[Budget Public Input Session on January 18, 2024.]
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          GOOD. EVENING WOW. UNDERSTANDING THIS TIME. I PLEASE ASK EVERYONE TO MUTE YOUR DEVICE TO AVOID INTERRUPTIONS UNTIL CALLED UPON. I CALL TO ORDER THIS BUDGET INPUT SESSION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARFORD COUNTY ON JANUARY 18TH 2024 AT 602 PM THIS PUBLIC INPUT SESSION WILL BE CONDUCTED IN A HYBRID FASHION. MS RALLO, PLEASE TAKE ROLL CALL. MR ALVAREZ. ALVAREZ IS ABSENT THIS EVENING. MISS BRUCE HERE. MS COKER, YOU DR MILLER. PERRY HERE. MR BARODA. YEAH. MR SEWELL. HERE. MISS STRAUSS. VICE PRESIDENT HAN PRESIDENT. PRESIDENT POINT IN HERE. 
          SUPERINTENDENT WILSON THE ROLL CALL. THANK YOU, MISS HAN. PLEASE READ US. I'M SORRY. 
          PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEASE RISE AND JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 
          UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THANK YOU. THE NATION. YEAH. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. BEFORE WE BEGIN. I'D LIKE TO REMIND ALL SPEAKERS THAT TONIGHT'S PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE FOR INPUT AND FEEDBACK ON THE PROPOSED FY 2025 BUDGET COMMENTS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON OTHER TOPICS WON'T BE PERMITTED TONIGHT. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR COMPLIANCE WITH THIS EXPECTATION. PUBLIC COMMENTS. WE'RE GONNA START WITH THE FOLLOWING RULES. UH IN PERSON. 
          SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED BY THE BOARD SECRETARY. ALL SPEAKERS WILL RECEIVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, OR FIVE MINUTES THAT THEY ARE REPRESENTING A GROUP. SPEAKERS MAY BE INTERRUPTED. 
          THEY MAY BE GIVEN NOTICE WHEN THEY HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT WHEN SPEAKERS HAVE REACHED THEIR THREE OR FIVE MINUTE MARK. THEIR TIME WILL EXPIRE. HELLO. PLEASE BEGIN IN PERSON REGISTERED SPEAKERS. RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE 15 IMPRISON SPEAKERS. UM, BUT AS PEOPLE COME IN, IF THEY WANT TO SPEAK, THEY HAVE TO FILL OUT A FORM. UM THIS EVENING. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH CHRISTIE CRAWFORD SMITH. PLEASE STATE THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE FIVE MINUTES. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS. AS YOU KNOW, I'M CHRISTIE CRAWFORD SMITH AND I'M, THE PRESIDENT OF THE HARFORD COUNTY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE FY 25 BUDGET THIS EVENING. I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT I BELIEVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET REQUEST IS VERY CONSERVATIVE. IF WE TRULY WANTED TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THIS DISTRICT, WE WOULD THE ADDITIONAL ASK WOULD BE CLOSER TO 100 MILLION. IF WE WERE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY AND HAD JOHNNY OMANI, THAT REQUEST WILL BE FULFILLED WITHOUT QUESTION, AND MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT WE DEAL WITH EACH DAY WOULD QUICKLY BECOME A THING OF THE PAST. BUT WE ARE NOT BCPS. WE ARE IN CASTLE COUNTRY, SO WE ARE FIGHTING FOR A BARE MINIMUM BUDGET THAT WILL KEEP US AFLOAT. AND I UNDERSTAND WHY DR BOSTON IS BEING CONSERVATIVE, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE GUT PUNCH THAT THIS DISTRICT RECEIVED LAST YEAR. THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN EDUCATING THE CHILDREN. IN THIS COMMUNITY. EVERYTHING IS CENTERED AROUND HAVING A TOP TIER PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IN HARTFORD COUNTY HAS PERFECTED THE ART OF PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION ON A BARE BONES BUDGET. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS DISTRICT REMAINS AMONG THE LEAST FUNDED IN THE STATE, THE DEDICATED EDUCATORS OF HCPS GIVE THEIR ALL TO ENSURE THAT THIS COMMUNITY DOES NOT RECEIVE A BARE BONES EDUCATION. WE DO NOT HAVE WHAT WE NEED. IN FACT, WE NEVER HAVE. THERE HAVE NEVER BEEN ENOUGH TEACHERS TO REDUCE CLASS SIZES TO AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL. THERE HAVE NEVER BEEN ENOUGH MENTORS AND COACHES TO SUPPORT NEW EDUCATORS. CENTRAL OFFICE HAS BEEN SKELETAL AT BEST FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. THERE ARE NEVER THERE'S NEVER BEEN ENOUGH RESOURCES TO MAKE THE WORKLOAD A SPECIAL EDUCATORS MANAGEABLE. TURNOVER CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE BECAUSE WE SIMPLY CANNOT COMPETE WITH OTHER DISTRICTS WHO PAY BETTER AND DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS OF FACILITIES AND CUSTODIAL CRUISE OUR BUILDINGS ARE NOT IN THE CONDITION THAT THEY SHOULD BE. ALL OF THIS IS BECAUSE OF SYSTEMIC LACK OF FUNDING. WHILE THESE ISSUES DID NOT HAPPEN IN ONE YEAR, IT IS YOUR DUTY TO ADVOCATE AND DEMAND BETTER FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. SOME OF YOU SAT IDLY BY LAST YEAR WHILE OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE DID THE UNTHINKABLE AND CUT SCHOOL SYSTEM FUNDING IN A TIME WHEN OUR STUDENTS NEEDED RESOURCES, THE MOST. WE WILL NOT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS YEAR, YOU WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE UNTIL THE BUDGET CYCLE IS OVER, ACTUALLY KNOW UNTIL ADEQUATE FUNDING IS ACHIEVED, WHICH COULD TAKE MANY YEARS. YOU NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR THE FOLLOWING A REDUCTION IN CLASS SIZES, WHICH MEANS THAT WE NEED MORE EDUCATORS IN OUR CLASSROOMS. INCREASED PLANNING TIME, WHICH ALSO MEANS WE NEED MORE EDUCATORS REDUCE THE EXCESSIVE WORKLOAD, ESPECIALLY EDUCATORS. OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE MANAGED TO DO THIS, BUT IT TAKES MONEY. 
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THAT'S WHY WE'RE LOSING SPECIAL EDUCATORS TO OTHER DISTRICTS. MORE PARAPROFESSIONALS SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY IN KINDERGARTEN. WE NEED TO HAVE ONE PARA EDUCATOR IN EVERY SINGLE KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM. INCREASE THE NUMBER OF L L TEACHERS. CASELOADS IN THIS DISTRICT ARE FAR TOO HIGH. PROVIDE A SALARY PACKAGE THAT WILL RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST. COMMIT TO PROVIDING A LIVING WAGE FOR EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS. 
          NO ONE CAN LIVE ON A $25,000 SALARY WITH A FULL TIME JOB. EXPAND THE SUPPORT PROVIDED TO NEW AND STRUGGLING EDUCATORS BY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF COACHES AND MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. 
          DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A ROBUST PEER AND ASSISTANCE REVIEW PROGRAM. INCREASED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF COMMIT TO OFFERING SOME PROGRAMS THAT WILL MEET THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF OUR LEARNERS. AND THAT JUST SCRATCH SCRATCHES THE SURFACE, BUT I HOPE YOU GET THE POINT WHEN BOB CASSILLY UNDER FUNDS THIS DISTRICT AND WE KNOW THAT HE WILL YOU NEED TO LEAN IN AND TRULY UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF THIS DISTRICT WHEN DRASTIC DECISIONS NEED TO BE MADE. BUT THAT ALSO MEANS YOU NEED TO LEAN ON THE EXPERTS WHO THIS DISTRICT HIRED BECAUSE OF THEIR BRILLIANCE AND COMMITMENT TO HCPS. WE KNOW YOU DON'T TRUST US. IT'S CLEAR BY YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR ACTIONS, BUT NO ONE KNOWS AND TRULY UNDERSTANDS THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BETTER THAN THE EDUCATORS WHO GIVE THEIR HEART AND SOUL TO THE CHILDREN OF HARFORD COUNTY EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO PUSH BACK ON COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND TELL HIM WHERE HE WHAT HE CAN DO WITH HIS 5% BUDGET INCREASE. WE ALL KNOW THAT THE COUNTY HAS THE MONEY TO PROVIDE MUCH MORE. THANK YOU. 
          OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID. I'M SORRY. SORRY EVERYONE THAT FOR PUBLIC I KNOW WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS, BUT OUR PROCEDURES ARE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. THERE'S NO GRANDSTANDING, CLAPPING THINGS LIKE THAT. SO PLEASE CONTINUE. OUR NEXT SPEAKER THIS EVENING IS DAVID BAUER. GOOD EVENING. I'M DAVID BARON IN THIS EVENING. I'M IMPROVISING. AH. I SHOULD BE RELATIVELY QUICK. SO FOR THE BUDGET. I HAVE A LOT OF TRUST IN THE ADMINISTRATION TO CARRY OUT THE BASIC EDUCATION FUNCTIONS. I VIEW YOUR HIGH LEVEL STRATEGIC FUNCTION AS KIND OF TILTING THE BIAS. AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL TILT THE BIAS TOURED. RAISING THE WAGES OF THE LOWEST PAID SCHOOL SYSTEM EMPLOYEES. I SEE THIS AS A RELATIVELY EASY TASK ON YOUR PART. BECAUSE WHILE THERE'S COMPLICATIONS WITH SALARY SCHEDULES AND SUCH YOU HAVE STAFF. TO WORK ON THAT. YOU HAVE BARGAINING UNITS THAT WILL GIVE THEIR SUGGESTIONS AND OPINIONS. SO I SEE YOU'RE ALS PRIMARY TASK HERE. AS LOBBYING THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR ADEQUATE FUNDING. I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON THAT BOTH IN TERMS OF TALKING WITH YOUR STAFF. TO GET YOUR BACKGROUND INFORMATION, RIGHT? TO UNDERSTAND THE BIASES. THE ERRORS. AND THE MISLEADING BITS. 
          OF OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVES TALKING POINTS. I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE SEEN SOME HISTORIC BUDGET. 
          NUMBERS SO WHEN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TALKS ABOUT SCHOOL FUNDING IS TAKING UP 38% OF THE BUDGET. YOU CAN SAY WELL, IT USED TO BE MORE THAN 50. IT'S GONE DOWN OR WHEN HE PUTS UP THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, YOU CAN SAY LOOK, THE INCREASE IN FUNDING IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. HAS BEEN A WHOLE LOT BIGGER THAN THE INCREASE IN FUNDING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. OVER THE PAST DECADE OR HALF DECADE. SO. AT THE YOU ARE AT THE VERY TOP YOUR THESE STRATEGIC LEVEL. YOU'RE ALSO AT THE POLITICAL LEVEL. THAT SHOULD BE WHERE YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR TIME AND EFFORT. GO OUT. TALK WITH THE COUNTY COUNCIL. TRY TALKING TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. 
          GOOD LUCK, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE APPOINTED BY HIM. AND BRING IN THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CINDY POPPER. GOOD EVENING. BEING AN EDUCATION SUPPORT. PROFESSIONALS SHOULD NOT MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN POVERTY. THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR WORKING WITH OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE THE MOST FINANCIAL STRESS AND STRAIN ON THEM. MANY ARE ONE PAYCHECK FROM HOMELESSNESS, LACKING RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, UNABLE TO AFFORD MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICES, AND ARE CONSTANTLY WORRIED OR AFRAID 
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OF THE NEXT SHOE THAT WILL DROP IN THEIR LIVES. I KNOW HOW STRESSFUL LIVING LIKE THIS CAN BE. I STILL WORRY HOW I WILL AFFORD CAR REPAIRS, HOUSE REPAIRS OR ANY OTHER SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE THAT MIGHT CROP UP AT 67 YEARS OLD. NOT EXACTLY HOW I PICTURED MY LIFE, AT TIMES, THE STRESS AND ANXIETY CAUSED BY MY FINANCIAL SITUATION WAS HARD TO HIDE FROM THE STUDENTS. I WORKED WITH. THERE WERE DAYS THAT I WAS WHOLLY UNABLE TO PUT THAT PART OF MY LIFE IN A BOX. YES, P POSITIONS IN HD PS HAVE BEEN A REVOLVING DOOR. OVER 85% OF OUR CLASSROOM SPS HAVE FIVE YEARS OR LESS EXPERIENCE. WE ARE LOSING OUR BEST BRIGHTEST AND MOST EXPERIENCED DSPS, LEAVING A VACUUM OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE FOR OUR NEWEST STAFF TO RELY ON WITH CONTINUING STAFF SHORTAGES. ESCALATING STUDENT BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES INCREASING RESPONSIBILITIES. AND CONTINUING LACK OF RESPECT. DSPS ARE BEING ASKED TO DO MORE WITHOUT THE RESOURCES THEY NEED OR THE COMPENSATION THEY DESERVE. IS THIS REALLY WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS? BASIC SUBSISTENCE LIVING WAGE IN HARTFORD COUNTY IS $37,500. BUT WHAT IS A LIVING WAGE? A LIVING WAGE ENABLES AN ESPN TO SURVIVE ON ONE FULL TIME JOB WITHOUT SUPPORT FROM RELATIVES OR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. A LIVING WAGE IS SUFFICIENT TO PAY FOR JUST THE BASICS. THE BASICS. AND IS ADJUSTED BY FAMILY SIZE, BIGGER FAMILIES BIGGER COST. WE WERE FIRST CALLED ESSENTIAL DURING THE PANDEMIC. BUT WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ESSENTIAL. WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE ENGINE THAT DRIVES A SCHOOL. IT IS E S. P S WHO CREATE THE SPECIAL PLACES AND SPACES FOR EDUCATION HAPPEN. WE NEED TO DO BETTER FOR OUR STAFF AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND ENSURE THAT THE SPS IN HARFORD COUNTY ARE PAID IN A MANNER THAT IS COMMENSURATE WITH THEIR COMMITMENT AND THEIR IMPACT ON OUR STUDENTS AND OUR SCHOOLS. PLEASE ENSURE THAT THE BUDGET FOR 2025 INCLUDES THE MONEY IS REQUIRED TO START MOVING OUR SALARY SCALES. TO THE LIVING WAGE THAT THESE PROFESSIONAL THESE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS DESERVE. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CRYSTAL OFTEN ACTS. GOOD EVENING. I'M AN HCPS GRADUATE AND HCPS EDUCATOR AND A LIFELONG HARTFORD RESIDENT. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO EXPRESS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT YOU THOROUGHLY ASSESS THE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND PUT TOGETHER A BUDGET THAT'S REFLECTIVE OF OUR NEEDS AND NOT THE NUMBER. EXECUTIVE KATHLEEN HAS DECIDED AS SUFFICIENT BEFORE SEEING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S BUDGET REQUEST. IN ORDER TO THOROUGHLY ASSESS THE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND PUT TOGETHER THIS BUDGET THAT'S REFLECTIVE OF OUR NEEDS. IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT YOU LISTEN TO THE INPUT OF EDUCATORS AND ALSO OUR EDUCATORS IN CENTRAL OFFICE. WE ARE THE EXPERTS IN EDUCATION, AND OUR VOICE IS OFTEN NOT HEARD BY SOME BOARD MEMBERS AND SEEMS LESS VALUED THAN OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. THERE WILL BE PROFESSIONALS BRINGING YOU INPUT AT THESE SESSIONS AND CENTRAL OFFICE PROFESSIONALS WHO THIS IS A MAJOR PART OF THEIR EXPERTISE. SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH, AND YOU MAY NOT SHARE VALUES WITH. WELL IT MAY BE TEMPTING TO SAY A POLITE THANK YOU AND TO IGNORE THEM REPLACE LESS VALUE BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE OR YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STAFF MEMBER. I ASKED THAT YOU SEPARATE THE RELATIONSHIP AND CONSIDER THE INFORMATION. AND RECOMMENDATIONS PROVIDED TO YOU. WE WANT TO ENGAGE WITH YOU. WE WANT TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS. IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING. IF YOU DISAGREE, WE WANT YOU TO ASK QUESTIONS AND WE WANT YOU TO PUSH BACK. TWO ARE APPOINTED BOARD MEMBERS WHO TAKE OFFENSE WHEN IT SUGGESTED YOUR ALLEGIANCE TO OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU. THERE'S A GUARANTEED WAY TO REVERSE THAT NARRATIVE. THE WAY THAT YOU APPROACH THIS BUDGET WILL CONFIRM OR DENY YOUR ALLEGIANCE. IT IS YOUR STARTING POINT, THE NUMBER MR CASTELLI HAS DECIDED AS SUFFICIENT BEFORE SEEING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S BUDGET REQUEST, OR IS YOUR STARTING POINT THE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. IT IS YOUR JOB TO ADVOCATE FOR THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. IT'S BOB CASTLE S JOB TO SAY YES OR NO? TO YOUR BUDGET REQUEST. WE UNDERSTAND AS APPOINTED MEMBERS, WE ARE ASKING YOU TO HAVE COURAGE. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ON HIS GOOD SIDE. 
          UM, HE MAY NOT REAPPOINT YOU. BUT IS THAT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU? ASKING THAT YOU STICK TO THIS NUMBER THAT HE HAS ANNOUNCED. IS HIM ASKING YOU TO SIMPLIFY HIS JOB. POLITICS ASIDE, AND THERE WERE PLENTY TO GO AROUND LAST ELECTION CYCLE. DURING THE LAST BUDGET CYCLE, WE 
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LEARNED HE DOESN'T HAVE THE COURAGE TO TELL CITIZENS SPECIFICALLY WHAT HE BELIEVES IS UNREASONABLE OR UNNECESSARY ABOUT THE BUDGET THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING. WE CAN POINT TO MULTIPLE INITIATIVES THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO HIM WHERE HE RAISED. FUNDING WHERE THEY'RE TECHNICALLY WASN'T FUNDING EVEN ACCORDING TO HIM. SO WE AS HTTPS NEED YOU TO BE OUR ADVOCATES AND WE ASK THAT YOU ENGAGE WITH US TO PUT TOGETHER THIS BUDGET REQUEST. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MELISSA ROMANO. GOOD EVENING. DR BOLSON, PRESIDENT POYNTON, VICE PRESIDENT HAN AND BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT AND YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT OF EARLY INTERVENTION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION. MY NAME IS MELISSA ROMANO AND I AM THE COORDINATOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR BIRTH TO FIVE FOR HER TO COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I AM REPRESENTING 494 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN OUR INFANTS AND TODDLERS PROGRAM 328 3 AND FOUR YEAR OLDS IN OUR REGIONAL PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS AND 1101 CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES IN OUR OR YEAR OLD, CREAKY PROGRAMS FOR A TOTAL OF 1923 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. BIRTHDAY FIVE FOR 25 YEARS. I HAVE DEDICATED MY CAREER TO SUPPORTING SPECIAL EDUCATION, BIRTH TO 21 AND WORKING WITH ALL AGES. I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT WE CAN MAKE THE MOST DIFFERENCE IN CHANGING THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR CHILDREN WITH EARLY INTERVENTION FROM BIRTH TO EACH FIVE CHILD'S BRAIN DEVELOPS MORE THAN AT ANY OTHER TIME IN THEIR LIFE. IN FACT, 90% OF THEIR BRAIN DEVELOPS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN EARLY YEARS ARE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR A CHILD'S BRAIN TO DEVELOP THE CONNECTIONS THEY NEED TO BE HEALTHY, CAPABLE AND SUCCESSFUL ADULTS. THE CONNECTIONS NEEDED FOR MANY IMPORTANT SKILLS, SUCH AS SELF REGULATION, DIVISION, PROBLEM SOLVING COMMUNICATION OR OR DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR SIMILAR TO TRENDS NATIONALLY AND STATEWIDE, HARFORD COUNTY IS SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WITH REQUIRING INTENSIVE SUPPORT TO ADDRESS SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS. PRIOR TO 2020, WE MAY HAVE SEEN ONE OR TWO CHILDREN IN A CLASS REQUIRING INTENSIVE BEHAVIOR AND INTERVENTIONS. NOW THERE MAY BE 4 TO 6 CHILDREN WITH SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIORS WHICH CAN BE UNSAFE PHYSICAL AGGRESSION, ELOPING. 
          EACH CHILD NEEDS TO PLAN OF SUPPORT THAT OFTEN REQUIRES ADDITIONAL STAFF WHO ARE TRAINED TO IMPLEMENT BEHAVIOR SUPPORTS AND PROTOCOLS IN ADDITION TO ADDRESSING SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS. YOUNG CHILDREN ENTERING PRE K ALL ARE ALSO COMING WITH MORE DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS, SUCH AS SELF CARE AND COMMUNICATION. WITH LIMITED STAFFING AND SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS. STAFF MORALE IS IMPACTED, WHICH CONTRIBUTES THE PROVIDERS LEAVING THE PROFESSION. THE MARYLAND PROVED BLUEPRINT OUTLINES A RATIO OF 1 TO 10 FOR THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLD GET THESE RATIOS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT IN ADDRESSING THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL BEHAVIORAL NEEDS OF OUR CHILDREN AS WELL AS LEARN ALL READINESS, THE NATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PERFORMANCE STANDARD GUIDELINES FOR EARLY CARE AND CHILDHOOD RECOMMENDS A LOWER RATIO THAN MARYLAND. THEY RECOMMEND A 1 TO 7 RATIO FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND 18 FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS ARE ANECDOTAL DATA IN NORFOLK COUNTY SHOES, INSTRUCTION AND BEHAVIORS . REPORTS ARE MORE EFFECTIVE WITH A LOWER STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO. YEAH TRAIN STAFF CAN IMPLEMENT SELF CARE, COMMUNICATION BEHAVIOR AND ACADEMIC SPORTS MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH INCREASED STACK TO STUDENT RATIOS. FOR THE 2425 SCHOOL YEAR . WE FEEL STRONGLY AND FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS TO INCREASE STAFFING IN PREKINDERGARTEN K PROGRAMS, ALTHOUGH WE RECOGNIZE BUDGET CONSTRAINTS, EARLY INTERVENTION IS THE WAY TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR CHILDREN. PLEASE STRONGLY CONSIDER THE FUNDING AND SUPPORTS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL IN MEETING THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF OUR KIDS, AND WE WELCOME YOU TO VISIT TO COME TO A HOME VISIT, VISIT ONE OF OUR PRE K PROGRAMS. TO SEE ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO IN BIRTH TO FIVE. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOSEPHINE COST GROW. 
          GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOSIE COSGROVE, AND I'M A PARENT EDUCATOR IN THE STRIVE PROGRAM AT WILLIAM S. JAMES. THIS PROGRAM SERVES CHILDREN WITH COMMUNICATION DISORDERS OFTEN TIMES ASSOCIATED WITH AUTISM. TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE EFFECT THAT THE UNDERFUNDING OF THE SCHOOLS HAS CAUSED IN OUR CLASSROOM THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR. THE FOUNDATION OF OUR PROGRAM IS TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS HOW TO COMMUNICATE. ONE OF THE PRIMARY MEANS IN DOING THIS IS THROUGH THE USE OF AN INDEX CARD SUCH AS THIS WITH THE PICTURE ON ONE SIDE AND WORDS ON THE OTHER. WE HAVE THE STAFF CUSTOMIZE AND CREATE THESE CARDS TO MEET THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS. THIS FALL. I WAS PREPARING TO COPY SHEETS LIKE THIS. FOR MY STUDENTS. ONE HAS WORDS. THE OTHER PAGES HAVE COLORED PICTURES. THEY ARE CUT OUT AND PUT ONTO INDEX CARDS FOR THE STUDENTS AS A MEANS OF IMPROVING THEIR COMMUNICATION SKILLS. MYSELF AND MY PEERS WHEN FORM THAT DUE TO LIMITED FUNDS IN THE BUDGET, ANY COLOR COPIES NEEDED IN THE CLASSROOM NEEDED 
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TO BE SENT TO OUR PRINCIPAL FOR APPROVAL. PLEASE NOTE THAT COLORED PICTURES ARE NECESSARY FOR INSTRUCTION FOR OUR STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY DO RELAY A MORE REALISTIC PICTURE OF THE SKILL THAT WE ARE TEACHING SO BLACK AND WHITE IS NOT AN OPTION. SO NOW RATHER THAN GOING TO THE COPIER AND COPYING THESE IN LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES, I MUST EITHER GIVE MY PRINCIPAL A HARD COPY OR DOWNLOAD AND EMAIL IT TO HER. WAIT FOR HER APPROVAL, WHICH MAY BE IMMEDIATE TWO HOURS LATER THE NEXT DAY, OR WHENEVER THEN I MAKE THE COPIES OR IF I'M LUCKY THE SECRETARY MAKES THEM FOR ME. 
          SO WHAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN FIVE MINUTES OR LESS ENDS UP GETTING DONE WHEN IT GETS DONE? I DO NOT GET A PLANNING TIME TO DO THIS, SO ALL OF THESE EXTRA STEPS TAKES AWAY FROM THE TIME THAT I WOULD SPEND WITH MY STUDENTS ALL BECAUSE THERE IS NO MONEY FOR COLORED INK. WHO SUFFERS OUR STUDENTS. BEFORE CHRISTMAS BREAK. OUR STAFF WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A PAPER SHORTAGE IN THAT IF WE WANTED TO PACK OF PAPER TO EMAIL A REQUEST TO OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY, AND SHE'LL ISSUE A PACT TO US, WHICH I DID AND RECEIVED IMMEDIATELY. SO NOW WHEN I GO TO MAKE MY SIX COPIES THAT I WAS APPROVED FOR I MUST TAKE SIX PIECES OF PAPER FROM MY ALLOTMENT. TO REPLACE THE PAPER THAT I'M USING. TO SOME OF YOU. THIS WHOLE SCENARIO MAY SEEM AMUSING AND TRIVIAL. 
          BUT REMEMBER, I DON'T HAVE A PLANNING TIME TO DO THIS. I MUST TAKE TIME FROM MY STUDENTS TO DO THIS. AND NOW WE ARE RUNNING LOW ON INDEX CARDS. DUE TO THE TIME CONSTRAINTS AND THIS FORUM. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY OF THE EXAMPLES OF THE IMPACT THAT THE UNDERFUNDING HAS CAUSED ON OUR STUDENTS, NOT ONLY IN MY CLASSROOM BUT IN THE CLASSROOMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. OUR STUDENTS IN OUR SPECIALIZED SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS ARE AGAIN BEING UNDERSERVED. HOW CAN YOU WE EXPECT OUR STUDENTS TO SUCCEED IF WE CAN'T EVEN PROVIDE THEM WITH THE BASICS ARE SCHOOLS DESPERATELY NEED MORE MONEY? OUR STUDENTS DESERVE BETTER. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JAMES MCVICAR. GOOD MORNING EDUCATION. 
          MY NAME IS JAMES MCVICAR. AND I'M, A SOPHOMORE AT HARVARD TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL IN THE CYBERSECURITY PROGRAM. UM LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. DO YOU WANT TO HEAR STUDENTS OPINIONS ON RELEVANT TOPICS THEIR EDUCATION? DO YOU WANT TO KNOW THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON POLICIES YOU'RE MAKING BEFORE I ANSWER THIS QUESTION. LET ME START BY THANKING YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR NEW BOARD LISTENING SESSIONS. THIS HAS BECOME AN AMAZING WAY FOR STUDENTS TO SPEAK THEIR OPINIONS, ASK QUESTIONS AND GET TO KNOW THE BOARD MEMBERS A LITTLE BIT BETTER. NOW BACK TO MY QUESTIONS. I KNOW YOU CAN'T RESPOND TO ME, BUT THAT'S OKAY. 
          I'LL ANSWER FOR YOU CLAIM THAT THE ANSWER IS YES TO THOSE QUESTIONS. I JUST ASKED YOU CLAIM THAT THE STUDENTS HAVE A VOICE IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS, BUT IT'S BECOMING CLEAR AND CLEAR TO ME THAT THAT MAY NOT BE TRUE. THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION IN THIS COUNTY CALLED THE HARPER COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCILS, OVERCOMING REGIONAL ASSOCIATION STUDENT COUNCILS. THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT I AM THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE STUDENT VOICES HEARD. WE HOLD ALMOST MONTHLY GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS WITH 200, PLUS STUDENT LEADERS FROM EVERY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION IN THE COUNTY. WE ELECT A STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. IN THIS CASE, MS MEDINA, YOUR COLLEAGUE, AND YET MOST OF YOU GUYS DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATION EXISTED BEFORE THE LAST LISTENING SESSION THAT YOU GUYS HOLD THOSE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS. I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO COST MONEY TO HOST SOME OF OUR MAJOR EXPENSES. WE HAVE OUR TRANSPORTATION, GETTING BUSSES TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY AND ATTENDING STATEWIDE STUDENT GOVERNMENT EVENTS YET WE HAVE NO MONEY $0. IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO HOST THESE MEETINGS WITHOUT PROPER FUNDING. NOW WE CAME TO THE BOARD WITH ONE SIMPLE REQUEST TO BE PROVIDED WITH ANY AMOUNT OF FUNDING TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD ON US TO FIND EXTERNAL RESOURCES TO FUND THESE MEETINGS. AND YOUR RESPONSE WAS IN AN EMAIL AND I QUOTE IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT H. CHRIST WILL NOT BE FUNDED BY THE HCPS OPERATIONAL BUDGET AND WE DO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION. PROVIDE EXTERNAL FUNDING AT THIS TIME. WHILE THE BOARD WILL NOT PROVIDE THE STUDENT VOICE WITH ANY FUNDING, THEY PLAN TO INCREASE SPORTS TRANSPORTATION FUNDING IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. THEY WILL SPEND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. TRANSFERRING STUDENT ATHLETES THEIR EVENTS, BUT CAN'T SPARE MAYBE $10,000 TO FUND STUDENT LEADERS IN THE COUNTY AND TRANSPORTING THEM TO THEIR EVENTS. HOW IS THIS EQUITABLE? ALSO REMEMBER THOSE BORED LISTENING SECTION SESSIONS I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO. MOST STUDENTS IN ATTENDANCE AT THE LAST SESSION WHERE H CRASHED APPOINTED STAFF THE SAME PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO MONEY. BACK TO MY ORIGINAL STATEMENT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TRULY VALUES TO STUDENTS VOICE THE PEOPLE THAT THEY DIRECTLY AFFECT THE PEOPLE THEY AFFECT FOR THE MOST CRUCIAL YEARS OF THEIR LIVES. SO I AND MY COMMENT WITH THIS FUND H GRAPHIC FROM THE STUDENT VOICE. 
          THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DEANNA BIRCH. GOOD EVENING. QUARTER BED. MY 
          [00:25:08]
NAME IS DIANA BIRCH, AND I'M A CULINARY ARTS AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT EDUCATOR AT HOWARD DEGREES HIGH SCHOOL. I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO TWO POINTS FOR THE BUDGET. ONE IS FOR PEOPLE. I AM THE ONLY FOODS TEACHER. AT OUR SCHOOL. I HAVE FOUR DOORS TO THE HALLWAY, A CLASSROOM WITH SIX RESIDENTIAL KITCHENS, A LARGE PROFESSIONAL KITCHEN CAFE SPACE TO LARGE STORAGE STORAGE ROOMS AND THREE OTHER SMALL ROOMS. I TEACH SIX CLASSES FOR PREPS AND INDEPENDENT STUDY. I HAVE 30 STUDENTS IN THREE INTRO CLASSES, WHICH IS 90 STUDENTS. 45 STUDENTS IN ADVANCE TO CLASSES 20 SENIORS THAT TAKE HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT ON EIGHT DAYS AND ON BEATINGS. THEY TAKE HOSPITALITY PRACTICUM. ALL OF THEM. BUT ONE OR TWO STUDENTS ARE NOW IN AN INDEPENDENT STUDY SO THAT I CAN TEACH AN EXTRA SECTION OF ADVANCED FOODS. UM, WHEN I THINK FAILS IN OUR BRAND NEW BUILDING, I MOP WHO DOES THE GROCERY SHOPPING? BRING IT IN. PUT IT AWAY. ME WHO PREPS PLANS CLEANS UP AFTER ALL THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT THE END OF THE DAY ME WHO INSPECTS OUR PROFESSIONAL FOODS LAB, THE BOARD OF HEALTH DOES. BUT WHO FIXES THOSE MONITORING REPORTS ME WHO MAKES SURE EQUIPMENT IS IN WORKING ORDER ME. AND SO A SOLUTION AND I'M HOPING THAT YOU MIGHT THINK ABOUT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, MAYBE EVEN FOR NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR FROM NOW IS THAT HARFORD TECH HAS THE ONE AND ONLY PERSON IN THE ROLE OF A COMMERCIAL FOOD TECHNICIAN, A ROLE THAT WOULD BE AN SP WHO NEEDS A LIVABLE WAGE. A PERSON IN THIS ROLE WOULD HELP ALLEVIATE THE OTHER THINGS THAT I DO BEYOND THE ROLE OF A CLASSROOM TEACHER. THIS PERSON CAN HELP PLAN MENUS RUN OUR CAFE PRODUCTION IN ORDER TO INCREASE OUR BUDGET AND FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS PROGRAM AND SO MUCH MORE. THE SECOND POINT TO ADDRESS IS SCHOOL LEVEL FUNDING FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES. I HEARD THAT OURS IS AT MY PROGRAM IS 15% OF THE BUDGET. IN ONE OF THE MEETINGS THAT I HAD, AND I STARTED IN ACCOUNTING IN SIX YEARS AGO. MY BUDGET WAS THE BEST BUDGET I EVER HAD COMING INTO THE COUNTY. LARGE REALLY NICE PRE COVID PRE INFLATION, PRE MINIMUM WAGE HIKE, BUT NOW, TODAY WE BUY GROCERIES. WE ALL BUY GROCERIES. EVERYBODY GOES TO THE GROCERY STORE. BUTTER IS $4 A POUND FLOWERS BETWEEN $2.40 FOR THE GENERIC 564 £5 BAG OF KING ARTHUR. THANKFULLY, I WRITE GRANTS. WE HAVE KING ARTHUR FLOUR THAT COMES INTO MY PROGRAM . WE ALSO HAVE A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP GRANT WITH THE EXPLORER ACT L PROGRAM FUNDED BY OUR LOCAL SAFEWAY. MY STUDENTS ARE HELPING PREPARE 1500 SERVINGS OF STUFFING EVERY YEAR FOR THANKSGIVING DAY, AND SO WE HAVE A NATIONAL CURRICULUM. WE USE PRO START AND SERVE SAFE. 
          EVERY STUDENT GETS SERVED A CERTIFIED WHEN THEY LEAVE MY PROGRAM. AND SO THERE'S SO MANY THINGS GOING ON AT HAVE DEGREES AND LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU AT HAVARD AGREES ON JANUARY 30TH SO YOU CAN SEE SOME OF WHAT MY CULINARY ARTS STUDENTS ARE DOING. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JACOB BENNETT. YEAH. HELLO JACOB BENNETT. TONIGHT JUST HARTFORD COUNTY KINDERGARTEN TEACHER, UM AND VERY GOOD IN KINDERGARTEN TEACHER. I FEEL VERY PROUD OF MY MID YEAR READING SCORES WITH DOUBLES. I WILL JUST SAY 17 OF MY 18 STUDENTS HAVE MET ENDED YOUR EXPECTATIONS ALREADY. AND THE ONE WHO HASN'T CAME TO ME A MONTH AGO. SO WE'RE GETTING THERE. BUT, UM I JUST WANT TO FIRST SPEAK TONIGHT IN SUPPORT OF THE NEED FOR KINDERGARTEN, PEREZ. UH UM, WELL, I DON'T PERSONALLY FEEL LIKE I NEED A PAIR A IN MY CLASSROOM. I RECOGNIZE THEM UNIQUE. IN THE EIGHT YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. I HAVE THE FACT THAT I HAVE A TEACHING DEGREE. UM AND THE FACT THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED TEACHING THE WORLD PRE 2020 THAT THAT DOESN'T REALLY EXIST FOR A LOT OF OUR TEACHERS NOW, AND, UH, WITHOUT THAT PRIOR EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING, I THINK IT WOULD BE A MUCH HARDER ROLE TO FILL WITHOUT THE SUPPORT STAFF. 
          NEEDED YOU KNOW, AS SPOKEN TO PRIOR IN PRE K. THERE'S A LAW THAT SAYS YOU NEED 1 TO 10 RATIO , BUT THEN THEY GO HOME FOR SUMMER VACATION. THEY COME BACK IN SEPTEMBER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU CAN HAVE 24 WITH ONE ADULT, AND THAT'S FINE. IT NEVER REALLY MADE SENSE TO ME. UM SO I SUPPORT US HAVING KINDERGARTEN PARIS FULLY. IF IT'S NOT ONE IN EVERY CLASSROOM, AT LEAST, YOU KNOW. TO GO TO DEVOTED PEREZ TO KINDERGARTEN TEAMS AT EVERY SCHOOL. UM IN ADDITION TO THAT, I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO THE NEED FOR US TO PUT AWAY FUNDING FOR A SECOND PILOT PROGRAM FOR LANGUAGE ARTS. RIGHT NOW WE'RE PILOTING BENCHMARK ADVANCE, WHICH I ACTUALLY HAVE GOOD THINGS TO SAY ABOUT. IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE PILOTING IT THIS YEAR, BUT THE OPTIONS 
          [00:30:02]
SHOULD NOT BE BENCHMARK. ADVANCE OR LUCY CAULKINS. THE OPTIONS SHOULD BE BENCHMARKED ADVANCE OR ANOTHER HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL IN A WORLD WE WERE GETTING MORE AND MORE CONDITIONAL TEACHERS, WHICH IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE SOLVED, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOLVED TOMORROW. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ARE IN THE HANDS OF EVERY EDUCATOR. CONDITIONAL TEACHERS ARE USING THOSE GUIDEBOOKS, WORD FOR WORD TO SURVIVE DAY TO DAY, SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE WORDS THEY'RE SAYING OUR GOOD WORDS. 
          UM LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE USING MATERIALS THAT SET THE TEACHER UM, STUDENT UP FOR SUCCESS. THERE IS NOTHING THAT RETAINS A TEACHER OR STUDENT BETTER. EXPERIENCING GROWTH AND SUCCESS. WHEN TEACHERS FEEL LIKE THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOB, AND IT'S WORKING, THEY STAY BECAUSE THEY LOVE IT WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE FLOUNDERING AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM THEY LEAVE AND THEY KEEP LEAVING. SO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE SET ASIDE MONEY TO PILOT A SECOND PROGRAM SO THAT NO SCHOOL IS USING LUCY CAULKINS AND ALSO LET'S REMOVE LUCY CAULKINS FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL AS IT'S BEEN WORKLOAD NIGHTMARE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHERS. UM SO THOSE ARE MY BIG ASK THIS YEAR IN THE BUDGET CYCLE. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BARRAGE THING. GOOD EVENING MONUMENTS HARASSING AND I SERVED AS A TREASURER OF THE HARVARD COUNTY REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FEEDING COUNCILS, TRASK. TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU NOT JUST AS A STUDENT LEADER BUT AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF COUNTLESS VOICES WITHIN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. FIRSTLY I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND TO OFFER PERSPECTIVE THAT OFTEN GOES UNHEARD AND BUDGETARY DECISIONS. THE RECENT COURT OF $39 MILLION LESS THAN ANTICIPATED FROM THE HARVARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUDGET HAS STIRRED DEEP CONCERN AMONG STUDENTS AND I WANT TO SHED LIGHT ON HOW THESE BUDGET COSTS ARE AFFECTING EACH CRAFT AND, BY EXTENSION, THE VERY FABRIC OF STUDENT REPRESENTATION. AND ADVOCACY IN OUR COUNTY. THESE BUDGETARY DECISIONS HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE INITIATIVES THAT WE CAN UNDERTAKE, LIMITING OUR ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY SERVE THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENT BODY. AND FROM A TREASURE POINT OF VIEW. I WITNESSED THE FIRST HAND STRAIN THAT THESE CUTS PLACE IN OUR PROGRAMS, CAUSING US TURN TO TURN TO UNCONVENTIONAL AND, FURTHERMORE, DIFFICULT MEANS OF FUNDRAISING THAT'S HINDERING OUR CAPACITY TO FOSTER LEADERSHIP, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES. OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT JUST MERE NUMBERS ON A SPREADSHEET THERE, THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND POSITIVE CHANGE AND THE LEADERS OF OUR TOMORROW. WE MUST PRIORITIZE THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES THAT EMPOWER STUDENTS TO BECOME ACTIVE, INFORMED AND ENGAGED CITIZENS. THE RESTORATION OF FUNDING IS NOT ONLY VITAL TO EACH GRASP, BUT TO THE COUNTY AND ITS FUTURE AS A WHOLE. IS AN INVESTMENT TO THE VERY ESSENCE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR THE STUDENTS WHO STRIVE TO MAKE HARFORD COUNTY A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SUSIE SCOTT. PLEASE STATE THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP AND YOU RECEIVED FIVE MINUTES. GOOD EVENING. I'M SUSIE SCOTT CHAPTER CHAIR OF MOMS FOR LIBERTY. HARFORD COUNTY. UM GOOD EVENING, DR POYNTON, VICE PRESIDENT HAN MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. DR BOLSON. I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET. AS YOU'RE NO DOUBT, AWARE OR GOVERNOR RELEASED HIS PROPOSED BUDGET YESTERDAY. I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT HE WILL NOT BE PROPOSING TAX INCREASES ON US. I WAS ALSO AMAZED THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS ACTUALLY LESS THAN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. 
          LISTENING TO SOME MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE VARIOUS UNIONS. IT'S DEMANDED THE TAXPAYERS OF HARFORD COUNTY FORK OVER MORE EACH YEAR. STATE FUNDING FORMULAS DEMAND OUR COUNTY PROVIDES A CERTAIN AMOUNT. OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS MET THAT PHYSICAL FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO FUND HCPS. BUT IT'S NEVER ENOUGH. I'D LIKE EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM TO TAKE NOTE. OUR GOVERNOR HAS SHOWN THAT OUR STATE BUDGET CAN ACTUALLY DECREASE YOUR OVER YEAR. HERE'S THE CATCH. WELL IT'S TRUE. THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET SPENDS LESS THIS YEAR THAN LAST AND DOESN'T RAISE TAXES. THE NUMBER OF FEE INCREASES THE STATE IS PROPOSING THROUGH LEGISLATION AND THE REGULATORY PROCESS IS VERY CONCERNING. AS YOU VERY WELL KNOW THE POSITION. YOU NOW FIND YOURSELVES IN, UM BECAUSE OF THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE LEGISLATION, YOU'RE MANDATED TO DO CERTAIN THINGS. MANY THINGS AND THEY ALL COME WITH AN ENORMOUS PRICE TAG. LET'S BE FRANK. THE SPENDING REQUIRED TO FUND BLUEPRINT IS UNWORKABLE. AS WE WAS DISCUSSED AT YOUR LAST BOARD MEETING. COVID MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOW GONE AND YOU'RE LEFT TRYING TO CONVINCE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IN THE COUNCIL THAT THEY NEED TO PONY UP MORE. THERE HAVE EVEN BEEN SUGGESTIONS FROM SOME ON THIS 
          [00:35:02]
BOARD THAT TAXES OR FEES ON TAXPAYERS NEED TO BE INCREASED. LET ME CAUTION YOU THAT IS A VERY ILL ADVISED LINE OF THOUGHT. INSTEAD OF CONCERNING YOURSELVES WITH HOW TO WRANGLE MORE MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET. YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU ALREADY DO RECEIVE AND HOW IT COULD BE PUT TO MORE JUDICIOUS USE. THE SAME PHENOMENON HAS HIT THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND INSTEAD OF INCREASING THE BUDGET THERE AND RAISING TAXES, THEY'RE CUTTING SPENDING. BUT OF COURSE YOU WON'T HEAR THEM OR ANY DEMOCRAT. CALL IT A SPENDING CUT, SO THEY CAME UP WITH A NEW TERM. THEY CALL RE BASING. I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU CALL IT. GOVERNOR MORRIS SAW THE NEED TO REIN IN SPENDING. AND NOW THE KOBE CASH THAT MONEY THAT HAS DRIED UP AND HAS BEEN REDUCED, THEY NOW REDUCED THEIR FUNDING FORMULAS TO PRE COVID LEVELS, AND THE SPORT NEEDS TO FOLLOW SUIT. I WAS TALKING TO SOME FRIENDS IN HOWARD COUNTY TODAY AND THEIR PROPOSED SCHOOL BUDGET CALLS FOR THE ELIMINATION OF 348 POSITIONS. I AM IN NO WAY. 
          ADVOCATING CUTS TO TEACHING POSITIONS. LET'S BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT. BUT YOU HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE BUDGET SHOWS THAT OVER 100 POSITIONS HAVE BEEN CREATED WITH COVID LARGESSE. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THESE POSITIONS ARE TEACHING POSITIONS. IF I WERE A MEMBER OF THIS BOARD, AND I'M NOT, I KNOW, BUT I WOULD TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK WHERE THAT GRANT MONEY WENT. I WOULD ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE SPENDING TO PROMOTE DOCTOR BOLSON STATED MISSION, WHICH IS TO FOCUS EVERYTHING THROUGH A LENS OF EQUITY. I WOULD LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS THAT HAVE SOARED UNDER HIS TERM. I WOULD LOOK AT THE MANY CONSULTANTS, STARTING WITH HANOVER RESEARCH. THAT DOCTOR BOLSON HAS CONTRACTING WITH. 
          THERE ARE MANY AREAS THAT YOU CAN BE LOOKING AT TO RE BALANCE OR EVEN ELIMINATE SPENDING THAT IS NOT BRINGING A RETURN ON INVESTMENT. OR ACADEMIC SCORES HAVE SUNK UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENT'S TENURE, AND THEY DON'T SHOW ANY PROMISE OF IMPROVEMENT. THERE'S A DESPERATE NEED BY THIS BOARD TO LOOK AT WHAT WILL ACTUALLY RETURN AND INVESTMENT AND BY THAT, I MEAN, IMPROVED ACADEMIC PROFICIENCY FOR ALL OUR STUDENTS. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO FUND THE LATEST PADS AND IDEOLOGIES AS THEY ARE DOING NOTHING TO IMPROVE OUR EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES. YOU HAVE MY DEEPEST RESPECT FOR THE JOB THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU. YOU HAVE A VERY HARD JOB. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU NEED TO FIND WAYS TO CUT SPENDING AND REFOCUS SPENDING PRIORITIES ON ITEMS THAT ACTUALLY IMPROVE ACADEMIC PROFICIENCY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JACKIE JOHNSON. HI. GOOD EVENING. WELL AFTER READING THE 23 PAGES OF THE BUDGET PROPOSAL, I HAVE CONCLUDED IT'S VERY CONFUSING BY DESIGN. IT IS SO THE AVERAGE PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS AND CITIZENS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND IT FOR THEIR HANDS IN THE AIR, GIVEN THEN WONDER WHY THEIR PROPERTY TAXES WILL BE INCREASED. STANDING BEFORE YOU TO GIVE OUR COMMENTS AND CONCERNS AND THREE MINUTES DOES NOT HELP EITHER OF US. IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF WE COULD HOLD A TOWN HALL WHERE YOU COULD ALL ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS AS MANY OF US HAVE THEM. YOU KEEP USING THE TERMS VITAL AND CRUCIAL WHEN YOU SPEAK ABOUT THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS , AND YET WE HAVE NOT SEEN AN IMPROVEMENT IN TEST GRADES OR BEHAVIORS IN THE CLASSROOMS, EVIDENCED BY THE RECENT HIRE OF MORE S R O S. MAYBE YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE FAILING, DISCONTINUE THEM AND USE THAT MONEY TO FUND THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE WORKING OR TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT. IF YOU GAVE YOUR TEENAGER A CAR, AND HE OR SHE WRECKS IT, AND THEY DEMAND AND EXPECT YOU TO BUY THEM ANOTHER ONE. WOULD YOU DO IT OR WOULD YOU HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR DECISIONS AND ACTIONS? I MYSELF QUESTION THE PRE K PROGRAM TO FOUR YEAR OLDS REALLY NEED TO GO TO SCHOOL FULL TIME AT THE TAXPAYER'S EXPENSE. WAS ALWAYS A CHOICE FOR THOSE WHO DESIRE TO SEND THEIR FOUR YEAR OLD TO A PRIVATE PAY PROGRAM, AND THEN IT'S GENERALLY 2 TO 3 HALF DAYS A WEEK. SOME FOUR YEARS OLD. SOME FOUR YEAR OLDS AREN'T EVEN TOILET TRAIN AND MOST CRY THE ENTIRE TIME. IS PRE KATE. ABSOLUTELY VITAL AND CRUCIAL PROGRAM. WHY? WHAT ARE THEY LEARNING? I ALSO HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS. WHAT IS THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IN EMERTON ELEMENTARY, THE FEDERAL MISCELLANEOUS INFANT AND TODDLER , INFANT AND TODDLER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND SAFE SCHOOL FUNDS , JUST TO NAME A FEW CATEGORIES ON PAGES, 15 AND 16. GETTING FEDERAL GRANT MONEY FOR PROGRAMS IS LIKE A DRUG DEALER GIVING YOU THE FIRST ONE FREE. YOU GET HOOKED AND YOU WANT TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING, BUT NOW YOU HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO PAY FOR IT. IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE FOR THE COST OF LIVING INCREASES, NO DOUBT GIVEN THE INCREASE IN GAS, FOOD AND OTHER NECESSITIES, BUT EXPECTING US TO FUND BROKEN PROGRAMS AND PROGRAMS WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IS LIKE GIVING YOUR IRRESPONSIBLE TEENAGER ANOTHER CAR. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TRACY POP AND HOCK. HMM. HEY, 
          [00:40:11]
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TRACY PAPIN CHALK AND I'M, A SCHOOL LIBRARIAN AT PATTERSON MILL HIGH SCHOOL. THIS WAS A VERY LAST MINUTE DECISION FOR ME TONIGHT, BUT, UM, I JUST FEEL IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO SHARE. LAST WEEK. I WAS BOTHERED BY SOMETHING THAT A BOARD MEMBER SAID, UM, DURING THE BOARD MEMBER COMMENT. AND HOW MUCH THEY WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO MEET CASTELLI'S BUDGET. BUT NO THAT IS WRONG. YOUR LOYALTY IS TO THE STUDENTS, EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY OF HARFORD COUNTY. THAT MEANS YOU TELL CASSILLY WHAT WE NEED, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. YOU REPRESENT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. PLEASE ADVOCATE FOR US. 
          WE NEED FUNDING. WE'VE BEEN CUTTING AND TRIMMING THE FAT FOR YEARS. THERE IS NO MORE LEFT. IN MY LIBRARY. WE HAVE LOST A MEDIA TECHNICIAN POSITION. BUT WE ADDED THE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMPUTER DISTRIBUTOR TROUBLESHOOTER AND FIXER. MY BUDGET TO BUY BOOKS AND MEDIA FOR MY STUDENTS WAS CUT 60% 60% SOME YEARS AGO AND WAS CUT AN ADDITIONAL 10% THIS YEAR. MY COLLECTION IS AGING. AND MY ABILITY TO PUT BOOKS THAT INSPIRE OUR KIDS TO READ IS DWINDLING WITH EVERY DOLLAR THAT GETS TAKEN. AND MY STORY. IT'S THE SAME STORY AND EVERY SINGLE LIBRARY IN OUR SCHOOLS. WE NEED OUR MEDIA TECHNICIANS RESTORED TO FULL TIME. WE NEED OUR MEDIA TECHNICIANS RESTORED TO FULL TIME SO THAT WE LIBRARIANS CAN BE THE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS OF A THRIVING LIBRARY PROGRAM THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR STUDENTS. AND WE NEED MONEY TO DO THAT. WE NEED MONEY TO RESTORE THE LOST MEDIA TECHNICIAN, POSITIONS AND MONEY TO RESTORE OUR BUDGETS. SO I'M ASKING. PLEASE ADVOCATE FOR US. 
          OUR KIDS NEED YOU AND WE NEED YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS WHITNEY SABINE. 
          GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE. UM WE'VE SEEN MOST OF I HAVE SEEN MOST OF YOU HERE AND UPDATE LIKE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE TODAY I KIND OF CAME TO YOU AND KIND OF MAKE THIS A POINT TO I'VE SPOKEN AT AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THE BUDGET HEARING WHEN DR BENSON WAS HERE. MOST OF YOU WERE SITTING RIGHT OVER THERE AND LISTENING TO THE SAME THINGS. WE NEED YOUR HELP. THE STUDENTS ARE SAYING THEY NEED YOUR HELP. STUDENT VOICES THAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING THEY NEED YOUR HELP IN THE PARENTS ARE SAYING THEY NEED YOUR HELP. WE NEED A FUNCTIONING BUDGET. WHEN THE LADY BEFORE SAID FROM THE FOODS THAT THEY HAVE 45 STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM. THAT IS RIDICULOUS. THERE IS NO LEARNING TAKING PLACE IN A CLASSROOM WITH 45 STUDENTS. I HAVE 39 STUDENTS. 
          SOME OF THEM HAVE 12 5 PIECE. THERE'S NO SPECIAL EDUCATOR IN THIS CLASSROOM. SO THERE WE NEED PEOPLE WE NEED DON'T NEED TO CUT TEACHER POSITIONS BECAUSE WHEN YOU NEED TO CUT TEACHER POSITIONS, AND YOU'RE NOT FUNDING THE BUDGET THAT WAS CUT DRASTICALLY. LAST YEAR, YOUR TEACHER STUDENTS LAST YEAR WILL INCREASE WHICH IN ESSENCE WOULD DISADVANTAGE OUR STUDENTS TO BECOME THE LEADERS THEY NEED TO BE. THERE ARE FUTURE. WE CAN PREPARES. I'M ASKING YOU LIKE WE DID BEFORE. YOU WEREN'T THE BAD BUDGET SESSION AND EVERY ONE OF YOU SAID IT'S SO GREAT THAT YOU'RE HERE WITH WANTED TO HEAR YOUR VOICES. COME ON OUT, ACTUALLY COME SEE US WORK WITH US. I UNDERSTAND THAT MONEY DOESN'T FALL FROM THE TREES HERE, BUT YOU ARE OUR VOICE TO OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO FUND OUR STUDENTS FUTURE WHICH IS YOUR FUTURE, WHICH IS THE GRANDCHILDREN'S FUTURE. I UNDERSTAND. WE NEED TO FIGHT. YOU ARE OUR FUTURE. OUR STUDENTS FUTURES AND EVERYONE HERE IS IN YOUR HANDS. AND WE NEED TO TAKE YOU ASKED. WE NEED TO TAKE OUR VOICES FORWARD TO OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND SAY WE NEED TO FIND THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS APPROPRIATELY SO WE CAN GO FORWARD AND RAISED THE TEST SCORES THAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT. BUT WE NEED MONEY TO DO THAT. AND PLEASE FALL BACK TO THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY WORKING AS EDUCATIONAL FIELD. THERE ARE YOUR EXPERTS WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU WITH WHITE WAIT FOR YOU AND WE ALL UP AVAILABLE. WE SENT YOU OUR EMAILS. PLEASE REACH OUT TO US 
          [00:45:06]
FUND US PR VOICE. SO WE HAVE MONEY TO PUT YOUR CHILDREN AND HARFORD COUNTY'S FUTURE UPFRONT. 
          THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER, I BELIEVE IS KELLAN E. AND THE LAST NAME STARTS WITH AN F, BUT I CAN'T DECIPHER IT. I DO APOLOGIZE. YES. HI I'M KELLY FONDER. I'VE SPOKEN TO YOU BEFORE. AND I REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT, UM HOW THE BUDGET OF BALTIMORE COUNTY IS REALLY GOING TO AFFECT US. BECAUSE LAST TIME THAT WE WERE, UM, THAT UM, BALTIMORE COUNTY GOT THESE LARGE INCREASES. WE LOST A MAJORITY OF OUR STAFF. TWO OTHER COUNTIES AND THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS. BUT. NOW THERE IS NOT THAT THE TEACHER, UM, SURPLUS THAT WHAT WE HAD IN PREVIOUS YEARS LAST YEAR. UM I HAD FOUR OPENINGS AND MY BUILDING FOR SPECIAL AD. AND I DID 40 INTERVIEWS FOR THOSE POSITIONS, OFFERED POSITIONS TO MOST PEOPLE AND COULDN'T FILL THOSE POSSESSIONS. WE ARE GOING TO BE STRUGGLING TO FIND TEACHERS TO FILL THE POSITIONS WE HAVE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO ATTRACT ANY CANDIDATES THAT ARE QUALIFIED. TO DO THE JOB IF WE'RE NOT WILLING TO PAY PEOPLE TO DO THE JOB. AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE NEED TO INCREASE, BUT WE NEED TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING THE WORKLOAD AND WHAT WE'RE DOING TO ATTRACT PEOPLE BECAUSE WE CANNOT KEEP DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE TEACHER SURPLUS THAT WE DID. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED. I HAD A FRIEND. WHO WENT TO BALTIMORE COUNTY. SHE WAS WHAT GO BY HARFORD COUNTY BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T MEAN OR EXPECTATIONS AND WENT TO BALTIMORE COUNTY TO MAKE $17,000 MORE THAN I MADE. WHERE I HAD NOT BEEN. LET GO BY HARFORD COUNTY, SHE LET WAS LET GO AND MADE $17,000. SHE WAS AN EDUCATOR THAT HARFORD COUNTY SAID WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. BUT YET SHE COULD MAKE MORE. WHY ARE WE? HOW ARE WE GOING TO KEEP QUALIFIED CANDIDATES? IF THIS IS HOW WE VIEW EDUCATION. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROBERT TALK. GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ROB TUCKER. I'M THE THEATER TEACHER AT EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. UH SINCE THE LAST BUDGET SESSION, I DECIDED TO ALLOW MY ANECDOTAL EXPERIENCES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO GUIDE MY COMMENTS TODAY, SO FORGIVE ME FOR BOUNCING AROUND, BUT THERE'S SO MUCH I NEED TO SAY THAT IT'S BASED ON MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE SCHOOLS. DURING THE FACULTY AND STAFF LISTENING SESSIONS. I ALREADY EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS ABOUT OUR AGING AND UNCOMPETITIVE AND UNCOMPETITIVE STATEMENT SCHEDULE, WHICH WE WERE UNABLE THE MONEY CONCERNS LAST YEAR. I JUST WISH TO BRIEFLY REINFORCE THAT AT A STATION HERE, THEY'RE REINFORCED . I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT EQUITY OF ACCESS FOR OUR PROGRAMS. AN EXTRACURRICULAR BUS PROGRAM, LIKE THE ONE WHICH LIFTED MY FATHER IN LAW OUT OF POVERTY ENABLED HIM TO JOIN ROTC AND CONTINUE A CAREER INTO ENGINEERING. WE HAVEN'T HAD A BUS LIKE THAT IN A DECADE IN THE IN THE EDGEWOOD AND JAPANESE COMMUNITIES AND IN THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ACCESS CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GETTING IN AND OUT OF COLLEGE CAPITAL INVESTMENT CONCERNS. MANY OF OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS HAVE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, MOLD AND LEAD WHICH NEEDS TO BE MITIGATED. BUT HERE'S THE THING. EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL IS 14 YEARS OLD. WHY IS THEIR LEAD ANYWHERE IN EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL? WHY ARE THE SINKS BREAKING AND HAVE IT? GRACE MIDDLE HIGH? WHY DO 100 YEAR OLD BUILDINGS WITH HOT WATER HEATING SYSTEMS KEEP BETTER, CONSISTENT TEMPERATURE THAN MY 14 YEAR OLD CLASSROOM. WHEN I HAD MY CABINETS REPLACED IN MY KITCHEN, YOU BETTER BELIEVE I WATCHED THOSE WORKERS LIKE A HAWK. WHY DON'T WE I ALSO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT ARE ALLOWING OUR FACILITIES ONCE BUILT TO FALL INTO OBSOLESCENCE BY NOT UPDATING. IN THE PAST 10 YEARS ALONE, AFFORDABLE RGB W LED STAGE LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY WOULD MAKE OUR AUDITORIUMS PROFOUNDLY LESS EXPENSIVE TO RUN. AND YET WHEN WE RENOVATED JOB HIGH SCHOOL, WE DIDN'T INSTALL THEM. 
          ALSO NEED TO TWO. I ALSO NEED TO TALK, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE BOUNCING AROUND. LIKE I SAID, I ALSO NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE SYSTEMIC INABILITY OF OUR COUNSELORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. OVER MY TENURE, I HAVE ACCUMULATED DOZENS OF ANECDOTES ABOUT CHILDREN WHO ARE BEING EXPLOITED BY EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE 
          [00:50:03]
ASKED THEM TO WORK PAST 10 OVER SCHEDULED THEM. ONLY TO STEAL THEIR WAGES TO COVER IT UP. WHY DON'T OUR SCHOOLS ESPECIALLY THE SCHOOLS THAT SERVE FAMILIES WHO NEED THEIR CHILDREN TO WORK TO GET BY NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PURSUE THESE SLIME BALLS. I ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT SEVERAL FIGURES IN OUR SCHOOL. ONE OF THEM IS MENTORS. MENTORS ARE NOW GRANT FUNDED. THEY'RE ABOUT TO ROLL OVER INTO OUR FUNDING. I HAVE NEVER SEEN HIM MORE EFFECTIVE PROGRAM OF ONE ON ONE COUNSELING FOR OUR STUDENTS THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IN OUR BUDGET NEXT YEAR. WE CAN'T LET THESE ROLLOVER WE IF WE LET THEM ROLL OVER, WE HAVE TO PAY THROUGH AND WE CAN'T LET THEM GO AWAY. UM AND THEN R E S P S DESPERATE NEED OF A LIVING WAGE. FUNDING PROJECTION ANNOUNCEMENT. 
          MR CASSIDY SAID THAT THE COST OF SCHOOLS HAS CONTINUED TO STRESS THE BUDGET. IT'S OFTEN STATED WITH INCREDULITY THAT SCHOOLS ACCOUNT FOR ALMOST HALF THE BUDGET. AND THE ANSWER THAT QUESTION IS SIMPLE. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE HALF THE BUDGET. BUT I GUESS ALL I NEED TO SAY IS THAT THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR. 5% IS NOT ENOUGH. STAND UP FOR YOUR STUDENTS AND STOP LETTING THEM BE IGNORED. ASK FOR WHAT YOU NEED BECAUSE YOUR CHILDREN ARE NOT GETTING IT AND THE TEACHERS IN YOUR CLASSROOM EXACTLY. DAY TODAY HOW MUCH YOU CARE? THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GEORGE KOZNICK. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS WHOOPS. OKAY MY NAME IS GEORGE GAS. NICK FIRST I WANT TO RECOGNIZE DR OLSON'S MARYLAND STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR . HE'S AN INCREDIBLE ASSET. THE HARVARD TOWN I WAS AN OFFICER IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY IN UNIFORM IN WEST GERMANY WHEN THE WALL CAME DOWN VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY. I WAS IN BAGHDAD IN 2004 WHEN IRAQIS HELD UP THEIR BLUE STAINED FINGERS, SYMBOLIZING THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. AS AN ELECTED BODY. YOU HAVE DUTIES IMPOSED UPON YOU IMPOSED ON YOU. BY DEMOCRACY. YOU'RE AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL BOARD IN THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM. YOU ARE IN COMPETITION WITH BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR EDUCATORS. AS A SCHOOL BOARD. THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN HARFORD COUNTY IS YOUR CHARGE. SOME OF YOU WERE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTORS TO BOB CASTELLI'S CAMPAIGN. THAT GIVES YOU ACCESS AND INFLUENCE USE THAT ACCESS AND INFLUENCE TO ENSURE FUNDING FOR HCPS SO THAT WE CAN SUCCESSFULLY COMPETE WITH BCPS FOR EDUCATORS. IN THE SEVENTH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES AND READING TEACHER EDGEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL. I'M ALSO CERTIFIED IN MATH. I HAVE A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ECONOMICS, A MASTER'S IN EDUCATION LEADERSHIP, THE NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHER . I AM A CITIZEN. I'M A VOTER. I AM A VETERAN. AS AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL BOARD, ACTING IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF EDUCATION IN HARVARD COUNTY. THE BUDGET IS THE BEDROCK OF THAT COMMITMENT. 
          IT IS YOUR PRIMARY MISSION. PLEASE ENSURE HIS COMPETITIVE AS IS REQUIRED FOR SUCCESS IN THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MELISSA WILLIAMS. PLEASE TAKE THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP AND YOU WILL RECEIVE FIVE MINUTES. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MELISSA WILLIAMS. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPERVISORS OF HARPER COUNTY. UM ALSO A PRINCIPAL, CURRENTLY LEARNING AND GROWING WITH THE COMMUNITY OF CAPITAN HIGH SCHOOL. WHEN I FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PROVIDE INPUT INTO WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION YOU WILL MAKE AS A BOARD MEMBER. THIS DECISION IS WHETHER YOU WILL APPROVE AN ADVOCATE FOR A BUDGET. THAT WILL TRULY PROVIDE THE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES NEED. OR YOU WILL TRY TO FIND A WAY. TO MEET THE UNREASONABLE NUMBER EXPRESSED BY OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE. MAKE NO MISTAKE THAT ANY PLAN THAT ATTEMPTS TO STAY WITHIN THAT 5% INCREASE WE'LL SEVERELY FALLS SHORT OF WHAT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES TRULY NEED. YOU'VE HEARD FROM COUNTLESS EXPERTS TONIGHT YOU'VE HEARD FROM COUNTLESS EXPERTS AT LISTENING SESSIONS. WHO HAVE SPENT THEIR TIME AND TALENT WITH THE STUDENTS OF HARFORD COUNTY. EXPERTS WHO DESERVE NOT ONLY A LIVING WAGE. BUT A FULLY RESOURCED ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS THEM TO PRACTICE THE CRAFT THAT THEY HAVE SPENT SO MANY YEARS PERFECTING FOR OUR STUDENTS. NOW I ASK YOU TO PUT YOUR EXPERTISE INTO PLACE. YOU HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HEARING FROM EXPERTS. EVERY DAY. YOU HAVE THE BENEFIT OF BEING ABLE TO WALK INTO SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND SEEING WHAT IS NEEDED. EACH OF YOU BRINGS SOMETHING VALUABLE TO THE TABLE. YOU ARE NOT CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN ALLOWANCE AND NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPEND IT. YOU HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THIS BOARD TO SERVE THE STUDENTS AND THE FAMILIES OF HARTFORD COUNTY. 
          [00:55:05]
YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN ENDLESS FEEDBACK. FROM THE PEOPLE WHO WILL WHO KNOW WHAT WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR STUDENTS. NOW IT'S TIME TO SHOW THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE ASSIGNMENT. DON'T BE DISTRACTED BY THE NUMBER THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS PUT OUT. BE FOCUSED ON THE NEEDS OF THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DOUG. 
          GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. YOU'VE SEEN ME SPEAK AT MULTIPLE BOARD MEETINGS. I DON'T LIKE TO MINCE WORDS. 195. UNCERTIFIED TEACHERS CURRENTLY TEACHING IN HARTFORD COUNTY. 195 . WE SAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE A RECRUITMENT PROBLEM. THAT SAYS WE DO. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO RETAIN TEACHERS WHEN BALTIMORE COUNTY HAS ALREADY SETTLED THEIR CONTRACT FOR NEXT YEAR. THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE BIGGEST CONCERN WHERE WE MIGHT LOSE OUR TEACHERS. THE CONCERN WOULD BE THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THEM. I WAS AT THE VERY FIRST LISTENING SESSION IN FALLSTON HIGH SCHOOL WITH SOME OF YOU SITTING THERE. QUESTION CAME FROM THE AUDIENCE. WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO? IN MULTIPLE PEOPLE OF THAT MEETING THAT NIGHT WERE APPOINTED BY MR CASTELLI AND I HEARD PEOPLE SAY I'M NOT BEHOLDEN TO BOB CASSILLY. I'M HERE TO DO A JOB. I WILL ADVOCATE FOR OUR STUDENTS. MANY OF YOU HAVE STUDENTS IN OUR FACILITIES EVERY DAY, SONS AND DAUGHTERS. WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS FOR YOU TO STAND UP WITH US WITH THE TEACHERS AND FIGHT FOR WHAT OUR STUDENTS NEED. 30 YEARS I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SERVING THE COMMUNITY. THAT NOW THEY HAVE 30 YEARS. I CAN'T THINK ABOUT DOING ANYTHING ELSE. WHEN I'M COMING TO THE END OF MY CAREER, I DON'T WANT TO BE DONE. I HAVE DEDICATED MY LIFE TO STUDENTS. WE NEED YOU TO DEDICATE YOUR TIME ON THE BOARD TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS. THAT MEANS THAT YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO TEACHERS. THAT MEANS YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO PARENTS AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SOME REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT CHOICES. MR HOLLAND'S OPUS. NOT SURPRISING IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES OF ALL TIME. IN THAT MOVIE WHEN DR HUNT WHEN MR HOLLANDE WAS READY TO RETIRE, HE WENT TO THE BOARD MEETING, HE TOLD HIS FORMER STUDENT WHO IS NOW THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD. THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. YOU KNOW, IN YOUR HEART THAT 5% ISN'T GONNA COME CLOSE TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS. YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO. SOME OF YOU SPEAK REALLY ELEGANTLY ALL THE TIME IN YOUR BOARD COMMENTS STAND NEXT TO US STAYING WITH US. LET'S GO ASK FOR WHAT OUR STUDENTS NEED. 
          THAT'S IT. THAT'S ALL. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ABIGAIL BENNETT. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ABIGAIL BENNETT AND I AM THE PROUD DANCE TEACHER AT REDWOOD HIGH SCHOOL TONIGHT. I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A COUPLE OF THINGS FIRST. YOU HEARD ME, RIGHT? I AM A DANCE TEACHER. WE DO EXIST IN THIS COUNTY. I'M HERE. THERE ARE TWO OF US IN THE WHOLE COUNTY. OTHER COUNTIES IN OUR STATE HAVE DANCE TEACHERS IN EVERY SECONDARY SCHOOL AS IT AS IT IS A PART OF THE STATE MANDATED CURRICULUM. I AM ASKING THAT YOU KEEP THE TWO OF US AND MAYBE EVEN EXPAND US. EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO HAVE A WELL ROUNDED EDUCATION THAT INCLUDES THE ARTS SECOND, I'M A FORMER PRE K E S P. AND HONESTLY, I MISS THAT JOB EVERY DAY. JUST TO BE CLEAR. THE CHILDREN DO NOT CRY THE WHOLE TIME, AND THEY ACTUALLY LEARNED A LOT. EARLY INTERVENTION IS PROVEN TO HELP MAKE OUR STUDENTS MORE SUCCESSFUL. YOU CAN'T FEEL AP CLASSES WITHOUT FIRST FUNDING CREEK. WHEN I WAS IN SP, I DIDN'T HAVE THE STRESS OF AS A CERTIFIED CERTIFICATED EDUCATOR, AND I TRULY FELT LIKE I MADE A DIFFERENCE IN CHILDREN'S LIVES. WHAT I DON'T MISS ABOUT THAT JOB BEING PAID $21,000 FOR FULL TIME JOB WITH HOLDING A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, OR E S. P S SHOULDN'T BE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK. ONE JOB SHOULD BE ENOUGH. AND R. E S P S DESERVE A LIVING WAGE. YOU HAVE TO BREATHE. SORRY THIRD 
          [01:00:02]
SAFETY AND SECURITY ARE SCHOOLS HAVE MANY CHALLENGES AND OUR STUDENTS ARE STRUGGLING FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. EDGEWOOD GARDEN, ADDITIONAL FLOATING SCHOOL SAFETY LIAISON. THIS MEANT THERE WAS ONE EXTRA PERSON TO CALL WHEN OUR STUDENTS WERE IN CRISIS AND ONE MORE PERSON TO ROAM THE HALLWAYS AND MAKE SURE STUDENTS WERE IN CLASS WHERE THEY COULD BE SUPERVISED AND SAFE. JUST THIS PAST WEEK ARE FLOATING AS SL GOT MOVED TO ANOTHER SCHOOL OR SCHOOL SHOULDN'T BE FIGHTING OVER THE EXTRA HANDS NEEDED IN OUR SCHOOLS. WE NEED MORE SCHOOL SAFETY LIAISONS. ADDITIONALLY I BELIEVE THAT EVERY SCHOOL STAFF MEMBER SHOULD HAVE A WALKIE TO CALL FOR HELP WHEN NEEDED. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN HELP IS NEEDED, AND EDUCATORS HAVE TO CALL THE MAIN OFFICE THROUGH THE PHONE, SO THE FRONT OFFICE CAN THEN CALL FOR HELP. WHEN EDUCATORS HAVE ASKED FOR MORE WALKIES. THEY'RE TOLD THEY'RE TOO EXPENSIVE. WE CAN'T AFFORD THEM. 
          FOR RSL TEACHERS ARE SPREAD SO THIN IN OUR SCHOOLS WITH THE COUNTY'S GROWING YELLOW POPULATION, WE NEED TO ADD TO RSL STAFF. LASTLY I THOUGHT ON PAPER SHORTAGES FIRST WORK TIME I WAS IN E S P IN CENTRAL OFFICE . DURING THAT TIME, I HAD ACCESS TO MANY PRINTERS THAT ALMOST ALWAYS WORKED AND HAD SEEMINGLY UNLIMITED PAPER. I WENT THROUGH A PERIOD OF FEELING GUILTY WHENEVER I MADE COPIES, ESPECIALLY IF THEY WERE IN COLOR. I THOUGHT ABOUT THE EDUCATORS IN OUR SCHOOLS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE SAME ACCESS. DON'T GET ME WRONG. CENTRAL OFFICE IS NOT AS CUSHY AS PEOPLE MAKE IT OUT TO BE, BUT I THINK IT DOES PAINT AN INTERESTING PICTURE. 
          THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SASHA IS OKEY. GOOD EVENING. I'M SASHA MAZZOCHI , A JUNIOR AT THE SCIENCE AND MATH ACADEMY AT ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL AND THE VICE PRESIDENT OF OUR COUNTIES STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION H CROSS. I SAID BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ADDRESS A CRITICAL NEED FOR INCREASED FUNDING IN OUR BELOVED H CROSS AS THE BACKBONE OF OUR STUDENT ENGAGEMENT. HRS FALLING UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE OFFICE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, RACIST FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, PARTICULARLY IN THE REALM OF TRANSPORTATION. CURRENT FUNDING RELIES FROM THE DUES OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS ASSIST ON METICULOUSLY OUTLINED IN THE CONSTITUTION. YET THE STARK REALITY IS THAT THESE DUDES TRADITIONALLY SUSTAINING OUR TITTIES HAVE BEEN PROVEN INSUFFICIENT IN THE LIGHT OF RISING COSTS, ESPECIALLY IN TRANSPORTATION, A VITAL COMPONENT OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS EXPENSES. THE ANALYSIS OF PAST YEARS, FINANCES HAS REVEALED A LOOMING BUDGET IMBALANCE, PAUSE AND IN PERSON ACTIVITIES DUE TO RECENT CIRCUMSTANCES HAS TEMPORARILY MASKED THE END OF THE INEVITABILITY ARE BUT CURRENT DUES STRUCTURE CANNOT KEEP UP WITH THE ESCALATING COST RAISING DUES MAY BE CONSIDERED, IT IS MERELY A SHORT TERM SOLUTION TO A PROFOUND CAUSE. AS A STUDENT LEADERS OF TOMORROW WE STAND AT THE FOREFRONT OF SHAPING SHAPING OUR DISTRICTS FUTURE. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AFFORD TO OTHER COUNTY GOVERNMENTS IN MARYLAND. 
          OUR COUNTERPARTS ARE COUNTERPARTS ACROSS THE STATE BENEFIT FROM THIS FROM THE SUPPORT OF THEIR OPERATING BUDGETS, ENSURING A SMOOTH OPERATION OF DISTRICT WIDE STUDENT AND STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATIONS, INCLUDING ESSENTIAL RESOURCES. FIRST TRANSPORTATION. REGARDLESS, THE CHANGES WE FACE, BE IT THE TEMPORARY PAUSE AND IN PERSON ACTIVITIES OR THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS. WE GRAPPLE WITH OUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AND UNITY REMAINS UNWAVERING. WE? THE LEADERS OF H CROSS DESERVE EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE AND CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDING IN THE FY 2425 OPERATING BUDGET IS NOT JUST A FINANCIAL ASSESS IT E IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE POTENTIAL AND LEADERSHIP OF EVERY STUDENT INVOLVED. IN THE LIGHT OF THESE CHALLENGES, I IMPLORE YOU TO CONSIDER THE INDISPENSABLE ROLE ACROSS PLAYS IN FOSTERING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND UNITY ACROSS THE DISTRICT. 
          TOGETHER LET US CHAMPION THE CALLS FOR INCREASED FUNDING, ENSURING THE CONTINUATION OF OUR IMPACTFUL ACTIVITIES AND INCREASED FUNDING. AND ENSURING AND SECURING THE FUTURE OF OUR DISTRICT WIDE STUDENT GOVERNMENT. THANK YOU. PRESIDENT POINT. THAT'S ALL THE REGISTERED SPEAKERS THIS EVENING. THANK YOU . UM FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR BEARING THE COLD TEMPERATURES AND THE SNOW TO COME OUT THIS EVENING. I THINK THAT THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR PASSION ON THESE TOPICS. UM. JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK REMINDERS BEFORE WE CONCLUDE 23RD, WHICH I THINK IS NEXT WEEK, RIGHT? WHAT DAY IS THAT? TUESDAY TUESDAY, THE 2030 AT 6 P.M. WILL BE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES BUDGET TOWN HALL. AND THERE WERE ALSO BE ANOTHER LISTENING SESSION. UM, WHERE WE CAN TALK BUDGET ON FEBRUARY 6TH. I BELIEVE AT 5:30 P.M. AT WHAT'S 
          [01:05:10]
THAT NORTH HARFORD? SO. SOME ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. SO THAT'S IT, THE BOARD WILL BE MAKING THE FINAL DECISION. MONTH AT THE BOARD MEETING SCHEDULED ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12. ONE LAST NOTE IF YOU DIDN'T HEAR SCHOOLS ARE CANCELED TOMORROW BECAUSE OF THE PENDING SNOW. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. STUDENTS LOOK HAPPY ON THAT ONE. THANK YOU AGAIN AND MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.