAMES THAT THEY WANT TO BE CALLED.

THEY'RE KNOWN BY THE PRONOUNS THAT AFFIRM THEIR GENDER IDENTITY, THAT THEY'RE RESPECTED, THEIR LOVE.

THEY'RE SAFE FROM BULLYING AND FEAR OF RETRIBUTION, JUST LIKE THE OTHER STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOLS.

I ALSO APPRECIATE YOU SUPPORTING THE MENTAL HEALTH POLICY BECAUSE KIDS MENTAL HEALTH IS IMPORTANT.

OFTENTIMES, ADULTS HAVE A TENDENCY TO THINK OF CHILDREN AS THEY DON'T HAVE REAL PROBLEMS TO WORRY ABOUT.

JUST WAIT TILL THEY'RE AN ADULT AND THEN THEY'LL REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW TOUGH IT IS OUT IN THE WORLD.

BUT KIDS STRUGGLE WITH A LOT, AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU ACKNOWLEDGING THAT.

ADDITIONALLY, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE MAKING A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO HIRE, RETAIN AND PROMOTE.

INSTRUCTORS THAT ARE BLACK AND OTHER BIPOC INDIVIDUALS.

OUR STUDENTS NEED TO SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED, AS PREVIOUS PERSON SAID, NOT JUST IN THE LOWER LEVEL STAFF, BUT IN THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING THE DECISIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MY NAME IS JOE RIDDELL.

I AM THE PARENT OF THREE STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT, TWO OF WHICH ATTEND BAKERSFIELD ELEMENTARY IN ABERDEEN AND ONE THAT ATTENDS EDGEWOOD MIDDLE.

SO FIRST, I WANT TO START BY JUST RECOGNIZING THE GOOD JOB THAT THE STAFF AT BAKERSFIELD ELEMENTARY HAS BEEN DOING WITH OUR TWO YOUNGEST CHILDREN.

THE STAFF THERE, BOTH THEIR TEACHERS, THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, EVERYBODY DOWN TO THE CUSTODIAL AND THE FOOD SERVICE STAFF HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL SINCE THEY'VE STARTED THIS YEAR.

I DID WANT TO BRING UP ONE ISSUE, WHICH IS OF NO FAULT OF THE STAFF THERE, WHICH IS WHY I STARTED OUT BY SAYING WHAT A GREAT JOB THEY'RE DOING.

SOMETHING I NOTICED RECENTLY IS THAT THERE'S NO PLAYGROUND FOR THE STUDENTS ABOVE.

I THINK THERE'S ONE FOR LIKE KINDERGARTEN, LIKE FOR VERY SMALL KIDS.

THERE'S A FENCED IN AREA THAT WE'VE STARTED REFERRING TO AS THE PRISON YARD BECAUSE IT'S ESSENTIALLY JUST A CONCRETE SLAB AND IT LOOKS LIKE AN OLD TENNIS COURT WITH NO PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT. I WAS JUST WONDERING IF MAYBE THIS YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW FUNDING IS TIGHT EVERYWHERE, BUT I YOU KNOW, PLAY IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN, PART OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT. SO I JUST WONDERED IF THE BOARD COULD MAYBE LOOK INTO IMPROVING THAT ASPECT OF OF THEIR EDUCATION.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING, SO ONE OF OUR CHILDREN IS ALSO IN THE TRANS COMMUNITY.

I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE EXCEPTIONAL JOB THAT SCHOOL STAFF, THE RESPECT THAT THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN BY BOTH HIS TEACHERS, STAFF.

AND TO BE COMPLETELY FRANK, THE OTHER STUDENTS, THERE HAVEN'T BEEN REALLY ANY ISSUES.

AND THE ONLY REAL PLACE I'VE EVER ENCOUNTERED AN ISSUE WITH THIS IS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL, WHICH IS BOTH A GOOD AND A BAD THING.

IT'S EXCELLENT BECAUSE HE'S NOT FACING IT BECAUSE IT'S IN SCHOOL.

IT'S BEEN GREAT. BUT, YOU KNOW, I JUST USUALLY WHEN I COME HERE BEFORE, WHEN WE LIVE IN CECIL COUNTY, I CAME TO THESE MEETINGS AND ESSENTIALLY JUST, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS REMIND PEOPLE THAT TITLE NINE IS SETTLED LAW WITH WITH BATHROOM.

[00:45:03]

I KNOW THE I KNOW THAT OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE SHOWN THEIR TENDENCY TO WASTE OUR TAXPAYER MONEY ON ON LAWSUITS THAT ARE GOING NOWHERE.

BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD IN THE FUTURE WOULD CONTINUE THE COURSE OF NOT FOLLOWING THAT EXAMPLE.

THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE APOLLO HAYDEN, FOLLOWED BY AARON HAYDEN, AND THEY HAVE BOTH IDENTIFIED THAT THEY ARE REPRESENTING A GROUP.

SO CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE THEM 5 MINUTES? HI, I'M APOLLO HAYDEN, AND I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF LGBTQ STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I AM AWARE THAT THERE IS A FEAR THAT WE ARE HARASSING OTHER CHILDREN OR JUST CAUSING ISSUES.

I CAN TELL YOU FIRSTHAND THAT WE ARE NOT.

QUITE FRANKLY, NO ONE COULD.

THEY COULDN'T CARE LESS THAT WE'RE THAT WE ATTEND SCHOOL WITH THEM.

EVERY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT THAT I'VE EVER MET IS SIMPLY JUST TRYING TO PASS HIGH SCHOOL AND GET OUT OF THERE.

THEY DON'T REALLY CARE THAT THAT WE IDENTIFY AS SOMETHING OTHER THAN THAT.

THEY DON'T IDENTIFY AS THEY DON'T CARE THAT I'M QUEER.

THAT I'M NON-BINARY.

THEY WOULD JUST LIKE ME AS A PERSON AND THEY LIKE OUR OTHER STUDENTS AS A PERSON.

AND SURE, WE MAY NOT ALL AGREE ON THE SAME THINGS AND MAYBE THEY DON'T AGREE WITH MY IDENTITY, BUT WE MOVE PAST THAT.

I DON'T RATE THEM FOR THAT AND THEY DON'T BERATE ME PERSONALLY.

I'M ON MY HIGH SCHOOL'S WRESTLING TEAM AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT ABOUT 90% OF MY TEAM ARE BOYS AND THEY DON'T CARE.

THERE'S A STEREOTYPE THAT THEY WOULD CARE.

THEY DON'T. I'VE CHANGED IN THE SAME AREAS AS THEM, JUST OUT OF NECESSITY.

OTHER SCHOOLS MAY NOT HAVE PROVIDED AN AREA FOR SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE CONSIDERED A GO WRESTLER.

THEY JUST IF I CAN WRESTLE, THEY'RE FINE WITH IT.

I CAN WIN POINTS FOR MY TEAM AND MOVE ON WITH LIFE.

THEY JUST WANT TO THEY JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO WELL ON THE TEAM.

THEY DON'T CARE WHAT I IDENTIFY AS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T AFFECT THEM.

THAT'S A BIG PORTION, IS THAT PEOPLE THINK THAT WHAT I WHO I LOVE AND WHO IDENTIFY AS AFFECTS THEM.

IT DOESN'T REALLY I'M NOT WALKING AROUND WITH A HUGE SIGN ON MY BACK SAYING THAT I LOVE I LOVE PEOPLE SIMILAR TO ME.

I JUST KIND OF ALSO TRY TO GO ABOUT MY DAY.

I'M A SENIOR. I JUST LIKE TO GRADUATE.

I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO GO TO COLLEGE, SO I'M EXCITED TO JUST GET OUT OF THERE.

SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE RIGHTS WHILE I'M STILL HERE AND BE ABLE TO ACCESS WHATEVER I CAN IN ORDER TO KEEP MY EDUCATION HAPPY AND PROSPERING.

AND SO I CAN JUST KEEP GOING AND BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL AND INTO MY FUTURE AND HOPEFULLY DO SOME CHANGE IN THE WORLD IN MY FUTURE JOB. THAT'S ALL.

THANK YOU.

HI, DR. BOLTON BOARD.

MY NAME IS AARON HAYDEN, AND I AM THE PARENT OF FOUR CHILDREN.

THREE OF THEM ARE HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

I HAVE A DEGREE IN EDUCATION AND AS WELL AS FAMILY STUDIES.

I ALSO FACILITATE SUPPORT GROUPS FOR BOTH LGBTQ TEENS AND THEIR PARENTS.

WHAT YOU HEAR ABOUT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND THIS MEETINGS FROM SOME PEOPLE ARE ABSOLUTELY FALSE.

SOME ARE PROVEN FALSE SCIENTIFICALLY.

SOME ARE OUTRIGHT OPINIONS, AND SOME ARE JUST FAKE OUTRAGE ABOUT SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND.

PLEASE REMEMBER. JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T OR CAN'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING DOESN'T MAKE IT LESS TRUE.

AT THE LAST MEETING, YOU HEARD SOME STATISTICS ABOUT THE LGBTQ YOUTH COMMUNITY FROM A NATIONAL YOUTH SURVEY.

RECENTLY, I SURVEYED LGBTQ TEENS IN HARFORD COUNTY, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THIS COUNTY STANDS.

OF THOSE WHO RESPONDED, 86.7 OF LGBTQ TEENS IN THIS COMMUNITY EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION AND 92.2% EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY.

THESE STATISTICS ARE HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

80% CONSIDERED SUICIDE.

THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 46%.

THIS IS HORRIFYING AND THIS IS WHY MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS IS CRITICAL.

A STUDENT CANNOT LEARN IF THEY ARE SUICIDAL.

THAT'S CHILD DEVELOPMENT 101.

POOR MENTAL HEALTH CAN AFFECT SCHOOL ATTENDANCE RATES AND ALSO LEAD TO POOR PHYSICAL HEALTH, WHICH RESULTS IN POOR ATTENDANCE.

[00:50:01]

TEST SCORES CAN'T GO UP IF CHILDREN ARE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY UNABLE TO LEARN.

AFTER ALL, IT APPEARS THAT TEST SCORES, NOT THE STUDENTS, ARE OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE HERE.

IT WAS ALSO SAID THAT THE LGBT COMMUNITY WAS HARASSING STUDENTS IN SCHOOL.

LIKE YOU JUST HEARD.

NO EXAMPLES WERE ACTUALLY GIVEN.

THERE IS NONE. HOWEVER, I HAVE BROUGHT EXAMPLES OF HOW THE LGBTQ STUDENTS ARE BEING HARASSED.

53.3% EXPERIENCED BULLYING AND DISCRIMINATION.

SOME OF THE EXAMPLES PROVIDED TO ME WERE BEING MADE FUN OF.

FOR LOOKING GAY.

BEING OPENLY GAY.

BEEN CALLED SLURS.

BEEN TOLD THEY WERE DELUSIONAL.

AND SOME CHILDREN BARKED AT.

OUR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO SCHOOL TO BE HARASSED AND BARKED AT.

WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT IS THAT? LUCKILY, 93.3 KNEW OF AT LEAST ONE TEACHER WHO WAS AN ALLY.

KNOW ABOUT THE INCIDENT IN LOUDOUN COUNTY.

LET'S GET A COUPLE OF THINGS CLEAR.

THAT IS THE SAME ONE EXAMPLE THAT KEEPS BEING USED, WHICH MEANS THESE INCIDENCES ARE RARE.

SECOND AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SO PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT BOY WAS A PREDATOR.

THAT BOY WOULD HAVE ASSAULTED A GIRL AT ANY CHANCE HE GOT.

INSTEAD OF DEMONIZING AN ENTIRE GROUP OF PEOPLE AND VICTIM SHAMING, WHY DON'T WE SIMPLY TEACH OUR CHILDREN NOT TO ASSAULT AND RAPE OTHERS? I FEEL THAT WOULD BE THE MORE EFFECTIVE LONG TERM SOLUTION.

NATIONALLY, 36% OF TRANSGENDER OR NON-BINARY STUDENTS WERE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY STRAIGHT KIDS IN SCHOOL, MOSTLY WHERE THERE WERE BATHROOM AND LOCKER ROOM RESTRICTIONS.

26% OF THESE ASSAULTS WERE TOWARDS TRANSGENDER BOYS.

THE ONLY PERSON TO BLAME IS THE RAPIST, NOT THE LOCKER ROOMS. THE SOLUTION ISN'T TO DENY STUDENTS THEIR RIGHTS.

THE SOLUTION IS TO HAVE MORE SUPERVISION IN THE LOCKER ROOMS, MORE PRIVACY OPTIONS, AND AN EFFECTIVE AND CONSISTENT SCHOOL RESPONSE.

THIS IS WHY WE HAVE HEALTH CLASS TO TEACH, TO TEACH OTHERS ABOUT HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND CONSENT.

OUR TEACHERS ARE AMAZING.

THEY WORK LONG HOURS, INCLUDING HOURS AFTER THE SCHOOL DAY.

THEY'RE IN CHARGE OF HUNDREDS OF HUMANS, AND THEY HAVE TO ENSURE THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL ONE HAS THEIR NEEDS MET.

AND NOW THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH PARENTS WHO THINK THEY KNOW BETTER THAN THEM ABOUT EDUCATION.

TEACHERS ARE TEACHING FACTS IN SCHOOL USING THEIR BEST PRACTICES.

THEY ARE NOT GROOMING CHILDREN AND THEY DEFINITELY AREN'T PREDATORS.

THEY DON'T CARE HOW STUDENTS IDENTIFY OR WHAT'S IN THEIR PANTS.

THEY JUST HAVE THEY JUST WANT THEM TO HAVE GOOD MENTAL HEALTH AND THAT THEY ARE LEARNING.

I AM, HOWEVER, CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S IN THESE CHILDREN'S PANTS RATHER THAN THEIR EDUCATION.

PLEASE STOP SEXUALIZING AND USING THESE CHILDREN AS POLITICAL PAWNS.

YOUR PERSONAL BELIEFS SHOULD NEVER COME INTO PLAY WHEN LOOKING AT FACTS THAT ARE GEARED TOWARDS OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONS AND RIGHTS.

THANK YOU.

NEXT, WE HAVE RUTH OSWALD, FOLLOWED BY VICKIE JONES.

THEY WOULD ALSO GET 5 MINUTES, PLEASE.

HELLO. MY NAME IS RUTH OSWALD.

I'M NEW TO HARPER COUNTY, BUT IN MY FORMER LIFE I WAS A TEACHER FOR 20 YEARS.

SO I HAVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF PEOPLE IN OUR LGBTQ COMMUNITIES AND IN THE PEOPLE AND THE BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMUNITIES AND VERY RELEVANT TO THE TIMES WE LIVE IN AND SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE ALREADY HAD.

I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE BOOKS AND THE CLASSES THAT DESCRIBE THE LIVED EXPERIENCES IN THESE COMMUNITIES.

I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ONE LIVED EXPERIENCE THAT ALL PARENTS SHARE TODAY, AND THAT IS HOW HARD IT IS TO BE A PARENT IN TODAY'S WORLD.

OUR WORLD IS BOMBARDED WITH NEW INFORMATION BY THE MINUTE, SOME OF IT CONFLICTING WITH FACT, SOME OF IT CONFLICTING WITH OUR PERSONAL BELIEFS.

TODAY'S WORLD LOOKS NOTHING LIKE THE ONE WE GREW UP IN.

OUR GRANDPARENTS GREW UP IN.

RAISING A CHILD CAN BE TERRIFYING.

HOW DO WE RAISE CHILDREN TO NOT ONLY SURVIVE, BUT TO THRIVE IN THIS WORLD THAT THEY GROW IN? THAT'S ALL, CHILDREN.

THE ONLY THING THAT'S EVER WORKED IS TO EXPOSE OUR CHILDREN TO AS MUCH OF THIS INFORMATION AS WE CAN, THROUGH BOOKS, THROUGH IDEAS, THROUGH PEOPLE, AND IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE CAN GIVE IT CONTEXT.

IN TODAY'S CLASSROOM, WHERE MANY CHILDREN IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ AND ARE PART OF MANY PEOPLE, MANY CHILDREN ARE PART OF THE BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMUNITY.

ALL OUR CHILDREN WILL BE SURROUNDED BY A BEAUTIFUL DIVERSITY OF RACES, SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS, RELIGIONS AND IDEAS.

I'D LIKE YOU TO IMAGINE A READING CIRCLE IN KINDERGARTEN, ONE THAT I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN WHERE THE CLASS IS READING A BOOK ABOUT SUMMER VACATION.

[00:55:08]

AND IN THE FOLLOWING FOLLOW UP DISCUSSION, SARAH OR THE LITTLE GIRL TELLS THE CLASS ABOUT THE EXCITING TRIP SHE MADE TO THE BEACH WITH HER TWO MOMMIES.

MATTHEW IMMEDIATELY RAISES HIS HAND AND SAYS, YOU CAN'T HAVE TWO MOMMIES.

MAYBE THAT'S NOT HOW MATTHEW LIVES.

SARAH HAS HAD FOSTER HER CHEST.

SHE'S ASHAMED AND EMBARRASSED BECAUSE NOW EVERYONE IN THE GROUP KNOWS THAT SHE'S DIFFERENT.

NOW A SKILLFUL TEACHER CAN REDIRECT THIS DISCUSSION BACK TO THE TOPIC.

BUT MY QUESTION IS, SHOULD THEY? WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY NOW EXISTS TO THOUGHTFULLY, CONTEXTUALLY DISCUSS THE REALITY THAT SOME CHILDREN DO HAVE TWO MOMMIES OR TWO DADDIES, AND THOSE PARENTS REALLY LOVE THEIR CHILDREN.

SUDDENLY, SARAH'S HEAD POPS UP WITH A SMILE AND MATTHEW SAYS, OH, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

AND THEY GO BACK TO THEIR DISCUSSION ABOUT SUMMER VACATION, BECAUSE IT REALLY DIDN'T MEAN THAT MATH THAT MUCH TO MATTHEW WAS JUST SOMETHING HE DIDN'T KNOW.

WELL, WHO KNOWS? WE MAY HAVE PREVENTED A FUTURE BULLYING INCIDENT.

MAYBE MATTHEW NOW WANTS TO READ A BOOK ABOUT KIDS WITH TWO MOMMIES OR DADDIES TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE NOW HE WANTS TO LEARN SOMETHING HE DIDN'T KNOW.

AND I HOPE AS WE GO FORWARD, GIVEN THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN, THAT HE'S ABLE TO FIND AN AGE APPROPRIATE BOOK IN EITHER THE SCHOOL OR THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

AND THAT BOOK HAS NOT BEEN BANNED.

I JUST FINISHED A REALLY GOOD BOOK ABOUT THE 1918 FLU PANDEMIC, AND IT HAD A VERY MEMORABLE AND RELEVANT QUOTE THAT SAID, WE ALL LIVE IN A WALLED CITY.

NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRY TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN BY BUILDING WALLS, BY BANNING BOOKS, OR BY GOING SO FAR AS TO ERASE IDEAS LIKE VIRUSES, THEY WILL INFECT THEM. IDEAS WILL INFECT OUR CHILDREN.

AND IF NOTHING ELSE, I CAN PROMISE YOU, CHILDREN TALK TO EACH OTHER WHAT THEY DON'T FIND IN BOOKS.

THEY'LL FIND OUT FROM THEIR FRIEND.

AGAIN, WE ALL LIVE IN AN UN WALLED CITY.

WHETHER OUR CHILDREN SURVIVE OR WHETHER THEY FRY THRIVE WILL DEPEND ON HOW WELL THEY ARE.

ADAPT, ABLE TO ADAPT TO OUR DIVERSE WORLD.

THIS WORLD WILL NEVER CHANGE FOR US.

IT NEVER HAS IN ALL OF HISTORY.

WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR UNDERSTANDING AND ADAPTING TO THE CHANGES THAT ARE OCCURRING.

AND SOME OF THE BEST TOOLS WE HAVE ARE IN BANNED BOOKS.

SO I ASK THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY TO PLEASE SUPPORT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

PLEASE DON'T BAN THEIR STORIES AND PLEASE DON'T BAN THEIR BOOKS.

AND IF YOU THINK THAT'S NOT HAPPENING, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY INSTANCES YET THAT IT'S HAPPENING IN MARYLAND OR IN HARFORD COUNTY.

WE CAN LOOK TO FLORIDA, WHERE RECENTLY AN AP CLASS AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES WAS BANNED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.

IT WAS A CLASS THAT WAS NEEDED FOR THE STUDENTS AS SAT TESTS, EVERYBODY'S SAT TESTS SO THAT THEY COULD PASS.

AND THE GOVERNOR SUPPORTED THIS MOVE BY SAYING AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES ARE NOT RELEVANT TO OUR EDUCATION.

I'M ASKING YOU THAT WE NEVER ALLOW THAT ATTITUDE TO COME INTO MARYLAND, THE MARYLAND EDUCATION SYSTEM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GOOD EVENING. AS PRESIDENT OF THE HARTFORD COUNTY NAACP, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU THE NAACP'S FOUR AREAS OF ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION INNOVATION.

WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY CHILD DESERVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, BUT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEMS ARE COLLAPSING UNDER INEQUITY, AND IT'S MOSTLY BECAUSE OF POVERTY.

STUDENTS WHO EXPERIENCE SEVERE ECONOMIC OBSTACLES PERFORM WORSE THAN STUDENTS WHO HAVE ACCESS TO MORE WEALTH.

TO BRIDGE THESE GAPS AND ENSURE THAT ALL CHILDREN GET A REAL CHANCE AT FULFILLING EDUCATION.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC RACISM AND POVERTY AS A TANGIBLE BARRIER TO LEARNING AND FUTURE ACHIEVEMENT.

EVERY STUDENT, EVERY BLACK STUDENT DESERVES ACCESS TO GREAT TEACHING, EQUITABLE RESOURCES, AND A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FROM GRADE SCHOOL CLASSROOMS TO COLLEGE CAMPUS.

BLACK STUDENTS MATTER AND WORKING ON THEIR BEHALF HAS NEVER BEEN MORE URGENT.

HERE ARE OUR FOUR AREAS OF FOCUS.

CRADLE TO CAREER SUPPORTS.

STUDENTS NEED FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND RESOURCES THAT ENCOURAGE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH FOR THEIR OVERALL WELL-BEING, WHICH ALLOWS FOR STRONGER ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT.

COLLEGE AND WORKFORCE SUCCESS.

WE SUPPORT STUDENTS GETTING THE EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT THEY NEED SO THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL ON THE JOB OR IN AN ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT.

COLLEGE COSTS SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE.

[01:00:02]

RACIAL JUSTICE AND EDUCATION.

WE NEED STRATEGIES AND INVESTMENTS THAT BUILD ACCOUNTABILITY TO ADVANCE THE SUCCESS OF CHILDREN OF COLOR.

BLACK CHILDREN DESERVE TO EXPERIENCE CULTURALLY RELEVANT, STUDENT CENTERED LEARNING.

WE WORK TO EXPAND POLICIES AND INTERVENTIONS THAT EQUIP FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO BETTER SUPPORT THEIR KIDS NEEDS IN SCHOOL.

AN END TO THE POLICE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE.

POLICE OFFICERS DON'T MAKE SCHOOLS SAFER.

BUT POLICE PRESENCE IN SCHOOLS DOES INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT BLACK STUDENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND THEN REMAIN IN IT.

AND 43 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, BLACK STUDENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED THAN OTHER STUDENTS WHILE AT SCHOOL.

WHILE OTHER STUDENTS MAY DO SOMETHING SIMILAR AND NOT BE PUNISHED AT ALL.

SUCH AN EXPERIENCE OFTEN ENDS WITH DEVASTATING EFFECTS TO THE CHILD AND THEIR LIFE PATH.

I ASKED THE BOARD TO START HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS AND REALLY TAKE THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE BARRIERS.

LOOK CLOSELY AT THE AREAS OF THE COUNTY WHERE THERE IS A NEED TO ADDRESS EQUITY.

FIRST TAKE TIME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT EQUITY REALLY MEANS.

I ASK THE BOARD NOT TO MAKE ASSUMPTIONS, OR FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT OF COLOR TO APPLY YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCES, BUT SEEK TO INSTEAD HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T LOOK LIKE YOU.

I ASKED THE BOARD TO KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS AND TO WORK HAND IN GLOVE WITH THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR CHILDREN ARE SET UP FOR SUCCESS.

THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE A LESSER VERSION, FOLLOWED BY MARY JANE PRICE.

MARY JANE WILL RECEIVE 5 MINUTES.

GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TONIGHT.

I'M ALISSA OR SOME. I LIVE IN BOSTON.

I HAVE A DAUGHTER IN NINTH GRADE AT HARVARD GRACE HIGH SCHOOL IN THE ETOWAH MAGNET PROGRAM.

I WAS AN EDUCATOR IN BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR 11 YEARS.

BLESSED TO BE HOME WITH OUR TWO DAUGHTERS FOR 11 YEARS.

AND NOW I WORK AT HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE AS A GRANT COORDINATOR AND MINDFUL OF RACE BY RUTH KING.

THE AUTHOR SHARES A STORY THE UNTOLD.

IT'S A STORY SHE OFFERS THAT WHITE PEOPLE MIGHT CONSIDER TELLING THEIR CHILDREN OR ADAPTING TO THEIR EXPERIENCE.

AND I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO PREPARE AS I DECIDED LAST NIGHT TO ADDRESS YOU.

SO I'D LIKE TO SHARE AN EXCERPT FROM THAT LETTER THAT I WROTE FOUR YEARS AGO TO MY DAUGHTERS, WHO WERE 16 AND 11 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.

IT'S ABOUT RACE, WHITENESS, OUR FAMILY HISTORY AS AMERICANS AND OUR PLACE IN IT.

MY CHILDREN. I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU FROM MY LIPS THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR RACIAL HISTORY, ABOUT WHITENESS, AND ABOUT BEING A MEMBER OF THE WHITE TRIBE.

YEARS AGO, OUR ANCESTORS DID A HORRIFIC DEED AGAINST THE HUMAN RACE.

THEY ENSLAVED BLACK PEOPLE AND TREATED THEM WITH UTTER DISRESPECT.

BEATINGS, RAPE, TORTURE, LYNCHING, AND ONGOING TERROR.

THEIR CHILDREN WERE SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDERS AND OWNED AS POSSESSIONS.

WE RELIED ON THEM TO GROW OUR FOOD, TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN.

YOUR ANCESTORS? YES. OUR TRIBE DID THIS.

WHITE PEOPLE. I'VE SHARED WITH YOU THAT MY GREAT GRANDPARENTS ON BOTH SIDES CAME FROM IRELAND.

I GREW UP WITH STRONG IRISH PRIDE, KNOWING MY ANCESTORS FLED FROM A BAD SITUATION, KNOWING MY ANCESTORS SUFFERED AND OVERCAME OPPRESSION.

WHAT I DIDN'T LEARN WAS THE TRUE, TRUE HISTORY OF HOW THE IRISH BECAME WHITE.

ABOUT HOW MY OWN ANCESTORS BECAME THE OPPRESSORS AND WERE PART OF A COLLECTIVE WHO ACHIEVED ACCEPTANCE BY PROVING THEY COULD BE EVEN MORE BRUTAL IN THEIR OPPRESSION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A FRIEND OR A CLASSMATE PICK ON OR MAKE FUN OF A WEAKER OR LESS POPULAR PERSON TO GET ACCEPTED BY THE STRONGER OR COOLER KIDS? THIS IS WHAT GROWN UPS DID AND ARE STILL DOING TO EACH OTHER.

WHILE OUR FAMILY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IN THIS COUNTRY DURING ENSLAVEMENT.

THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN MEANT THAT WE BENEFITED FROM THE SYSTEM SET UP AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF OUR NATION AND USED IT TO OUR ADVANTAGE.

THERE IS MUCH TO BE DONE.

THERE'S NO TIME FOR GUILT OR SHAME.

ONLY TIME TO WORK ON TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN DONE AND STILL EXIST.

I KNOW THAT BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE HORRENDOUS THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN OUR COUNTRY'S PAST, WE MUST LEARN AND GROW FROM OUR ERRORS TO CORRECT THIS WRONG.

WE NEED TO BECOME ADVOCATES FOR ALL OF HUMANITY, ESPECIALLY BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, BUT ALSO FOR ANYONE MARGINALIZED BY THE SYSTEM, BY SYSTEMIC RACISM.

SUNNY SAID THOSE WHO CANNOT REMEMBER THE PAST ARE CONDEMNED TO REPEAT IT.

AS A COLLECTIVE, WE MUST LOOK AT THE FACTS AS THEY ARE AND TEACH THEM TO OUR CHILDREN SO THAT THEY CAN DO BETTER THAN WE HAVE.

[01:05:02]

EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO FEEL SAFE, WELCOME AND AFFIRMED IN HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NO MATTER THEIR RACE, RELIGION, INCOME, GENDER, GENDER IDENTITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR DISABILITY. NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO IMPOSE THEIR OWN PERSONAL BIAS OR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ON ANYONE.

HARPER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THANK YOU.

WITH THE MAGICAL AGE WHERE MY GLASSES COME OFF AND THEY COME ON AND THEY COME OFF WHEN THEY COME OUT.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARY JANE PRICE.

CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? AS A VETERAN EDUCATOR, I HAVE ATTENDED AND PARTICIPATED IN MANY SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, BUT THIS OVER THE YEARS.

BUT THIS IS MY FIRST ONE HERE.

SO I COME TO LEARN.

SO I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS THAT I'M NOT LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER TONIGHT, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO LEARN ABOUT HOW THINGS WORK IN THE COUNTY.

I'M LUCKY TO WORK WITH MANY YOUNG PEOPLE HERE IN THIS COUNTY IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES, AND SO HERE ARE SOME THINGS I HOPE TO LEARN TONIGHT AND GOING FORWARD.

IF COUNTY GOVERNMENT WERE TO PRIORITIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR SCHOOLS WHEN CONSIDERING A BUDGET, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WAS TOUCHED ON BY MR. CASSERLY TODAY.

BUT IF THEY HAD TO PRIORITIZE, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT HE INDICATES SOME THINGS ARE GOING TO BE TIGHTER, WHERE WOULD THE SCHOOLS STAND WHEN THE TOUGH DECISIONS ARE GOING TO MAKE? WE HAVE TO BE MADE AND HONEST.

LET'S SAY ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 5, WHERE DO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHERE DOES THE SPENDING FOR THE SCHOOLS GO? SO JUST SOMETHING I'M GOING TO BE WATCHING AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.

NEXT, WHAT'S THE BOARD'S COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT ALL STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF ANY DIFFERENCES IN HERITAGE, ABILITIES, BELIEFS, ETC., ARE TREATED WITH EQUAL RESPECT, CONSIDERATION, FUNDING MATERIALS.

HOW AND TO WHAT EXTENT AND HOW IS THAT MEASURED? SOMETHING ELSE I'M GOING TO BE LEARNING ABOUT.

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT YOU FEEL YOU HAVE AS THE BOARD? AND FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO TEACH ALL THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

A HOT TOPIC FOR SURE.

ARE ADEQUATE FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE.

MY MASTER'S IS IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, SO THIS ONE IS REALLY.

AT THE TOP OF MY LIST, I GUESS, ARE ADEQUATE FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE TO KEEP TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS CURRENT AND RELEVANT? SOME TEXTBOOKS. I KNOW WHERE I USED TO TEACH BY OMISSION OR BY PLAN EXCLUDED HUGE PARTS OF THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY AND OF THE WORLD.

AND LET'S FACE IT, MONEY IS MONEY, AND TEXTBOOKS AND MATERIALS ARE NOT INEXPENSIVE.

SO. AND THE LAST ONE, HOW DOES THIS BOARD BALANCE YOUR COMMITMENT TO ACADEMICS AND PEDAGOGY WITH WHAT I HAVE SEEN TO BE DISSENTING VOICES IN THE COMMUNITY? THAT'S GOT TO BE A TOUGH BALANCE, AND I'M GOING TO BE INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT'S ALL I NEEDED TO. I'M JUST GOING TO KEEP SEEING YOU AND LEARNING.

THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE EMMA PELLER, FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM MARTINO.

GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT.

I'D LIKE TO START BY SAYING THAT EQUITY IS DEFINED BY THE MERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARY AS JUSTICE ACCORDING TO NATURAL LAW OR RIGHT, SPECIFICALLY FREEDOM FROM BIAS OR FAVORITISM.

THIS DIFFERS FROM EQUALITY IN A KEY WAY.

EQUALITY MEANS EVERYONE GETS THE SAME WELL, EQUITY MEANS THEY GET WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

IS THAT NOT WHAT THE STUDENTS OF HGPS DESERVE? FREEDOM FROM BIAS AND THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.

IN PRACTICE, THIS MEANS A FEW THINGS FOR HTTPS.

IT MEANS SELECTING A NEW READING CURRICULUM THAT IS SCIENTIFICALLY ALIGNED.

THIS HELPS STUDENTS FULFILL THEIR RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO READ.

AND SINCE WE HAD A BRIEF BUDGET DISCUSSION THIS EVENING, I WILL ALSO ADD THAT OTHER COUNTIES HAVE SHOWN THAT SWITCHING TO THESE CURRICULUMS HAS SHOWN WIDE SAVINGS ACROSS THE BOARD. EQUITY ALSO MEANS THAT WE TEACH THE REAL HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY, INCLUDING HOW IT CONTRIBUTES TO ONGOING BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR.

EVEN WHEN THAT HISTORY IS UNCOMFORTABLE OR UNPOPULAR.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS IF WE CANNOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE BARRIERS AND PRIVILEGES THAT EXIST IN OUR SYSTEM, WE CANNOT HOPE TO CREATE A BETTER SYSTEM THAT IS EQUITABLE FOR ALL OUR STUDENTS.

[01:10:02]

GOOD EVENING. I WAS FRUSTRATED WITH THE PRESENTATION.

FOLLOW ON VOTE FOR THE REVISION TO STUDENT ATTENDANCE AT THE PREVIOUS BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING.

THE PRESENTER CLASSIFIED THE OLD RULE OF BEING CHRONICALLY ABSENT OF SIX DAYS AND 11 DAYS AS ARBITRARY AND ADVOCATED FOR THE 10% RULE OF NINE AND 18 DAY ABSENCES.

WELL, THE 10% RULE IS ALSO ARBITRARY.

THERE'S NOTHING SCIENTIFIC OR EMPIRICAL ABOUT THIS RULE.

SO YOU REPLACE AN ARBITRARY RULE WITH AN ARBITRARY RULE THAT LOWERED THE STANDARDS.

THIS SEEMS TO BE THE TREND THESE DAYS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS LOWERING THE STANDARDS AND THUS THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION.

IS HARD FOR COUNTY TRYING TO COMPETE WITH BALTIMORE CITY.

FOX, 45 NEWS REPORTED THAT THE GRADUATING SENIOR WITH A 0.13 GPA THAT ONLY PASSED THREE COURSES FINISHED IN THE TOP HALF OF THE GRADUATING CLASS, MAINLY DUE BECAUSE OF NOT SHOWING UP FOR CLASSES.

NICE. THE NEW STATE POLICY DESIRES TO EQUALIZE EXCUSED ABSENCES OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES TO PHYSICAL HEALTH ISSUES.

SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS ADVOCATED FOR THE PARENTS TO BE NOTIFIED IF THEIR CHILD INTERFACE WITH A COUNSELOR ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

JUST LIKE THE PARENT IS NOTIFIED ABOUT A PHYSICAL HEALTH PROBLEM.

IF THEY ARE EQUIVALENT, WHY AREN'T THE PARENTS NOTIFIED IN BOTH CASES? THIS SEEMS CONTRADICTORY.

DURING THE PRESENTATION, MR. HENNINGSEN STATED THAT COUNSELORS ARE NOT TRAINED THERAPISTS AND THIS WAS MORE OF A CHECK IN TO SEE HOW THEY ARE DOING.

THEN LATER HE STATED THAT THEY ARE THERAPISTS AND THEY ARE GOING TO DO WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

THIS WAS VERY CONVOLUTED.

THE BOARD REJECTED A MOTION TO TABLE THIS ISSUE AND CAREFULLY GET THE LANGUAGE RIGHT.

THE BOARD REJECTED EVERY EFFORT FOR DEFENDING PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN THIS PROCESS, MOST ESPECIALLY THE PRESIDENT.

THE SAME PRESIDENT WHO GAVE A CAMPAIGN PROMISE TO WORK WITH PARENTS AND RESPECT THEIR RIGHTS.

SO MUCH FOR POLITICAL PROMISES.

THIS IS ANOTHER EFFORT TO HIDE THINGS FROM THE PARENTS.

THIS, IT SEEMS TO BOIL DOWN TO WHETHER PARENTS ARE RAISING THE CHILDREN OR IS THE STATE RESPONSIBLE FOR RAISING THE CHILDREN? MOST OF US PARENTS BELIEVE IT IS OUR JOB.

THIS BOARD SEEMS TO BELIEVE THE STATE CONTROLS THE CHILDREN.

THIS BELIEF IS ROOTED IN MARXISM OR FOUR COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEED TO SUPPORT POLICIES THAT ADVOCATE FOR PARENTAL RIGHTS AND PROTECT US FROM THE OVERREACH OF THE STATE. THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

NEXT, WE HAVE DOUGLAS ROAD, FOLLOWED BY LORETTA HALSTEAD.

GOOD EVENING, DR. BOLTON.

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS.

I'D LIKE TO SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT ABOUT CELL PHONE POLICIES IN HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS AS A STAFF MEMBER OF A SCHOOL THAT WE ARE COMPROMISING MANY THINGS.

ONE BEING STUDENT SAFETY DURING THE DAY.

WE HAVE MANY STUDENTS WHO ARE USING THEIR CELL PHONES TO MAKE PLANS TO DO THINGS WITH OTHER STUDENTS THAT ARE NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND THAT IS A CONCERN.

I WOULD URGE YOU TO SPEAK WITH ADMINISTRATION FROM ANY GIVEN SCHOOL IN THE COUNTY AND GET THEIR OPINION ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING BECAUSE OF CELL PHONES, THE TRAFFIC IN OUR HALLWAYS, THE MEETING UP IN THE BATHROOMS, THE ENDLESS DISPLAY OF TIK-TOK VIDEOS THAT ARE BEING FILMED INSIDE THE SCHOOL, THE CYBERBULLYING BULLYING THAT TAKES PLACE BECAUSE OF STUDENTS BEING ABLE TO CARRY THEIR CELL PHONES AROUND.

THESE ARE ALL CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE.

TO SAY NOTHING OF THE CONCERNS REGARDING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY.

WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE TAKING PICTURES OF EXAM QUESTIONS, SENDING IT TO THEIR FRIENDS.

DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER IT'S AN A DAY B DAY FORMAT IN A HIGH SCHOOL SITUATION OR A MIDDLE SCHOOL SITUATION.

CELL PHONES ARE VERY QUICK AND EASY TO USE.

STUDENTS ARE OFTEN BETTER AT IT THAN ALL OF US IN THE ROOM AS ADULTS, AND THEY CAN DO THINGS VERY QUICKLY AND DISSEMINATE INFORMATION IN IN A WAY THAT WE CAN'T REALLY COMPREHEND HOW QUICKLY IT SPREADS.

SO MY CONCERN OVERALL IS THAT WE REVIEW THAT POLICY.

YOU SPEAK WITH TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEIR BUILDING AND CONSIDER WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR ACADEMIC INTEGRITY, SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR

[01:15:10]

I URGE YOU AT ANY POINT TO COME INTO OUR BUILDINGS, WALK AROUND, SEE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WALK OUT INTO THE HALLWAY, AND THE FIRST THING THEY DO IS GET THEIR PHONE AND IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHO IT IS ON THE OTHER END OF THAT PHONE.

IT'S DISRUPTIVE AND IT'S COSTING THEM LEARNING TIME IN THE CLASSROOM.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

IS THERE A LORETTA HALSTEAD? OKAY, WE WILL MOVE ON.

I HAVE SUSIE SCOTT FOLLOWED BY KRISTINA LANCIA.

SUSIE SCOTT WILL GET 5 MINUTES, PLEASE.

MM HMM. THREE TIMES IN A YEAR.

AND THEN WE'RE GETTING. CHEERS.

GOOD EVENING. AS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESENTS ITS BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL, I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A FEW OBSERVATIONS. THE DEMANDS ON THE TAXPAYER ARE GREAT AND THE RETURNS WE ARE SEEING ARE FEW.

THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS FAILING.

YOUR OWN ACHIEVEMENT SCORES DEMONSTRATE THIS.

THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING HAS LISTED A COUPLE OF PRESENTATIONS THAT SHOULD BE OF INTEREST TO THE PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS OF HARFORD COUNTY.

ONE OF THESE PRESENTATIONS WILL COME FROM OUR SUPERVISOR OF EQUITY AND CULTURAL PROFICIENCY.

WHY ARE WE FORCING TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO ACCEPT THE LUDICROUS IDEA THAT THEY ARE GUILTY OF PREJUDICE JUST BECAUSE OF THEIR SKIN COLOR? RESEARCH HAS ALREADY SHOWN THAT DIVERSITY TRAINING PROGRAMS HAVE FAILED TO IMPROVE ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS FOR YEARS, AND ATTEMPTS TO REDUCE BIAS HAVE BEEN A BUST.

ANTHROPOLOGY NOW REPORTS THAT HUNDREDS OF STUDIES DATING BACK TO THE 1930S SUGGEST THAT ANTI-BIAS TRAINING DOESN'T REDUCE BIAS.

MORE RECENT STUDIES REVIEWING HUNDREDS OF SURVEYS BY BIAS TRAINING PARTICIPANTS FINDS, QUOTE, WEAK IMMEDIATE EFFECTS ON UNCONSCIOUS BIAS AND WEAKER EFFECTS ON IMPLICIT BIAS.

CONSULTANTS RICK KIRKLAND AND IRIS BONNETT OF MCKINSEY AND COMPANY WROTE THAT AFTER REVIEWING DIVERSITY RESEARCH FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, THEY DID, QUOTE, THEY DID NOT FIND A SINGLE STUDY THAT FOUND THAT DIVERSITY TRAINING, IN FACT, LEADS TO MORE DIVERSITY.

STILL, SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE CONDUCTING DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND EQUITY TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION, OFTEN MANDATORY.

AND YET THE FEDERAL REPORTING TELLS US THAT RACIAL PROBLEMS IN SCHOOLS REMAIN, QUOTE, ASTRONOMICAL.

A STUDY OF CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICERS IN K THROUGH 12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONDUCTED BY JP GREENE AND JOHN DE PAUL IN OCTOBER OF 2021, FOUND THAT IN K THROUGH 12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICERS, THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP WIDENED RATHER THAN NARROWED.

THIS TYPE OF FACT BASED RESEARCH HELPS TO EXPOSE THE FALSITY OF THIS PARADIGM.

YET BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MONEY IS BEING INVESTED IN THESE BOONDOGGLES.

ANTI-RACIST LITERATURE AND EQUITY PROJECTS WANT US TO SEE RACISM IN EVERYTHING.

IF WE ACCEPT THAT THE ASTRONOMICAL NUMBERS OF THE FEDS ARE THAT THEIR REPORTING ARE AUTHENTIC, GIVEN THE PREVALENCE OF THESE PROGRAMS OVER THE LAST MANY YEARS, ONE WOULD BE PERMITTED TO QUESTION THESE PROGRAMS VALUE.

YET MANY WELL-MEANING MEANING AMERICANS INSTINCTIVELY EMBRACE THE IDEAS OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION BECAUSE THESE CONCEPTS IN THEIR ORIGINAL MEANING ARE CENTRAL TO THE AMERICAN ETHOS.

THE NOTION THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL IS THE MOST PROFOUND COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION ANY NATION HAS EVER MADE.

BUT THE FACT IS, EACH OF THESE WORDS HAS BEEN DISTORTED TO MEAN THE VERY OPPOSITE OF THEIR ORIGINAL INTENTION.

MANY OF THE PRACTICES AND PRINCIPLES OF DEI VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTION AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.

WE CANNOT BE FORCED TO ACCEPT THE FLAWED ASSUMPTIONS BEING PRESENTED IN THESE PROGRAMS. FLAWED ASSUMPTIONS LEAD TO FALSE SOLUTIONS.

THE END RESULT OF THE DCI WORLDVIEW IS THAT AMERICA ITSELF IS FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED, HOPELESSLY UNFIXABLE, AND MUST BE RADICALLY TRANSFORMED. THIS IS A LONG HELD MARXIST GOAL AND IT MUST BE REJECTED IF WE ARE GOING TO SAVE OUR AMERICAN EXPERIMENT.

THANK YOU.

[01:20:15]

PSALM 141 3335 TAKE CONTROL OF WHAT I SAY.

OH, LORD. AND GUARD MY LIPS.

DON'T LET ME DRIFT TOWARD EVIL OR TAKE PART IN ACTS OF WICKEDNESS.

DON'T LET ME SHARE IN THE DELICACIES OF THOSE WHO DO WRONG.

LET THE GODLY STRIKE ME.

IT WILL BE A KINDNESS IF THEY CORRECT ME.

IT IS SOOTHING MEDICINE.

DON'T LET ME REFUSE IT.

BUT I PRAY CONSTANTLY AGAINST THE WICKED IN THEIR DEEDS.

AND I DO PRAY FOR YOU AND FOR ALL OF US THAT WE LISTEN TO THE URGINGS OF THE SPIRIT STAYING CLOSE TO HIM THROUGH PRAYER AND HIS WORD.

SO WE HAVE CLARITY IN WHAT HE WANTS US TO DO.

RIGHT NOW, HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE ALLOWING OUR CHILDREN ACCESS TO GRAPHIC ARTIST RENDITIONS OF PORNOGRAPHY.

HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE ALLOWING OUR CHILDREN TO READ BOOKS WHICH HAVE SEXUALLY EXPLICIT SCENES AND THEMES.

HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN.

THEY CANNOT BELIEVE THEIR OWN EYES AND EARS AND DETERMINING WHAT GENDER PERSON THEY'RE CONVERSING WITH.

ALL OF THESE EVIL DOINGS ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF DETERMINING OUR CLASSROOM CURRICULUM AND MATERIALS.

WE IMPLORE THAT YOU PROTECT THE INNOCENCE OF OUR CHILDREN AND REMOVE THESE MATERIALS AND TEACHINGS FROM OUR SCHOOLS.

IN FACT, HARFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT BE FOCUSED ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN READING, WRITING AND MATH, AT LEAST UNTIL WE CAN GET A PASSING GRADE AS FAR AS ACADEMIC PROFICIENCY. RIGHT NOW, READING AND MATH ARE AT BEST AROUND 50% PROFICIENCY.

OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING GRADUATED DESPITE THAT AND GOING TO COLLEGE ONLY TO HAVE TO TAKE REMEDIAL MATH AND ENGLISH CLASSES.

WHAT POSITIVE STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THESE DISMAL SCORES? DO YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN HELPING OUR CHILDREN TO BE ACADEMICALLY SUCCESSFUL OR SEXUALIZING OUR CHILDREN AND LYING TO THEM ABOUT THEIR BIOLOGICAL GENDER? YOUR MAIN PRIORITY EXPOSING CHILDREN TO SEX NORMALIZES SEX TO THEM, THEREBY PUTTING THEM AT RISK OF BEING SEXUALLY ABUSED.

TELLING A GIRL THAT IF SHE THINKS SHE'S A BOY, THEN SHE IS A BOY IS PROMOTING A DELUSION AND SKEWING THAT CHILD'S SENSE OF REALITY.

IF I TOLD A FRIEND THAT I WAS A QUEEN, THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND, AND THAT PERSON THOUGHT I WAS SERIOUS ABOUT THIS BELIEF, I WOULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE DELUSIONAL.

A FRIEND WOULD NOT TELL ME, OH, OKAY, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU BELIEVE.

AND THAT'S TRUE. WE LOVE OUR CHILDREN ENOUGH TO TELL THEM THE TRUTH.

IN ADDITION, TELLING A CHILD HE'S A DIFFERENT GENDER THAN THE ONE ASSIGNED AT BIRTH STARTS THE BALL ROLLING WITH THOUGHTS AND PLANS OF GENDER REASSIGNMENT SURGERIES.

ANOTHER DANGEROUS SPOT TO BE PUTTING OUR KIDS IN.

THESE SURGERIES ARE HARMFUL AND SCARRING PHYSICALLY, PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY, AND THEY CAUSE IRREVERSIBLE HARM.

AGAIN, I IMPLORE YOU TO PROTECT AND SAVE ALL OUR CHILDREN FROM THESE EVILS.

SOME PSALM 143 EIGHT THROUGH 11.

LET ME HEAR OF YOUR UNFAILING LOVE EACH MORNING, FOR I AM TRUST IN YOU.

SHOW ME WHERE TO WALK.

FOR I GIVE MYSELF TO YOU.

RESCUE ME FROM MY ENEMIES.

LORD, I RUN TO YOU TO HIDE ME.

TEACH ME TO DO YOUR WILL FOR YOU OR MY GOD.

MAY YOUR GRACIOUS SPIRIT LEAD ME FORWARD ON A FIRM FOOTING FOR THE GLORY OF YOUR NAME.

O LORD, PRESERVE MY LIFE BECAUSE OF YOUR FAITHFULNESS.

BRING ME OUT OF THIS DISTRESS.

MAY GOD BLESS AND GUIDE YOU ALL.

NEXT, WE HAVE DR.

JASMINE BLANKS JONES, FOLLOWED BY TRACY WAITE.

IS THERE A DR. JASMINE JONES? OKAY. IS THERE A TRACY? WAIT.

HELLO, MY NAME IS TRACY WAITE AND I'M A RESIDENT OF BELLAIRE, MARYLAND, AND A PROUD PARENT OF A DAUGHTER WHO GRADUATED FROM BELLAIRE HIGH SCHOOL.

AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR LISTENING TO ALL OF OUR COMMENTS, INCLUDING MY OWN.

I'LL KEEP THIS BRIEF.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I WANTED TO REALLY APPLAUD APOLLO HAYDEN FOR HER COMMENTS EARLIER.

SHE'S, I THINK, THE YOUNGEST SPEAKER THAT WE'VE HAD SO FAR TODAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK THAT IT'S REALLY REMARKABLE THAT A PERSON WHO IS 17 YEARS OLD CAN HAVE THE COURAGE, YOU KNOW, TO BE TRUE TO WHO SHE IS, THAT SHE CAN BE HONEST, THAT SHE CAN BE OPEN AND SPEAK SO CANDIDLY.

AT HER AGE, I THINK THAT'S REALLY REMARKABLE.

I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS FOR TEENS TO BE DIFFERENT.

I CAN REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER, I THINK WE CAN ALL REMEMBER HOW HOW AWKWARD YOU FEEL.

AND THANKS TO, YOU KNOW, OUR STUDENTS LIKE APOLLO, WHO IS A ROLE MODEL FOR ALL OF US IN LEARNING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, AND WE ALL HAVE TO LEARN SELF-ACCEPTANCE AND TO BE TRUE TO OURSELVES, YOU KNOW.

[01:25:05]

AND I THINK THAT HAVING STUDENTS LIKE THAT IS REALLY A CREDIT TO HERSELF AND TO HER PARENTS AND TO OUR SCHOOLS AND TO OUR TEACHERS. IT TAKES A COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, TO SUPPORT HER AND ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NEXT, WE HAVE JEANNE SALVATORE, FOLLOWED BY CHRISTY LARKIN.

IS THERE A JEANNE SALVATORE? OKAY. THANK YOU. HOW ABOUT A CHRISTY LARKIN? GOOD EVENING. I AM A MOTHER OF FIVE CHILDREN WHO ALL GO TO THE NORTH HARTFORD SCHOOLS.

TWO OF THEM ARE TRANS.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF ANTI-TRANS AND ANTI LGBTQIA PLUS RHETORIC RECENTLY.

SO I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF LGBTQIA KIDS IN OUR SCHOOLS.

ALL OF THE CHILDHOOD MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERTS AGREE THAT SUPPORTING AND AFFIRMING LGBTQIA PLUS YOUTH IS BEST PRACTICE.

I HOPE THAT OUR BOARD AND SCHOOL SYSTEM KEEPS POLICIES IN PLACE THAT DO JUST THAT.

AND IF ANY CHANGES ARE MADE, IT'S ONLY TO FURTHER SUPPORT THEM.

TRANS KIDS, LGBTQIA PLUS KIDS AREN'T HARMING OTHERS IN SCHOOL BY LIVING THEIR AUTHENTIC LIVES.

THEY'RE NOT BULLYING OTHER KIDS.

THE OPPOSITE IS ACTUALLY TRUE.

TRANS KIDS, LGBTQIA PLUS KIDS ARE VERY OFTEN BULLIED BY OTHERS.

THIS IS THE CASE FOR BOTH OF MY TRANS KIDS.

ONE OF MY KIDS HAS EVEN BEEN PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED IN SCHOOL.

I CAN TELL YOU, AS THE MOM OF TWO TRANS KIDS, THAT TEACHERS AND SCHOOL HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH MY KIDS IDENTITIES.

MY KIDS CAME.

TO THEIR OWN CONCLUSIONS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL WITHOUT EVER HAVING EVEN HEARD ABOUT BEING TRANS IN SCHOOL.

SO WHAT SOME SAY ABOUT TEACHERS TURNING KIDS TRANS ISN'T TRUE AT ALL.

I AM TRULY GRATEFUL FOR MY KIDS TEACHERS WHO HAVE ALL BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE AND AFFIRMING OF THEM.

I FEEL LIKE PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE GOTTEN THEMSELVES WORKED UP ABOUT THE WRONG THINGS.

INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT A TRANS STUDENT MINDING THEIR OWN BUSINESS USING A BATHROOM, I THINK WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT ENCOURAGES KIDS TO BECOME BULLIES AND ALLOWS THEM TO DISPLAY THAT HARMFUL BEHAVIOR.

I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ONE SINGLE TRANS KID IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM HARMING ANOTHER STUDENT.

WHILE BULLYING IS A PERVASIVE PROBLEM IN EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL IN THIS COUNTY AND DESPITE A NO TOLERANCE POLICY.

BULLYING CONTINUES.

LGBTQIA PLUS STUDENTS HAVING RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS ISN'T WHAT'S CAUSING LOW TEST SCORES OR WHY WE CAN'T RECRUIT QUALITY TEACHERS.

I HOPE THE BOARD KEEPS THIS ALL IN MIND WHEN MAKING DECISIONS THIS YEAR.

TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS.

THANK YOU.

VICE PRESIDENT SEWELL. THAT'S ALL THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS THIS EVENING.

GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE SPEAKING TONIGHT.

MISS JILLIAN, LATER, WOULD YOU BEGIN THE VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT? YES. VICE PRESIDENT SEWELL.

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 3 MINUTES.

YOU WILL HEAR A BELL RING WHEN YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS REMAINING.

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT NOW.

JILL FERRARA.

OUR LIFE IS SHAPED BY OUR MINDS AND WE BECOME WHAT WE THINK.

THE FIRST LADY OF FLORIDA, CASEY DESANTIS, HAS RECOGNIZED THIS AND IS REJECTING STIGMA LADEN TERMS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH AND REPLACING IT WITH RESILIENCY.

IN OCTOBER, THE FIRST LADY PROPOSED HER RESILIENCY EDUCATION INITIATIVE WITH UNANIMOUS APPROVAL OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

AS STATED BY THE FIRST LADY, THIS APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH WILL HELP STUDENTS TO BETTER WITHSTAND THE CHALLENGES OF WHAT LIFE.

WILL INEVITABLY THROW THEIR DIRECTION WHILE TEACHING STUDENTS HOW TO OVERCOME AND PERSEVERE.

NO ONE IS IMMUNE FROM HARDSHIP.

IT'S HOW YOU LEARN TO NAVIGATE AND OVERCOME THAT COUNTS.

AND SO CELEBRATING THE SUCCESS IN DOING SO.

THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE, SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT FLORIDA ARE IMPLEMENTING CURRICULUM THAT WILL PROMOTE CHARACTERISTICS SUCH AS CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING RESPONSIBILITIES.

[01:30:03]

MENTORSHIP. AND VOLUNTEERISM.

RESPECT. COPING.

SKILLS. GRATITUDE.

EMPATHY. CITIZENSHIP.

HOPE. HONESTY.

AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

I URGE YOU TO FOLLOW FLORIDA'S EXAMPLE AND PROPOSE INITIATIVES THAT EMPOWER STUDENTS TO STRIVE FOR GREATNESS WHILE ALSO PROVIDING THE SKILLS TO OVERCOME ADVERSITIES.

THIS WILL NOT ONLY BENEFIT STUDENTS DURING THEIR ACADEMIC CAREER, BUT WILL FOLLOW THEM WELL AFTER GRADUATION, MAKING THEM SUCCESSFUL LEADERS.

THE LAUNCH OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS PROGRAM IS A GREAT START.

IT WAS HEARTWARMING TO HEAR OF THE CAMARADERIE AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

THIS PROGRAM HAS BROUGHT IN A TIME WHERE IT IS MUCH NEEDED.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE CREATIVE WITH THE BUDGET TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT MOMENTUM AND PUSH FOR MORE PROGRAMS THAT WILL BUILD UPON RESILIENCE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF STUDENTS.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE RESILIENCE EDUCATION INITIATIVE, VISIT THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S WEBSITE.

AS ALDO BORGU, AS WELL AS GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS.

THIS WEBSITE AT FLU.GOV DOT COM, I CAN PERSONALLY SAY HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR THE STRONG LEADERSHIP BY GOVERNOR AND FIRST LADY DESANTIS THAT EMPOWERS PARENTS, SUPPORTS TEACHERS WHILE PROTECTING STUDENTS.

THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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 3 MINUTES.

YOU WILL HEAR A BELL RING.

WHEN YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS REMAINING, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT NOW.

GOOD EVENING. I AM CRYSTAL.

DON PARKS. WOW.

LOOK AT THE HEART OF HALFORD BEFORE YOU.

I HOPE YOU HAVE LISTENED TO THE TESTIMONY OF DIVERSITY AND LOVE THAT TOOK THE TIME TO COME OUT FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.

EDUCATORS ARE ALWAYS CAPTURING TEACHABLE MOMENTS.

MOMENTS AT THE BUDGET SESSION LAST WEEK, YOU OPENED A CONVERSATION WITH THOSE CITIZENS ATTENDING A TOWN HALL APPROACH TO FILL THE HOUR OF TIME.

WE NEED MORE OF THAT FROM YOU.

ONE OF OUR MOST INVOLVED PARENTS WHO I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH ON ALL VIEWS, BUT I DEEPLY RESPECT HIS CRITICAL THINKING AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL. FOUND COMMON GROUND IN A DISCUSSION JUST A FEW MINUTES WITH DR.

BOLTON ABOUT EARLY EDUCATION, SPECIAL EDUCATION, JOB SECURITY, AND RAISES FOR HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS AND STAFF.

CRITICAL THINKING AND COMMON GROUND ARE EXACTLY WHAT OUR STUDENTS SHOULD BE TAUGHT AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY.

BREAKING NEWS FOR SOME OF YOU.

YES, I TEND TO ALIGN TO THE LEFT, BUT I ALSO SUPPORT PARENTAL RIGHTS.

I LEFT THE CLASSROOM AS AN EDUCATOR TO ADVOCATE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND OTHER MARGINALIZED GROUPS IN THE EDUCATIONAL SETTING.

IT WAS THE FOCUS OF MY GRADUATE DEGREE AND DECADES OF PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT.

HARVARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DOES NEED TO REVIEW SOME POLICIES AND MAKE SOME PERSONNEL CHANGES THAT VIOLATE PARENTAL RIGHTS AND SAFEGUARDS.

THERE ARE SOME BAD APPLES.

AT THE SAME TIME, PARENTS MUST BE OPEN TO UNDERSTANDING THE PROFESSIONAL BEST PRACTICES THAT ARE IN PLACE TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE.

IT IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN.

ANOTHER PARENT RECENTLY, A VERY INVOLVED AND PASSIONATE MOTHER AS WELL, CHAMPIONED PARENTAL RIGHTS, BUT THEN WENT ON TO POINT OUT THAT SHE ENDORSED THE JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORMS, REFORMS THAT INCLUDED A PARENT AND CHILD'S RIGHT TO HAVE PARENTS AND AN ATTORNEY PRESENT BEFORE A MINOR COULD BE QUESTIONED BY POLICE.

I WAS PERPLEXED.

WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT COUNSELORS AND THERAPISTS TALKING TO OUR KIDS.

BUT WE'RE AGAINST A LAW, JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM THAT ALLOWS POLICE OFFICERS TO INTERROGATE YOUR CHILDREN WHILE THEY'RE IN HANDCUFFS.

NOW. NOT ALL OF US.

ARE AS INVOLVED AND READING THE ACTUAL DOCUMENTS AND BILLS.

WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT SOMEBODY GIVES LIP SERVICE TO.

NONE OF US CAN BE SO CAUGHT UP IN CATCHPHRASES AND LEFT VERSUS RIGHT POLITICS THAT WE STOP BEING CRITICAL THINKERS AND SEEKING COMMON GROUND.

OUR KIDS. THREE MINUTE MARK.

THANK YOU. VICE PRESIDENT SAW.

[01:35:04]

GREAT. SO AGAIN, WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED IN PERSON AND ALSO VIRTUALLY TO PROVIDE US THEIR COMMENTS TONIGHT.

NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[D. Consent Agenda]

THE FIRST ONE IS A CONTRACT AWARD FOR PARKING LOT LIGHTING AT 700 CONGRESS STREET.

THAT'S OKAY.

LET ME CHANGE THAT.

THE THREE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE THE MONTHLY PERSONNEL REPORT FROM DECEMBER 2020 TO THE CONTRACT AWARD, SECURITY ACCESS CONTROL CONVERSIONS FOR MULTIPLE LOCATIONS AND THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING ON JANUARY 9TH TO 2023.

GREAT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? AND SECOND, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THIS IS JOYCE. I MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THIS IS NOW. THIS IS CAROL.

GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD.

EITHER ONE. I ALSO SECOND.

BUT SHE SECONDS TO. IT SEEMS FANTASTIC.

SO ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES.

YES, YES.

ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NO.

SO THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN ADOPTED.

THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT IS DECISION ON ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY APPOINTMENTS.

[E. Decision on Administrative and Supervisory Appointments , Mr. Ben Richardson, Assistant Superintendent for HumanResources]

UH, WHAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT? WELCOME. GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING. PRESIDENT MUELLER, VICE PRESIDENT SEWELL, SUPERINTENDENT PAULSEN, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I AM BEN RICHARDSON, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR HUMAN RESOURCES.

AND I BRING BEFORE YOU ONE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL DECISION FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THIS EVENING.

THIS IS FOR THE DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT POSITION.

THE DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT POSITION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSISTING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT WITH THE LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION AND THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, EVALUATION AND COORDINATION OF CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT IN THE ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS OF HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE CANDIDATE BEING BROUGHT TO YOU THIS EVENING FOR CONSIDERATION AND APPOINTMENT INTO THIS POSITION IS ANDREW A RENZULLI.

THE SUPERINTENDENT RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL OF THIS RECOMMENDATION AT THIS TIME.

ALL RIGHT. UM.

ARE THERE. ANY QUESTIONS AND ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANY.

ANYONE AT THIS POINT.

GREAT. SO I NEED A MOTION.

BOARD MEMBERS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THIS APPOINTMENT? I MOTION TO APPROVE THIS APPOINTMENT A SECOND? GREAT. THANK YOU. PLEASE, CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? ZARRELLA? YES.

MS.. ALVAREZ.

YES. MS..

BRUCE. YES.

MS.. HAHN. YES.

DR. HAROLD. YES.

MS.. PERRY. YES.

DR. PHILLIPS YES.

MS.. RICCARDI YES.

MS.. BLINKEN IS THIS DO I GET A VOTE ON THIS? YES. THIS IS PRESIDENTIAL? YES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. VICE PRESIDENT SEWELL.

YES. PRESIDENT MUELLER.

YES. THIS MOTION PASSES WITH ONE STUDENT PREFERENTIAL VOTE.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. BOARD. MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM PRESENTATION ON THE VOICES OF EQUITY ELEVATING STUDENT VOICES.

[F. Presentation on the Voices of Equity: Elevating Student Voices, Dr. Paula Stanton, Supervisor of Equity and CulturalProficiency]

PAULA STANTON AND HER GUESTS FOR THEIR PRESENTATION, PLEASE? OR. SURE.

DO YOU? DO YOU NEED IT? THERE YOU GO.

[01:40:06]

VICE PRESIDENT SEWELL.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. SUPERINTENDENT BOSTON.

IT IS MY PLEASURE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT VOICES OF EQUITY AND LOOK AT ALL THE GIFTS THAT I BROUGHT WITH ME TO SHARE IN THE PRESENTATION ABOUT HOW WE ELEVATE STUDENT VOICE IN HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SO I FIRST WANT TO SAY THAT VOICES OF EQUITY IS STUDENT CREATED, STUDENT LED, STUDENT APPROVED, STUDENT GENERATED.

IT'S ALL ABOUT OUR STUDENTS.

THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S UNDERSTOOD THAT VOICES OF EQUITY IS NOT A CLUB, IT IS A MOVEMENT.

IT IS A MOVEMENT TO HELP OUR COUNTY BE BETTER.

AND SO THEY CREATED THIS MISSION STATEMENT THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN.

AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL STUDENTS HAVE A SAFE SPACE TO BE WHO THEY ARE.

AND ALL STUDENTS HAVE EQUITABLE OUTCOMES IN FUTURES.

AND SO ALL OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO IS IN SUPPORT OF THAT MISSION.

WHAT IS THIS? THE FACT WE STARTED WITH ONE GROUP AT HARTFORD TECH WHO WENT TO THEIR THEN PRINCIPAL, MR. COLLINS, AND SAID, HEY, WE HAVE HAD SOME RACIAL EXPERIENCES HERE AT OUR SCHOOL.

WE'VE BEEN BULLIED.

WE'VE HAD SOME THINGS SAID TO US THAT WE KNOW AREN'T QUITE RIGHT, SOMETIMES BY STUDENTS, SOMETIMES BY STAFF, SOMETIMES BY THE COMMUNITY.

AND WHAT HE SAID WAS, I NEED TO HELP MY STUDENTS.

SO HE CALLED ME UP AND HE SAID, WE NEED TO GET TO WORK.

IT WAS ACTUALLY MY FIRST DAY IN THIS POSITION, AND WE STARTED WORKING WITH STUDENTS THEN.

AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

BUT ESSENTIALLY WHAT THEY WERE SAYING IS THEY DIDN'T FEEL A SENSE OF BELONGING AT THEIR SCHOOL.

AND THAT'S ABOUT US. THAT'S WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS CAN BRING THEIR AUTHENTIC SELVES TO SCHOOL, THAT THEY FEEL CONNECTED, THAT THEY FEEL ACCEPTED.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT.

WE HAVE MANY VOICES OF EQUITY NOW.

WE STARTED WITH THAT ONE GROUP AT HARTFORD TECH.

AND JUST LIKE ALL GOOD THINGS THAT SPREAD.

AND NOW WE HAVE 11 SCHOOLS THAT ARE THAT HAVE VOICES OF EQUITY GROUPS AND COUNTING.

I WANT TO JUST GIVE A THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE PRINCIPALS OF THESE SCHOOLS AND ALL OF THE SPONSORS WHO SUPPORT THE STUDENT GROUPS.

YOU'LL SEE THEIR NAMES LISTED ON THE SCREEN BECAUSE THEY WORK WITH STUDENTS.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY ALLOW THEM TO GIVE.

THEY ALLOW THEM TO SHARE.

THEY ALLOW THEM TO WORK TOWARDS A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL OF US.

AND SO WHAT I THINK IS WONDERFUL ABOUT THIS MOVEMENT IS THAT IT'S ALL ABOUT EVERYONE, NOT JUST A PARTICULAR GROUP.

BUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ALL HAVE THAT FEELING OF SAFETY, THAT FEELING OF OF BEING WELCOMED IN OUR SPACES.

IT'S ABOUT EDUCATING.

SO WHEN THE STUDENTS CAME AND SAID THEY'VE HAD SOME EXPERIENCES AND THESE HAVE HAPPENED ACROSS SCHOOLS FROM NORTH HARTFORD AND ANY OTHER PART OF THE COUNTY, ABERDEEN, EDGEWOOD, EVERYWHERE, WHAT THEY SAID WAS WE DON'T JUST WANT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THESE EXPERIENCES, WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

WE WANT TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT IT SO THAT IT CAN GET BETTER.

AND SO THEY STARTED WITH DOING SOME PRESENTATIONS FOR FACULTY AND STAFF.

THEY STARTED DOING SOME OUTREACH TO STUDENT GROUPS.

THERE WAS A STUDENT SUMMIT.

THEY'VE DONE SOME SOCIALIZING.

SO I WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE SOCIAL ACTIVITIES THEY'VE DONE.

AND THEN I'M GOING TO BE QUIET SO WE CAN GET TO THE GOOD STUFF.

AND THAT'S THE STUDENTS. BUT THEY HAD A MEET AND GREET BACK IN APRIL.

IT WAS CALLED MEET AND GREET WITH SWEETS, AND THEY CAME TOGETHER.

TO EAT SWEETS, BUT ALSO TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COUNTY.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE GOOD? WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER? WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT WE CAN TAKE ACTION? WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT WE CAN SERVE? WHAT ARE SOME PROJECTS WE CAN DO? THEY ALSO CAME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.

SO THE TABLE THAT YOU SEE AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN WAS THE MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE TABLE.

THEY COULD GIVE ONE AND THEY COULD GET ONE.

SO STUDENTS CAME AND WROTE MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES AND WHEN THEY NEEDED THAT PICKUP, THEY WENT OVER TO THE TABLE AND GOT ONE TO.

JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THEY HAD A HOLIDAY MIXER.

THEY CALLED IT A VERY LOW HOLIDAY HOLIDAY MIXER.

IT WAS ALSO A SOCIAL GATHERING.

WE HAD SOME SPONSORSHIP THERE, BUT THEY CHECKED IN ON THEIR SCHOOL BASED INITIATIVES.

THEY TALKED ABOUT FUTURE SERVICE PROJECTS, SUCH AS HAVING A DAY OF SERVICE FOR DR.

KING'S BIRTHDAY IN THE FUTURE AND AND ALSO OTHER PROJECTS.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY HAD FUN.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WE GET TO SEE STUDENTS COMPETING AGAINST ONE ANOTHER ACROSS SCHOOLS.

BUT HOW OFTEN DO WE GET TO SEE THEM REACHING ACROSS THOSE SCHOOLS AND SAYING, HEY, WHAT'S IT LIKE LIVING IN YOUR COMMUNITY? WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCES? HOW CAN WE MAKE OUR ENTIRE DISTRICT BETTER? AND THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED ON THAT LIST, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

[01:45:01]

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS KIND TO STUDENTS SO THAT EVERYONE FEELS SAFE WHEN THEY COME TO SCHOOL? THEY CELEBRATE ONE ANOTHER'S CULTURES BECAUSE SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE SAID TO STUDENTS HAPPEN.

IT STARTS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

HOW DO WE CREATE A SENSE OF BELONGING IN ELEMENTARY SO THAT BY THE TIME YOU GET TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, YOU SEE LESS BULLYING, LESS HARASSMENT, YOU SEE MORE STANDARDS WHO SAY, NO, WE DON'T, WE DON'T DO THAT HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.

THE LAST THING I'LL SAY BEFORE I LET THE STUDENTS SPEAK IS THAT THEY CREATED THIS LOGO.

REMEMBER I SAID IT WAS A STUDENT CREATED STUDENT APPROVED, STUDENT GENERATED STUDENT, EVERYTHING.

WELL, THEY CREATED THIS LOGO, AND I THINK THIS LOGO REALLY EMBODIES THEIR MESSAGE.

EDUCATE, NOT HATE.

SO I'M GOING TO PAUSE AND HAVE SOME OF OUR STUDENTS SHARE WHY THEY WANTED TO BE IN VOICES OF EQUITY AND ALSO HOW IT HAS IMPACTED OUR COMMUNITY.

WE'RE GOING TO GO STRAIGHT DOWN THE LINE AND THEN GOING ASK YOU ALL TO SWITCH AND I'LL COME UP FRONT SO THAT IT CAN BE A SMOOTH PROCESS, I HOPE.

BEAR WITH US. HI, I'M LANEY AND I'M A SENIOR AT ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL, AND SO I JOINED VOICES OF EQUITY BECAUSE BEFORE I WENT TO ABERDEEN, I WENT TO A SMALLER HIGH SCHOOL AND IT WAS WITH 29 DIFFERENT NATIONS ACROSS THE WORLD.

IT WAS IN EUROPE.

SO ABOUT THE WHOLE SCHOOL WAS ABOUT 350 PEOPLE.

SO THAT'S A LOT SMALLER, SMALLER THAN ABERDEEN.

BUT WHEN I WAS THERE, WE HAD HARDLY ANY ISSUES AND WHEN WE DID, THE ISSUES WERE SOLVED SO FAST, LIKE SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN ONE DAY. THE NEXT DAY WE HAD ASSEMBLY ABOUT WHAT NOT TO DO AND HOW TO HANDLE THOSE SITUATIONS.

NOW AT ABERDEEN WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES AND NOTHING IS GETTING HANDLED AND SO VOICES OF EQUITY IS HELPING WITH THAT.

WE GO TO MR. QUIGG. THAT'S OUR PRINCIPAL AND HE IS VERY GOOD AND HE'S JUST LIKE STEPS IN AND HE TRIES TO HELP US AS WELL.

AND FOR VOICES EQUITY, WE USE OUR VOICE TO NOT JUST BE HEARD, BUT ALSO TO BE SEEN AND MAKE ACTION.

AND WE'VE BEEN STARTING TO DO THAT.

SO YEAH. HI, I'M RITA.

HI, I'M RITA, AND I'M FROM EVERTON HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'M A SENIOR AS WELL.

AND I CHOSE TO JOIN BOW TO SUPPORT MY SCHOOL'S EFFORTS TO ADDRESS RACISM, PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND VALUE INDIVIDUALITY.

I WAS FREE TO ADDRESS MY SCHOOL ISSUES WITH MY PEERS WITHOUT FREE AND WITHOUT FEAR BECAUSE OF THOUGH I HOPE THAT THIS CLUB WOULD HELP OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND BECOMING MORE WELCOMING AND ALSO ACCEPTING OF NEWCOMERS.

I LONG FOR A PLATFORM WHERE MY OPINION COULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AS A WOMAN OF COLOR.

AND THANKS TO VOTE, I WAS ABLE TO CONNECT WITH OTHER STUDENTS AND FINALLY FEEL LIKE A PART OF MY SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

HI. MY NAME IS FELT.

I AM SADLY THE ONLY REPRESENTATIVE OF BELLAIRE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

I AM IN SIXTH GRADE AND I THIS CLUB MEANS A LOT TO ME.

I JOINED IN FIFTH GRADE AND IT REALLY HELPED ME DEVELOP GOALS THAT I WANTED TO ACHIEVE IN THE FUTURE, WHICH IS OF EQUITY FOR ME IS CONSIDERED A SAFE PLACE FOR STUDENTS TO SPEAK THEIR MIND ABOUT ISSUES THEY WANT FIXED AND TO MAKE A CHANGE ABOUT IT.

AT SCHOOL I CAN SEE THE WAKEFIELD ELEMENTARY THROUGH MY WINDOW IN ALL ALMOST ALL OF MY CLASSES.

AND I THINK ABOUT THOSE KIDS AND I THINK ABOUT WELL.

WHAT ABOUT THEM? WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHEN THEY GET OLD ENOUGH? AND I WANT TO SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS SO THOSE KIDS WILL NEVER HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I DID.

MOST ADULTS I KNOW SAY THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS THE WORST EXPERIENCE OF THEIR LIFE, AND I KNOW A FEW OF YOU FEEL FELT THE SAME WAY, BUT I FEEL THAT THAT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. WAS THREE YEARS AT SCHOOL.

ONE DIFFERENT SCHOOL SHOULDN'T BE DESCRIBED AS A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE, AND I WANT TO CHANGE THAT EXPERIENCE DURING MEETINGS AFTER SCHOOL.

WE TALK ABOUT RACIST AND SEXIST TREATMENT, BULLYING AND RIGHTS FOR TRANSGENDER AND DISABILITY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND HOW TO FIND WAYS TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. AND I KNOW WHAT BULLYING FEELS LIKE, UNFORTUNATELY.

AND IT CAN FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN KICKED IN THE GUT.

VOICES OF EQUITY IS HELPING ME MAKE A CHANGE SO NOBODY ELSE WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I DID.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS MARISSA AND I'M A SENIOR AT BEL-AIR HIGH.

I WOULD LIKE TO START BY THANKING YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT.

I WANT TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCES WITH YOU ON WHY I WANTED TO JOIN, THOUGH, AND THEN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE RESULTED BECAUSE OF IT.

SO I WANTED TO START BY TALKING ABOUT MY OWN BACKGROUND.

SO BEING A YOUNG FILIPINO GIRL AND A WHITE DOMINATED SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS ALWAYS FACED ME WITH CHALLENGES.

[01:50:04]

MANY PEOPLE MY OWN AGE GAVE ME A BLANK STARE AFTER I SHARED MY ETHNICITY.

MANY PEOPLE TOLD ME I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

AND MANY PEOPLE WERE SHOCKED.

THERE WAS YET ANOTHER TYPE OF ASIAN CHILDREN CLAIM THEIR USE OF MICROAGGRESSIONS AND OFFENSIVE STEREOTYPES TO BE JOKES.

BUT THE YOUNGER ME AND MIDDLE SCHOOL DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I WAS JUST SO DIFFERENT FROM THE REST.

BY THE TIME THAT I GOT TO HIGH SCHOOL, THINGS HAD ONLY GOTTEN WORSE.

PEOPLE WERE USING THINGS SUCH AS SLURS, INSTILLING STEREOTYPES INTO MY MIND, FORCING SLANTS IN THEIR EYES AND CHANTING THINGS THAT THEY DEF NOT DEFINITELY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SAYING. UNDERSTANDING THAT IT COULD NOT HAVE JUST BEEN ME.

I DECIDED TO SEARCH FOR A CLUB THAT WAS GOING TO WORK TO FIX THESE INJUSTICES AND DO THAT BY ENACTING CHANGE.

THANKFULLY, I FOUND VOICES OF EQUITY AND THIS GROUP FOCUSES ON FIGHTING FOR THE GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS IN OUR SCHOOL WHO ARE UNDERREPRESENTED BY TAKING PART IN VO WITH MY PEERS. WE ARE DEFINITELY MAKING OUR SCHOOLS BETTER BY CREATING A SAFE SPACE AND EQUITABLE OUTCOMES FOR EVERYBODY.

AT BEL-AIR HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAVE PERSONALLY DISCUSSED THE NEED TO END ABLEISM IN OUR SCHOOLS AND WE PLAN TO COLLABORATE WITH BEST BUDDIES IN THE SPRING.

WE SPOKE OUT AGAINST ASIAN HATE RESULTING FROM THE PANDEMIC.

AS WE ALL KNOW, THAT'S A BIG ISSUE AND WE CELEBRATED AND RECOGNIZED VARIOUS DIFFERENT ASIAN AMERICAN CULTURES IN OUR SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS.

WE HAVE WORKED ENDLESSLY TO FIGHT THE STEREOTYPES AND TO REINVENT THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT INTO SOMETHING MORE INCLUSIVE AND CELEBRATORY FOR EVERYONE.

THE MOST IMPACTFUL EVENT THAT I WANTED TO TELL YOU GUYS ABOUT WAS OUR COUNTY WIDE MICROAGGRESSION PRESENTATION AND VIRTUALLY ME AND A PANEL, INCLUDING SOME OF THESE WONDERFUL INDIVIDUALS UP HERE.

WE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO A LOT OF THE ADMIN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, AND UNFORTUNATELY MANY OF THE STAFF CLAIMED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ALL THE HARMFUL INSTANCES THAT WERE OCCURRING INVOLVING MICROAGGRESSIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT THESE PIECES OF FEEDBACK SHOW HOW IMPORTANT GROUPS LIKE VO ARE BECAUSE WE AS PEOPLE ARE NOT AS EDUCATED AS WE CAN BE.

EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, BUT ALSO IN THIS WORLD CAN LEARN FROM OTHERS AND GROW BECAUSE OF IT.

THE NEED FOR MINORITY ADVOCACY IS TREMENDOUS BECAUSE WITHOUT GIVING THESE GROUPS THE PLATFORMS THEY NEED TO GET THEIR VOICES HEARD, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GO UNNOTICED.

IF WE ALL TAKE MORE TIME TO EDUCATE OURSELVES AND LISTEN TO OTHERS, WE CAN ALL GROW TOGETHER.

I WANTED TO MOST IMPORTANTLY NOTE THAT VO HAS HELPED ME FIND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND VOICE MY OWN STRUGGLES, BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, HAS HELPED ME DEVELOP MY PERSPECTIVE HOLISTICALLY ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE EXPERIENCED BY EACH AND EVERY MINORITY GROUP IN MY SCHOOL.

IT IS ALSO ALLOWED ME TO CONNECT AND CELEBRATE WITH ALL OF THE WONDERFUL AND POSITIVE ASPECTS OF OTHER PEOPLE'S CULTURES, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES WE FORGET TO CELEBRATE THESE THINGS TOO. I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT TO DO EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN TO EDUCATE YOURSELVES AS WELL.

OUR DIFFERENCES AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR IDENTITY THAT SHOULD BE MOST OR THE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR IDENTITY THAT SHOULD BE MOST CELEBRATED TOGETHER.

I KNOW THAT WE CAN ALL MAKE THIS COUNTY A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYONE.

THANK YOU. HI.

GOOD EVENING. I'M RILEY CARDOZA, AND I'M A SENIOR AT BEL-AIR HIGH SCHOOL.

I FIRST JOINED VOICES OF EQUITY LAST YEAR, AND I'M BEYOND GRATEFUL THAT I DID.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT FIGHTING AGAINST THE INEQUALITIES IN THIS WORLD, AND THIS CLUB GAVE ME A PLACE TO TAKE ACTION.

PERSONALLY, I'VE EXPERIENCED THE STRUGGLE OF A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, WHICH OFTEN IS NOT DISCUSSED ENOUGH.

THE CONSTANT PAIN AND MENTAL STRUGGLE THAT THIS CAUSES.

DUE TO THIS, I'VE HAD MULTIPLE ACCOMMODATIONS AND A 504 PLAN.

THIS IS TO HELP ME IN FIVE OR FOUR.

PLANS ARE MEANT TO HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE A DISABILITY OR ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES THEM TO NEED EXTRA HELP.

IN MY EXPERIENCE, GETTING OUT 504 WAS A STRUGGLE AND I HAVE HAD SOME WONDERFUL TEACHERS WHO WANT THAT EXTRA MILE.

BUT THERE WAS ALSO TEACHERS WHO GAVE ME PUSHBACK WHO I WOULD HAVE TO FIGHT AGAINST CONSTANTLY TO GET THE ACCOMMODATIONS THAT I NEED.

I WOULD HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY I NEED THIS AND WHY I NEED EXTRA HELP FOR THE SPECIFIC ASSIGNMENT, WHICH OFTEN WASN'T REALIZED THAT MY TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AFFECTS EVERY ASPECT OF MY LIFE.

BEING PART OF VOICES OF EQUITY HELPS GIVE ME BACK MY VOICE THAT I SO OFTEN FIND LOST.

BEING A PART OF VOICES OF EQUITY GIVES ME PEOPLE IN MY CORNER TO HELP FIGHT, AND SO THAT I DON'T JUST GIVE UP AND GIVE IN.

VOICES OF EQUITY REMINDS ME THAT I DO NOT HAVE TO STRUGGLE ALONE IN SILENCE AND THAT I DESERVE EQUALITY, BUT ALSO EQUITY.

ONE THING THAT I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT I'M PROUD OF, THAT VOICES EQUITY HAS DONE IS THE PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE GET TO HAVE.

WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE OPEN AND HONEST DISCUSSIONS WHERE WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS AND SHARE OUR EXPERIENCES.

RECENTLY, WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IN THIS CONVERSATION.

[01:55:04]

AND EVERY DAY WE PLAN TO FOLLOW THIS UP WITH AN ACTION MEETING WHERE WE CAN TRY TO FIND WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE IN OUR SCHOOL.

WE ALSO PLAN TO HAVE MORE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND A DISCUSSION WITH A PANEL DISCUSSING DISABILITIES WITHIN OUR SCHOOL.

HOPING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ONE ANOTHER AND WITHOUT THESE CONVERSATIONS, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GROW AS MUCH AND BEEN ABLE TO UNDERSTAND OTHER PEOPLE'S STRUGGLES.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS LEAH WYNNE.

I'M A MEMBER OF VOICE OF EQUITY AT BEL-AIR HIGH SCHOOL.

I APPRECIATE THE PLATFORM THAT I AM GIVEN TODAY AND I HOPE MY STATEMENTS THAT FOLLOW CHANGE THE LIVES OF MY LISTENERS FRUSTRATED, AFRAID, UNSEEN, UNDERREPRESENTED AND UNHEARD.

AS A BLACK WOMAN IN THIS DAY AND AGE, AT THE RIPE AGE OF 17 YEARS OLD, IS HOW HIGH SCHOOL MADE ME FEEL.

THE LACK OF REPRESENTATION FOR TEACHERS OF COLOR IS UNACCEPTABLE.

THE CONSTANT ACCEPTANCE OF RACIAL SLURS SAID BY THE MAJORITY AT MY HIGH SCHOOL IS DISGUSTING.

AND AS I CO-LEAD THIS YEAR'S VOICE OF EQUITY CHAPTER, I CANNOT DO THIS ALONE.

TEACHERS MUST BECOME TRUE AND EFFECTIVE ALLIES TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE OF COLOR, USING THEIR VOICES AGGRESSIVELY AND PRODUCTIVELY.

HOWEVER, MY HOPE FOR A BRIGHTER TOMORROW BEGAN DURING QUARANTINE AS VOICE OF EQUITY CAME ALONG.

HAVING THESE UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS, THE SAME CONVERSATIONS MANY ARE TOO AFRAID TO SPEAK ABOUT LOOSEN PERSONAL BIAS AND PREJUDICES.

WE ARE BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS THAT SO MANY MINORITY GROUPS HAVE UP TOWARDS THEIR OWN CULTURE, HIDING AWAY FROM WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE TO THEIR CONFINES OF THEIR OWN HOME, HOPING IT WON'T GET ERASED BY THE MAJORITY.

WE ARE EDUCATING EACH OTHER ON OUR OWN CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS AND EVERYDAY LIFESTYLES THAT MAKES US UNIQUE BY INSPIRING AND ACCEPTING THE DIFFERENCES WHICH FASCINATES THIS MELTING POT OF A NATION.

THIS IS A THIS IS WHAT VOICE OF EQUITY TAUGHT ME.

I WAS ONE STARVING FOR ACCEPTANCE, SHUNNED BY THE LAWS OF HIGH SCHOOL POPULARITY, DESPERATE TO NO LONGER BE.

DESPERATE TO NO LONGER BE BURDENED BY THE EXPECTATION OF OTHERS LONGING FOR A WIN, BUT STILL DISMISSED.

WITH ALL THE EFFORTS THAT WERE GIVEN WHEN CONFORMITY WAS THE STRATEGY.

ROSE COLORED GLASSES WERE APPLIED WHEN TRYING TO GET A FOOT IN THE DOOR.

BUT ONCE BOTH FEET LANDED, RADICAL CHANGE WAS AROUND THE CORNER.

VOICE OF EQUITY IS A TYPE OF GROUP WHERE SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION.

SCREAM AND SHOUT.

WE MUST YELL AND DEMAND WE CAN, BEING BOASTFUL AND VIGOROUS.

WE WILL. BLACK AS MY SKIN IS, I AM MOST OFTEN IGNORED AND DISMISSED BY THE MAJORITY THAT FEARS MY MAGNIFICENT POTENTIAL.

BLACK AS MY SKIN IS I AND MY ANCESTORS WILDEST DREAMS AND MOST OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT.

SKIN COLOR DOES NOT ALTER THE CONTENT OF ONE'S CHARACTER.

THEREFORE, IT IS NOT A JUST EXAMINATION OF A HUMAN BEING'S INTENTIONS.

VOICE HAS TAUGHT ME TO FEEL STRENGTH AND BEING ME.

THAT IS WHY I LEAD BLACK.

AND AS BEAUTIFUL AS MY SKIN IS, WE MUST NOT WAIT FOR ACCEPTANCE, BUT DEMAND INCLUSION.

THEREFORE, I FIGHT LOUDLY AND PROUDLY TO FINISH THE WORK THAT MY ANCESTORS STARTED.

THUS, VOICE OF EQUITY TAUGHT ME HOW TO ACCEPT MYSELF, BEING MOST TIMES THE ONLY BLACK PERSON WITHIN MY CLASSES, BUT STILL FINDING PRIDE IN THAT.

I AM FIGHTING TODAY FOR THE GROWTH AND ACCEPTANCE OF A MOVEMENT LIKE VOICES OF EQUITY.

BECAUSE OF THE CHILDREN THAT I SERVE, THE SAME KIDS I MENTOR OF ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF BACKGROUNDS BLACK, WHITE, LGBTQ, TRANS, ALL UNDER THE SUN COME TO ME IN TEARS AFTER DIFFICULT DISCUSSIONS, THANKING ME FOR MY VOICE BECAUSE MY WORDS AND ACTIONS ARE ALL I CAN STAND BY.

NOW I'M JUST GOING TO QUICKLY GO THROUGH TWO OF THE MOVEMENTS THAT I AM MOST PROUD OF BEING A PART OF VOICE OF EQUITY AND BEL AIR.

THIS FRIDAY, WE ARE HOSTING AN EVENT WHERE WE ARE BRINGING TOGETHER ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLUBS, SPORTS TEAMS, ETC.

TO CELEBRATE EACH OTHER.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE GOAL OF OUR MISSION AND THIS FRIDAY IS FOR THOSE GROUPS IN PARTICULAR TO BRING ISSUES TO THE TABLE.

SO HOPEFULLY VOICE OF EQUITY CAN BE A CATALYST FOR THE CHANGE IN THEIR CLUBS AND WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO NOT ONLY CELEBRATE BUT MAKE RADICAL CHANGE.

THE SECOND MOVEMENT.

WHICH IS WHAT I'M MOST PROUD OF.

BEING A VOICE OF EQUITY IS OUR TRAUMA INFORMED EDUCATION POWERPOINT PRESENTATION WE DID TO TEACHERS DURING THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MEETING AFTER SCHOOL LAST YEAR. THE BIGGEST PARTS.

[02:00:02]

THAT THESE KIDS GAVE.

I CONSIDER MYSELF A LEADER TO THESE KIDS, AND I'M SO PROUD OF THE VULNERABILITY THEY SHOWED.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY.

HAVING THIS TRAUMA INFORMED EDUCATION MEETING.

IT MAKES TEACHER MORE AWARE OF THE STRUGGLES OF STUDENTS AND MAKES TEACHERS REALIZE THAT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN THESE STUDENTS HOME LIVES DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS.

AS STUDENTS SPEND A MAJORITY OF THEIR LIFE IN SCHOOL, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT TEACHERS AND STUDENTS RELATIONSHIPS ARE MORE THAN A BUSINESS EXCHANGE.

IT IS MORE THAN YOU DO AN ASSIGNMENT IN OUR GRADES.

YOUR PAPER TEACHER OR TEACHERS ARE MOLDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF STUDENTS, AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE GET ON THE SAME PAGE.

I KNOW A LOT OF MY FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES DO NOT HAVE PARENT FIGURES IN THEIR LIVES AND RAISE THEIR OWN SIBLINGS WHEN THEY GO HOME.

SO THEREFORE, WHEN THEY ASK FOR AN EXTENSION.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT TEACHERS RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS ALWAYS MORE AND YOU ARE ALWAYS SCRATCHING THE SURFACE.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT TEACHERS CREATE A FRIENDSHIP SO TEACHING SO STUDENTS CAN FEEL VULNERABLE WHEN COMMUNICATING WITH THESE TEACHERS SO THEY CAN BECOME ON ONE PAGE BECAUSE OFTENTIMES IT IS NOT.

SO I HOPE EVERYONE CONSIDERS WHAT I DISCUSSED TODAY, AND HOPEFULLY IT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE IN SOME WAY.

THANK YOU. AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS KIMMY TAN.

I'M AN 11TH GRADE STUDENT AT C, MILTON WRIGHT HIGH SCHOOL AND THE PRESIDENT OF VOICE OF EQUITY THERE.

I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT VO THROUGH MS..

MEREDITH HEALTH FROM WORKING AT THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND CULTURAL PROFICIENCY FOR THEIR STUDENT SUMMER PROGRAM.

AT THE TIME, I WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THE CLUB BECAUSE OF ITS MESSAGE A MOVEMENT OF STUDENTS AND LEADERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO ENCOURAGING THEIR COMMUNITY BECOME MORE FAIR AND JUST. I REALIZED THAT CMW DID NOT HAVE A VO AT THE TIME, BUT A FEW MONTHS LATER, IN JANUARY OF LAST YEAR, I OVERHEARD THE MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A FIRST VOICE EQUITY MEETING AFTER SCHOOL.

THAT AFTERNOON I ATTENDED THE VERY FIRST MEETING AND WAS ONE OUT OF FOUR STUDENTS AND ATTENDED.

TODAY THE CLUB HAS GROWN AND HAS ESTABLISHED A VOICE OF EQUITY BOARD MADE UP OF FIVE STUDENTS AND TWO CO SPONSORS, WITH ALSO OUR MEMBERS TO BE CONSIDERED AT CMW. OUR VO HAS FOCUSED ON TACKLING UNDERLYING ISSUES THAT HAS LED OUR COMMUNITY TO BECOME UNFAIR AND UNJUSTIFIABLE.

THESE TOPICS HAVE BEEN MICROAGGRESSION, IMPLICIT BIAS, PRIVILEGES AND MOST RECENTLY WE HAVE DONE ACTIVITY INSPIRED BY MARTIN LUTHER KING JR'S I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH WHERE STUDENTS HAVE WRITTEN DOWN THEIR DREAM THAT ADVOCATED TOWARDS INCLUSIVITY, EQUITY AND SAFETY FOR OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

FOR EXAMPLE, A STUDENT WROTE, I HAVE A DREAM THAT ALL STUDENTS ARE SEEN AND HEARD, WHICH I BELIEVE VOICE OF EQUITY IS A STEP TOWARDS THAT DREAM.

WE ARE MORE THAN JUST A CLUB AGAIN, WE ARE A MOVEMENT.

WE ARE HERE TO GIVE A PLATFORM FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF TO ADVOCATE TOWARDS FOR THE BETTER OF OUR FUTURE AND OUR CLASSROOMS AND OUR SCHOOLS, AND MOST ESPECIALLY IN OUR COMMUNITY. THROUGHOUT EVERY MILESTONE WE HAVE PASSED, WE WILL ALWAYS LOOK BACK TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE DOUBTED, THOUGH, AND WE'RE WARY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CLUB BY CMW AND WE PROVE THEM WRONG BY ENCOURAGING A CHANGE IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY WITHOUT BEING FORCEFUL BUT WITH GRACEFUL AND EAGER TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND LEARN FOR THE BETTER OF NOT JUST THEIRS BUT OUR COMMUNITY.

IT HAS BEEN A GREAT PLEASURE AND A BLESSING TO BE PLACED IN A POSITION WHERE I CAN BE THE BEGINNING OF A LEGACY THAT IS BEING BUILT BY VOICE AND EQUITY HERE AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OF HARFORD COUNTY. THANK YOU.

HI, MY NAME IS SIENNA FIORE.

I'M A SEVENTH GRADER AT SOUTHAMPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND I FEEL THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF VOICES OF EQUITY IS A WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR SCHOOLS CONSIDERING THE CHANGE CHANGES THAT ARE ABLE TO BE MADE. I THINK STUDENTS TAKING CHARGE AND MAKING CHANGES REALLY WHAT IS GOING TO HELP OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE END, SINCE THE STUDENTS ARE THE ONES WHO KNOWS WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON DAY TO DAY.

VOICES OF EQUITY IS WHERE WE MAKE PLANS OF ACTION TO CHANGE THINGS, TALK ABOUT ISSUES AND WAYS TO FIX THEM.

USE CREATIVITY TO SPREAD OUR MESSAGE THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL AND REALLY JUST LEARN TO LOVE YOURSELF AND OTHERS MORE.

I JOIN VOICES OF EQUITY TO SHARE MY DIFFERENCES WITH OTHERS AND TO LEARN FROM OTHERS IN THEIR DIFFERENCES.

THANK YOU.

[02:05:02]

I'M A SEVENTH GRADER AT SOUTHAMPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.

I JOINED VOICES OF EQUITY BECAUSE IT HELPS TO MAKE OUR SCHOOLS A BETTER PLACE AND IT GIVES US A PLACE TO TALK ABOUT OUR LIVES, THE GOOD AND BAD PARTS. AND IT PROVIDES A SAFE SPACE FULL OF REALLY AMAZING PEOPLE.

IT'S A GREAT GROUP TO BE A PART OF, AND WE CAN ALL SAY THAT WE'VE MADE CONNECTIONS AND FRIENDSHIPS WITH PEOPLE IN THE CLUB.

AND IT'S JUST AN OVERALL AWESOME GROUP OF PEOPLE.

HI, MY NAME IS JOHAN GRIMMIE AND I AM THE NIGERIAN AMERICAN STUDENT THAT IS A PART OF.

I WANTED TO JOIN VOICES EQUITY FOR SEVERAL REASONS, BUT ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WAS TO BE PART OF A COMMUNITY THAT FELT SAFE AND WELCOMING, ESPECIALLY WITH GOING TO A SCHOOL THAT MADE ME FEEL AS IF I DIDN'T BELONG AND MADE ME FEEL AS IF MY ISSUES WEREN'T SERIOUS.

IT IS GREAT THAT CLUBS THAT CLUBS SUCH AS VOICES OF EQUITY CAN CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR AND LGBTQ LGBTQ STUDENTS.

THIS CLUB IMPACTS OUR SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY REPRESENT DIVERSITY AND FAIRNESS FOR ALL STUDENTS AT NORTH HARPER HIGH SCHOOL.

THEY STAND FOR WHAT'S RIGHT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE SCHOOL.

THEY DON'T ALLOW STUDENTS OF COLOR TO BE HIDDEN.

THEY ALLOW THESE STUDENTS TO SHINE.

AND I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WHEN AT A SCHOOL A SCHOOL JUST SAYS NORTH HARTFORD HIGH SCHOOL, IT FEELS THAT STUDENTS OF COLOR AND LGBTQ STUDENTS ARE OFTEN HIDDEN AND ARE NOT ALLOWED TO EXPRESS THEIR TRUE IDENTITIES. THEY DON'T ALLOW SORRY, THESE CLUBS DON'T INVALIDATE STUDENTS OF COLORS, FEELINGS, AND THEY FIND SOLUTIONS TO MAKE US FEEL BETTER. I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF VOICES OF EQUITY AND I'M VERY GLAD THAT THIS CLUB HELPS US MAKE A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER OF OUR SCHOOL.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CHEYENNE, MONTANA, SO LET ME KNOW.

IT'S SPELLED S H A I A AND NOW IT WOULDN'T SEEM LIKE I WOULD GET VERY MANY COMMENTS ON THAT.

AND I APOLOGIZE THAT I CAN'T TALK TO EVERYBODY.

IF I COULD, I WOULD TURN MY CHAIR AND SIT RIGHT OVER THERE SO I CAN SEE EVERYBODY.

BUT I CAN'T. I HAD EXPERIENCED A LOT OF THINGS GROWING UP, BEING A MIXED KID IN A NOT SO DIVERSE WORLD. SO I.

THE BY THE WAY, MY NAME IS SPELLED BY MY HERITAGE, BY MY RACE, BY WHAT I MIX WITH.

I'VE EXPERIENCED AN UMBRELLA OF DIFFERENT THINGS SLURS, NAMES, NICKNAMES, BEING TRIPPED, BEING HIT, BEING KICKED IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THERE WAS PROBLEMS IN BECAUSE NOBODY EVER TAUGHT ME THAT.

I'VE ALWAYS SEEN THAT.

OH, YOU ARE TO BE BULLIED IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THAT'S YOU. IT'S YOUR CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S THE WORST THREE YEARS OF YOUR LIFE.

IT'S YOUR THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY'S TOLD ME.

BUT AS SOON AS I HEARD ABOUT VOICES OF EQUITY IN HIGH SCHOOL, MY JUNIOR YEAR IS WHEN IT STARTED.

I'M CURRENTLY A SENIOR IN BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL.

MY SCHOOL HAD GOTTEN A NEW PRINCIPAL LAST YEAR, THE YEAR BEFORE.

MR. COLLINS.

HE CAME IN. I'M SORRY TO DROP NAMES, BUT IT'S.

IT'S TO BE DONE. HE HAD SEEN, HE HAD SAID, SEEN, HEARD AND VALUED.

HE PUT THAT QUOTE EVERYWHERE ON THE BOTTOM OF HIS EMAIL, HAD IT ON SHIRTS, HAD IT ON POSTERS, AND I SAW IT.

AND I DIDN'T SEE IT FOR JUSTICE WORDS.

BUT THAT'S WHAT THE STUDENTS OF THE MY COMMUNITY WOULD SEE.

THE STUDENTS OF MY COMMUNITY, DARE I SAY THEY LIVE IN A BUBBLE IN THAT FALSE AND BUBBLE.

RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD FROM FALSE IN HIGH SCHOOL IS WHERE YOU CROSS INTO BEL AIR.

NOT A LOT OF THEM KNOW THAT.

TO HAVE VOICES OF EQUITY.

AND FOULSTON IS A GREAT WAY TO SHOW MY STUDENTS OF MY COMMUNITY, MY PEERS, THAT THEY DO LIVE IN A BUBBLE AND IT'S OKAY TO LIVE THAT WAY, BUT TO KNOW THAT THERE'S OTHER THINGS OUTSIDE OF THAT BUBBLE.

SO BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY LIVE IN THIS BUBBLE, THEY FEEL SAFE.

THEY CAN SAY WHATEVER THEY WANT TO SAY GOOD, BAD, UGLY, EVIL, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SAY.

AND THEY DO THAT.

SOME OF THE THINGS THEY SAY ARE GOOD.

BUT OUTSIDE OF THEIR BUBBLE, THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO EVER SAY ANYTHING NICE, ANYTHING GOOD.

SO HAVING VOICES OF EQUITY, HAVING SEEN, HEARD AND VALUED IT, IS TO TEACH THEM WHAT THE WORDS MEAN, NOT TO JUST READ THE WORDS.

I TAKE VOICES OF EQUITY AS IT'S NOT TO CHANGE THE WORLD AT THIS POINT IN TIME, BUT TO CHANGE A MOMENT.

AND IF THAT MOMENT IS TO SIT IN THIS ROOM AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEBODY, THE BOARD, THE PUBLIC, MY PEERS, IF THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO CHANGE THEIR MOMENT, THEN

[02:10:01]

HI. MY NAME IS JORDAN COOK.

I'M A FRESHMAN AT TOWSON UNIVERSITY, AND I WAS THE PRESIDENT OF WOMEN'S EQUITY AT BEL-AIR HIGH SCHOOL.

YEAR 2021 TO 2022.

DEPRESSED AND ANGRY AND ANXIOUS, I FOUND MYSELF STARING AT MY REFLECTION IN MY MIRROR AS A RAMPANT AMOUNT OF TEARS CASCADED DOWN MY FACE.

THIS WAS THE DAY I FACED A HATE CRIME.

I WAS 14 AND THE INCIDENT ONLY HAPPENED THREE MONTHS INTO MY FRESHMAN YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL IN MY BIOLOGY CLASS.

A YOUNG MAN WHO HAD BEEN BULLYING ME SINCE SQUAT STARTED WENT BEHIND MY CHAIR WHILE I WAS DOING MY WORK AND CUT OFF A PIECE OF MY HAIR LIKE A PIECE OF MY HAIR.

AFTER THIS, HE CALLED ME THE N-WORD AS OTHER STUDENTS LAUGHED ABOUT WHAT HE HAD DONE.

FACING THIS WAS NO CULTURE SHOCK TO ME.

I HAD PAPER BALLS THROWN AT MY HAIR AND I WOULD HAVE PEERS PIERCED MY SKIN DIRTY AND UGLY AT THE AGE OF TEN.

EVEN RECENTLY IN MY JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL.

PEOPLE WOULD GOSSIP ABOUT ME BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY A BLACK GIRL COULD HAVE SO MANY ACCOLADES.

I REPRESENT UNDERREPRESENTED GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TO FACE FROM THE SAME EXPERIENCES I DESCRIBED.

I CAN CANDIDLY SAY THAT THE CATALYST TO THE PERSONAL ACCEPTANCE WITHIN MYSELF AND WITHIN THE MINDS OF OTHERS HAS COME FROM JOINING VOICES OF EQUITY.

I WAS ENCOURAGED TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCES AND MY RELATIONSHIP WITH DISCRIMINATION, BUT SPECIFICALLY RACISM.

I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE TO SPEAK TO A MULTITUDE OF DIFFERENT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS THROUGHOUT HARPER COUNTY.

THIS ADDED TO MY CONFIDENCE SOME TOPICS WE'VE EDUCATED PEOPLE ON AND VOICES EQUITY HAS INCLUDED AND IMPLICIT BIAS GENDER IDENTITY, MICROAGGRESSIONS AND MENTAL HEALTH. OUR GROUP HAS THE POWER TO MAKE PEOPLE WAY MORE AWARE OF THESE TOPICS AND THE CURRENT ACTS OF DISCRIMINATION THAT HAPPEN WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS.

WITH THIS BEING SAID, I'VE ALSO SEEN HEALING HAPPEN WITHIN THE SAME COMMUNITY THAT TRIED TO PUT PEOPLE LIKE ME DOWN.

EVEN NOW, AS A FRESHMAN AT TOWSON UNIVERSITY, DESPITE ALL THE AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES AND HEALING WAS EQUITY HAS GIVEN ME, I STILL FIND SO MUCH ROOM TO HAVE ANIMOSITY TOWARDS MYSELF FOR THINGS SUCH AS MY HAIR, THE COLOR OF MY SKIN AND MY WEIGHT.

THESE FEELINGS ARE NOT FOREIGN TO ME.

THEY'RE JUST ABSOLUTELY UNWANTED AND UNWARRANTED.

I'VE LEARNED THAT THESE SELF IMPOSED IDEOLOGIES AND THIS LITERAL SELF HATRED I FACE IS A DIRECT RESULT FROM ALL THE DISCRIMINATION I FACED WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, WHEN THERE WAS NO VOICES OF EQUITY. I WOULD LIKE TO FINALIZE MY THOUGHTS BY SAYING THAT WE'VE BEEN TAUGHT AND WE CONTINUE TO TEACH OURSELVES THAT WE ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER WHEN WE'RE NOT. BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WAS SOMETHING THAT YOUR YOUNGER SELF HAD TO DEAL WITH.

IN FACT, WHAT IF YOUR CHILD HAD EXPERIENCED WHAT I EXPERIENCED A HATE CRIME AT 14, OR THE SLURS, THE NAMES THAT ANY OF US HAD TO EXPERIENCE? EXPERIENCE? WHEN YOU WANT THERE TO BE A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT THEY COULD TALK TO ABOUT THIS.

THAT'S THE EQUITY FOR YOU.

THIS GROUP AIDS IN SITUATIONS LIKE I'VE DESCRIBED IT MUCH MORE.

ALL IT TAKES IS FOR THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN TO BE DIFFERENT OR FOR YOU TO FOLLOW A DIFFERENT FAITH, OR IF YOU HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, OR FOR YOU TO HAVE A DIFFERENT PREFERENCE FOR WHO YOU LOVE OR FOR YOU TO COME FROM A DIFFERENT COUNTRY.

I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON AND ON.

THESE ISSUES THAT ALL OF US HAVE DISCUSSED WILL NOT CHANGE AND THEY WILL IN FACT WORSEN IF THEY ARE NOT ADDRESSED.

AND EVEN IF EVEN IF IT'S INCREMENTALLY DONE.

EVEN IF IT'S INCREMENTALLY DONE, IT JUST HAS TO CHANGE BECAUSE AGAIN, THESE THINGS WILL WORSEN AND I'VE SEEN IT WORSEN.

BUT AGAIN, LUCKILY WE HAVE VOICES EQUITY COME IN AND THAT REALLY WAS MY SUPER HERO AND IT'S INSPIRED ME TO BECOME A PUBLIC SPEAKING MAJOR AT TOWSON UNIVERSITY.

I'M A COMMUNICATIONS MAJOR, AND ONE DAY I WANT TO BE A SOCIAL RELATIONS SPECIALIST TO REPRESENT PEOPLE LIKE DR.

STANTON DOES AND GET PAID HOPEFULLY GOOD MONEY.

BUT IN ORDER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND TO APPLY EQUITABLE OUTCOMES FOR EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY YOUNGER PEOPLE.

SO, YEAH, THANK YOU.

DID I DELIVER THE GIFTS? I THINK I DID.

SO AT THIS POINT, I WILL PAUSE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING YOUR VOICES.

WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THE ADULT VOICES CAN BE LOUD AND CAN SORT OF OVERPOWER YOU.

BUT YOU ARE THE ONES WHO ARE IN OUR SCHOOLS.

YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING? YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE HERE TO SHARE THAT AND CONTINUE TO SHARE THAT, CONTINUE TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING BY YOU, BECAUSE WE WILL.

SO I'LL PAUSE AND SEE IF ANYONE ON THE BOARD HAS ANY QUESTIONS.

I'D LIKE TO START.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT.

I SEE SOME FAMILIAR FACES.

I'M SO GLAD THAT EVERYONE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HONESTY, YOUR OPENNESS, SHARING THESE STORIES OF HARASSMENT AND BULLYING CAN.

[02:15:02]

I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU GUYS TO CONTINUE TO COME TO MEETINGS AND CONTINUE TO SPEAK, EVEN IF IT'S NOT A BOARD MEETING.

GO WHEREVER YOU GO, END UP FOR COLLEGE OR LIFE.

KEEP USING YOUR VOICE.

IT'S YOUR BEST ASSET.

WITH THAT, ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 630 AND LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM EVERY SINGLE ANGLE.

AND I'D LIKE TO JUST APPLAUD YOUR COMPOSURE WHILE PEOPLE HAVE.

MADE COMMENTS ABOUT MINORITY GROUPS.

AND, YOU KNOW, OTHER PEOPLE HAVE MADE COMMENTS, PRO MINORITY GROUPS AND ANTI AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON WAS SO CALM AND COLLECTED.

I KEEP MY EYE ON THE AUDIENCE THE ENTIRE TIME.

AND ALL OF YOU KEPT YOUR COMPOSURE AND THEN COME OUT HERE AND TALK ABOUT EQUALITY AND EQUITY AND IT'S.

YOU GUYS CAN DO A LOT MORE THAN A LOT OF ADULTS CAN.

SO THANK YOU.

I'M VERY IMPRESSED AND I'M PROUD OF OUR STUDENTS.

I HOPE THAT FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, WE'RE GROWING THIS.

SO THANK YOU, GUYS.

ACTUALLY, SABRA, I JUST I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK IT'S IT'S WONDERFUL THAT YOU GUYS HAVE FOUND EACH OTHER IN VOICES OF EQUITY.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE OTHERS JUST TO, TO TALK TO THAT YOU FEEL CONNECTED WITH.

THAT'S, THAT'S A SKILL AND, AND SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN TAKE FORWARD, PUT IN YOUR TOOLBOX TO HELP YOUR MENTAL HEALTH THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, I'D LIKE TO CAUTION YOU THAT YOU CAN'T EXPECT EVERYBODY TO ACCEPT AND ACCEPT YOU OR TO LIKE YOU, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S THEIR THAT'S THEIR FAULT.

THAT'S THEIR PROBLEM.

YES, I APPLAUD YOU YOUNG PEOPLE, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IT IS, HAVING COME FROM THE SAME THING WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND MORE IMPORTANTLY IN THE SIXTIES, YOU KNOW, I WENT TO A BLACK WHITE ENCOUNTER GROUP TO TALK TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE DIFFERENT THAN I WAS AND TO LOOK AT MY OWN PREJUDICES THAT I HAD.

SO I APPLAUD YOU.

BUT IT HELPED. IT HELPED ME IN MY CAREER AND UNDERSTANDING THE CULTURES.

AND I ENCOURAGE ADULTS TO DO THAT.

NOW, IN THIS TIME WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

THANK YOU. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY TO COME UP HERE AND TALK.

SO GOOD JOB FOR ALL OF YOU GUYS COMING HERE AND DOING THAT.

AND IT'S IT'S QUITE DIFFICULT TO STAND UP AND BE BRAVE AND DO THAT.

SO THANK YOU GUYS ALL FOR COMING OUT AND SPEAKING AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

YOU ALL ARE AMAZING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRAVERY, YOUR COURAGE, THE AUDACITY TO SPEAK YOUR TRUTH.

I HEAR YOU.

I SEE YOU.

AND IN MANY WAYS, I AM YOU.

I SO RESPECT WHAT YOU HAVE SHARED IN THIS PLACE TODAY.

YOU TRULY MADE THIS THIS SPACE A BRAVE SPACE, BECAUSE SPACES MAY NOT ALWAYS BE SAFE AS WE KNOW.

BUT WHEN YOU STEP INTO THE ROOM, YOU MAKE IT A BRAVE SPACE WHEN YOU SHARE YOUR TRUTH.

SO I LOVE YOU AND I VALUE YOU FOR THAT.

YOU HAVE ENRICHED OUR LIVES.

THANK YOU. I'M ALMOST SPEECHLESS. BUT YOU ARE AWESOME, ALL OF YOU.

WHAT YOU TOLD US, WHAT YOU'RE FEELING AND WHAT YOU BROUGHT ACROSS TO US WAS JUST AMAZING.

AND I KNOW THAT ALL OF YOU WILL GO ON TO DO MORE AMAZING THINGS.

AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO MEET ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

FIRST OF ALL, THE THE ELOQUENCE OF YOUR SPEECHES WERE TREMENDOUS.

YOU ALL ARE EXTREMELY WELL SPOKEN FROM THE OLDEST OF THE GROUP TO THE YOUNGEST OF THE GROUP.

NO, NOT YOU, PAULA.

BY THE WAY, AS AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST THAT MEET, GREET AND SWEETS, THAT'S GOT TO GO.

WE CAN COME UP WITH BETTER CHOICES.

NO, THE THE WAY THAT YOU ALL CAME ACROSS WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY AWESOME.

I'M SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT CAN BRING GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOU TO THE FOREFRONT WHO ARE WILLING TO SIT IN A GROUP LIKE THIS WHERE THERE MAY

[02:20:01]

ALVAREZ SAID, MAYBE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT QUITE ON BOARD, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF HATRED IN THEM FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

THE CHANGE IS NOT GOING TO START WITH MY GENERATION.

WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE BEYOND THAT.

IT'S MINDS HAVE BEEN MADE UP.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE IN THE 70 AND 60 PLUS AGE GROUP.

IT'S GOING TO START WITH YOU.

AND A MOVEMENT LIKE YOURS IS THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING I CAN SEE.

I MEAN, I CAN SEE THIS EXPLODING ALL OVER THE STATE.

AND MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN PUT MARILYN IN THE FOREFRONT IN TERMS OF LOOKING TO SEE HOW WE CAN START AT THIS AGE GROUP, GETTING PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT.

AS DIFFERENT AS WE ARE.

WE'RE ALL THE SAME. KNOW, WE'RE ALL INDIVIDUALS.

WE'RE ALL PEOPLE. I COME FROM A.

A PROFESSION WHERE WE'RE.

LET'S CALL A BLIND NATIONALITY BLIND.

RELIGION BLIND.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WE DON'T DISCRIMINATE.

WHAT PATIENTS? WE TAKE CARE OF ANYBODY WHO WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR, WE TAKE CARE OF THEM.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT.

WE ALL WANT TO BE TREATED EQUALLY.

AND I THINK YOU ALL ARE.

THE THE BASE THE GROUNDWORK OF OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT HOPEFULLY WILL GAIN A LOT MORE TRACTION AND CONTINUE TO MAKE HARFORD COUNTY PROUD OF OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU.

I ALL VERY REDUNDANT, BUT I WAS SO INSPIRED BY EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOUR STORIES.

I'M THE UNIQUENESS OF EACH ONE OF YOU IS IS YOUR BEAUTY.

AND SHAME ON US AS A SOCIETY FOR NOT RECOGNIZING THAT.

AND BRAVO TO YOU FOR RECOGNIZING IT IN YOURSELVES.

AND IF VOICES OF EQUITY HAS DONE THIS FOR YOU, WHAT A WONDERFUL THING.

I'M DISAPPOINTED TO SAY THAT IT REALLY DOESN'T GO AWAY AND THAT WE'RE REALLY COUNTING ON YOU.

YOU, LIKE DR. PHILLIPS SAYS, TO CHANGE THINGS.

I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN BULLIED MY WHOLE LIFE, AND I MOST RECENTLY HAVE BEEN BULLIED IN MY JOB.

AND IT JUST DOESN'T GO AWAY, UNFORTUNATELY.

BUT WHAT I DID, AND I KNOW WHAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO IS REALLY WHAT DR.

HAROLD SAID IS SPEAK YOUR TRUTH.

STAND FOR YOURSELF.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE NEGATIVE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVE.

BUT THERE IS A PROCESS OUT THERE THAT WILL LET US BE HEARD.

AND I HAD A VERY POSITIVE OUTCOME.

AND MINE'S JUST A SMALL SMIDGEN OF WHAT YOU FACE EVERY DAY AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO CHANGE IN THE WORLD AROUND US.

AND I JUST REALLY APPLAUD YOU BECAUSE I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW INSPIRED I WAS BY EACH ONE OF YOUR STORIES.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY BRAVO.

THANK YOU. OH, YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S IT. OKAY, GREAT.

SO. I AM.

SO PROUD.

SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU.

FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING EVERY DAY.

FOR COMING HERE AND SPEAKING TO US.

I THINK MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW.

THE RACISM, THE BULLYING.

THAT ACTUALLY OCCURS IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU CAME HERE TO TELL US ABOUT THAT.

IT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO LIGHT.

PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IT.

THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENS.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I DEFINITELY HEAR IT FROM FROM PEOPLE THAT THEY DON'T THEY DON'T BELIEVE IT HAPPENS.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN YOUR COMMUNITIES.

UH. PAULA, HOW DO WE GROW THIS? I WAS LOOKING AT THE LIST OF SCHOOLS THAT THIS PROGRAM IS IN, AND THERE WERE A FEW MISSING, HAVE A LOT OF SCHOOLS THAT HAVE ASKED TO FOR SUPPORT AROUND HOW TO START THEIR VOICES OF EQUITY AT THEIR SCHOOLS.

BUT ONE OF THE WAYS WE GROW IT IS BY WHAT WE DID TONIGHT.

SHARING THAT WITH YOU ALL.

AND THEN ALSO SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE MEETINGS WHERE WE INVITE SCHOOLS TO COME AND SEE WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

SO I THINK THAT'S HOW WE GROW IT.

BUT OUR OUTREACH WITH ADMINISTRATORS IN CENTRAL OFFICE AND IN SCHOOLS HAS BEEN THE WAY THAT WE'VE GROWN IT SO FAR, AND IT'LL CONTINUE TO GROW.

I HAVE I THINK WE WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE A VOICES OF EQUITY GROUP IN EVERY SCHOOL, AND I WILL SAY THERE ARE SOME OTHER SCHOOLS THAT HAVE GROUPS THAT ARE SIMILAR.

THEY'RE JUST NOT CALLED PLACES OF EQUITY.

FOR EXAMPLE, EDGEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS GOOD TROUBLE.

THERE ARE A FEW SCHOOLS THAT HAVE OTHER GROUPS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY GO BY DIFFERENT NAMES.

[02:25:03]

WE FOCUS ON ALL STUDENTS, NOT JUST BASED ON RACE, NOT JUST BASED ON DISABILITY OR ABILITY STATUS, BUT WE FOCUS ON ALL ALL ASPECTS OF EQUITY.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON HOW WE CAN ENSURE THAT EVERY SCHOOL HAS THAT SAFE AND BRAVE SPACE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN.

REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU.

THANKS FOR HAVING US.

DR. MUELLER. DR.

MUELLER. YES.

THANKS. I WAS JUST.

I WAS GOING TO MAKE SURE YOU DIDN'T FORGET ME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

I'VE LISTENED TO YOU.

I WATCHED YOU TELL YOUR STORIES.

THE AMOUNT OF BRAVERY IT TAKES TO BE A PUBLIC SPEAKER IS AMAZING.

AND TO BE A PUBLIC SPEAKER ON A SUBJECT WHERE YOU'RE VULNERABLE IS EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE.

SO I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

I ADMIRE PAULA AND THE WORK THAT SHE'S DONE.

DR. STANTON.

THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE IN HELPING GET THESE STUDENTS ORGANIZED HAS BEEN AMAZING AND IN SUPPORTING THEM IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.

AND I'M SORRY I COULDN'T BE THERE TO SEE YOU IN PERSON.

THANK. THANK YOU.

GREAT. AND DR.

WILSON. AND I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING ALSO.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU.

AS EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID.

I SAW THIS AS A PRESENTATION ABOUT STUDENTS EMPOWERING STUDENTS.

AND AND AND I ACTUALLY SORT OF GENTLY TAKE ISSUE WITH MR. SEWELL'S QUESTION ABOUT HOW WE GROW THIS, BECAUSE I IMMEDIATELY SEIZED UP THIS AS IF WE DON'T THIS WORKS BECAUSE YOU GROW THIS THIS. WHAT WAS MOST IMPRESSIVE WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THIS PRESENTATION WAS JUST THE FACT THAT YOU AT ALL IDENTIFIED THIS AS A MOVEMENT, NOT A CLUB.

AND SO I THINK, FRANKLY, THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS STAY OUT OF THEIR WAY.

IT'S THAT ENTHUSIASM.

NOW, AGAIN, THAT BEING SAID, I KNOW HOW MUCH WORK DR.

STANTON PUTS IN TO MAKING SURE SHE CAN CLEAR THAT PATH FOR PEOPLE.

SO MAYBE THAT'S THE WAY WE DO IT, BUT WE'RE RELYING ON YOU TO DO THIS.

I HAVE TREMENDOUS CONFIDENCE.

I'VE SAID THIS IN OTHER BOARD MEETINGS.

I THINK I HAVE A TREMENDOUS CONFIDENCE IN THIS GENERATION AND THE WORK YOU DO.

AND I SEE THE WAY YOU TREAT EACH OTHER.

AND I HEAR THE STORIES ABOUT THE NOT SO GREAT TREATMENTS.

BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS, IS THE WAY TO MOVE US FORWARD AND AND FRANKLY, NOT ALLOWING SOME OF US, THE ADULTS, TO TO MESS IT UP FOR YOU.

AND SO WE WILL KEEP LEARNING FROM YOU.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES AND YOUR LIVED REALITIES THIS EVENING.

AND THANK YOU.

I MEAN, OUR GOAL IN THIS DISTRICT REALLY IS TO EVOLVE TO THE PLACE WHERE STUDENTS ARE LEADING THE LEARNING AND YOU'RE MODELING THAT.

AND SO YOU CAN HELP US TAKE THAT FARTHER AS WELL.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU.

ACTUALLY, WHY DON'T WE AT THIS TIME BEFORE KATIE COMES UP THE LAST PRESENTATION.

BUT IT'S BEEN TWO AND A HALF HOURS.

I'M THINKING A FEW OF US MIGHT NEED A BIO BREAK.

LET'S DO THAT. OKAY.

DON'T LEAVE. DO NOT LEAVE.

DO NOT LEAVE. THIS IS AN AWESOME PRESENTATION.

COMING UP. 5 MINUTES.

I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING BACK TO ORDER.

WE HAVE ANOTHER AWESOME PRESENTATION TONIGHT FROM MISS KATIE RIDGEWAY.

[G. Presentation on the Blueprint For Our Students' Future Board Report , Ms. Katie Ridgway, Director of StrategicInitiatives]

TAKE IT AWAY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOOD EVENING.

I AM HAPPY TO BE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN THE BLUEPRINT WORLD IN THE NEXT MONTH, MONTH AND A HALF.

DIFFERENT DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MARYLAND WILL BE POSTING AND SHARING THEIR BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION PLANS.

AND HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY, WE WILL BE DOING THE SAME.

I'M COMING BACK TO THE BOARD IN FEBRUARY WITH OUR DRAFT AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

SO TO SET THE STAGE AND SO THAT WE DON'T SPEND AN HOUR, ONE OF YOUR NEXT BOARD MEETINGS TALKING ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

WE WANTED TO COME THIS EVENING TO GIVE THAT BASIC OVERVIEW OF THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR WORK HERE AT HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS,

[02:30:10]

SO TONIGHT IS AN OVERVIEW.

I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THE DETAILS A LITTLE QUICKLY, BUT ALL OF THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE THE BOARD PRESENTATION AS WELL AS ON OUR BLUEPRINT WEBSITE. SO JUST TO START OFF, I'D LIKE TO STEP BACK FOR JUST A SECOND TO SAY HOW WE GOT TO TODAY.

SO THERE WAS A COMMISSION ON INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE KNOWN AS THE KIRWAN COMMISSION, AND THIS COMMISSION WAS TASKED TO CREATE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE TO TRANSFORM EDUCATION IN MARYLAND.

AND WHEN THAT COMMISSION COMPLETED ITS WORK AND MADE THE RECOMMENDATIONS, THEN IT WENT THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND EVENTUALLY WE GOT A LAW THAT'S ALMOST 400 PAGES OF REQUIREMENTS THAT IMPACT SCHOOL SYSTEMS, COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, COMMUNITY COLLEGES, LOCAL WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARDS AND A WHOLE HOST OF STAKEHOLDERS.

THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO DO AS WELL.

AND THIS HAS BROUGHT US TO TODAY WHERE WE HAVE TO START TO IMPLEMENT AND START TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT LAW MEANS FOR US.

AND PART OF THAT LAW IS CREATING AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

AND THAT PLAN IS WHAT I'LL COME BACK WITH YOU IN FEBRUARY.

SO JUST AS A REMINDER THAT THERE ARE FIVE PILLARS THAT ARE PART OF THE BLUEPRINT, AND WE HAVE A GRAPHIC HERE THAT IS ALIGN THE FIVE PILLARS WITH WORK THAT WE DO HERE AT HTTPS.

SO YOU CAN SEE IN THIS GRAPHIC THERE IS A NORTHSTAR PILLAR PILLAR, WHICH IS THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PILLAR WE HAVE ELEVATING EDUCATORS, WHICH YOU MIGHT HEAR SOMETIMES THERE'S A PIECE OF THAT CALLED THE CAREER LADDER STUDENT SUPPORT THAT'S TRYING TO MEET EVERY STUDENT'S NEEDS THAT NO MATTER WHAT THEIR THEIR NEEDS ARE AND THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO LEARN.

AND EXPANSION OF PRE K FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND THEN A FOUNDATION THAT REALLY INCLUDES ALL OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY, FUNDING AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO TODAY FOR OUR OVERVIEW PRESENTATION IS TOUCH ON EACH ONE OF THESE PILLARS AND TALK ABOUT THE MILESTONES WE'VE MET AND WHERE WE'RE GOING AND KIND OF FRAME THAT WITH WHAT'S IN THE LAW SO THAT WHEN WE COME BACK WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, YOU JUST HAVE A STARTING PLACE FOR THAT WORK THAT YOU WILL GET TO REVIEW.

AND JUST A FAIR WARNING.

THE DRAFT PLAN IS GOING TO BE 200 PAGES AND THAT'S NOT A JOKE.

IT IS IN FACT THAT LONG.

SO WE THERE IS A LOT THAT IS REQUIRED IN THIS.

AND I'M HERE TO WALK ALL OF YOU THROUGH IT, THE PUBLIC THROUGH IT, OUR VARIOUS STAKEHOLDER GROUPS.

WE HAVE 150 PEOPLE ON COMMITTEES.

WE HAVE OVER 40 PEOPLE WORKING, WRITING.

AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING TOWARDS THIS AND WHO CAN HELP UNPACK THIS VERY COMPLEX LAW AS WE WORK TOWARDS IMPLEMENTING IT. SO I'M GOING TO START WITH SOME OF THE FOUNDATION.

AND THIS IS JUST REALLY TO HELP UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS SIGNIFICANT LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY BUILT IN THIS LAW.

IT'S VERY PRESCRIPTIVE.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE HAVE TO DO.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE GET TO HAVE A STRATEGY ON HOW WE DO IT, BUT WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT CERTAIN STRATEGIES IN CERTAIN WAYS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS LAW DID IS CREATE A NEW ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD CALLED THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION BOARD, AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION BOARD, ALSO KNOWN AS THE AIB, IS THE GOVERNING BODY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BLUEPRINT.

SO THE PIECES THAT SAY MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT.

THAT'S ALSO UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION BOARD.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IN THE LAW THAT IT ALL FUNNELS TO THAT BOARD, AND SO THEY ARE TASKED WITH APPLYING AND HOLDING DISTRICTS ACCOUNTABLE BASED ON THE INTENT OF THE LAW, AND THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO WITHHOLD FUNDING IF WE DO NOT COMPLY OR DO NOT SHOW THAT WE ARE SEEKING TO COMPLY WITH THE LEGISLATION.

AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS GRAPHIC, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A STAKE IN HOW WE ACCOMPLISH THIS WORK.

AND BUT ULTIMATELY, WE HAVE SOME REALLY TIGHT CONFINES ON MANY ASPECTS OF THIS LAW.

SO JUST FROM WHEN I'M GOING THROUGH THE MILESTONES, I'M NOT GOING TO LIST EVERY SINGLE MILESTONE.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO DEMONSTRATE IS WE HAVE MET EVERY MILESTONE REQUIRED BY THE LAW SO FAR.

AND SO EACH YEAR I WILL BE CREATING A MILESTONE REPORT THAT SHOWS THE MILESTONES THAT WE'VE MET.

AND OUR MILESTONE REPORT FOR 2122 IS AVAILABLE IN HTTPS DOT ORG AND YOU CAN SEE HOW WE TALK.

I JUST HAD THAT. THAT'S RIGHT.

[02:35:01]

ALL RIGHT. MILESTONE REPORT DOT ORG.

YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT WE'VE MET ALL THE THE THE MILESTONES THAT WE HAVE TO MEET.

BUT FOR THE LAST YEAR IT WAS STARTING OUR STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, STARTING OUR WEBSITE, NAMING A BLUEPRINT COORDINATOR AND SUBMITTING SOME VARIOUS REPORTS TO THE LEGISLATURE. SO AS A REMINDER, WE'VE CREATED A STRUCTURE OF HOW THIS WORK IS GOING TO BE ACCOMPLISHED AT KPS.

WE HAVE A STEERING COMMITTEE THAT IS CHAIRED BY DR.

BOWLES AND DR. DAVIS AND MYSELF AND HAS DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS IN IT, BOTH FROM THE COMMITTEES, THE SUBCOMMITTEES, BUT AS WELL AS SOME INDEPENDENT PEOPLE, AS WELL AS DR. MUELLER.

AND THEN WITHIN THAT, WE HAVE A COMMITTEE FOR EACH ONE OF THE PILLARS.

WE HAVE A NORTH STAR EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDENT SUPPORTS AND ELEVATING EDUCATORS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT ABOUT ALL OF THESE COMMITTEES IS WE'VE MADE A COMMITMENT TO TRY TO HAVE ABOUT ONE THIRD OF EACH ONE OF THOSE GROUPS ON THE COMMITTEES.

AND I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT OUT OF THE 150 PEOPLE ON THESE COMMITTEES, ABOUT 60 OF THEM ARE COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

AND SO THAT HAS BEEN A HUGE EFFORT TO FIND PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WANT TO ENGAGE IN THIS WORK.

AND IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE VERY PROUD OF.

SO THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO SET ALL OF THIS UP.

WE RECEIVED WHAT WAS REQUIRED TO US IN DECEMBER FROM THE AIB AND THE MSD.

SO WE HAD A COUPLE OF WEEKS IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY WHERE WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER WHAT IS REQUIRED OF US AND WE'RE SPENDING FEBRUARY WITH OUR STAKEHOLDER ENGAGED ENGAGEMENT, WHICH MEANS COMING BACK TO YOU, GOING TO VARIOUS GROUPS, PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL, BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL, ALL THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES, ALSO PUTTING THIS UP ON THE WEB SITE ORG AND PUTTING IT UP FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO VIEW AND THEN HAVE A SURVEY AND HAVE A SURVEY SO THAT ALL ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CAN PROVIDE THEIR FEEDBACK AND THAT WE CAN INCLUDE THAT IN OUR FUTURE ITERATIONS OF THE PLAN.

BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING TO YOU IS OUR DRAFT.

IT'S OUR INITIAL PLAN, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AND CHANGE EACH YEAR AS WE MEET NEW AREAS OF THE LAW AND NEW THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO MEET IN TERMS OF MILESTONES. SO I SAID, I PROMISE I'D BE BRIEF.

AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO TALK ABOUT THE THE BLUEPRINT IN SUCH A BRIEF PERIOD.

BUT AS I SAID, ALL OF THIS MATERIAL IS AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO REVIEW.

AND I THINK PART OF THE POINT IS THAT WE ARE HITTING OUR MILESTONES.

SO FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD, WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH OUR FIRST PRIVATE PROVIDER WHO COULD QUALIFY TO PROVIDE PRE K UNDER THE BLUEPRINT. AND THE BLUEPRINT REQUIRES EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF SEATS THAT WE HAVE FOR PRE K, AND IT REQUIRES THAT FOR BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PLACES.

AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A CHALLENGE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

BUT WE MADE THAT FIRST STEP AND GOT A PRIVATE PROVIDER AND WE'LL BE CONTINUING TO WORK ON IT FROM THERE.

THE ENTIRE WORK OF THAT COMMITTEE IS REALLY COMMITTED TO FIGURING OUT HOW TO MANAGE AND TO MAKE THAT MIX DELIVERY SYSTEM AGAIN.

MIX DELIVERY SYSTEM MEANS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AND MAKE THAT ACTUALLY WORK AND BE SEAMLESS AND EFFECTIVE FOR OUR FAMILIES AND FOR ALL THE VARIOUS ENTITIES THAT ARE INVOLVED. AND WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS TO MAKING THIS WORK? WHAT ARE THE SUPPORTS THAT WE CAN PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE THIS WORK? WHAT IS EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO DO TO TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL OF EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF SEATS THAT WE HAVE FOR PRE-K? OVERALL IN THE LONG TERM.

YOU KNOW, IF WE WORK DILIGENTLY ON THIS WORK, WE COULD COMPLY WITH THE NUMBER OF SEATS NEEDED AND ULTIMATELY WE WOULD HAVE IMPROVED DATA FOR THE NUMBER OF KINDERGARTNERS WHO COME TO SCHOOL READY TO LEARN.

ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT PILLAR, WE'VE CALLED IT ELEVATING EDUCATORS.

AND THIS IS ABOUT HOW WE PAY, RECRUIT, RETAIN, ELEVATE ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE DO FOR OUR WORKFORCE SO THAT WE HAVE A SUSTAINABLE AND HIGH QUALITY AND DIVERSE WORKFORCE FOR YEARS TO COME.

SO FOR ELEVATING EDUCATORS, WE HAD TO MEET SOME MILESTONES LAST YEAR THAT WAS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING AN INCENTIVE FOR NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS, AND WE DID IMPLEMENT THAT INCENTIVE.

OUR CURRENT WORK IN THIS AREA IS KIND OF RE-IMAGINING FROM JUST THINKING ABOUT A CAREER LADDER THAT IS ABOUT SALARY INCENTIVES BECAUSE THAT IS AN ASPECT OF THE LAW.

BUT THINKING THAT AS, AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, DO WE WANT TO JUST EVALUATE OUR SALARIES AND OUR STEPS AND HOW THAT ALL WORKS, OR DO WE WANT TO ELEVATE EDUCATORS? AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID IS WE'RE TRANSITIONING FROM THE VERBIAGE THAT'S IN THE LAW, WHICH IS CAREER LADDER AND MOVE TO THIS ELEVATING EDUCATORS.

AND WE'VE ALSO CHANGED OUR LEADERSHIP WHERE WE HAVE EDUCATORS WHO ARE GOING TO LEAD THIS COMMITTEE.

[02:40:04]

LISA TUTTLE, WHO IS A PROFESSOR AT HCC.

AND WE HAVE THE TWO OF THEM LEADING THAT EFFORT AS EDUCATORS.

IN THE LONG TERM FOR EDUCATING EDUCATORS.

THERE ARE THREE AREAS THAT A LOT OF WORK WILL BE DONE ON, BOTH BECAUSE IT'S IN THE LAW AND IT ALIGNS WITH THE WORK THAT WE DO AT CPS.

THAT IS THAT CAREER LADDER PIECE.

SO THE SALARY AND HOW THAT LOOKS TO MAKE SURE THAT TEACHERS ARE BEING PAID COMMISERATE WITH THEIR EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE AS WELL AS OUR TALENT PATHWAYS.

HOW ARE WE GROWING OUR PROFESSION FROM THE INSIDE AS WELL AS THE OUTSIDE AND THE REQUIRED DIVERSITY OF RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, WHICH ALSO HAS A REQUIRED REPORT THAT WE HAVE TO SUBMIT TO THE AIB EACH YEAR.

ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT PILLAR IS OUR COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PILLAR, NORTHSTAR.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK GOING ON IN THIS AREA.

I COULD PROBABLY DO AN HOUR PRESENTATION JUST ON THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE IN THIS AREA.

AND WHEN I DO DO THAT, I WILL BRING THE NORTHSTAR TEAM WITH ME BECAUSE THEY'RE THE EXPERTS IN THIS AREA.

BUT WE MET THE MILESTONES THAT WE NEEDED.

ONE OF THE BIGGER MILESTONES THAT WE HAD TO MEET WAS CREATING AN ON TRACK MEASURE FOR STUDENTS PROGRESS TOWARDS NINTH GRADE, THE NINTH GRADE TRACKING.

WE'VE KIND OF TAKEN THAT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO JUST TRACK THAT NINTH GRADE AND CREATED AN EARLY WARNING INDICATOR THAT WE ARE EXPANDING OUT TO DIFFERENT GRADES AND EXPANDING OUT TO SIXTH GRADE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

ET CETERA. SO THAT WE KNOW IF WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO MIGHT NEED DIVERSIFIED SUPPORT OR NEED EXTRA TUTORING OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY NEED SO THAT THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

JUST REALLY QUICK QUESTION.

WHAT IS MOU? MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.

OKAY. SORRY. THAT'S OKAY.

THAT'S OKAY. SO, LIKE A CONTRACT? I'M CHECKING THE LAWYER AND MAKE SURE IT'S OKAY FOR ME TO SAY IT LIKE THAT.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK GOING ON IN THIS AREA.

WHEN YOU GET TO THE BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

THE LARGEST SECTION OF THAT PLAN IS COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS.

AND IT HAS THE I DON'T WANT TO GUESS HOW MANY PAGES, BUT IS SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER THAN THE OTHER PILLARS.

AND SO THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT IS HAPPENING AND A LOT OF ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT WE ALREADY DO TO MAKE SURE IT WORKS WITH WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN THE FUTURE.

ULTIMATELY, THOUGH, THERE'S A REASON WHY THAT ONE SUCH A BIG PILLAR IS BECAUSE IT'S THE ONE WHERE AT THE END OF IT ALL, WE GET TO SEE THE MEASUREMENT OF HAVING MORE STUDENTS MEETING COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS STANDARDS, MORE STUDENTS BEING PREPARED FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER, MORE STUDENTS MEETING OUR NORTH STAR OUTCOMES.

SO THIS IS WHERE WE GET TO SEE THE OUTCOMES THAT ALL THE PILLARS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING TOWARDS, BUT THAT THIS ONE IS THAT THAT KIND OF FINAL STRETCH OF WHAT THE BLUEPRINT WANTS TO ACHIEVE.

THE LAST PILLAR STUDENT SUPPORTS.

THIS HAS MANY DIFFERENT FACETS ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, SPECIAL NEEDS, BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.

CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT WHAT ARE THE EXTRA SUPPORTS THAT DIFFERENT STUDENTS NEED SO THAT THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL.

AND SO WE'VE MET OUR MILESTONES THAT WE NEEDED TO MEET FOR STUDENT SUPPORT.

BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SEE ON OUR WEBSITE HTTPS DOT ORG.

WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REPORT THAT IS AVAILABLE AND THIS REALLY HAS A MUCH MORE EXTENSIVE VIEW ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.

AND THIS REPORT WAS REQUIRED AND THIS IS PART OF THE BLUEPRINT THAT WAS REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION BOARD, AND WE WERE GIVEN REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAD TO INCLUDE IN THAT REPORT.

AND THAT REALLY IS THE BEST PLACE TO SEE ALL OF THE WORK BEING DONE IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA RIGHT NOW.

OVER THE LONG TERM FOR THIS PILLAR.

IT'S ABOUT STRENGTHENING THE WORK THAT WE ALREADY DO.

SO STRENGTHENING OUR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, STRENGTHENING THE SUPPORT FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, SPECIAL ED STUDENTS, STUDENTS EXPERIENCING POVERTY, AND REALLY JUST STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING FOR THOSE STUDENTS.

OKAY. SO THAT IS THE SHORTEST SNAPSHOT POSSIBLE OF OF EACH BLUEPRINT PILLAR.

I WANTED TO KIND OF AS WE WERE CLOSE, I WAS CLOSING THE PRESENTATION, JUST REFRAME IT AGAIN TO SHOW WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHERE WE'RE GOING.

SO AGAIN, WE STARTED THIS PRESENTATION WHERE WE STARTED WITH THE LAW.

THE LAW WAS ENACTED IN 2021.

WE BEGAN OUR WORK IN 2022 AND IN 2023 WERE SUBMITTING OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

BUT THEN THERE ARE MILESTONES AND WORK THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

AND SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT THAT EVOLVES BOTH IN OUR STRATEGIES AS WELL AS IN WHAT HAPPENS AT THE STATE LEVEL.

AND PART OF MY ROLE IS TO HELP KEEP ABREAST OF THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS AS REQUIRED.

[02:45:04]

I WON'T MENTION IT AGAIN.

IT'S UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENTS TAB.

YOU GO TO BLUEPRINT AND IT HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION.

THERE'S VIDEOS, ONE PAGE SUMMARIES, LINKS TO OTHER PLACES SO THAT ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GET A FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THIS CAN SPEND SOME TIME LOOKING AT IT.

AND THEN SHORTLY, THIS IS WHERE OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WILL BE POSTED.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU.

SO DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY COMMENTS? I'LL START WITH YOU, ALVAREZ.

WELL, FIRST, THANK YOU, KATIE, FOR PRESENTING THIS.

AND I'LL SAY THAT WE DID A DATA WALK THROUGH THIS BACK, I THINK IT WAS ON THE 12TH A LITTLE BIT AGO.

AND I AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE BLUEPRINT IS TO IMPROVE OUR EDUCATION AND THAT CHILDREN WILL COME AWAY FROM SCHOOL READY FOR COLLEGE OR CAREER.

AND THERE WAS A LOT OF DATA THAT WAS PRESENTED IN THAT DATA WALK, BUT IT WAS VERY FOCUSED ON CENSUS DATA, POVERTY, POVERTY ITEMS, ELEVATING THE THESE SALARIES FOR TEACHERS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WHAT I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN WAS THE LACK OF DATA ON THE ACTUAL ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.

THAT DATA WAS VERY AGGREGATED.

AND AS AS A DATA SCIENTIST AND ENGINEER WHO DEVELOPED DESIGN OF EXPERIMENTS IN MY CAREER, I'M I DON'T SEE THE OUTCOME OF A MODEL THAT'S GOING TO IMPROVE EDUCATION BASED ON THE FACTORS THAT THAT WERE THERE, THE DATA THAT WAS AVAILABLE, AND SOME OF THE FACTORS SEEM TO BE MISSING.

SO THEY ARE CREATING A DATA ADVISORY BOARD.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT IT'S CALLED AN ACCOUNTABILITY ADVISORY BOARD RIGHT NOW TO REALLY FLESH OUT A LOT OF THAT DATA NEEDS SO THAT THEY CAN DEMONSTRATE OUTCOMES. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'LL SEE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, AND I WOULD LOVE YOUR FEEDBACK ON IT WHEN WE SHARE IT WITH YOU, IS THERE IS A LOT OF DATA TABLES AND IT IS THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS SECTION IS THE MOST ROBUST SECTION OF THE ENTIRE PLAN.

AND SO IT HAS DATA ON READING, ON MATH, ON COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS, NINTH GRADE ON TRACK AS AS WELL AS MANY OTHER THINGS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MORE.

AND SO I'D BE VERY INTERESTED IN HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU AS WE GO THROUGH THAT AND THEN YOUR ANY FEEDBACK THAT WE GET THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY DIRECTLY RELATED TO OUR PLAN. WE ALSO CAN ADVOCATE AND GIVE THAT FEEDBACK TO THE STATE, SO TO MZGEE OR TO AIB.

AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I DO.

I PARTICIPATE IN THOSE THOSE STATEWIDE MEETINGS AND CERTAINLY SEE MY ADVOCACY FOR, YOU KNOW, BETTER DATA DEFINITIONS OR BETTER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT MAKING SURE EACH DISTRICT IS MEASURING THE SAME THING WITH, YOU KNOW, IN THE SAME WAY ON THE SAME DATE, SO THAT WE CAN COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES.

SO I'D LOVE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT MORE.

MY ANTICIPATION IS THAT DATA IS AVAILABLE AND HOW CAN WE MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO US AS WELL.

AND I AM WORKING ON MY COMMENTS TO THAT DATA WALK BECAUSE WE WERE ASKED TO PROVIDE INPUT AND I'LL SHARE THEM WITH YOU AS WELL.

GREAT. THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. I'M SORRY.

BASICALLY ABOUT THE CURRICULUM, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD READING CURRICULUM THAT WE'RE USING.

I'VE SEEN LOTS OF STUDIES, I'VE HEARD LOTS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE KIDS ARE NOT LEARNING READING, AND I'VE SEEN THE STATISTICS.

SO HOW DO WE HOW DOES THE BLUEPRINT, HOW DO WE AS HCP, HOW DO WE FIX THAT USING EITHER THE CURRICULUM THAT WE HAVE OR USING SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN CURRICULUM TO IMPROVE OUR READING? BECAUSE I MEAN, THE FOUNDATION IS SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR KIDS.

WE CAN'T BUILD ON A FOUNDATION THAT'S NOT EXISTED.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MSDH DID IN OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TEMPLATE IS THEY SECTIONED OUT READING AND MATH AS THEIR OWN SECTION.

SO IT'S WHEN YOU GO TO COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS, IT'S NOT JUST COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS STANDARDS.

THEY SEPARATED OUT LARGE SECTIONS FOR READING AND FOR MATH.

AND SO THOSE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW OUR CURRICULUM CAN BE IMPROVED, HOW DO WE ASSESS OUR CURRICULUM WILL BE PART OF OUR ANSWERS.

AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT OUR ANSWER IS TO HOW DO WE ASSESS OUR CURRICULUM, HOW DO WE IMPROVE OUR CURRICULUM IN THAT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN DRAFT? AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS, YOU KNOW, I THINK A STATEWIDE FOCUS AND SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO.

[02:50:05]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ARTICULATING YOUR PLAN.

THE PLAN TO GET US TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

I KNOW IT WAS A LOT OF WORK.

AND JUST TO EVEN KIND OF.

MAP IT ALL OUT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING ON HOW TO GET THERE OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

RIGHT. SO.

APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD, BUT I JUST.

THANK YOU. WE'VE GOT A MONUMENTAL TASK IN FRONT OF US, BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN PLACE TO TO GET IT TO GET IT GOING.

AND I THINK WE'LL SUCCEED.

THANKS. THANKS.

I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON THE PRESENTATION.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY, VERY CHALLENGING WITH WHAT WE'RE FACED FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT IN THE COUNTY BASED ON WHAT THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE IMPOSED ON US FROM THE KIRWAN COMMISSION AND BASED ON OUR CAPACITY WE HAVE AS A COUNTY AND THE MONIES WE.

REAL AND REALITY HAVE AND ARE HAVE TO USE.

I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH THE CHALLENGES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD WHERE ALL THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS HAVE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SPACE FOR THEIR EDUCATION.

AND OUR SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY AND IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO BUILD THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE THE PUBLIC ENTITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE.

SO I SEE THAT AS A BIG CHALLENGE REGARDING ELEVATING EDUCATORS.

THANK YOU FOR THAT MILESTONE IN REIMAGINING THE COMMITTEE.

I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE WHERE THAT COMMITTEE GOES AND I'M PART OF THAT COMMITTEE AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

I'VE SEEN A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT NORTH STAR AND ITS THE NEGATIVITY ON NORTH STAR THAT WE NEED TO NOT WORRY ABOUT, THAT WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT OUR CHILDREN'S DAY TO DAY AND WE DO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OUR CHILDREN'S DAY TO DAY.

BUT WE'RE LOOKING FOR COLLEGE QUOTE.

BUT CAREER READINESS FOR THESE STUDENTS AND.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO GET US TO THE RIGHT OUTCOME.

BUT I THINK THERE'S SOME CONFUSION WITH THE PUBLIC ON WHY WE'RE FOCUSING ON NORTH STAR.

AND I JUST, AS YOU REPRESENT, REPRESENT TO BRING FOCUS TO THE CURRENT COMMISSION AND THE DIRECTV AND THE STUDENT SUPPORT I THINK IS CRITICAL.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE MILESTONES.

I THINK EVERY PRESENTATION YOU DO, YOU SHOULD START AT THE BEGINNING AND REITERATE WHAT THE BLUEPRINT IS AND WHERE IT CAME FROM AND HOW IT STARTED, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.

EVEN WITH SALARIES IN 2026.

WE'RE ON THE WAY.

AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST PART OF OUR BUDGET.

BUT WE ONLY HAVE SO MANY DOLLARS TO SPEND.

AND SO IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE CHALLENGING.

BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS IN ENGLISH FOR US.

SO, SO UNDERSTANDABLE.

I APPRECIATE IT. WELL, I ECHO SOME OF YOUR CHALLENGES AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL JUST TRYING TO WORK THROUGH AND DO OUR BEST FAITH EFFORT TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR KIDS.

THANK YOU. AGAIN, GREAT PRESENTATION.

I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

JUST A QUICK COMMENT. SOMEBODY MENTIONED TO ME AT A BLUEPRINT MEETING ONE TIME THAT THE COMMUNITY OFTEN IS LIKE, WE HATE BLUEPRINT OR WE DON'T LIKE IT OR WHATEVER, AND IT'S ALREADY IN ACTION.

SO JUST SO WE KNOW THE BLUEPRINT IS A THING, WE DON'T, THERE IS NO TAKING IT BACK.

THE ONLY THING WE CAN CONTROL NOW IS WHO RUNS IT AND HOW WE CHOOSE TO EXECUTE IT.

I THINK WE HAVE THE BEST PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE IN HERTFORD COUNTY.

ON BLUEPRINT, I YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH WE CAN COMPLAIN ABOUT AND PEOPLE SAYING, OH, I DON'T LIKE THIS.

I DON'T LIKE THAT WE WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE AND IT'S FANTASTIC.

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED.

I LIKE THIS.

IT'S GOING TO LOOK I'M EXCITED.

THANK YOU, KATIE. SO THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING PERSPECTIVE ON THE BLUEPRINT.

I MEAN, THE BLUEPRINT WAS A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING TO TO CREATE THE GOALS AND THEN HOW TO PUT THAT INTO LEGISLATION AND THEN TO HOW TO TRANSLATE THAT BACK INTO WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS. RIGHT. SO I THINK IN GENERAL, FOLKS DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH WORK AND HOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED IN BUILDING THE BLUEPRINT, HOW LONG THAT TOOK.

SO. WE'VE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT AND HOW YOU'RE WORKING WITH THE DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES IN MARYLAND TO TRY TO FIGURE IT

[02:55:01]

SO ALL COUNTIES DON'T LOOK THE SAME, BUT WE'RE ALL FACING THE SAME CHALLENGES AS FAR AS THE GOALS.

RIGHT, THE MILESTONES THAT WE NEED TO MEET.

AND OF COURSE, IT'S GOING TO LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY IN THE DIFFERENT COUNTIES.

BUT COULD YOU TALK JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR KIND OF LIKE THE PARTNERSHIPS MAYBE YOU'RE MAKING WITH THE OTHER FOLKS AROUND THE STATE WHO ARE TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING JUST SO THAT YOU COULD LEARN FROM EACH OTHER? YES. SO PASM, WHICH IS THE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION, CREATED A BLUEPRINT COORDINATORS GROUP AND THE BLUEPRINT COORDINATORS. IT DEPENDS ON WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE WE'VE MET ONCE A WEEK AND THEN OTHER TIMES WHERE WE'VE MET ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS BECAUSE OF HOW FAST PACE SOME OF THE BLUEPRINT THINGS ARE.

SO THAT THAT ON THAT GROUP YOU HAVE BLUEPRINT COORDINATORS FROM ALL THE LOCAL EDUCATION EDUCATION AGENCIES, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM THE MSRDC AND THE AIB ON THAT CALL.

AND WE SET THE AGENDA.

WE SET DIFFERENT WORKGROUPS AT DIFFERENT FOCUS GROUPS, SURVEYS, ALL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, AND WE COLLABORATE DIRECTLY WITH THE AIB AND WITH MSDE ON THE QUESTIONS, THE CHALLENGES, THE CONFUSION, THE ADVOCACY, ALL OF THOSE THINGS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A CONSTANT AND CONSISTENT PART OF THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY THINGS, THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS UNANSWERED STILL, AND WE JUST WORK THROUGH EACH QUESTION AS IT COMES.

PEOPLE WILL SAY SOMETHING LIKE KATIE, SHE'S THE PERSON THAT ASKS FOR BLUEPRINT.

I'M LIKE, I DEFINITELY DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS BECAUSE THE STATE DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS EITHER.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT OF IT AND ALSO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF OF WHERE OTHER COUNTIES ARE IN THOSE SAME CHALLENGES AND WHERE WE'RE AHEAD AND WHERE WE'RE DOING GREAT AND WHERE WE'RE WE'RE NOT.

THROUGH THAT COLLABORATION WITH THE AIB AND THE SAME GROUP FOR THE BLUEPRINT COORDINATORS.

SO HOW WOULD YOU CLASSIFY WHERE WE'RE AT COMPARED TO OTHER WHERE WOULD YOU PUT US? THAT'S A REALLY CHALLENGING THING FOR ME TO DO.

BUT I YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS AND THIS IS HOW I'M GOING TO ANSWER IT, IT'S GOING TO BE SLIGHTLY, YOU KNOW, MY MY COLLEAGUES COULD BE WATCHING THIS.

BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT WE ALL HAVE A HISTORICAL THING OR HISTORICAL CULTURE OF WHAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS INVESTED IN PRIOR TO THE BLUEPRINT.

SO YOU HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ALREADY HAVE PRE-K, RIGHT? THEY GOT ENOUGH PRE-K FOR ALL OF IT BECAUSE THAT DISTRICT INVESTED IN IT.

RIGHT? YOU HAVE DISTRICTS LIKE OURS THAT HAVE TREMENDOUS STUDENT SUPPORTS IN PLACE AND THAT HAVE HAVE CAN CAN SHARE, HAVE NATIONAL MODELS FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR STUDENT SUPPORTS.

AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH WHAT YOU INVESTED IN BEFORE.

AND SO WE'RE NOT ALL COMING AT THIS FROM THE SAME STARTING POINT, RIGHT? SO WHERE WE ARE STARTING WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD IS A DIFFERENT STARTING POINT THAN A DIFFERENT COUNTY.

AND SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO COMPARE, I THINK IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL PLAN WRITING, WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME SCHEDULE.

EVERYBODY'S GOING TO HAVE THEIR DRAFT PLAN DONE BY THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT IN FEBRUARY TURNED IT INTO MARCH.

BUT THE CONTENT OF WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH, A LOT OF IT IS BASED ON LEADERSHIP, HISTORY, CULTURE AND BUDGET BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD TO ACCOMPLISH.

YEAH. AND IT'S REALLY AMAZING WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH HERE AT HGPS BECAUSE IT WAS JUST A FEW YEARS AGO WHERE WE WERE THE LOWEST FUNDED SCHOOL DISTRICT PER PERSON.

SO TO BE ABLE TO MAYBE START FROM THE ONE THAT YOU MENTIONED AS FAR AS STUDENT SUPPORTS HAVING THAT IN PLACE, THAT'S WE HAVE TO BE PRETTY PROUD OF THAT TO BE ABLE TO DO SO MUCH WITH SO LITTLE FOR SO LONG.

SO I THINK THAT ALSO PUTS IN CONTEXT OUR OUR CURRENT BUDGET CONSTRAINTS THAT WE'RE WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO NEED TO WORK THROUGH.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE THE PRESENTATION.

VERY HELPFUL. OKAY.

MY TURN. YEAH.

OKAY, SO ONE THING YOU KNOW, I KNOW MRS. ALPER HAS MENTIONED THE DATA WALK THE OTHER DAY, AND PATRICE MENTIONED NORTHSTAR, SO IT KIND OF REMINDED ME OF SOMETHING I SAW ON THE DATA WALK.

AND THIS WAS FOR THE CORE NORTH.

SO THAT WAS BALTIMORE CITY, BALTIMORE COUNTY, HARFORD COUNTY, FREDERICK CARROLL.

AND IT WAS CAREER AND TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION, CTE, COMPLETION RATES BY BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

[03:00:06]

AND A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE NORTHSTAR INITIATIVES WE HAD IN PLACE.

SO IN 2021, HARFORD COUNTY WAS THE HIGHEST IN THE NORTH REGION.

WE HAD 41% OF OUR STUDENTS THAT EARNED A DEGREE, COMPLETED A CTE, A CAREER AND TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, AND THAT'S COMPARED TO THE STATE AT 24%.

SO SOMETIMES I THINK THAT WE DON'T GIVE OURSELVES ENOUGH CREDIT AS TO WHERE WE'RE AT AND WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED.

AND KATIE, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO BECAUSE YOU'RE TEASING ALL THESE THINGS OUT.

YOU'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE THINGS THAT WE DO AND THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE THINGS WE DO AS WE SET THESE MILESTONES, MOVING THROUGH THE BLUEPRINT.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE NOT JUST BY YOU, BUT BY EVERYBODY IN THE DISTRICT AND IN THE COMMUNITY THAT'S INVOLVED IN THIS.

SO JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.

A LITTLE SHOUT OUT ON SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DOING.

RIGHT. SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. I HAVE TO REITERATE, WE HAVE 150 PEOPLE ON THESE COMMITTEES, SO THIS IS NOT MY WORK ALONE BY ANY MEASURE.

I AM LIKE A TRAIN CONDUCTOR.

I'M NOT ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, MOVING THAT TRAIN.

NO, NO.

AGAIN, THANK YOU. I MEAN, THE WORK.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN REALLY QUITE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS TO KIND OF PULL ALL THIS TOGETHER AND CHECK SO MANY BOXES, BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF BOXES THAT NEED CHECKING AND ALL THIS. AND THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN WE'VE COMPLAINED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WORK WITH SOME OF THE OTHER ENTITIES INVOLVED, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S SOMETIMES A LITTLE TOO NATURAL. AND IN OUR WORLD WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION, WE WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS EVEN TO RESPOND A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT PATRICE SAID ABOUT NORTHSTAR, NORTHSTAR IS A LOCAL INITIATIVE, BUT IT WAS PUT IN PLACE AFTER READING THE INITIAL DRAFTS OF KIRWIN, KNOWING WHAT WAS COMING.

AND IN FACT, WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH NORTHSTAR RIGHT NOW, HOW WE'RE MEASURING SUCCESS IN NORTHSTAR IS DIFFERENT FROM HOW THE BLUEPRINT WILL ULTIMATELY DO IT.

BUT THE BLUEPRINT DOESN'T YET HAVE THOSE MEASURES IDENTIFIED.

AND SO WE'VE CHOSEN SOMETHING TO GET THE MOMENTUM GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, KNOWING THAT THAT WILL HAVE TO SORT OF BE MATCHED UP WITH WITH THE BLUEPRINT ONCE THEY ACTUALLY GET TO THAT.

BUT IT COULD BE A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE THOSE MEASURES ARE ESTABLISHED BECAUSE MSDH IS DOING A STUDY AND ALL THIS.

SO WE TRY TO PUT SOME THINGS IN PLACE TO TO ALLOW US TO GET A LITTLE AHEAD OF SOME OF THE WORK.

BUT IT IS A LOT AND IT DOES IT REQUIRES ADDRESSING.

IT'S LIKE DOING A BRAND NEW MONSTROUS INITIATIVE EVERY WEEK BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY TO DO ITEMS. AND SOME OF THESE ARE THINGS THAT IN ISOLATION WE COULD HAVE SPENT A YEAR OR TWO YEARS WORKING ON, BUT WE'RE NOT AFFORDED THE TIME TO DO THAT. AND SO JUST KEEPING UP WITH IT IS IS INCREDIBLE.

AND THE FACT THAT THE.

YOU KNOW, YOU HEARD KATIE SAY THE SUPERINTENDENTS STARTED A GROUP AND IT WASN'T REALLY US, THE SUPERINTENDENTS DOING IT.

IT WAS OUR LEADER OF THE SUPERINTENDENTS WHO CONVENES THE BLUEPRINT COORDINATORS REGULARLY AND GIVES THEM A SPACE TO DO TO FIGURE SOME OF THIS STUFF OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE IDENTIFYING THE QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ASKED.

AND TO SOME DEGREE, I MEAN, MS..

ALVAREZ IS A QUESTION ABOUT DATA.

DATA IS IN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

DATA IS ALWAYS THE VERY HARDEST THING BECAUSE.

WE TAKE DATA FOR GRANTED.

BUT ONE OF THE EXAMPLES THAT I GAVE THIS RECENTLY ACTUALLY TO THE HEAD OF THE AIB, BOTH THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ADB, I SAID BUT WE NEED HELP FROM THEM.

ON IS BEING CLEAR ABOUT THE DATA YOU'RE ASKING FOR.

IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT ARE THE DATA RULES? AND SOME OF YOU WILL REMEMBER SOMETHING WE RAN INTO LAST YEAR THAT SEEMED REALLY SIMPLE.

THE LEGISLATION SAID TEACHERS WHO HAVE NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION WILL GET THE STIPEND, BUT IT TOOK SIX MONTHS FOR MSC AND THE AIB TO AGREE ON A DEFINITION OF TEACHER, AS IN WHO IS ACTUALLY GOING TO GET THIS.

THAT WAS A DATA RULE THAT JUST WAS MESSY AND WE WERE KIND OF AT THE MERCY OF THE DATA RULES.

THERE'S ANOTHER THING HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AROUND CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION AND COUNSELING FOR THOSE STUDENTS.

THE QUESTION IS, SHOULD WE, THE COUNSELORS, WE HAVEN'T DEFINED WHAT A COUNSELOR IS IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE.

DOES IT NEED TO BE STATE CERTIFIED SCHOOL COUNSELOR, OR WAS THAT JUST A WORD THAT WAS USED TO TALK ABOUT SOMEONE WHO MIGHT SERVE IN THE ROLE OF

[03:05:07]

THERE'S HUNDREDS OF PAGES OF DATA REPORTS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PRODUCE, AND MANY OF THOSE THINGS HAVEN'T BEEN DEFINED.

THIS IS THE CHALLENGE IN WORKING WITH A 400 PAGE PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS THERE'S A LOT IN THERE.

BUT THE MORE CLARITY YOU THINK IS THERE, THE QUESTIONS.

AND SO AGAIN, FOR KATIE AND EVERYONE ELSE WORKING ON THIS TO CONSTANTLY BE TRYING TO TRACK DOWN THOSE DETAILS SO THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT'S EXPECTED OF US HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.

BUT THAT SAID, THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN BLUEPRINT COMMITTEES OR EVEN SUBCOMMITTEES, BECAUSE NOW WE'VE HAD TO BREAK AND GO A LITTLE DEEPER IN SOME CASES.

THANK YOU FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THAT.

AS SHE INDICATED, A LOT IS PRESCRIPTIVE, BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT WHERE WE HAVE ROOM TO PUT OUR OWN STAMP ON HOW THIS IS DONE.

AND I SEE SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS SHAPING UP FOR US.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU BOARD FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS.

WE'LL TRY TO KEEP YOU FOCUSED, BUT THERE ISN'T A SHORT FOCUSED ON THIS, BUT THERE'S REALLY NOT A SHORT PRESENTATION ON BLUEPRINT EVER.

AND IT'S HARD BECAUSE IT'S JUST SO MUCH SO.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

THANK YOU, MR. RIDGEWAY. WELL, THAT LEADS US PERFECTLY INTO THE SUPER.

PERFECTLY. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

THANK YOU, KATIE. A COUPLE QUICK THINGS TONIGHT.

[H. Superintendent's Report]

AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OTHER TYPES OF HOMEWORK HELP AND OTHER TUTORING.

BUT THIS IS A NEW ONE THAT THE BOARD APPROVED JUST RECENTLY.

AND SO.

YOU CAN. STUDENTS CAN ACCESS THE HOMEWORK, HELP OR SCHEDULE ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE CLEVER PLATFORM, WHICH IS SOMETHING ON THEIR DEVICES TO HELP THEM REQUEST THAT.

I THINK I'VE MENTIONED THIS ALMOST EVERY MEETING, BUT DEVICE PROTECTION PLANS CAN BE PURCHASED THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST.

SO OF COURSE THAT DEADLINE IS COMING QUICKLY.

THIS IS KIND OF A COOL THING.

THE NCTC VISIONARY AWARDS CELEBRATES VOLUNTEER EFFORTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO BUILDING STEM EDUCATED WORKFORCE IN ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION. PUTTING THOSE TWO TOGETHER PROVIDES REWARDING CAREERS FOR OUR CHILDREN AND EXPANDS OUR REGIONAL ECONOMIES.

SO. SO IT'S THAT AN.

MTK OH SHOOT.

I HAD THIS ACRONYM IN MY HEAD EARLIER.

IT'S NOT RIGHT HERE. IT'S LIKE THE NORTHEASTERN MARYLAND, MARYLAND TECHNOLOGY.

I'M THE TREASURER, SO SAY IT AGAIN.

NORTHEASTER MARYLAND TECHNICAL TECHNICAL COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. IT'S A COLLABORATIVE THAT DOES WORK IN THIS AREA.

BUT ALSO ONE OF THE THINGS THEY DO THIS YEAR IS THEY THEY RECOGNIZE SOMEONE FOR THEIR VISIONARY AWARD.

AND THAT PERSON WAS HERE EARLIER.

I WANTED TO CALL HIM UP. I THINK HE LEFT.

ROB LINFORD IS OUR SUPERVISOR OF MAGNET AND CTE PROGRAMS AND HE IS THIS YEAR'S HONOREE.

RECEIVING THAT AWARD.

AND THAT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL.

IT'S A REGIONAL AWARD.

IT'S NOT JUST HARPER COUNTY, AND HE'S DONE SOME AMAZING WORK.

AND SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A RECOGNITION CEREMONY ON FEBRUARY 23RD AT WATER'S EDGE.

AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO MENTION, OUR APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN FOR SWAN CREEK IS OPEN, BUT ALSO JROTC.

IF YOU GO ON A WEBSITE, YOU'LL SEE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR JROTC THAT IS OPEN TO ALL EIGHTH GRADERS IN THE DISTRICT THAT PROGRAMS AT JAPANTOWN HIGH SCHOOL.

WE HAVE A MAGNET PROGRAM THERE WITH OUR P-TECH, SO IT'S OPEN TO STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

WE'RE GOING TO RUN IT LIKE A MAGNET.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY CAN APPLY TO GO OUT OF AREA AND ATTEND THE SCHOOL IF THEY WANT.

HAVE ACCESS TO OUR FIRST JROTC PROGRAM, WHICH WILL BEGINNING IN THE FALL.

THE APPLICATIONS ARE DUE ON FEBRUARY 10TH AND WE ARE ANTICIPATING, HOPING FOR A REALLY ROBUST APPLICANT POOL BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HARVARD COUNTY HAS BEEN WAITING FOR FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO OFFER JROTC HERE.

SO WITH THAT SAID, THANK YOU ALL.

I WILL SEE YOU AT THE NEXT ONE.

ALL RIGHT. SO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING IS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH, 2023, AT 6:30 P.M..

THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.